The Tikvah Podcast

The podcast explores the decline in family formation in America and its consequences. It discusses the cultural, economic, and policy factors influencing birth rates. The correlation between religiosity and family size is analyzed, along with a focus on the Orthodox Jewish community. The impact of technology on family life, Israel's high birth rate, and the importance of supportive subcultures for child-rearing are also discussed.

The podcast delves into the challenges and controversies surrounding Israeli aid to Gaza, including accusations of intentional targeting by Hamas and the complexities of aid delivery amidst ongoing conflicts. Jonathan Conricus provides historical context and highlights the strategic challenges of distributing humanitarian assistance in Gaza, discussing communication strategies, de-radicalization efforts, and the need for a humanitarian zone to streamline delivery.

One day after this phase of the war began, on February 25, 2022, the writer, former Senate staff member, Navy reservist, and executive director of the KKR Global Institute Vance Serchuk joined Mosaic‘s editor Jonathan Silver to discuss what was happening in real time. Two years later, he joins the Tikvah Podcast again to step back and ask some basic questions, and to offer his considered judgment on the state of the war. What are its causes? On what basis can one decipher the truth from the conflicting narratives about the war in Europe, in Ukraine, in Russia, and in the United States? What have we learned about the deployment of novel military technology? What sorts of alliances have emerged or been strengthened, and what can we learn from them? Has the invasion of Ukraine helped the West relearn the necessity of military force, and chastened some of the most idealistic discourse about human rights and multilateralism? How does the war in Ukraine shed light on the state of U.S.-Russia relations and competition? Serchuk recently returned from the Munich Security Conference, where he spoke with foreign officials about the state of the war. And, this August, he’s teaching a specialized seminar on U.S.-Russia Relations as a part of the Security Studies Program at the Hertog Foundation in Washington, DC. If you’re an advanced undergraduate, a recent college graduate, or a young professional working in national security, foreign policy, or related fields, you might consider applying to study with Mr. Serchuk. Applications are available at hertogfoundation.org, and they are due on March 4. 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.

The podcast explores Maimonides' fascinating transition from philosopher to physician, detailing his numerous works on medical topics such as hemorrhoids, asthma, and poisons. The discussion highlights his emphasis on simplifying medical knowledge into practical guidelines, with a focus on his Commentary on Hippocrates' Aphorisms. Through engaging chapters, the podcast delves into Maimonides' scientific approach, the historical context of medical figures, the necessity of commentaries, the challenges of mastering medicine, and the contrast between human and divine knowledge.

Exploring the historical abduction of Edgardo Mortara, a Jewish boy baptized and taken by the pope in 1858. Cynthia Ozick's new work delves into the aftermath on future generations. The podcast discusses religion's impact on law, Mortara's controversy, and the fascination with bygone Jewish sects. It also explores the differences between Judaism and Christianity in preserving identity and family history.

This week, the Tikvah Podcast at Mosaic returns to the towering intellectual and religious sage of medieval Judaism, Moses Maimonides, the Rambam. In two previous conversations about his work, the professor of Judaism Yehuda Halper and podcast host Jonathan Silver focused on Maimonides’s Mishneh Torah, his code of law. This week, the two turn from the Mishneh Torah to Maimonides’s philosophical magnum opus, Moreh ha Nevukhim, known in English as The Guide of the Perplexed. Whereas the Mishneh Torah leaves one with the impression that philosophy and law can be reconciled within the covenantal structure of an observant Jewish life, the emphasis in The Guide of the Perplexed is on the tensions, difficulties, and apparent contradictions between philosophy and law. The Guide is one of the great books of Jewish philosophy, and it requires some preliminary introduction before anyone can seriously engage its questions. So this discussion is an orientation to the kind of study, the kind of person, and the kind of life that the Guide is written to instruct. 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.

Rey Takeyh, an expert on Iran's foreign policy and its role in the Middle East, discusses what Iran wants out of the ongoing war in the Middle East, their support for proxies in Lebanon and Yemen, and their strategic concept against Israel. The podcast also explores the role of anti-Semitism in Iranian decision-making, the flow of information in Iran, and the potential consequences of Iran declaring nuclear capacity.

Israeli professor of Jewish philosophy, Yehuda Halper, discusses Maimonides and his portrayal of the human condition. They explore Maimonides's work on the laws of character traits and the moral psychology he presents. The podcast explores the distinction between human and divine knowledge, the aspiration to imitate God's knowledge, and Maimonides's perspective on balancing behavior and character traits. They also touch on the understanding of the soul in the philosophical tradition and the importance of moderation and wisdom in fulfilling life's purpose.

Hillel Neuer, a human-rights expert focused on Israel and Zionism, discusses the history of the human-rights movement and its divergence from Israel. He explores the origins of human rights, the power of the Universal Declaration, and the legacy of key figures in international human rights. Neuer also questions the motivation behind anti-Israel views and the institutional support for controversial figures.

Discussing the life and works of Moses Maimonides, including his writings on Jewish law, philosophy, and science. Exploring the study methodology and stages of study in relation to Torah. Examining the importance of independence and engagement in Maimonides' philosophy. Explaining the concept of ostracization in Jewish law.