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Showing episodes and shows of
Shalom Hartman Institute
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For Heaven's Sake
Waiting
For the second time in two months, Israel’s government is at risk of collapsing, as Haredi parties threaten to withdraw from the coalition over the conscription of Yeshiva students. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is discussing a “60 day ceasefire” that would return more hostages without a clear end to the war.This week, as Israelis wait and anxiety builds, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi share their perspectives on the many factors that could change the country—and the war in Gaza—in the coming weeks.Watch the video version of our podcast on our Youtube channel. Past e...
2025-07-16
34 min
For Heaven's Sake
Pariah Nation
Around the world, Israelis are being harassed, attacked, and condemned for their country’s actions in Gaza, with even Israel’s staunchest allies beginning to reject claims of self-defense. This week, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi unpack why the war with Hamas has brought about such international backlash, and whether Israel can restore its moral credibility. Watch the video version of our podcast on our Youtube channel. Past episodes of this show, and other podcasts from Ark Media can be found at arkmedia.org.For more ideas from the Shalom Hartman...
2025-07-09
36 min
For Heaven's Sake
Gaza: The End?
Since his inauguration, Donald Trump has inserted himself into the core of Israeli politics. He now wants an imminent end to the Gaza war, and Netanyahu seems ready to capitulate, even at risk to his coalition.This week, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi unpack the moral dilemma that an end to the war in Gaza—under these circumstances—would create. Would Hamas continue to control the Strip? Will all the hostages be returned? And if Trump is setting the agenda, is Israel even making a conscious decision to pursue peace?Watch the video version of o...
2025-07-02
31 min
For Heaven's Sake
What Do We Know?
The U.S. strikes Iran’s Fordo facility. Trump announces a ceasefire. Netanyahu and Khamenei both claim victory. But beneath all the bluster, it remains unclear if Israel’s 12-day campaign succeeded in neutralizing a nuclear threat.This week Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi try to separate facts from hearsay and speculate on the political future of both Iran and Israel.Watch the video version of our podcast on our Youtube channel. Past episodes of this show, and other podcasts from Ark Media can be found at arkmedia.org.For more...
2025-06-26
39 min
For Heaven's Sake
A New Era?
How many times in Israel’s short and fraught history have we marked the start of a new era, and how does this affect the Israeli psyche over time? In this special episode of For Heaven’s Sake following America’s monumental entry into the war with Iran, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi analyze this not-quite-celebratory moment and weigh their conflicting feelings: exhilaration and exhaustion, triumph and trauma, gratitude and concern.Past episodes of this show, and other podcasts from Ark Media can be found at arkmedia.org.For more ideas from the Shalom Hartma...
2025-06-22
31 min
Identity/Crisis
The Sound and the Fury
After a week of turning our attention to the skies above Israel and Iran, Identity/Crisis is turning to our colleagues on the ground and asking: what is it like to be living in Israel right now – as a parent, as a Palestinian citizen of Israel, as an activist, as an American overseas? On this week’s special episode, we invite you to cut through the noise as Yehuda Kurtzer elevates the voices of seven staff and faculty of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem: Jordanna Amsel, Shraga Bar-On, Ronit Heyd, Elana Stein Hain, Elhan...
2025-06-19
47 min
Identity/Crisis
Hartman Summer, Interrupted
How can we maintain the spirit of care and learning, even if we can’t gather in person? In the wake of this new stage of Israel’s war with Iran, Hartman’s plans for a summer of leadership and learning in Jerusalem have been evolving, day by day, hour by hour. Later this week on Identity/Crisis, we'll share an episode elevating voices of Israelis living amidst this crisis; today, Yehuda Kurtzer reflects on the days since the war began, expresses concern for Jewish leaders navigating this war moment with all its layers, and sh...
2025-06-17
12 min
For Heaven's Sake
The War is Real
Four days into the war with Iran, the feeling in Israel has gone from surreal to painfully real, with initial sighs of existential relief giving way to anxiety, grief, and uncertainty. On this episode of For Heaven’s Sake, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the parallels between this war and past operations, the difference in Israelis’ experiences across the country, and their hopes – and fears – for the days and weeks ahead.Past episodes of this show, and other podcasts from Ark Media can be found at arkmedia.org.For more ideas from the...
2025-06-17
34 min
For Heaven's Sake
WAR WITH IRAN
Today is day 616 of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza, and day 1 of a new era for Israel. For Israelis who were jolted out of bed by sirens and Jews around the world who have been glued to the headlines, the first 24 hours of the war with Iran have been surreal, and leave us asking – what happens now?In this emergency episode of For Heaven’s Sake recorded today, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi unpack how we got here, the experience in Israel over the last 24 hours, and the ways Israel and the region will be changed fore...
2025-06-13
42 min
Identity/Crisis
Is the War Still Worth it?– with Tal Becker
After 600 days, is the appetite for continuing the war with Hamas waning among its supporters? This week on Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Tal Becker, Shalom Hartman Institute Vice President and former Legal Adviser of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss war strategy, moral obligation, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2025-05-29
59 min
Identity/Crisis
A Jewish Paradigm for Caring for the Sick – with Sara Labaton
What does it mean to care for the sick—not just medically, but morally and spiritually? In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer invites Sara Labaton, Director of Teaching and Learning at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, to share her essay, Permission and Obligation: A Jewish Paradigm for Care, from the Spring issue of Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas. Drawing from personal experience and Jewish texts, Sara explores the complexities of caregiving and examines the role of doctors, patients, and the community in the healing process. You can no...
2025-05-06
42 min
Identity/Crisis
Sources: Morality in Times of Fear – with Donniel Hartman
During times of war, when fear and self-preservation are front of mind, how do we make room for ethics? On this episode of Identity/Crisis, guest host Claire Sufrin, editor of Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas, sits down with Donniel Hartman, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute, to discuss the importance of morality in the Jewish tradition and how ethics should inform our choices. Keep an eye out for Donniel Hartman’s article in the Spring 2025 issue of Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas about Jewish ethics in theory and practice.
