As Israeli society grapples with the aftermath of October 7th, Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum is among the religious leaders rising to the challenge of providing spiritual, pastoral, and psychosocial support to evacuees, wounded soldiers, families of hostages, and others affected by the trauma of the attacks and the war. In this week's episode, she joins Yehuda Kurtzer to discuss her recent experiences and personal insights as a rabbi navigating communal grief, maintaining a spiritual position towards peace, and digging into the Jewish tradition for answers. Tamar’s rabbinic work was highlighted on NPR’s Morning Edition.   Sponsor a podcast episode  JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS  

This week, Identity/Crisis is excited to share the first episode of Hartman’s newest podcast: TEXTing with Elana Stein Hain. On each episode Elana delves deeply into the issues of our day through the lens of classical Jewish texts, in conversation with Hartman scholars Christine Hayes, Yonah Hain, or Leora Batnitzky.   In this first episode of TEXTing, Elana and Christine turn to the Talmud in tractate Hagigah to address the shock, disbelief, alienation, and despair Jews around the world are experiencing in the wake of October 7 and throughout the subsequent Israel-Hamas War.  We are grateful to the Walder Charitable Fund and Micah Philanthropies for their generous support of TEXTing.  This episode is also sponsored by Erica Schacter Schwartz  Episode Source Sheet  You can now sponsor an episode of TEXTing. Click HERE to learn more.  JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS  

This podcast explores the complexities of Jewish identity and the concept of collective belonging. It discusses the tensions and complexities of Jewish identity, the interplay between Genesis and Exodus in Jewish identity, the importance of loyalty in Judaism, and the need to consider context in conversations about the Jewish people. It also reflects on the changing dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and emphasizes the complexity of Jewish thinking and loyalty to the Jewish people.

Mark Oppenheimer, an expert in the relationship between Jews and American universities, discusses the changing perspective on elite universities and the experiences of Jewish students. They explore anti-Semitism, the dynamics of power structures, the trade-off between safety and free speech, the evolution of college culture and Jewish life, and the political implications of college campus trends.

The podcast explores the evolution of human rights, the influence of religious traditions, and the failures of international bodies. It discusses the history of human rights, focusing on Zionism and the Jewish people. The emergence of the human rights industry, the need for reform in international bodies, and the complexities of addressing human rights catastrophes are also explored.

In this final episode, the host reflects on key moments from past episodes, including concerns over Israel's democracy, the devastation of October 7, and the subsequent war. They explore the growing divide between North American and Israeli Jews, the Israeli protest movement, managing differences within Jewish communities, teaching about the Jewish community and ethics of war, and express nervousness about the future while finding optimism in democracy protests.

Law professor Cochav Elkayam-Levy discusses her work to compile a comprehensive accounting of gender-based violence committed by Hamas. The podcast explores the contradictory reactions to allegations against Hamas, the struggle for believability faced by Israeli feminist scholars, and the importance of solidarity and healing in the face of shared trauma. It also addresses the challenges of addressing allegations of sexual violence in Israel and emphasizes the need for support and new coalitions in the pursuit of human rights.

Unpacking the meaning of Hanukkah by studying texts with Joshua Kulp, exploring interpretations of Hanukkah in relation to Israel and America, analyzing encoded references and the name 'Maccabee', discussing a Talmudic tale and dispelling misconceptions, diving into the significance of Hanukkah in rabbinic tradition, and exploring the tensions of deconstruction and finding truths.

Mijal Bitton, a research fellow and communal leader, joins Yehuda Kurtzer to discuss the safety concerns of Jewish students on college campuses amid the Israel-Hamas War. They explore the fine line between discomfort and danger, the purpose of universities, the vulnerability of social sciences, the imbalance of left-wing orthodoxy, and the challenges faced by the Jewish community in representation and ideology. Strategies to support embattled students are also discussed.

What does it mean for 290,000 Jews from all over North America to show up on the National Mall? In this episode, Yehuda Kurtzer reflects on the significance of the historic gathering in Washington, DC on November 14. Punctuated by recordings of fellow demonstrators and colleagues, he recounts his experiences at the rally, explores what it means to show up, and considers how this gathering might be remembered.   JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS