Who is Judge Alvin Hellerstein? | Behind the Bima #24

Judge Alvin Hellerstein has recently returned to the public spotlight because of the Maduro trial, prompting a simple but important question: who is he? === This episode of Behind the Bima, recorded back in 2020, offers rare insight into the values, discipline, and moral framework of a federal judge who speaks candidly about the weight of deciding another person’s fate, the loneliness of judgment, and the responsibility that comes with authority. Rather than focusing on cases or headlines, this conversation explores what shapes a judge’s thinking—humility, restraint, public trust, and the pursuit of justice as a lifelong obligation rather than a fixed achievement. In this episode, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg sits down with Judge Alvin Hellerstein for a thoughtful discussion about the inner life of the judiciary, the seriousness of sentencing, and why discomfort—not certainty—should accompany power. The conversation touches on justice, accountability, faith, and the moral weight carried by those entrusted with decisions that can alter lives forever. 🕰 Originally recorded prior to recent events. === CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro 0:14 - Banter 9:58 - Interview === PREFER AUDIO? Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/24-special-guest-judge-alvin-hellerstein/id1513477929?i=1000492328906 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6k957uPzhS6us4rh2MmiBN?si=g5X1pa2DSqe5bLoG5cDlQw