2025-03-25
43 min
Identity/Crisis
Ghosts of a Holy War
What do we gain and what do we lose when we attribute so much to one specific moment – like the October 7 attack in 2023, or the 1929 Hebron massacre? In a fascinating and difficult conversation about her new book, Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict, guest Yardena Schwartz and host Yehuda Kurtzer discuss the roots of the century long conflict, their implications today and how they shape the future of the region.This episode of Identity/Crisis was recorded in front of a live audience as part of Sa...
2025-01-28
52 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – We are Not the Same
After a year of grief, pain, and war on multiple fronts, the Israeli psyche has been fundamentally transformed. In this special episode recorded live on October 7, 2024, for members of the Shalom Hartman Institute Giving Society, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi reflect on the fragility of the nation, Netanyahu’s rising poll numbers, and a resurgence of existential crisis not seen in Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Stay tuned after the episode to hear Donniel and Yossi answer questions from the live audience. Learn more about our G...
2024-10-09
49 min
Identity/Crisis
A Nation That Still Can't Sleep
In the hours following October 7, 2023, Yehuda Kurtzer reached out to friends and colleaguesin Israel, both expressing his concern and support and asking them to share their personal experiences following Hamas’ deadly attack. He gathered their responses in A Nation That Can’t Sleep, released on October 11. This year, Yehuda reconnected with those same friends and colleagues, inviting them to reflect on the unimaginable year that has since passed. Their interwoven stories reveal the profound struggle to extract meaning from memory as time relentlessly marches forward and history unfolds with unstoppable force.
2024-10-07
48 min
Identity/Crisis
The Centre Must Hold
At a time when society feels more divided than ever, Yair Zivan, diplomatic advisor to Yair Lapid and author of the new book, The Centre Must Hold, is advocating for centrism. On this week’s episode, Yair chats with guest host and Shalom Hartman Institute Vice President Justus Baird about topics ranging from the politics around hostage deals to the American two-party divide and shares his vision for a viable path forward. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HAR...
2024-09-17
42 min
TEXTing
Living with Dissonance
The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin z”l did everything they could to rescue their son and the other hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 but in the end, they were unable to prevent his murder along with five other hostages.In this special episode, Elana Stein Hain turns to a midrash in Sifrei Bamidbar to consider how to grieve this tremendous loss of life and grasp the seeming senselessness of this tragedy, in conversation with three Israeli scholars at the Shalom Hartman Institute—Tal Becker, Tehila Friedman, and Shoshana Cohen.Ep...
2024-09-09
44 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Six Hostages
On Saturday, August 31, the bodies of six hostages were discovered by the IDF in a tunnel under Rafah. Murdered by Hamas shortly before they were found, they include Hersh Goldberg-Polin z"l, beloved cousin of our Hartman colleague Eliot Goldstein and a friend to many in the Hartman community, as well as Carmel Gat z"l, Ori Danino z"l, Eden Yerushalmi z"l, Alex Lobanov z"l, and Almog Sarusi z"l. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi express their grief and rage over this tragedy and assess the choice Israel must make between di...
2024-09-02
27 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism, and Anti-Zionist Jews
Over the course of the 10-month war with Hamas, anti-Zionist sentiment has been brought to the forefront around the world and also closer to home, within the ranks of North American Jewry.In this session recorded at the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Rabbinic Torah Seminar in Jerusalem on July 11, Yossi Klein Halevi outlines the connections and distinctions between anti-Zionism and classical antisemitism, and how this war is testing the morality of modernJewish power.For more information about our Rabbinic Torah Seminar, visit shalomhartman.org/rts....
2024-08-21
57 min
Identity/Crisis
Sources: Two Students Speak
With the fall academic semester just around the corner, guest host Claire Sufrin, Editor of Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas, shares two of the winning essays from the first student writing contest in the summer issue, Jewish on Campus.In the first essay, Princeton University senior Stephen Bartell rejects the claim that the Israel-Hamas War can only be understood in black-and-white terms in his piece, Celebrating Simultaneous Truths.In the second essay, Lilah Peck, a junior at UCLA, unpacks what it means to live in a pluralistic Jewish...
2024-08-20
27 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Nine Months
Recorded in front of a live audience at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem on Tuesday, July 9, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi analyze Netanyahu’s impact on the hostage negotiations and how persistent fighting in Gaza exposes deep-seated misconceptions about Israel’s military power. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEASSponsor an upcoming episode of For Heaven’s Sake. Click here to learn more.
2024-07-10
36 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Israel Tomorrow
Recorded in front of a live audience at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem on Wednesday, June 26, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss enforcement of the recent Haredi draft law, the need for new elections, and a path toward resolving the Palestinian conflict after the war with Hamas ends.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEASSponsor an upcoming episode of For Heaven’s Sake. Click here to learn more.Learn more about the Hartman Institute’s Community Leadership Program here.
2024-06-27
40 min
Identity/Crisis
Two Teens and their Fearless Interventions
In a special crossover this week, Yehuda Kurtzer takes the guest seat for a change, as he is interviewed for the Fearless Interventions podcast by Hartman Teen Fellow, Max Alperstein and his co-host Jacob Finkel. Together they tackle a range of issues at the top of their minds, including navigating political polarization, exploring the boundaries of Jewish identity, and pursuing earnest pluralism. Learn more and apply for the Hartman Teen Fellowship HERE.You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR...
2024-05-14
47 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Food Crisis
On Thursday February 29, a tragedy unfolded in Gaza City during a food aid delivery.In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss more than just the food crisis unfolding in Gaza as they consider Israel’s responsibility to Gazan civilians. They examine the struggle in Israeli society to engage in moral discourse and the growing chasm between the Israeli and Jewish diaspora’s responses to the war.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEASSponsor an upcoming episode of For Heaven’s Sake. Click here to learn more.
2024-03-06
25 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Rafah
The city of Rafah is the last bastion of Hamas’ power in the Gaza Strip and final stand for the IDF’s military campaign. But Israel’s closest allies have implored it not to invade, warning that this would only exacerbate the growing humanitarian crisis for Gazan civilians.In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi balance the moral responsibilities, psychological needs, and geopolitical strategies at play in Israel’s decision to move in to Rafah, and whether a ceasefire now might be the solution.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR...
