America's First Orthodox Jewish Female Mayor: Michele Weiss

In this episode of Behind the Bima, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg speaks with Michele Weiss, Mayor-Elect of University Heights, Ohio, about leadership, Jewish responsibility, and what it means to step forward at a moment when many feel pressure to step back.This season of Behind the Bima is sponsored by Julie Charlestein & Darryl Benjamin in honor of their grandparents, Morton & Malvina Charlestein, and their children, Ruby and Maccabi Benjamin.Michele shares her personal journey into public service, the challenges of running for office as a visibly Jewish candidate, and the realities of leading a community during a time of rising antisemitism and civic tension. The conversation explores how Jewish values shape leadership, the responsibility of local government, and why courage at the municipal level matters more than most people realize.Together, they discuss:What motivated her to run — and what almost stopped herLeading with integrity in a polarized environmentThe role of Jewish identity in public serviceAntisemitism at the local level — and how leaders respondWhy local leadership often carries the greatest moral weightBuilding trust across communitiesWhat this moment demands from Jewish leadersThis is a grounded, human conversation about responsibility, courage, and leadership where it matters most... close to home.