The Tikvah Podcast

This month, Keir Starmer was elected prime minister of the UK. He is something of a reformer in the Labor party, which, before him, had been led by Jeremy Corbyn. The two have a different public temperament and different public persona. They have a different attitude toward the Jewish people and the Jewish state. Corbyn normalized a degree of anti-Semitism within mainstream Labor politics that was so odious it forced ideologically committed Labor members who are Jewish to leave the party. Since Starmer took over, the party has made a conscious effort to put forward a different, more welcoming face toward Jews. And what about beneath the surface? Is Starmer different in practice and policy toward Israel and the Jewish people? To answer that question, host Jonathan Silver speaks here with British journalist Melanie Phillips, who wrote an essay on the subject recently called "All Change." 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.

Rabbi Mark Cohn discusses the Reform movement's shift on interfaith marriage, challenging the taboo against intermarriage. He explores the complexities of maintaining Jewish practices in interfaith relationships, and the changing dynamics between clergy and congregation in the Reform community. The decision to allow intermarried students at Hebrew Union College sparks debate on the future of Reform clergy and the balance between inclusivity and tradition.

Shmuel Yosef Agnon is one of the masters of modern Hebrew fiction, who helped to spark the revival of modern Hebrew literature in Israel and around the world. His work is not only beloved, but also profound, laden with many allusions to the vast canon of traditional Jewish text that shaped his literary imagination: one hears in Agnon’s work echoes of the siddur, the Hebrew Bible, and an astonishing array of rabbinic literature. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1966.   Yesterday, Tikvah released a five-part, online video course introducing students to S.Y. Agnon’s short stories, novels, and anthologies—​writing that strengthened the Jewish people in those pivotal 20th-century years when the state of Israel was reborn. The course is taught by Rabbi Jeffrey Saks, director of research at the Agnon House in Jerusalem, series editor of the S.Y. Agnon Library at the Toby Press, editor of the journal Tradition, and the founding director of the Academy for Torah Initiatives and Directions in Jewish Education – ATID. This week, we bring you the audio from the first episode of Rabbi Saks’s forthcoming video course on the writings of Shay Agnon. To register for the course, go to tikvahfund.org/agnon.   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.

Ethicist and rabbi Shlomo Brody discusses Jewish military ethics, exploring reasons nations go to war and ethical considerations. Topics include balancing force with threats, historical context of Jewish military engagement, analyzing Masada's legacy, and Jewish tradition on wartime decision-making. Delving into honor culture, survival strategies, and moral responsibilities in warfare.

Jewish communities have just concluded the celebration of Shavuot, a pilgrimage festival in times of the Temple and the moment when, fifty days after the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt, God revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses. Those commandments form the foundation of the many rules and obligations inflected throughout the Jewish tradition. Indeed, after thousands of years of Jewish history, observant Jewish lives continue to be structured by what is known as halakhah, Jewish law. What is halakhah? In 2018, the rabbi Mark Gottlieb sat down to answer that question with Chaim Saiman, one of the world’s foremost scholars of Jewish law and the author of a then newly published book called Halakhah: The Rabbinic Idea of Law. This week, in honor of the Jewish holiday that celebrates lawgiving, we bring you a rebroadcast of their discussion. 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.

Since the attacks of October 7 and since the Gaza war began, a small but vocal segment of American Jews have joined in with the anti-Israel protests convulsing American cities and campuses. What are their ideas and where do they come from? Elliott Abrams is the author of If You Will It, a book coming this fall on Jewish peoplehood. Also the chairman of Tikvah and a regular Mosaic writer, he’s been an observer of American Jewish life for a long time. In his view, the Jewish turn against Israel in America today is vastly different than the usual critiques one hears every Shabbat in every synagogue across the country. In other words, it’s not that these Jews don’t like the Israeli prime minister or other members of his governing coalition, or certain policies of the government or trends in Israeli culture. It's that they see Israel as a moral encumbrance on the Jewish conscience, and imagine that the Jews would be better off without statehood altogether. He recently developed this argument in an essay in Fathom called “American Jewish Anti-Zionist Diasporism: A Critique,” and here elaborates on it with host Jonathan Silver. 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.

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.