2024-02-28
28 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The End of Victimhood?
As the IDF moves into a ground invasion in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and the toll on Palestinian lives continues to grow, Israel’s military actions are garnering greater criticism from world leaders.In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi reflect on how this war is being judged on the global stage, and whether Israel’s initial public position as victims of the October 7th attacks is best serving its cause today.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEASSponsor an upcoming episode of For Heav...
2024-02-21
30 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Haredi Dilemma
On Tuesday, February 13, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid demanded that Ultra-Orthodox Jews be drafted into the army, a long-debated move that if enacted would formally end the de-facto blanket exemption for roughly 15% of the country’s population.Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi dive into the Haredi ideology behind their separatism and avoidance of military duty at a time when Israel needs them most.Mentioned in this episode:https://www.timesofisrael.com/footage-shows-hostages-being-rescued-from-hamas-captivity-in-daring-rafah-operation/This episode is sponsored by Marshall Zola.Sponsor an upcoming episode of For Heaven’s Sa...
2024-02-14
33 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Hostage Dilemma
On Tuesday, Hamas countered Israel’s ceasefire proposal with a sweeping offer to return all remaining captives from October 7 and beyond–those alive and the remains of those who perished–for what amounts to a near-total dismantling of the IDF’s military effort in Gaza. Could the country accept a hostage deal that would essentially forfeit the goal of eliminating Hamas’ military power? This week, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi grapple with the impossible position faced by Israel: choosing between the Zionist imperative of self-defense and the Jewish imperative of pidyon shvuyim (redemption of captives). JO...
2024-02-08
23 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Politics of Fantasy
A staggering 38% of Israelis support post-war Jewish resettlement in the Gaza Strip, exemplified by a discordantly jubilant conference on Sunday, January 28 led by right-wing activists, ministers, and lawmakers including Itamar Ben Gvir and Betzalel Smotrich. Why do so many Israelis want to undo the 2005 Gaza disengagement, and why are some of them celebrating this moment? Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi unpack the layers of motivation driving this sentiment, the consequences it could have to Israel’s unity, the peace process, and the genocide case at the Hague, and what the Israeli political center can do...
2024-02-01
29 min
Identity/Crisis
Introducing: TEXTing with Elana Stein Hain
This week, Identity/Crisis is excited to share the first episode of Hartman’s newest podcast: TEXTing with Elana Stein Hain. On each episode Elana delves deeply into the issues of our day through the lens of classical Jewish texts, in conversation with Hartman scholars Christine Hayes, Yonah Hain, or Leora Batnitzky. In this first episode of TEXTing, Elana and Christine turn to the Talmud in tractate Hagigah to address the shock, disbelief, alienation, and despair Jews around the world are experiencing in the wake of October 7 and throughout the subsequent Israel-Hamas War. We are...
2024-01-30
37 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Hague: Victory or Defeat?
On Friday, January 26, the International Court of Justice stopped short of calling for an immediate, unilateral ceasefire, and instead ordered Israel to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and prevent and punish incitements to genocide. Is this a vindication or a setback for Israel as the world awaits a final verdict in the Hague? Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi reflect on the trial and the shift in behavior by Israel’s government since this ruling.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEASSponsor an upcoming episode of For...
2024-01-29
29 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Grand Bargain
A month ago, the prospect of Palestinian statehood was a distant fantasy for most Israelis. Now, as hostages continue to languish in Hamas captivity and the IDF’s progress in Gaza tapers, the war-weary public has polled in favor of a regional deal, brokered by the U.S., that would ensure a two-state solution in the near future. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi express their reactions, reservations, and predictions regarding this so-called “grand bargain” between Israel, the Palestinians, and their Sunni Arab neighbors, and imagine what this transformative peace would mean for a nation deeply scarred by the atroci...
2024-01-24
28 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Next Phase
After months of an intensive ground invasion, the IDF is entering “phase three” of the war with Hamas. Yet the original goal of eliminating the Hamas regime in Gaza remains distant and security for Israel seems elusive. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss whether the goal posts have shifted and if the Israeli public can endure a protracted war to achieve lasting security. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEASSponsor an upcoming episode of For Heaven’s Sake. Click here to learn more.
2024-01-17
33 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Hague
This week, shortly after the IDF suffered one of its heaviest losses of life in Gaza, the International Court of Justice in The Hague will hold hearings brought by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide. Is this antisemitic handwaving or will this serve as a legitimate arena to judge Israel’s methods in this war?Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the shock of these hearings on the nation’s psyche, what is at stake in this trial, and how statements by Netanyahu and his coalition government may implicate Israel in this damning charge.
2024-01-10
28 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Back to October 6th?
On Monday, the Israeli Supreme Court struck down the reasonableness clause, a key element in the highly disputed judicial overhaul by Netanyahu’s right-wing government. Will this landmark decision reignite pre-October 7th disputes in a country that was on the verge of a constitutional crisis? Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the ongoing fight for Israel’s democracy, how the trauma and tragedy of the war have become politicized, and whether the current feeling of national unity can be maintained amid the resurging political discourse.In this episode:Talmud Yevamot on the...
2024-01-03
32 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Ceasefire?
Israel’s domestic support for the war remains strong despite growing global calls for a ceasefire. With mounting international pressure to end defensive action, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore why this conflicts with what many Israelis feel is the moral, political, and military reality given that the threat from Hamas extends beyond the borders of Gaza. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS Sponsor an upcoming episode of For Heaven’s Sake. Click here to learn more. It’s Time for the U.S. to...
2023-12-27
28 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – When the Guns are Silenced
After the war is over and the guns are silenced, what kind of moral and political accounting will be needed? Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the national discourse shaping and dividing Israeli civil society, their hopes for the future of Gaza, and their vision for a new Middle East. ---- JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS Sponsor an upcoming episode of For Heaven’s Sake. Click here to learn more.
2023-12-21
26 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – My Heart is Broken
On Friday, December 15 the IDF shot and killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza while they were raising their arms in surrender and waving white flags. The soldiers misidentified these Israelis as terrorists. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi express their sadness and heartbreak as they consider how this grave incident underscores the internal debate about saving the hostages or winning the war. They also examine what this tragic error says about IDF tactics as well as the combat strategy and terror ploys the IDF are facing. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS ...
