The Rev & The Rabbi

Judge Rachel Frier joins the show to discuss her journey as a Hasidic woman balancing a legal career with maternal duties and community service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Governor David Patterson joins the show to discuss how claims of divine favoritism fuel conflict and undermine the pursuit of justice and equality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mother's Day Edition with Former Governor David Patterson and Judge Rachel Frier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Assumption University President Gregory Weiner joins the show to speak with the Rev & The Rabbi on how he became the 1st Jewish President of a Catholic Institution Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker joins the show sharing his analysis on a recent Security Breach involving the Secret Service Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard facilitate high-level discussions on the socioeconomic and ideological challenges facing New York City and the broader world. Former FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker, who analyzes a recent security breach involving the Secret Service. The conversation then shifts toward the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, specifically how technology can lack the necessary human presence required for spiritual and emotional guidance. Finally, the hosts interview Gregory Weiner, the first Jewish president of Assumption University, a Catholic institution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York City Controller Mark Levine discusses the city’s complex financial landscape with hosts Reverend A.R. Bernard and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik. Levine advocates for a pied-à-terre tax on expensive secondary residences to ensure wealthy non-residents contribute their fair share toward essential services, while also addressing the urgent need for property tax reform to fix systemic inequities. The conversation highlights a shift from years of budget surpluses to a current fiscal shortfall, prompting Levine to propose investing $4 billion in pension funds for affordable housing and establishing stricter rules for the city’s rainy day fund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend A.R. Bernard facilitate high-level discussions on the socioeconomic and ideological challenges facing New York City and the broader world. The program first features New York City Controller Mark Levine, who explains the necessity of a tax on secondary luxury residences and the urgent need to reform a convoluted property tax system to address a growing budget shortfall. The conversation then shifts to global affairs with Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, who argues for an internal Islamic revolution for liberty to defeat theocracy and critiques the moral inversion of modern identity politics in the West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Zhudi Jasser discusses the urgent need for a reformation within Islam to reconcile the faith with modern democratic values and individual liberty. He argues that the root of global instability is not merely terrorism but a theocratic ideology that must be defeated by a revolution of the "moral compass" and a separation of mosque and state. Jasser criticizes the moral inversion in Western academia and politics, where identity politics and progressivism have led some to side with autocratic regimes over democratic allies like Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rev and Rabbi have a dialogue with guest Jonathan Waktel concerning the geopolitical instability of Iran and the moral complications of international intervention. The speakers argue that while deposing the Iranian regime is a global necessity, economic pressures and hostility toward Donald Trump often prioritize political expediency over ethical action. The conversation transitions into a critique of contemporary political discourse, specifically condemning the decline of civility and the lack of respect shown toward traditional institutions like the papacy and the presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Reverend AR Bernard engage in a dialogue with former Congressman Peter King to address the erosion of civility and boundaries in modern political discourse. The conversation centers on a critique of the president’s disrespectful rhetoric toward religious institutions, specifically highlighting an aggressive public dispute with the Pope that the speakers believe trivializes the dignity of the presidency. Beyond personal conduct, the participants explore the moral responsibilities of leadership, debating the complexities of just war, the necessity of bipartisan support for Israel’s defense, and the strategic importance of NATO. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Wartell critiques the JCPOA nuclear deal, arguing that it was a naive agreement that failed to address Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and their stated intent to destroy America. The discussion highlights a perceived global lack of resolve to confront the Iranian regime, drawing parallels to the historical inaction seen during the Holocaust while noting how political polarization often prevents leaders from supporting effective policies. Moving beyond the Middle East, the speakers examine the internal instability of Lebanon caused by Hezbollah and the systemic corruption in Venezuela, where an elite regime enriches itself at the expense of the populace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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