The Fifth Question

00:50:40

Why Universities Failed to Confront Campus...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/10/06

Why did universities struggle to confront antisemitism on campus after October 7? Columbia professor Shai Davidai joins Rabbi Daniel Levine to discuss campus protests, Columbia’s response, and what Davidai calls “American intellectual antisemitism.”Drawing on his new book, American Intellectual Antisemitism, Davidai discusses the Columbia vigil that opens the book, the Mahmoud Khalil case, and why he believes university leaders failed to enforce their own rules. He and Daniel also talk about how

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00:48:40

Debating a Religious Anti-Zionist: Is Zionism...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/09/30

Can a Jew reject Zionism on religious grounds? Rabbi Daniel Levine and Jacob Faturechi debate Satmar anti-Zionism, Jewish theology, and the history of the modern State of Israel.The conversation begins with a question that often gets blurred: What do we mean by Zionism? They examine the differences between political, religious, and cultural Zionism; how Jewish communities have understood sovereignty and exile; and whether the founding of Israel represents a break with traditional Judaism, a

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00:59:00

Should Jews Leave the Democratic Party? | Jenny Rae...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/09/23

Are Jewish voters leaving the Democratic Party over Israel and antisemitism?Jenny Rae Le Roux, Republican candidate for Congress in California’s 47th District, joins Rabbi Daniel Levine for a candid conversation about the political realignment taking place among Jewish voters—and why she believes Orange County’s Jewish community could decide this election.Jenny Rae discusses her support for Israel, her disagreements with Congressman Dave Min, the Democratic Party’s changing relationship with Jewish

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00:53:07

The Truth About “Settler Violence” in Israel | Adam...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/09/15

Is “settler violence” an accurate description of a serious problem—or a political narrative being weaponized to demonize Israeli Jews and Israel itself?Rabbi Daniel Levine is joined by anthropologist and anti-Zionism scholar Adam Louis-Klein for a challenging debate about violence in Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank.Louis-Klein argues that the phrase “settler violence” collectively portrays hundreds of thousands of Israeli Jews as violent, frequently removes Palestinian violence from

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00:45:25

Is Chabad the Future of American Judaism?

The Fifth Question ·

2026/09/10

For original article see here: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902968Is Chabad becoming the future of American Judaism?In this episode of The Fifth Question, Rabbi Daniel Levine speaks with Jerusalem Post writer Lev Stesin about the decline of the traditional American Jewish establishment—and whether Chabad is positioned to fill the growing leadership vacuum.They explore why Chabad continues to expand while many Reform and Conservative institutions struggle, how October 7 transformed Jewish

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00:53:06

A Psychologist Breaks Down Why People Hate Jews

The Fifth Question ·

2026/09/04

What drives antisemitism—and why are conspiracy theories so often at its core?Rabbi Daniel Levine speaks with Rutgers psychology professor Dr. Kent Harber about the psychological origins of antisemitism, conspiratorial thinking, and the relationship between anti-Zionism and anti-Jewish prejudice.Drawing on experimental social psychology and new longitudinal research, Dr. Harber explains why people become more vulnerable to conspiracy theories during periods of fear, uncertainty, social isolation,

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00:51:05

From Anti-Zionist to Pro-Israel: Why Kile Jones...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/08/26

Kile Jones once accepted anti-Zionism as a standard assumption within left-wing academic and postcolonial circles. After October 7, witnessing the treatment of a close Jewish friend—and undertaking a serious study of Jewish and Israeli history—he began to question everything he had believed.In this episode of The Fifth Question with Rabbi Daniel Levine, Kile explains how he went from viewing Israel as a colonial project to becoming an outspoken defender of Zionism and advocate against antisemitism

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00:58:45

Is Abortion Murder? A Rabbi Debates a Jewish Pro-Life...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/08/24

#AbortionDebate #ProChoice #ProLifeIs abortion murder—and what does Judaism actually teach about abortion?In this thought-provoking episode of The Fifth Question Podcast, Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with Cecily Routman, founder and president of the Jewish Pro-Life Foundation, for a candid debate about abortion, Jewish law, morality, medical ethics, and public policy.They examine biblical and rabbinic sources—including Genesis, Exodus, the Mishnah, Talmud, the Noahide laws, and the concept of the

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00:09:05

Why Jews Need Power: Zionism, Israel, and the Myth...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/08/10

Why do so many people assume that power is inherently evil—and powerlessness inherently virtuous? In this episode, Rabbi Daniel Levine makes the moral case for Jewish power, Zionism, and the responsible use of political, financial, and physical strength.From Rousseau’s “noble savage” and the biblical stories of the Garden of Eden and Cain to German Jewish philosopher Hermann Cohen’s opposition to Zionism, this discussion examines a recurring idea in Western and Jewish thought: that civilization,

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00:41:26

Is Conservative Judaism Dying? | Jay Sanderson

The Fifth Question ·

2026/08/03

Once the largest Jewish denomination in America, the Conservative movement is now experiencing a dramatic decline while Reform Judaism, Orthodoxy, Chabad, and independent Jewish communities reshape American Jewish life.Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with Jay Sanderson, President and CEO of American Jewish University and former President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, to discuss the future of Conservative Judaism—and whether Jewish denominations themselves are becoming