2023-12-18
23 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Northern Front
With missiles being fired at Israel daily from Lebanon, Israelis are grappling with how to respond to the threat of Hezbollah in the North. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the threat of Hezbollah, the possibility and risks of fighting a war on a second front, and the extent and limits of Israeli power. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS Sponsor an upcoming episode of For Heaven’s Sake! Click here to learn more.
2023-12-14
27 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Gazan Civilians
As we enter the ninth week and a new, post-ceasefire phase of the Israel-Hamas War, the gap between Israeli and North American Jewish perspectives continue to widen. While Israelis count and mourn each Israeli casualty, North American Jews are increasingly demanding greater consideration for civilian casualties in Gaza as well as the humanitarian crisis there. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the experiences shaping these divergent perspectives and how Israelis might approach concern over civilian life and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as they fight for the existence of Israel. ---- Co...
2023-12-11
25 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Genocide?
For Jews around the world, the nightmare of October 7th is compounded by the harsh and deafening condemnation of Israel’s military action. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore the dynamics of Jewish power and vulnerability, the ramifications of labeling Israel’s actions as genocidal, and the question of whether antisemitism is at play. ---- JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2023-12-07
26 min
Identity/Crisis
The Battle for Liberal Values on Campus
Across the United States, students are rallying and advocating for their perspectives about the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. Campus conversations and environments are becoming increasingly hostile with many Jewish students reporting feeling unsafe. In this week’s episode, Yehuda Kurtzer is joined by Mijal Bitton, research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and Rosh Kehilla (communal leader) and co-founder of the Downtown Minyan in New York City to probe the term ‘safety’ and how it interacts with the discomfort that a diverse, liberal education should engender. They ask: when is discomfort productive, when is it unproductive, and when d...
2023-12-05
52 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – An Enemy Within
How does a country engaged in war grapple with moral issues? On Thursday, November 30, Yuval Kestelman, an Israeli civilian and good Samaritan, was shot and killed by an IDF soldier after shooting a terrorist at a Jerusalem bus stop. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore the ethical implications of labeling this incident either an accident or a crime, the influence of the government’s right-wing agenda and Hilltop Youth roots, and the parallels with the 2017 case of Elor Azaria, a soldier who killed a wounded Palestinian terrorist. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE...
2023-12-04
21 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Unity Until Victory?
We are six days into a ceasefire, and the first wave of hostages have returned home. The national unity that emerged from the attack on October 7 and subsequent war is beginning to fray. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the unrelenting emotional toll of this crisis and the strains on Israel’s togetherness, including mounting international pressure, pre-existing political divides, and the leadership vacuum. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2023-11-30
21 min
Perfect Jewish Parents
Navigating the Rhetoric
Public discourse about Israel and Gaza is peppered with ideological language. Young people are engaging with a world where complex, academic, and historically significant terms such as Zionism, colonialization, and apartheid have been overly simplified and reduced to polarizing social media memes. Tomer Persico, research fellow at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and Rubenstein fellow at Reichman University, joins hosts Joshua Ladon and Masua Sagiv to help parents, educators, and caregivers better understand the context and rhetoric that young people are navigating so that we can engage in sophisticated, rich conversations with our children and students. J...
2023-11-29
22 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Hostage Nation
By the third day of the ceasefire, Hamas had released 58 hostages, 40 of them Israeli, in exchange for 78 Palestinian prisoners. While Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi celebrate the captives’ return to their families, they take note of the ways that this hostage situation is different from any the nation has faced in its history. They also consider how this moment challenges the Zionist ethos and explore the dilemmas the country will face as this 4-day truce agreement reaches an end. Will Israel risk the chance to redeem the rest of its captives safely if it returns to fighting against Ha...
2023-11-27
21 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Burying Soldiers, Freeing Hostages
What does it mean to have resilience in the face of tremendous loss? In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss how soldiers are processing their trauma from combat in Gaza and bear witness to Israel’s staggering civilian presence at the funerals of fallen soldiers. They explore the imminent ceasefire, hostage and prisoner exchange, and the ramifications of this deal on Israel’s security and the nation’s psyche. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2023-11-23
24 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Mood
What does Gaza look like after this war is over? A recent poll showed thirty percent of Israelis favoring a renewal of Jewish settlements in the Gaza strip. While considering the popularity of this sentiment surprising and troubling, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss why some Israelis have developed this view. They ask: what it will take for Israelis to feel safe living alongside a Palestinian state after the devastation and violation of October 7? JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2023-11-20
24 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – Shifa
As the IDF takes control of Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital, the controversy around this hospital serves as a paradigm for the conflicting views about the broader war. For many Jews, Israelis, and allies of Israel, Shifa represents the evil nature of our enemy; for critics, the operation at Shifa reflects everything that is wrong with Israel. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the struggles, risks, and consequences of adhering to moral principles while fighting against an immoral enemy. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2023-11-16
21 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – A State of All Its Citizens
As the Israel-Hamas war continues into its sixth week, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss how Israel’s Arab-Palestinian minority have become scrutinized and even punished for mourning their kin in Gaza and how Jewish Israelis might have sympathy for the complicated dual loyalty their fellow citizens need to hold. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2023-11-13
22 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – The Morning After
As the Israeli military response to Hamas continues to escalate, Israelis have struggled to envision how Israel will rebuild and heal once the war is over and consider what an end to Hamas would mean for Palestinians.Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi begin this important work by imagining what the dawning of a new day will look like for the future of Israel and Gaza. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2023-11-09
20 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War – "From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free"
“From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” can be heard at many Palestinian solidarity demonstrations today, and while it seems at face value to be a rallying cry for justice, its connotation is uncompromisingly hostile to the existence of Israel and to Jewish sovereignty in the region. Why, then, do activists abroad, including some Jews, chant it in protest of Israel’s current actions in Gaza? In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi reflect on the meaning of this slogan and how the October 7 massacre sheds a sobering light on its implications. They as...
