Identity/Crisis

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 

Tal Becker, Senior Fellow at the Hartman Institute and Legal Adviser of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discusses the ethics of Israel's war against Hamas. They explore just war theory through legal, philosophical, and Jewish frameworks, analyzing the actions of the IDF and Hamas. Topics include navigating the complexities of interpreting the news cycle, fighting an immoral enemy while preserving moral sensibilities, and the challenges of trusting Israel's military intentions. They also discuss the role of supporters in critiquing and supporting Israel's commitment to conducting a just war.

For over a month, Hamas has held 240 hostages from 33 different countries, among them women, children, infants, teenagers, and seniors. This week, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, the parents of 23-year-old hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, spent time with Yehuda Kurtzer talking about their son and their plight as parents of a hostage. In this conversation, they describe their efforts beseeching global leaders, the frustrations of indifference, the politics of fighting a war with hostages, and what we can all do to help bring Hersh and the rest of the hostages home.   Follow the Instagram account @bringthemhomenow Follow the Instagram account @bringhershhome Spend one minute a day trying to bring the hostages home: oneminaday.com Watch Rachel Goldberg speak at the United Nations JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS 

Exploring the contrasting responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the podcast delves into the differences between the Israeli left and the global left, the challenges in criticizing Israeli leadership during war, and the role of NGOs in addressing human rights violations. It also discusses the establishment of a Center for Shared Society at Hartman that aims to promote a stronger and more inclusive Israeli democracy.

Yehuda Kurtzer discusses his recent trip to Israel and the deep trauma facing Israelis and Jews in the Diaspora due to the war with Hamas. The ethical considerations of Israel's military campaign and the struggle for justice and compassion among liberal North American Jews are explored. The importance of solidarity among Jews and the challenges of finding a balance between supporting Israel and questioning its conduct are emphasized. The perception of American support for Israel, the comparison of 9-11 to recent events, and the growing rift between diaspora and Israeli Jews are also discussed.

The events of the past few weeks and war in Israel will be a defining, even identity-shaping, moment for a generation of young Jews. In this week's episode, Yehuda Kurtzer chats with several young Jewish students from the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Hevruta Gap-Year program, an experience for Israeli and North American students to live and learn together. They share the ways the war has already changed their outlooks - from a conviction about future army roles to fear about arriving on college campuses, and they consider their obligations to one another as Jews. Despite all that is changing, they point us toward their own sources for hope.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS