

Identity/Crisis
Shalom Hartman Institute
In a frenzied media cycle, Identity/Crisis creates better conversations about the issues facing contemporary Jewish life. Host Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, talks with leading thinkers to unpack current events affecting Jewish communities in North America, Israel, and around the world, revealing the core Jewish values underlying the issues that matter most to you.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 6, 2025 • 44min
Fighting Holocaust Fatigue — with Anita Friedman
What is at stake when Holocaust memory fades—or worse, loses its relevance?
This week on Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with Anita Friedman —
daughter of survivors, renowned educator, and executive producer of the new film Among Neighbors — about the future of Holocaust education, the
dangers of “Holocaust fatigue,” and how storytelling can help make Holocaust memories relevant for generations to come.
Register for the Sapir Debate HERE.
Learn more and register for our Winter Leadership Conference HERE.
You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more.
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Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 13min
Yehuda Kurtzer on Arc: The Podcast
In this episode of Arc: The Podcast, Mark Oppenheimer sits down with Yehuda Kurtzer to discuss the aesthetics of yarmulkas, the crisis facing clergy-members, and how the war in Israel is changing American Jewry.
You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more.
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7 snips
Sep 22, 2025 • 52min
God as King in an Age of Authoritarianism – with Ethan Tucker
Ethan Tucker, president of the Hadar Institute and expert in Jewish law, discusses the challenges of praying ancient texts in today's political climate. He emphasizes the importance of sincerity in prayer and how reinterpretation can bridge tradition with modern egalitarian values. Tucker shares insights on reframing divine kingship as a consent model and argues for preserving difficult texts for collective solace. He also addresses the dynamic between personal and communal prayers while exploring diverse approaches to egalitarianism in liturgy.

Sep 16, 2025 • 42min
What is Netanyahu Doing? with Michael Koplow
Does Benjamin Netanyahu need Hamas — and even this war —for political survival? This week on Identity/Crisis, following Israel’s puzzling strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, Yehuda Kurtzer and Michael Koplow, Chief Policy
Officer at Israel Policy Forum, try to get inside Netanyahu’s head and understand the ways in which he and Hamas may be inextricably linked.
You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more.
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7 snips
Sep 9, 2025 • 51min
The Unapologetic Jewish Story — with Sarah Hurwitz
In this enlightening discussion, Sarah Hurwitz, author of 'As a Jew', shares her journey of transforming a superficial Jewish identity into a profound connection with her heritage. She tackles the complexities of Jewish narratives in modern education, shedding light on parental concerns about historical understanding. Delving into themes of assimilation and community, Sarah emphasizes the significance of embracing authentic Jewish traditions for continuity. The conversation also explores how historical memory shapes present identities and the relevance of unique rituals like Sukkot in today's world.

Sep 2, 2025 • 53min
Non-Jewish in the Shadow of the Synagogue — with Christine Hayes
Who gets to decide someone’s Jewish status, and what happens when that status comes into conflict with someone’s identity? This week on Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Christine Hayes, Sterling Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at Yale and Hartman Senior Fellow for a provocative conversation about intermarriage, Jewish adjacency, and the boundaries of community and belonging.
Check out Yehuda’s substack HERE
Learn more about Hartman’s Hevruta Gap-Year Program HERE
Learn more about the Edward Fein Winter Student Seminar HERE
You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more.
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9 snips
Aug 26, 2025 • 43min
Live at JFN: What Ails American Judaism? with Franklin Foer and Sarah Hurwitz (Re-Release)
Franklin Foer, a journalist and author known for his insights on Jewish issues, joins Sarah Hurwitz, a former White House speechwriter and author of a self-discovery memoir. Together, they delve into the pressing anxieties facing American Judaism today. They examine the fears surrounding its future, the metaphors of illness reflecting the community's state, and the importance of adapting traditions in a changing world. Their engaging conversation touches on the balance between cultural assimilation and preserving Jewish identity amid rising anti-Semitism.

Aug 19, 2025 • 53min
Future Tense: What Comes Next? with Yehuda Kurtzer
This week, Identity/Crisis is excited to share Hartman’s newest podcast, Future Tense, where rising Jewish leaders drive conversations with scholars from the Shalom Hartman Institute on the most pressing issues facing their generation.
What kind of Jewish future do we want to build – and how do we build something that will last? On this episode of Future Tense, hosts Anna Weiss, Sami Jinich, and Yadid Orlow reflect on their upbringings and share their visions for Jewish life. Together with Yehuda Kurtzer, they explore how values are transmitted and imagine different versions of the Jewish future that they want to create.
Learn more about Future Tense here.
You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more.
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

5 snips
Aug 12, 2025 • 47min
Genocide and the Burden of History
The podcast dives into the moral complexities of Jewish identity post-Holocaust, intertwined with the plight of Gaza. Scholars question how historical trauma shapes modern responsibilities amid current conflicts. The discussion navigates the delicate balance between activism and academic rigor, especially regarding terms like 'genocide.' There's a focus on the role of storytelling in conflict, highlighting the need for truth-telling and compassion. Ultimately, it probes the ethical burden that comes with scholarship during humanitarian crises.

Aug 5, 2025 • 53min
Concerning Camp Communities – with Adina Frydman
What can Jewish summer camps teach us about building stronger, more inclusive Jewish communities? On this episode of Identity/Crisis, guest host and editor of Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas, Claire Sufrin, sits down with Adina Frydman, CEO of Young Judaea Global, to explore how Jewish camps create spaces where North American and Israeli campers live, learn, and wrestle with complex identities together. Together they discuss bridging cultural divides, navigating political tensions, and fostering belonging while holding space for difference.
Find the digital version of the summer 2025 issue of Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas HERE
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