2023-11-06
24 min
Perfect Jewish Parents
Is Anyone Prepared for These Questions?
As the Israel-Hamas war continues and we grapple with the implications and trauma of October 7, parents, caregivers, and educators are fielding increasingly complex questions from children and students. Hosts Joshua Ladon and Masua Sagiv are joined by Elana Stein Hain, Rosh Beit Midrash and Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, and co-host of the award-winning podcast For Heaven's Sake. Together they offer a glimpse into how parents and educators may be thinking through these ethical questions and share some of the Jewish resources and rituals that they turn to for wisdom, comfort, and inspiration.
2023-11-05
29 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War — The Sword of Damocles
As Israel’s war with Hamas rages on, and the anxiety in Israel continues to grow, the Sword of Damocles hangs over the head of every Israeli. Each day brings the threat of losing another friend, relative, or community member to the violence. Israelis are struggling to reconcile divergent goals: the desire to eliminate Hamas versus a need to safely return the hostages to their families and keep our soldiers safe. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the impact of this ever-present dread and the ways we steel ourselves for, and deal with, the massive on...
2023-11-02
20 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War — Our Leadership Void
In the middle of the night on Saturday, Benjamin Netanyahu posted a tweet blaming the heads of Israel’s military intelligence and Shin Bet security service for failing to anticipate the October 7th attack by Hamas. Though he later apologized, the post reflected the Prime Minister’s continued avoidance of taking responsibility, prioritizing his own political advancement over the needs of the people. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu’s leadership failure, the role of criticizing one’s society and leadership even during a moment of crisis, why leaders m...
2023-10-30
21 min
Perfect Jewish Parents
Shades of Gray and Grief on Campus
The repercussions of the brutal attack by Hamas and ongoing war in Israel weigh heavily on young North American Jews. Online and on campus, some paint recent events in stark black and white, while others demand context and complexity in the face of evil. As Jewish students struggle with grief and pain, they’re exploring their connections to the Jewish people and grappling with how to respond to divergent perspectives, antagonism, or even hate. Tilly Shemer, Hartman's Senior Vice President of Wellspring and a seasoned Hillel professional with over twenty years of campus experience, joins hosts Joshua Ladon and Ma...
2023-10-26
39 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War — There is No Justification. But..?
On October 24th, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres delivered remarks on the war between Israel and Hamas. While he condemned the terror attacks, demanded immediate release of all hostages, and called for a ceasefire, he also contextualized the war within the broader history of the occupation and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This prompted Israel’s ambassador to call on Guterres to resign and signaled to many the all-too-familiar waning embrace of global support for Israel. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the nuances of context and justification, morality and war, and how language can engage or isolate allies.
2023-10-26
23 min
Identity/Crisis
A Defining War for Young Jews
The events of the past few weeks and war in Israel will be a defining, even identity-shaping, moment for a generation of young Jews. In this week's episode, Yehuda Kurtzer chats with several young Jewish students from the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Hevruta Gap-Year program, an experience for Israeli and North American students to live and learn together. They share the ways the war has already changed their outlooks - from a conviction about future army roles to fear about arriving on college campuses, and they consider their obligations to one another as Jews. Despite all that is changing, they point us towa...
2023-10-26
28 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War — Into the Unknown
On day 16 of the war with Hamas, the IDF is poised for a ground invasion into Gaza, marching into the unknown. What awaits the troops when they enter? Will this embroil Hezbollah, Iran, and perhaps the US, into a broader regional clash? Most importantly: what price are Israelis willing to pay to win this war?Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss their anxieties about this moment and consider the unspoken and unprecedented willingness of the Israeli public to do whatever it takes in order to defeat the existential threat of Hamas to the State of Israel.
2023-10-23
16 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War — The Hospital
On October 17, a blast at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza killed many Palestinians. Israelis and Palestinians were quick to blame each other for the blast, which has now been confirmed as a misfired rocket from the Islamic Jihad.Recorded on October 18, as conflicting reports continue to spread across both social media and international media outlets, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore the ramifications and ethics of warfare, consider how this incident brought the tragedy in Gaza into our consciousness, and grapple with the role of journalists in a time when reporting happens too quickly before facts...
2023-10-19
21 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War — Moral Red Lines
As we enter into week two of this horrifying war, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi struggle with the question of if there are moral red lines when responding to absolute evil and if there are, how do we define them. Noting that Israelis are entering this discussion wounded, grieving, enraged, and scared, they acknowledge our need to fight the war fully while grappling with who we want to be not just who we are at this moment.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2023-10-16
24 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War — Day Five — Evil
The number of fatalities continues to rise. As Israel's new reality of unfathomable horror begins to set in, many took comfort in the latest speech by US President Biden, in which he called the Hamas attack "pure evil". From Jerusalem, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore what it means to confront evil. What happens when the behavior of others descends from wrongful to outright evil, and how do we cope with it?This is day five of Israel at War.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2023-10-12
17 min
For Heaven's Sake
Israel at War — Day Three — How Did This Happen?
Israel is at War. This past Shabbat, Saturday morning, October 7, Israel faced an unprecedented, ruthless, and devastating attack by Hamas. Hundreds of Israelis have been killed, thousands injured, and many are in captivity. Israelis are fighting for their country, and Jews around the world are supporting these efforts from afar with prayers, messages, and resources. In an effort to keep our listeners connected and updated during this painful and difficult time, For Heaven's Sake will be releasing episodes every few days to address what's happening in Israel and unpack the complex and distressing events of this war. This is For He...
2023-10-09
17 min
For Heaven's Sake
Could the Saudis be the Gamechangers?
Historically the Arab world, and Saudi Arabia in particular, has acted as a force in encouraging Palestinian rejection of Israel. With recent and unprecedented shifts in the geopolitical landscape, could a formal alliance with Saudi Arabia be a reality for Israel? Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi, and Elana Stein Hain explore the security implications of a deal with Saudi Arabia, how the Israeli public might respond, and whether Prime Minister Netanyahu, for whom peace with Arab neighbors was always a strategic goal, will consider forming a new coalition.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE...
