The Rev & The Rabbi

Criminal Defense Attorney Alan Abramson joined Rev. A.R. Bernard & Rabbi Joseph Potasnik on The Rev & The Rabbi to talk about the platform of Free Speech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Free Speech Edition with Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard. Criminal Defense Attorney Alan Abramson joins the show to clarify Protected Speech and what is known as the platform for Free Speech. The Rev & The Rabbi also reflect on the Art of Protesting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Father Peter Purpura, who serves as the Chancellor of the Brooklyn Diocese and a chaplain for the FDNY joins the show to explain how his role as administrator involves acting as a legal and historical notary, preserving church records that date back to the early 19th century. Father Purpura also explores the spiritual significance of Easter, highlighting themes of renewal, hope, and the historical shift of the Christian holy day to Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Easter Sunday Edition with Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard. Father Peter Purpura joins the show to talk Easter Sunday and early beginnings with his Spiritual walk. The dialogue then shifts toward the true meaning of Easter vs Symbolism. Finally, the hosts reflect on Spiritual Growth Impact Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore shares her journey from a challenging childhood in the Bronx to becoming the second woman to lead the FDNY. She highlights her thirty-year career starting as an EMT, emphasizing that her rise through the ranks of EMS operations uniquely prepared her for an administrative role that oversees both fire and medical services. A primary theme of the discussion is the urgent need for pay parity, as Bonsignore advocates for EMS professionals to receive the same fiscal recognition as firefighters to combat nationwide staffing shortages. Throughout the conversation, she defines leadership through the lenses of humility, service, and resilience, particularly when navigating a male-dominated field or managing the department through the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard interview Lillian Bonsignore, the 37th Fire Commissioner of the FDNY, exploring her journey from the Bronx to leading the nation’s largest fire department. The conversation highlights her transition from a career in EMS to the commissionership, where she emphasizes the nature of service and the critical need for pay parity for emergency medical responders. The dialogue then shifts toward broader leadership themes, such as the value of humility and the weight of responsibility in high-stakes public safety roles. Finally, the hosts reflect on seasonal themes of hope and renewal by discussing the spiritual significance of Passover and Easter, advocating for religious pluralism and mutual respect in a diverse society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Reverend A.R. Bernard, and guest Rabbi David Seth Kirshner regarding the multidimensional nature of Passover. The conversation transitions from the holiday’s inherent "identity crisis"—balancing the bitterness of historical slavery with the sweetness of liberation—to the modern necessity of maintaining hope amidst contemporary tragedy. The participants emphasize that Judaism is a religion of inquiry, where the act of asking questions and embracing life's "broken pieces" is more vital than providing absolute answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard discussing the profound layers of Passover with guest Rabbi David Seth Kirshner. The conversation explores the holiday’s inherent dual identity, balancing the joy of liberation with a sober reflection on historical and modern oppression. Kirshner emphasizes that Judaism is a religion of questions, where the ritual of inviting children to inquire at the Seder table is more important than providing absolute answers. The participants also reflect on Kirshner's recent book, which chronicles the emotional and theological struggle following the October 7th attacks, ultimately framing faith as a resilient pursuit of hope and unity amidst brokenness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard, welcome guest Larry Grogan, who shares his mission to run 100 marathons in 100 days to inspire those living with Parkinson’s disease. Despite his diagnosis, Groen champions the philosophy that "movement is medicine," arguing that physical activity acts as a vital tool for neuroplasticity and maintaining a high quality of life. The conversation shifts from the clinical benefits of exercise to a deeper spiritual discussion on defying passive resignation and finding meaning through adversity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard engage in a profound dialogue regarding the inner life and the moral responsibilities of leadership within a fractured society. The program begins by honoring the legacy of the late journalist Ernie Anastos, framing him as a symbol of human decency who prioritized his authentic identity over social acceptance. This discussion on personal integrity transitions into a somber reflection on rising violence and antisemitism, where the hosts argue that modern culture is suffering from a cauterization of conscience that must be combated through interfaith unity and communal support. The episode concludes with an inspiring interview featuring Larry Grogan, who is battling Parkinson’s disease by attempting one hundred marathons in one hundred days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard interview Hindy Poupko regarding a New York City Council bill designed to protect houses of worship and schools from targeted harassment. The discussion emphasizes that while the right to protest is a fundamental American liberty, it should not cross into the intimidation of families and children at their places of sanctuary. Poupko highlights the broad interfaith coalition supporting the legislation, noting that religious leaders of diverse backgrounds are united in their desire to maintain safe boundaries for their congregants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard discuss the pressing need for legislative protection of religious institutions amid a modern decline in public reverence. Featuring guest Hindi Pukpko from the UJA-Federation, the conversation