The Tikvah Podcast

Ido Hevroni, a literature professor at Shalem College in Jerusalem, shares insights on teaching Homer's epics to students with military backgrounds. He discusses how these modern warriors connect deeply with themes of honor, duty, and sacrifice found in the Iliad and Odyssey. Hevroni highlights the emotional resonance of Hector's farewell to Andromache and Odysseus's journey home, showing how literature offers a lens to understand personal transformation amid conflict. The profound challenges of returning home after war are also explored.

Andrew Koss, a Mosaic colleague and author of "Jewish Studies Against the Jews," shares his concerns about anti-Jewish activism and the responses from Jewish studies professors. He engages in a thought-provoking dialogue with David Myers, a prominent UCLA historian known for his insightful commentary on public policy. Together, they explore the challenges within Jewish studies, the tensions between particularism and universalism, and the role of scholars in addressing rising anti-Semitism on campuses, all while challenging the future and relevance of the field.

Barry Strauss, a former classics professor at Cornell and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, discusses the Jewish struggles against Rome from 63 BCE to 136 CE. He explores the contrast between Roman narratives, which viewed Jews as rebels, and Jewish perspectives that emphasize a fight for autonomy. Strauss delves into the life of Josephus, revealing his complex identity, and highlights the cultural clash between Jewish ideals of freedom and Roman order. The conversation connects historical events to modern geopolitical issues, making for a thought-provoking dialogue.

Michael Doran, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and an expert in Middle East policy, discusses the intriguing dynamics of Republican support for Israel amidst changing public opinions. Despite declining overall support, Republicans’ backing for Israel remains strong and even grows, as seen in recent polls. Doran critiques the influence of social media voices, like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson, which often contradict traditional pro-Israel sentiments. He examines the complex relationship between American identity and support for Israel, especially among evangelical Christians.

Hussein Aboubakr Mansour, an Egyptian-American writer, discusses his essay on the Arab mindset and its link to jihadism rooted in European philosophy. Ze’ev Maghen, a professor focused on Islamic history, and Bernard Haykel, a political Islam expert, join the conversation. They delve into the complex historical and political landscape of the Middle East, the impact of colonialism on ideology, and the struggles of Arab intellectuals. The dialogue also covers the evolving nature of Islamism, authenticity in religious thought, and the effects of modernity on traditional beliefs.

Tal Fortgang, a Manhattan Institute fellow and civil rights lawyer, teams up with David E. Bernstein, a George Mason law professor and author, to tackle rising anti-Semitism on campuses. They discuss the historic Columbia settlement and effective legal strategies for protecting Jewish students. The duo critically examines the relationship between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, advocating for a shift towards grassroots advocacy. They also explore the complexities of civil rights laws impacting Jewish identities and the necessity of a robust response from organizations to confront contemporary challenges.

Jacob J. Schacter, a Rabbi and academic historian, delves into the profound concept of collective memory in Jewish culture. He explores how individuals connect with tragic historical events they've never experienced, particularly the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem. Memory plays a critical role in shaping Jewish identity, supported by six essential remembrances in daily life. The significance of fast days in fostering reflection and repentance is discussed, as well as the cultural resilience displayed on the Ninth of Av, uniting collective grief and identity.

October 7th exposed to everyone what many in and around the academy have known for years: American universities—not all, but many—are failing catastrophically to educate the next generation about the history, cultures, and politics of the Middle East. Instead of producing students versed in the region’s complexities, these institutions have become factories for ideological activism. And nowhere is this truer than in the case of Israel and its history: Zionism in the modern university classroom is rarely examined as a movement of national liberation but instead as a caricature of colonialism, racism, repression, and occupation. And outside of the classroom, we’ve seen the most prestigious campuses in the United States transform into nodes of anti-Israel activism and Jew hatred. These are immense and long-standing problems. But instead of just diagnosing their sources and discussing their perils, today we’re going to talk to someone who’s actually done something about it. Robert Satloff saw this crisis clearly. Having published back in 2001 the eminent historian Martin Kramer’s short volume on the corruption of Middle East Studies, Ivory Towers on Sand, Satloff has spent decades watching the field drift toward anti-Israel political advocacy. As the executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, he decided to stop complaining and found his own professional master’s program. Working with Pepperdine University, the Washington Institute has established a completely new graduate program designed to train policy professionals with rigorous scholarship and historical accuracy, without anti-Israel bias. The program offers full scholarships, accepts no foreign funding, is fully accredited, and will convene its inaugural cohort in Washington, DC this fall.

In this discussion, Yuval Levin, a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and editor of National Affairs, delivers a thought-provoking speech linking the biblical figure Nehemiah to America's need for cultural renewal. He emphasizes the importance of citizenship as America approaches its 250th anniversary, advocating for a balance between rebuilding institutions and defending values. Levin's insights highlight the necessity of nurturing tradition while embracing contemporary challenges, making a compelling case for both toughness and compassion in societal progress.

On June 22, American B-2 bombers dropped hundreds of tons of explosives on three nuclear sites in Iran—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Right after President Trump announced that the pilots were out of Iranian air space, the world started to learn the details of Operation Midnight Hammer, the extraordinary American mission to neutralize Iran’s nuclear-weapons program. News coverage started immediately—and some of the most incisive and careful analysis appeared outside of the legacy media. Some of the best news coverage in English could be found at the Free Press, the Daily Wire, and the Call Me Back podcast.   Rather than bring on the guests who’ve already offered up their analysis in those venues, we thought it would be valuable to have a series of conversations on dimensions of this war—not only Operation Midnight Hammer, but the last two weeks beginning with the Israeli airstrikes on Iran—that take up some of the deeper, less immediate concerns. War is violent and bloody. But war is also a teacher, and it reveals things about the nations who wage it.   “Living Through History: Learning from the Twelve-Day War” is a series of conversations from the Tikvah Podcast at Mosaic and featuring its host, Jonathan Silver. These include a discussion with Rabbi Meir Soloveichik on what the war reveals about providence and Jewish history; with Hussein Aboubakr Mansour about what the war reveals about the clash of civilizations; with the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, about what the war reveals about the U.S.- Israel relationship at this moment in Zionist history; and with Victor Davis Hanson about what the war reveals about the American interest. Today you can listen to the first, with Rabbi Soloveichik.