2023-09-27
40 min
Identity/Crisis
On Screaming - and Other Radical Ways of Showing Up
In response to the current political moment in Israel, the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America hosted a day-long virtual Teach-In on September 20. This episode is a recording of Yehuda Kurtzer's opening session, where he challenges us to expand our understanding of what Jewish tradition teaches us about how we can respond in times of crisis. In addition to protest, he suggests that blowing shofar, teaching, and fasting are all rituals that transform and mobilize us as individuals and as a community.A source sheet accompanying this session can be found here.JOIN...
2023-09-21
57 min
For Heaven's Sake
Farewell, 5783
The High Holidays are a time for reviewing our successes and failures, individually and collectively, but also a time for looking forward to future possibilities. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi reflect on what they describe as one of the most traumatic years in Israeli history, the "pathologies" of Jewish theology and psyche that brought us here, and what it might take for 5784 to be a turning point in restoring a sense of cohesiveness and shared purpose to Israeli society.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
2023-09-13
40 min
Perfect Jewish Parents
What Makes a Book Jewish?
What role do books and ritual objects play in cultivating a Jewish home? How do you tell if a Jewish book—for kids or adults—is any good? David Zvi Kalman, Director of New Media for the Shalom Hartman Institute, co-producer of Perfect Jewish Parents, and owner of Print-O-Craft Press joins hosts Joshua Ladon and Masua Sagiv for the final episode of the season. They discuss the idea of “Jewish books" and the nature of play and creativity in Jewish life. Tune in as they take a look back at the inaugural season of Perfect Jewish Parents.
2023-09-07
34 min
Identity/Crisis
Variations on the Shema
This is a recorded reading from the author of an essay published in Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas, a publication of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America.In this essay, “Variations on the Shema,” Sam Fleischacker meditates on Judaism’s central prayer and statement of faith. Seen through Sam’s eyes, the Shema becomes the thread that guides a Jew from childhood to adulthood and from place to place. He argues that by seeing the Shema in all the ways that our tradition asks us to look at it, from the Haggadah to our farthest travels, w...
2023-08-15
41 min
Perfect Jewish Parents
Why Should Our Kids Care About the Jewish People?
Feeling a sense of connection to the Jewish people can be a powerful inheritance, and it can spark questions, frustration or disappointment. What does it mean for us to be connected to, and maybe even responsible for, people in other countries who we don’t know and with whom we might not agree?Tal Becker (Senior Fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and Legal Adviser of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs) joins Perfect Jewish Parents hosts, Masua Sagiv and Joshua Ladon to talk about the challenges and opportunities of fostering a sense of peoplehood in Jewish ch...
2023-08-10
37 min
Identity/Crisis
Fear, Fury, and the Struggle for Equal Rights in Israel
We’re bringing you something new this week. We invite you to listen to an audio version of an article that appeared in Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas, a publication of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America.In this article, “Fear, Fury, and the Struggle for Equal Rights in Israel,” Leah Solomon writes about the role that emotions play in Israeli culture and politics, and argues that we must move beyond fear in order to bring a resolution to the conflict. Leah is the Chief Education Officer at Encounter, an organization that educates Jewish leaders about...
2023-08-01
27 min
Identity/Crisis
Introducing: Perfect Jewish Parents
Raising kids Jewishly adds a layer of responsibility and opportunity to all of the other demands of parenting as parents navigate a wide set of choices about everything from the songs they play during holidays to how they talk to their kids about the Holocaust and antisemitism. For many parents, these aren't just responsibilities; they're a Jewish practice in and of themselves as they aim to support their children in inheriting and contributing to Jewish tradition. To explore these ideas, the Shalom Hartman Institute is launching Perfect Jewish Parents, a new show about the joys and oys of raising children Je...
2023-07-25
50 min
Perfect Jewish Parents
Meet the Parents
Raising kids Jewishly adds a layer of responsibility and opportunity to all of the other demands of parenting as parents navigate a wide set of choices about everything from the songs they play during holidays to how they talk to their kids about the Holocaust and antisemitism. For many parents, these aren't just responsibilities; they're a Jewish practice in and of themselves as they aim to support their children in inheriting and contributing to Jewish tradition. To explore these ideas, the Shalom Hartman Institute is launching Perfect Jewish Parents, a new show about the joys and oys of raising children Je...
2023-07-25
51 min
Identity/Crisis
A Celebration of Leadership at the Shalom Hartman Institute
A few weeks ago, Yehuda Kurtzer was named president of the Shalom Hartman Institute alongside Donniel Hartman. In this conversation recorded live at the Institute in Jerusalem before 125 rabbis from across North America and Israel, Yehuda and Donniel sat side-by-side for the first time as presidents. In a deeply personal and moving conversation, they discuss what they've learned from each other, how their aspirations of Jewish life and peoplehood shape their work and that of the Institute in Israel and North America, and their vision for the role the Institute can play in the world.
2023-07-11
1h 02
Identity/Crisis
From Liberal Jewish Thought to Liberal Jewish Action
Political ideas are often steeped in religious values. In some communities, political action may even be seen as a religious responsibility. In this episode, adapted from a conversation recorded before a live audience during our annual Community Leadership Program at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, guest host Elana Stein Hain (Rosh Beit Midrash at Hartman) spoke with Orly Erez-Likhovski (Director of the Israel Religious Action Center) and Rabbi Rick Jacobs (President of the Union for Reform Judaism) about how liberal values translate into political action, both for Jews in Israel and in North America. As representatives of the Reform moveme...
2023-07-04
1h 25
Identity/Crisis
The Lost Art of Persuasion
A commitment to a liberal ethos necessitates a commitment to speaking with “the other”, especially about matters we hold most dear. In this edited recording of the Edward Bronfman Memorial Lecture, delivered in front of a live audience during our annual Community Leadership Program at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, Yehuda Kurtzer and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the “lost art” of persuasion: How do we stand by our unique values while also practicing pluralism? What would happen if we valued humble, peaceful society over passionate, loud ideas? How can we examine ourselves, within and without, to become better people?
