Eli Rubenstein and I have been friends for forty years. Close friends. It is therefore from the vantage point of familiarity I was compelled to do this interview with him. I know his stories and I know how riveting and from his heart they are. I knew Eli would be open to challenging questions.
So the fifth episode of HAT RADIO! is a recorded schmooze between Eli and I in his living room, for a couple of hours. What i was intent upon finding out was: how the transition was from being a right-wing Orthodox Jew to a humanistic Jew. He told me. He said it was freeing. He lamented, it was difficult because in many ways he has left the community he knew as a boy. But he was not afraid to show his secret side. His words were intimate.
I wanted to know from Eli what drew him to Holocaust Survivors so much so he became the spiritual leader at Congregation Habonim, a synagogue started by Survivors. His response was they were courage; they are brave; they are Jews who danced at the bar mitzvah of their grandchildren after going through the hell we call Auschwitz.
And I asked my friend Eli about his close relationship with Native Canadians and his leadership within Israel's seeing-eye dog community and his passion for music and love of all peoples. And he answered mostly in stories, because Eli Rubenstein is a prolific storyteller.
Listen to episode 5. Then listen again, and perhaps another time. It is the type of interview you will learn from, more and more as you go...about life, humility, love and a powerful drive of one person to bring joy and comfort to all people. And that is Eli. We are dear friends.
HAT RADIO! A show that schmoozes.
Episode 48 - Randall Craig Wrote a Musical from his Hospital Bed. Life! L'chaim!
Episode 47 - Michael Rubin: A Touching Schmooze with a Soulful Spiritual Director of a Synagogue
Episode 46 - Rabbi Korobkin Interviews Avrum asking 'Why did you Leave Orthodox Judaism?'
Episode 45 - Jaymz Bee: The Gigantically Outrageous & Kind Spirit of an Entertainer
Episode 44 - Michael White: A Wise Rock-Star...the Real Deal!
Episode 43 - Jeff Budd: The Most Splendid of Flowers
Episode 42 - Guidy Mamann: A Type-A Fellow Pursuing the Impossible
Episode 41 - HatRadio!....Almost a Year In Review
Episode 40 - Joseph Pusuma: A Hungarian Roma once in sanctuary in a Toronto Church...today an ordinary, free Canadian!
Episode 39 - Steve Kowch: A Radio Legend with Heart & Soul
Episode 38 - Shawn Kendal/Shawna Ackerman: Their Dream. A Camp for Teens and Young Adults with Autism
Episode 37 -- Sharon Hart-Green: The Soul of a Writer
Episode 36 - Michael Soberman: On Burying His Son's Foreskin
Episode 35 - Robert Pal: Triumphing over Adversity. On Becoming an ADHD Coach
Episode 34 - Christian Pritchard: A British-Canadian-Italian Joyful Chef and Human Being
Episode 33 - Devora Mason: A Beautiful Citizen of Our World
Episode 32 - Doctor Saul Kendal: An 83 Year-Old Dentist, a Friend & a Courageous Man!
Episode 31 - Miriam Borden: A Yiddishist, Third Generation Survivor & A Baker!
Episode 30 - Irwin Elman: The Man Who Lives to Give Children a Voice!
Episode 29 - Rachel Mamann: The Superstar Kindergarten Teacher
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