The Tikvah Podcast

Andrew Doran, an expert on the roots of civilization and Jewish history, discusses how civilization emerged through God's covenant with Abraham's descendants and contrasts pagan ritual violence with Judeo-Christian values. The conversation explores the evolution of moral progress through Abrahamic faiths, challenges Enlightenment ideologies, and delves into historical missionary perspectives and ethical considerations. It also touches on Athens' intellectual advancements, the conflict between Israelites and Amalekites, Hamas' departure from Islamic tenets, and modern activism compared to the 1960s.

Haisam Hassanein, an expert on Middle Eastern politics, discusses Egypt's role in mediating between Israel and Hamas. Exploring Egypt's motivations in Gaza, from fears of Hamas to leveraging the conflict for economic gains. The podcast also delves into Egypt's evolving stance towards Hamas, economic challenges, and diplomatic maneuvers in the region. Additionally, it touches on Egypt's strategic moves in the Gaza conflict, its relations with Israel, and perception of Iran's threat, highlighting the positive signals in Egypt-Israel collaboration.

Historian and author Asael Abelman joins host Jonathan Silver to delve into the poignant history of Israel's national anthem, 'HaTikvah.' They explore the biblical roots and national aspirations of the anthem, its contemporary discussions, and the mysteries surrounding it, such as why the anthem is a song of longing for a state that already exists. The episode touches on themes of resilience, trauma, and the shared longing for peace and unity in Israel.

Rabbi Shlomo Brody discusses Jewish military ethics, exploring the nuances of ethics in war according to Jewish tradition and Israeli military history. The podcast delves into the historical evolution of Jewish military ethics, ethical dilemmas in protecting civilians during warfare, and navigating moral complexities in asymmetric warfare.

Ruth Wisse, expert in Jewish literature and political science, discusses the surge of anti-Israel protests on campuses. She delves into the historical roots and shifting strategies of anti-Israel forces, explores campus anti-military sentiments, and highlights the importance of defending free speech on university campuses.

Next week, Jewish families will sit at their seder tables and relive the drama of Jewish liberation from Egyptian oppression. The text used, the Haggadah, is one of the most widely read works of the rabbinic tradition. It has an inescapably national aspect, and its main themes, when seen in the right perspective, suggest to the rabbi Meir Soloveichik that it can be understood as a preeminent work of Jewish political thought: tackling themes of freedom and oppression, covenant and constitution, state and society, the nature of law and the dreams of a people. Soloveichik discusses that and more here, in the first lecture in his eight-part course, “The Haggadah: A Political Classic,” which is available in full at meirsoloveichik.com. Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.

Yechiel Leiter, former Israeli public servant and father of fallen soldier, discusses Israel's conflict with Hamas, responsibilities of citizenship, Zionism, and mourning lost children. The episode delves into military strategies, personal narratives, and the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers, highlighting the historical justification of Zionism and Israeli parenting in a military tradition.

Whether or not haredi Jews should be required to serve in the IDF is a perennial question of Israeli politics, one that has caused political parties to form and disband, governing coalitions to rise and fall. It was the subject of a 2021 episode of this podcast with the haredi judge, editor, and rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer. This question has taken on a new intensity lately, as the October 7 attacks and Israel’s war in Gaza have unified most of the country in a belief that the haredi draft exemption is unsustainable, unwise, and unjust. This week, Pfeffer joins Jonathan Silver again to talk about how the matter now looks from within the haredi community. They discuss how Israeli haredim reacted to the October 7 attacks, the experience of the small number of haredim who have been serving in military operations since the war began, and what Pfeffer thinks they should do. Notably, he argues that, as a matter of Jewish belonging, haredi men ought to enlist and help to protect their country. Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.

Nearly twenty-five years ago, at the turn of the new millennium, America came very close to selecting not only a Jewish vice president, but a proudly religious, Shabbat-observing, kosher-eating Jewish vice president: Joe Lieberman, senator from Connecticut. Lieberman, who died this week, epitomized a certain spirit in American public life, when the great debates over the conduct of American foreign policy and the management of domestic affairs still admitted heterodox disagreement. He was also a key figure in the U.S.-Israel relationship, articulating as well as anyone in public life why the widespread support that Americans feel toward the Jewish state also had a strategic value in serving American interests. In October 2019, Lieberman, by then retired from the Senate, was in Jerusalem, where he addressed the Herzl Conference on Contemporary Zionism. In that speech—later published in a suitably edited form in Mosaic—he took a retrospective tone, looking back at the initial impulses that led Theodor Herzl’s ideas to take concrete form in modern Israel. He looked at the effect that Israel has had on American Jewry. And he honestly examined growing political trends that troubled him. Today, we rebroadcast a 2019 conversation that Jonathan Silver had with Lieberman in which they discuss that speech and his career. Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.

Exploring the challenges facing American neighborhoods and practical solutions to strengthen community bonds. Emphasizing the importance of local engagement, human scale, and addressing historical segregation. Delving into the unique characteristics of Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods that foster strong community ties and relationships.