2023-06-27
1h 10
For Heaven's Sake
On the Verge of a Constitutional Crisis
Last week, President Herzog publicly called for the Netanyahu-led government to rescind its current judicial overhaul plan and resume talks with the opposition. Unheeded, the government's legislative blitz continued as protests against the government gather momentum. Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi, and Elana Stein Hain explore the complexity of the coalition government, the line between civil disobedience and conscientious objection, and how much longer Israel can continue to defy the odds as a fractured society.Avi Sagi Article (in Hebrew) https://heb.hartman.org.il/resisting-commands-civil-disobedience/
2023-03-15
40 min
Identity/Crisis
From Kharkiv to New York
The Jewish tradition is full of exhortations to look after the vulnerable—to open up our pocketbooks, our hearts and even our homes to those in need—as well as stories of our own vulnerability, when we were dependent on the generosity and heroism of others. What might it look like to take those exhortations, and those stories, seriously? Last week, Rachel Jacoby Rosenfield, Executive Vice President of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, wrote an article in Tablet about opening up her home this past year to a family of Ukrainian refugees. She joins Yehuda Kurtzer to explore tha...
2023-02-28
40 min
Identity/Crisis
David Hartman z''l On Living a Spiritual Life
Shalom Hartman Institute founder Rabbi Prof. David Hartman z”l was a leading thinker among philosophers of contemporary Judaism and an internationally renowned Jewish author. In honor of his tenth yahrzeit (Sunday, 30 Shevat 5773 – February 10, 2013) , we are releasing this archival recording of a 1995 lecture he delivered at the Lion of Judah conference which was followed by a speech from then First Lady Hillary Clinton.
2023-01-31
30 min
Identity/Crisis
The Hole in the Center of Israeli Society
Is it possible for centrist and moderate Israelis, those who believe in a Jewish democratic state, to stand together? Tehila Friedman is a Research Fellow at Shalom Hartman Institute, the host of a new Hebrew-language podcast about Israeli Jewish identity, and a program director for Shaharit, a think tank promoting a new social covenant in Israel. She joins Yehuda Kurtzer to discuss how to build societal infrastructure that allows us to manage our differences without breaking into pieces.Tehila's show, Bemedinat HaYehudim, can be found here.
2023-01-17
37 min
For Heaven's Sake
Responding to Israel's New Reality
How can Israelis respond constructively to the threat to democracy posed by Netanyahu's new government including ultra-orthodox and ultra-nationalist coalition partners? Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi, and Elana Stein Hain ask how Liberal Zionists can reorient themselves, their political alliances, and their conversations to protect Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state.We hope that Hartman has become an intellectual and spiritual home for you to make sense of the present moment. Help us put Jewish ideas into action. Every dollar you contribute will be matched 100%, up to $100,000 this December. https://hartman.tfaf...
2022-12-14
39 min
Identity/Crisis
The Path to Heretic in The House
What happens when one grapples with their Jewish identity? How does this impact their relationship with self, family, and community? Yehuda Kurtzer is joined by Naomi Seidman, professor, author, and Hartman Fellow to discuss Heretic in the House, a new limited podcast series from the Hartman Institute that explores various ways that those who have left Orthodox Jewish communities see themselves and what their journeys can reflect about belonging, otherness and communal relationships. In the episode, Yehuda and Naomi unpack why so many Jews—not just those who have gone "Off the Derekh"—struggle with the notion of a stat...
2022-12-13
51 min
Identity/Crisis
Two Elections and the Path Forward
Last week, Israel returned Netanyahu to power as part of a right wing coalition that will include Itamar Ben Gvir, a racist politician who was the subject of last week's episode. This week, Americans seem poised to return at least one chamber of Congress to the Republican party.In this episode, recorded on Election Day as Americans headed to the polls, Yehuda Kurtzer and Donniel Hartman discuss the crucial importance of Jewish and liberal democratic ideals in both societies, how to continue talking across difference as polarization increases, standing up for what is right even when it...
2022-11-09
53 min
For Heaven's Sake
#34: Is “Shrinking” the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict the Right Strategy?
Proposed by Hartman senior fellow Micah Goodman, the idea of “shrinking the conflict” is a new strategy for moving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict forward. What does it mean and what does it entail? Is it a step forward or a step backwards? In this episode, Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi and Elana Stein Hain discuss the moral benefits and the moral pitfalls of this new strategy, and whether it is a permanent solution or a temporary one.
2021-10-13
39 min
Identity/Crisis
#62: Foundational Judaism: What is It, and How Do We Teach It?
Elana Stein Hain (Shalom Hartman Institute) joins Yehuda Kurtzer to introduce Hartman's newest curricular offering, Foundations for a Thoughtful Judaism, a sophisticated yet accessible introduction to Jewish thought for educators and students of all backgrounds. Featured here is an episode of the companion podcast, Conversations for a Thoughtful Judaism, where Hartman scholars Sara Labaton and Tomer Persico speak about the role of Jewish practice in their lives. Learn more at shalomhartman.org/foundations
2021-07-15
44 min
Identity/Crisis
#41: Vaccines and Politics
Journalists Isabel Kershner (The New York Times) and Ben Sales (JTA) join host Yehuda Kurtzer to discuss the successes and failures to date of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Israel, Palestine, and the global Haredi community. Articles mentioned in this episode: I attended an Orthodox anti-vaccine rally. Here’s what I saw. by Ben Sales in the Jewish Telagraphic Agency Netanyahu's Two Israels by Yossi Klein Halevi the Times of Israel Identity/Crisis is produced by the Shalom Hartman Institute in association with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
2021-01-19
44 min
Identity/Crisis
#39: Mature Jewish Secularism
Shalom Hartman Institute Research Fellow Micah Goodman joins Yehuda Kurtzer to discuss Israeli secularism's renewed engagement with Jewish tradition, the different dynamics of change in Israel and the diaspora, and his new book, The Wondering Jew.
2021-01-04
43 min
Identity/Crisis
#36: Politics, Pandemic, and Podcasting
Guest host David Zvi Kalman (Shalom Hartman Institute) and Dovid Lichtenstein (The Lightstone Group, Headlines) discuss podcasting, politics, the pandemic, and halacha in the modern world.
2020-12-07
38 min
Identity/Crisis
#32: Post-Election Torah
In the liminal space between the US election and the declaration of a result, Yehuda Kurtzer and Shalom Hartman Institute Director of Faculty Elana Stein Hain discuss the right relationship between religion and politics, the necessity and limits of political pluralism, and what Torah they're learning for this moment.
2020-11-09
49 min
Identity/Crisis
#24: Gender, Power, and Covid-19
This week's guests are Sheila Katz (National Council of Jewish Women) and Shira Berkovits (Sacred Spaces). The episode was guest-hosted by Sarah Mulhern (Shalom Hartman Institute).
2020-09-08
44 min
Identity/Crisis
#18: The New Jewish Political Canon
Featuring Julie Cooper (Tel Aviv University) Shaul Magid (Shalom Hartman Institute / Dartmouth University), Daniel Kurtzer (School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University), Sara Hirschhorn (Northwestern University), and Yehuda Kurtzer (Shalom Hartman Institute). To purchase The New Jewish Canon: https://www.amazon.com/New-Jewish-Canon-Emunot-Philosophy/dp/1644693607
2020-07-05
1h 11
Identity/Crisis
#17: Mikvah, Fertility, and the Pandemic
Featuring Ruth Balinsky Friedman (Ohev Sholom), Carrie Bornstein (Mayyim Hayyim), Rachel Rosenthal (JTS), and Yehuda Kurtzer (Shalom Hartman Institute) To register for Hartman's summer programming, go to https://www.hartman.org.il/
2020-06-23
56 min
Identity/Crisis
#15: Facing Annexation
This episode features Tamara Cofman Wittes (Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution), Michael Koplow (Israel Policy Forum), and Yehuda Kurtzer (Shalom Hartman Institute).
2020-06-11
47 min
Identity/Crisis
#12: What Comes Next for Denominational Judaism?
A conversation between Rabbi Rick Jacobs (Union for Reform Judaism), Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal (Rabbinical Assembly / United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism), and Yehuda Kurtzer (Shalom Hartman Institute). Register now for "The Revelation Will Be Digitized" on May 27, a virtual conversation about the future of online Jewish education. Joshua Ladon, Hartman’s Director of West Coast Education, will host Miriam Heller-Stern (HUC-JIR), Daniel Septimus (Sefaria), and Lisa Colton (Darim Online) to explore the questions that emerge for Jewish education in an era of COVID and Zoom. Register at https://updates.hartman.org.il/shavuot-2020.php
2020-05-21
51 min
Identity/Crisis
#8: Teaching Judaism at home is hard. Here's what you can do.
Featuring Rabbi Ethan Tucker (Hadar), Stephanie Ives (Beit Rabban Day School), and Yehuda Kurtzer (Hartman). Mentioned in this episode: Shalom Hartman Institute's online iEngage class: http://static.hartman.org.il/dev/uploads/2020/03/iEngage5-_Online-learning-flyer-0320_final.pdf?mc_cid=a64a52da4b&mc_eid=18e469e147&mc_cid=a090cea215&mc_eid=%5bUNIQID%5d
2020-04-23
41 min
Identity/Crisis
#7: No mosque for Ramadan, no church for Easter, no shul for Passover. Now what?
Featuring Rev. Laura Everett (Massachusetts Council of Churches), Maggie Siddiqi (Center for American Progress), and Yehuda Kurtzer (Shalom Hartman Institute). Mentioned in this episode: https://religionnews.com/2020/04/09/a-holy-week-disrupted-by-death-answered-by-an-honest-easter/ https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/17/opinions/coronavirus-faith-leaders-showing-the-way/index.html
2020-04-14
37 min
Identity/Crisis
#5: Can the Jewish social safety net adapt?
This episode features Yehuda Kurtzer of Shalom Hartman, David Rosenn of the Hebrew Free Loan Society, and Joanna Samuels of the Manny Cantor Center. Texts and articles discussed in this episode: Dahlia Lithwick in Slate: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-will-supercharge-american-inequality/608419/ Derek Thompson in the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-will-supercharge-american-inequality/608419/ Talmud Ketubot 67b: https://www.sefaria.org/Ketubot.67b.2?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
2020-04-03
34 min
Identity/Crisis
#4: The Jewish funding crisis is here
Identity/Crisis is a production of the Shalom Hartman Institute. Music by SoCalled. For the first segment, we discussed these articles in eJewishPhilanthropy: https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/courageous-leadership-now-an-urgent-agenda-for-the-jewish-community-and-its-institutions/ https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/major-jewish-organizations-form-emergency-pandemic-coalition/ The pieces discussed in the second segment were: Brief Filed by the Jewish War Veterans of the United States: https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/17/17-1717/82310/20190130151739894_17-1717%2018-18%20bsac%20Jewish%20War%20Veterans.pdf Brief of the National Commission on Law and Public Affairs and Other Orthodox Organizations
2020-03-27
49 min
Identity/Crisis
#3: How to be a good leader in the middle of a pandemic
Identity/Crisis is a production of the Shalom Hartman Institute. Music by SoCalled. The story about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai mentioned in the first segment can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.33b.5?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en The sermon of Rabbi Nissim of Gerona can be found here: http://static.hartman.org.il/dev/uploads/2020/03/Derashot-HaRan-11.pdf
2020-03-20
51 min
Identity/Crisis
#2: Coronavirus and Community
Identity/Crisis is a production of the Shalom Hartman Institute. Music by SoCalled. The responsum referred to in this episode is Tzitz Eliezer, Vol. 20, §19. An audio recording of the translation can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u16hsy6uk0r92oh/AAApC39Pi0IuA-XC2fCji-gTa/Recording%202020.03.12/Tzitz%20Eliezer/ZOOM0009?dl=0&preview=ZOOM0009_Tr2.WAV&subfolder_nav_tracking=1
2020-03-13
47 min
Identity/Crisis
#1: Jews and the Presidency
Identity/Crisis is a production of the Shalom Hartman Institute. Music by SoCalled. Links from this episode: Michael Walzer: https://www.resetdoc.org/story/citizenship-pluralism-and-political-action/ Mishnah Bava Batra 1:5: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Batra.1.5?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
2020-03-05
36 min