centers on a proposed New York City bill designed to establish buffer zones around houses of worship and schools to prevent the intimidation of congregants by aggressive protesters. The participants argue that while the right to protest is a sacred American value, it should not supersede the fundamental right to feel safe within one’s spiritual sanctuary or educational environment. Beyond policy, the hosts reflect on the interfaith solidarity required to combat rising social vitriol and the vital role of family and moral education in restoring a lost sense of communal respect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's special episode captures a high-stakes dialogue concerning international security, religious duty, and the historical parallels of modern conflict. The conversation centers on a major retaliatory strike from Iran and the subsequent threats to civilian life in Israel, while also exploring the moral obligations of leadership and community protection during difficult times. Through a mix of political analysis and spiritual reflection, the participants discuss the necessity of unity between different faiths and nations to combat global hatred and terror. The text also includes a significant segment featuring a statement from Bill Clinton regarding the Epstein files, which the hosts use to spark a debate on political accountability and the ethics of past American administrations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli joins host Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard to discuss the intersection of faith, public service, and fiscal responsibility. The conversation begins with a reflection on religious traditions like Lent and the Jewish Yahrtzeit, emphasizing how spiritual discipline and the memory of loved ones should inspire a forward-looking sense of moral responsibility rather than mere ritual. DiNapoli argues that his Catholic upbringing provides a "North Star" of optimism, allowing him to reframe societal despair through a lens of hope while maintaining a commitment to integrity and bipartisanship in his political role. Transitioning to state affairs, the dialogue covers the challenges of the New York budget, where DiNapoli advocates for efficiency and vigilance against fraud to manage long-term deficits. He further explains the Comptroller’s duty to protect the pension fund’s stability against political pressures, framing his conservative investment strategy as a necessary safeguard for the retirement security of over a million public workers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reverend A.R. Bernard and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik host New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to explore the intersection of spiritual faith and public service. The dialogue highlights how the traditions of Lent, Ramadan, and Yahrzeit serve as catalysts for moral reflection and a sense of communal responsibility, framing religion as a "North Star" for navigating social challenges. DiNapoli details his approach to fiscal oversight and the management of pension funds, emphasizing that his commitment to integrity and transparency is rooted in a religious rejection of pessimism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AR Bernard and Joseph Potsanik discuss the educational and financial crisis facing Catholic schools in Brooklyn, highlighted by the heartbreaking decision to close seven institutions due to dwindling enrollment. Deacon Kevin McCormack explains that these schools lack the city subsidies provided to public and charter counterparts, forcing parents to shoulder costs that the "system" fails to adequately support. To address this, the speakers advocate for a federal scholarship tax credit and urge New York’s governor to opt in, arguing that educational choice and competition are essential for institutional survival and the benefit of all students. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard host Deacon Kevin McCormack to discuss the financial and emotional crisis facing the Catholic school system in Brooklyn. The conversation highlights the heartbreaking closure of several local schools due to declining enrollment and a lack of public funding, prompting an urgent plea for New York to adopt federal scholarship tax credits. Beyond policy, the speakers reflect on their long history of interfaith dialogue, emphasizing that religious education provides a vital moral foundation and a sense of "mystery" that young people increasingly crave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend AR Bernard explore the intersection of faith, community, and current events through the lens of Super Bowl Sunday. They begin by characterizing the sports holiday as a modern American Sabbath that fosters family unity, eventually transitioning into deeper discussions about combating anti-Semitism and the importance of understanding historical context in global conflicts. The speakers emphasize that education alone is insufficient for social harmony; instead, they advocate for a moral education and the necessity of communal support to bear the world's burdens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard engage in a nuanced dialogue with criminal defense attorney Allan Abramson regarding a controversial officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis. The conversation centers on the death of Alex Frety, a licensed gun owner, utilizing his case to highlight the dangers of rushing to judgment before independent investigations are complete. Abramson emphasizes the critical need for de-escalation training and professional accountability, noting that modern law enforcement often lacks the rigorous preparation required for complex street encounters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard interview criminal defense attorney Allan Abramson regarding a controversial shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis. The discussion centers on the death of Alex Pretti, a licensed gun owner who was killed by ICE agents, and highlights the growing tension between civil liberties and militarized law enforcement. Abramson critiques the lack of transparency and inadequate training of federal personnel, contrasting their aggressive tactics with traditional police methods of de-escalation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices