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PODCAST

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis

Tamar Ish Shalom

Renowned Israeli journalist Tamar Ish Shalom will embark on a journey to engage with leaders and key figures in American Jewry to analyze how the war in Israel is reshaping American Jewish identity. Together, they will explore the challenges and opportunities facing American Jews and what the future holds for their relationship with Israel, especially against the backdrop of political developments in both the U.S. and Israel. If you would like to be in touch with us contact:

religion & spirituality judaism

All Episodes

42:19

Roya Hakakian on Iran’s Uncertain Future

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2026/03/24

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar Ish Shalom sits down with Iranian-American author and journalist Roya Hakakian, a leading voice on Iran, exile, and the lived experience of life under the Islamic Republic. Born into a Jewish family in Tehran, Hakakian left Iran at 19 in the years following the revolution, carrying with her both the memory of a vanished world and a deep understanding of the regime that replaced it. Her work, spanning memoir, journalism, and political analysis, has c...

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51:30

Matti Friedman on How the Media Works Against Israel

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2026/02/22

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar Ish Shalom sits down with Matti Friedman, one of the most perceptive and nuanced voices writing about Israel, war, and Jewish identity today. A former Associated Press correspondent in Jerusalem and a longtime contributor to the New York Times, The Atlantic, and the Free Press, Friedman has built a reputation for clarity in moments of confusion and for resisting the easy narratives that so often dominate coverage of Israel. Born in Canada and havin...

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47:48

Jonah Platt on Hollywood and Being Jewish after...

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2026/02/08

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar Ish Shalom sits down with Jonah Platt, one of the most striking Jewish voices to emerge in American public life in the years since October 7. Platt was well known long before this moment as a producer, writer, and cultural commentator, and as the son of legendary Hollywood producer Marc Platt and Jewish communal leader Julie Platt. Over the past few years, however, he has undergone a visible and consequential transformation. Through his podcast Bein...

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43:50

Yair Golan on the Future of Israel

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, journalist Tamar Ish Shalom sits down with Yair Golan, former IDF major general and one of the most prominent figures on Israel’s political left. Golan reflects on a life shaped by decades of military service, including his role as deputy chief of staff of the IDF, and on his transition from the world of security into Israeli politics, where he now serves as leader of the Democrats Party. The conversation turns personal as Golan recounts the morning of Oc...

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47:23

Maya Tevet Dayan on Being Israeli on Campus After...

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2026/01/11

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, journalist Tamar Ish Shalom sits down with Maya Tevet Dayan for a deeply reflective conversation. Tevet Dayan is an Israeli poet, writer, and public intellectual, widely regarded as one of the most important voices in contemporary Israeli literature and feminism. A recipient of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Award for Literature, she holds a PhD in Indian philosophy and literature and has taught and lectured at leading universities in Israel and abroad for ...

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43:23

Dr. Einat Wilf on Arab Zionism as the Only True Path...

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/12/21

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, journalist Tamar Ish Shalom sits down with Dr. Einat Wilf for a wide-ranging and intellectually bracing conversation. Dr. Wilf is a thinker, historian, former Knesset member, one of Israel’s most incisive public intellectuals. She is the author of several books, including The War of Return (with Dr. Adi Schwartz). In recent years, Wilf has undergone a significant ideological evolution, emerging as a leading voice challenging long-held assumptions about th...

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36:20

Benny Gantz on Israeli Security and the Rise of...

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/12/07

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar Ish-Shalom speaks with Benny Gantz, the former IDF Chief of Staff who entered Israeli politics in 2019 after more than three decades of military service. Gantz has since held several senior government roles, including Minister of Defense, alternate prime minister, and deputy prime minister. Following the October 7 attacks, he and his party joined Israel’s emergency unity government, where he served in the war cabinet until his resignation in June 20...

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35:28

Yair Lapid on Mamdani and the Shifting Landscape of...

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/11/13

In the season premiere of Jewish Crossroads, journalist Tamar Ish-Shalom sits down with opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid for a candid conversation about the shifting landscape of Israel–U.S. relations. Lapid voices concern over the election of New York City’s new mayor, Zohrahn Mamdani, whom he accuses of applying double standards toward Israel and the Jewish people. The episode also revisits the impact of October 7 on American Jewry and sets the stage for the season’s w...

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40:56

“MAGA leftist”, Batya Ungar-Sargon on Jew-Hatred

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/09/21

In this episode, Tamar Ish Shalom sits down with journalist and commentator Batya Ungar-Sargon, whose journey from progressive to outspoken critic of “woke” culture has made her one of the most provocative voices in American political discourse. Batya is the author of two books (a third on Jews and the left is in the works) – Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy and Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women. She calls herself a “MAGA leftist” and an en...

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52:36

Biden, Harris, and the Middle East: Behind the Scenes...

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/08/24

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar is joined by Ilan Goldenberg, Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at J Street. Goldenberg served in both the Obama and Biden administrations and has a profound understanding of Israel, the Middle East, and the American Jewish community. His perspective is shaped not just by his years in policy, but by a personal biography that bridges worlds. Born in Jerusalem to American parents, Ilan moved to New Jersey at the age of eight. He grew up ...

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46:40

First Female Orthodox Rabbi Tackles Antisemitism...

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/07/27

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar sits down with Rabbi Sara Hurwitz — trailblazer, teacher, and one of the most courageous voices reshaping the boundaries of modern Orthodoxy. From a young age, Rabbi Hurwitz felt called to public service in the world of Torah, but there was no roadmap for a woman to walk this path. In 2009, her ordination by Rabbi Avi Weiss and Rabbi Daniel Sperber marked a historic and controversial turning point, igniting debate across the Orthodox world. Yet Rabb...

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30:55

The Voice That Rose After October 7 – Dr. Mijal Bitton

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/07/13

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar speaks with Dr. Mijal Bitton — scholar, spiritual leader, and one of the clearest voices to cut through the fog of antisemitism after October 7. In the wake of atrocity, as places that once stood for justice went silent, Dr. Bitton stood up. Her words — fierce, unsparing, heartbroken — echoed across a shaken Jewish world. This conversation explores what it means to fight for Jewish dignity in an era of erasure — to call out hatred without flinching....

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53:42

Iranians After War, "The Soul of a Society" with Roya...

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/06/29

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar speaks with Roya Hakakian, the acclaimed Jewish Iranian-American writer, journalist, and poet. While the headlines say "ceasefire," nothing truly feels at rest. Tensions between Israel and the Iranian regime remain thick in the air, and the deeper currents shaping the region are still in motion. That’s why Roya is the perfect guest. With the insight of someone who lived through Iran’s revolution and exile, she offers a perspective that goes beyond g...

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32:27

Settler-colonialism with Adam Kirsch

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/06/24

In the latest episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar sits down with acclaimed writer Adam Kirsch to unpack the most important concept you've probably never fully understood: settler colonialism. From campus encampments to the terror attack on embassy staff in D.C., and even the shocking celebration of October 7th by some academics — this is the lens that explains it all. Kirsch offers one of the clearest, most incisive explanations of the ideology fueling today’s most alarming movements. If you ...

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55:32

Dan Senor, Call Me Back

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/06/03

In this episode, Tamar reflects on a Friday night dinner that took an unexpected turn — a conversation about how one podcast has become a lifeline for American Jews navigating an era of upheaval. Call Me Back, hosted by Dan Senor, is no longer just a podcast. It’s a ritual, a cultural touchstone, and for many, a new pillar of Jewish identity. Dan Senor joins Tamar to unpack how Call Me Back rose to prominence in the American Jewish world, and why its impact goes far beyond politics or news. I...

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36:55

The New Jew with Guri Alfi and Moshe Samuels

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/05/18

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar sits down with Guri Alfi and Moshe Samuels – the creative minds behind The New Jew, a groundbreaking Israeli documentary series exploring American Jewish life. Guri, one of Israel’s most beloved comedians, and Moshe, an acclaimed director and producer, aren’t American Jews themselves. But over the last few years, they’ve immersed themselves in the hopes, challenges, and transformations of American Jewry. Their journey began with a mission: to bridg...

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38:44

What it Means to Lead in a Moment of Profound Crisis...

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/05/04

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar sits down with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl – Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York and one of the most influential spiritual leaders in America today. Rabbi Buchdahl leads one of the largest and most vibrant congregations in the country, but what truly sets her apart is her ability to connect across lines of age, identity, and ideology. With honesty and grace, she tackles some of the most pressing questions facing Jews today: What does it me...

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42:41

Former Obama Speechwriter Tackles Antisemitism

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/04/19

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, we sit down with Sarah Hurwitz—former chief speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama—to discuss her upcoming book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us. Sarah opens up about how a personal breakup sparked an unexpected intellectual and emotional journey into Judaism—not through traditional religious practice, but through a deep engagement with Jewish texts, his...

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53:28

Special Pesach Episode with Rachel Goldberg-Polin

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/04/06

This special episode of Jewish Crossroads is released ahead of Passover — the holiday of freedom. But for 59 Israeli families, true freedom still feels painfully out of reach. Tamar speaks with Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the American-Israeli mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. Rachel has become one of the most powerful and persistent voices in the global campaign to bring the remaining hostages home. In this conversation, we discuss her grief, the moral clarit...

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60:06

Why Progressives Failed The Test of October 7 with...

Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis ·

2025/03/25

When Joshua Leifer’s book Tablets Shattered was released, it was clear he wasn’t pulling any punches. A fierce critique of the Jewish establishment, a personal reckoning with American Jewish identity, and a progressive take on Israel that refuses easy answers – the book was bound to provoke strong reactions. But no one expected his Brooklyn launch event to be canceled at the last minute because his guest, a Reform rabbi, was a Zionist. In this episode, Leifer joins Tamarto unpack that surreal...

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25 results

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