Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro

This week Lara and Michael sit down with acclaimed Rabbi, author, and rabbinical scholar, Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro to discuss what it actually means to be Jewish. He dives deep into Jewish history and shows how the Zionist movement belonged to Christians before Theodore Herzl came around. He explains how the founders of Zionism hijacked the religion while holding a lot of the same beliefs as the antisemites of their day. He defines what it means to practice Judaism and how the future of Jewish identity hinges on defeating Zionism

Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, a distinguished author and anti-Zionist intellectual, dives into the complex relationship between Judaism and Zionism. He boldly questions whether Judaism is an ethnicity and debates the validity of identity tied to lineage. The conversation travels through the philosophical realms of infinity and divine intent, challenging conventional views on suffering and existence. Shapiro also explores the contentious link between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, emphasizing that critiques of Zionism do not equal hostility towards Jews. His insights provoke a rethinking of Jewish identity amidst geopolitical realities.

Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, arguing against Zionism as a repudiation of Judaism and supporting criticism of Israel as a defense of Jews. Topics include: Jewish identity, the complexity of Zionism and Israel, the connection between Zionism and idol worship in Judaism, the lives and significance of the Heredi people, pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist intersection, and the opposition of the Heredi community to Zionism.