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00:48:39

Can Judaism Keep Up With Modern Medicine? Abortion,...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/07/27

What does Jewish law say about abortion, assisted dying, life support, patient autonomy, mental health, cosmetic surgery, and artificial intelligence in medicine?Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with Rabbi Jason Weiner, a leading authority on Jewish medical ethics and healthcare chaplaincy, for a nuanced conversation about some of the most difficult decisions patients, families, physicians, and rabbis confront.They discuss when Judaism requires doctors to prolong life—and when it permits a natural

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01:02:18

How American Jews Are Rethinking Politics After...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/07/16

What does it mean to be a Jewish voter in post–October 7 America?In this episode, Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with Ilana Meirovitch, CEO of JCAN (Jewish Community Action Network), to discuss the dramatic political realignment taking place within the American Jewish community. They explore rising antisemitism on both the left and the right, how Israel has become a political litmus test, the challenges of engaging elected officials, and what effective Jewish advocacy looks like in an increasingly

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00:46:55

Can Israel Overcome its Political Crisis? w/ Tomer...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/07/08

Is Israel facing its greatest internal crisis? Can liberal Zionism survive the pressures of both anti-Israel extremism and growing religious fundamentalism? And what does the Jewish idea that humanity is created in the image of God have to do with democracy, human rights, secularism, and the future of the liberal order?In this wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with renowned Israeli scholar, public intellectual, and author Tomer Persico to discuss the future of Israel, the

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00:44:37

How Oct 7 Changed a Leading Reform Rabbi w/ Rick...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/07/02

Rabbi Rick Steinberg joins Rabbi Daniel Levine for a wide-ranging conversation on Zionism, Reform Judaism, antisemitism after October 7th, interfaith relations, campus activism, free speech, Jewish identity, and the future of the American Jewish community.Drawing on decades of leadership in Orange County and the Reform movement, Rabbi Steinberg reflects on how October 7 changed his worldview, why he believes Zionism must remain central to Jewish life, the challenges facing Jewish institutions, and

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01:03:31

From Jihadist to Pro-Israel

The Fifth Question ·

2026/06/30

Former jihadist turned counterterrorism expert Mubin Shaikh shares his journey from radicalization after 9/11 to infiltrating terrorist networks, helping stop the Toronto 18 plot, and confronting extremism from within. We discuss Islam, jihad, Israel, Zionism, antisemitism, Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, radicalization, de-radicalization, and the future of Jewish-Muslim relations. A candid conversation on faith, terrorism, and the search for peace. #israel #islam #Antisemitism #jihad #hamas

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00:48:32

Where to Find Truth on Israel/Palestine with Alon...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/06/25

How should we think about truth, misinformation, Israel, Zionism, antisemitism, academia, and social media in 2026?In this wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Daniel Levine (The Fifth Question Podcast) sits down with Alon Burstein (‪@Israel-Palestine-Report‬) to discuss how educators, academics, journalists, and content creators navigate one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in the world: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.To listen to our conversation about the Temple Mount see here:

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00:42:31

Fighting Antisemitism One Lawsuit at a Time: Brandeis...

The Fifth Question ·

2026/06/19

Kenneth Marcus, Brandeis Center CEO, joins The Fifth Question for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of the fight against antisemitism in America. From campus protests and K-12 education to teachers unions, civil rights law, DEI, Zionism, and the changing political landscape, Marcus explains why he believes American Jews need a “Third Emancipation” and how legal action is reshaping the response to anti-Jewish discrimination.In this episode, we discuss:✅ The rise of antisemitism after October

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00:42:50

Woke Antisemitism w/ David Bernstein

The Fifth Question ·

2026/06/12

What happens when liberalism, identity politics, antisemitism, and Zionism collide in 21st-century America?In this episode of the Fifth Question with Daniel, Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with author and public intellectual David Bernstein to discuss the rise of woke antisemitism, the transformation of American universities, the future of liberal democracy, and the growing challenges facing both American Jewry and Israel.Bernstein explains how intersectionality, critical social theories, and

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00:45:14

A New Method of Israel Engagement

The Fifth Question ·

2026/06/09

Israel engagement is changing—and perhaps the old playbook no longer works.In this episode of the Fifth Question Podcast, Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with Yoni Heilman, CEO of TAMID Group, to discuss a new model for connecting young people to Israel through entrepreneurship, business, innovation, and real-world relationships rather than traditional advocacy.They explore why many college students are disengaging from conventional Israel education, how TAMID has built one of the most successful

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00:48:51

Jewish Absurdism w/ Josh Bolton

The Fifth Question ·

2026/06/05

What happens when Judaism meets absurdism, poetry, pluralism, and the crisis of modern identity?In this fascinating conversation, Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with Rabbi Joshua Bolton—author of Jewish Futurisms, poet, educator, and Executive Director of Brown RISD Hillel—to explore some of the biggest questions facing Jewish life today.From humor in the Talmud to the limits of pluralism, from Jewish spirituality after modernity to the challenges of campus leadership in the post–October 7 world,

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