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SAPIR Conversations

SAPIR: Ideas for a Thriving Jewish Future

SAPIR is a journal exploring the future of the American Jewish community and its intersection with cultural, social, and political issues. These podcasts are recordings of Zoom webinars we have held with our contributors (season numbers correspond with issue numbers). To find out more and join our next events live, visit www.sapirjournal.org.

religion & spirituality judaism

All Episodes

01:39:34

The SAPIR Debates: Does Zionism Have a Future on the...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/10/30

In the shadow of the war in Gaza, shifting ideological fault lines and coalitions are redefining the boundaries of progressive politics nationwide. The normalization of rhetoric on the Left that questions Israel’s legitimacy has become a source of growing discomfort, if not concern, for Zionists across the political spectrum. Likewise, actions of the Israeli government – before and since the recent war – have prompted those on the Left to reevaluate their association with and support for Israel

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00:53:10

S18E3: A Catholic Response to Jewish Chosenness with...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/10/21

Amid a troubling resurgence of antisemitism, Princeton scholar Robert P. George declared in his most recent SAPIR essay that “any attempt to deny or undermine God’s unique and mysterious bond with the Jewish people … is antithetical to Christianity.” At a moment when the concept of Jewish chosenness is increasingly uncomfortable to discuss, how should we approach it with honesty and integrity — especially across lines of faith? George recently joined SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens for a virtual

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00:54:41

S18E2: Choosing to be Chosen with Rabbis Noa Kushner...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/09/29

What does the process of conversion — joining the Jewish people— reveal about the meaning of chosenness? In his recent essay for SAPIR, Rabbi Adam Mintz writes that “we, Jews by birth and Jews by choice, are all destined for the same story.” Similarly, Rabbi Noa Kushner writes that “it is possible that to be chosen is not only a designation at birth or conversion.” They recently joined Rabbi David Wolpe for a conversation.Watch this SAPIR Conversation on

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00:56:24

S18E1: Is Israel the Chosen Nation? with Michael Oren

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/09/22

“For many of its secular pioneers,” writes former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren in his most recent SAPIR essay, “Zionism was a revolt against chosenness. It was an attempt to become a nation like every other.” Today, especially after October 7, many Israelis are reevaluating this very notion and wondering: is the Jewish state chosen, and if so, for what purpose?Ambassador Oren joined SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens for a searching discussion on Israel’s identity and destiny in a post-October 7

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00:31:34

Welcome Host Rabbi David Wolpe! Our Newly Revamped...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/09/18

Today marks a new chapter as we re-launch SAPIR Conversations podcast with even more discussions and double the hosting power. Moving forward, Rabbi David Wolpe – scholar-in-residence at the Maimonides Fund, Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple, prolific author, writer, and longtime SAPIR contributor – will join Bret Stephens as co-host of SAPIR Conversations. Bret will continue to host live virtual conversations with SAPIR authors. Rabbi Wolpe will bring on different voices beyond the pages of

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00:57:57

Our Political Moment with Bret Stephens and Mijal Bitton

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/09/12

Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist, was murdered at a campus event in Utah on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 10th, 2025. As Americans reckon with this horrific act of political violence, many are alarmed at the grim message it offers about the state of our politics and where our democracy is headed. In a special SAPIR conversation with SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens and Maimonides Fund scholar-in-residence Mijal Bitton held days after this tragic event, they discuss the

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00:58:16

“Views from the Iranian Diaspora” with Roya Hakakian...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/07/03

Twelve days of war between Israel and Iran sparked passionate debates about the future of the Islamic Republic. How did Israel’s strikes impact the stability of the regime? What are the implications of the war on Iranian dissidents, opposition figures, and everyday Iranian citizens? And what does the historically fractious Iranian diaspora hope for in the weeks and months ahead?To answer these questions and more, on July 3, SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman moderated a conversation between

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00:51:52

S17E3: Can the Media Keep Kosher? with Bret Stephens...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/06/30

Do we still expect journalists—and the outlets they represent—to be objective? Or have we come to accept that much of today’s media falls into the realm of activist journalism? What are the consequences when activist journalism and objective reporting become indistinguishable? On Monday, June 30 at 12:00 PM ET, SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman moderated a conversation between SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens and Amit Segal, chief political analyst for Israel’s Channel 12 News. Together,

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00:58:16

Did Israel and the U.S. destroy or delay Iran's...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/06/27

It’s been less than a week since the unprecedented U.S. military strikes against the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities in Iran. Codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the attack was designed to degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities. However, there are conflicting reports about its success. Were the sites destroyed or severely damaged? What is the impact of the attacks on the Iranian nuclear weapon program? What are the implications for the United States and Israel moving

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00:59:13

S17E2: Renewing Jewish Activism with Sara Forman and...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/06/23

In the wake of October 7, many American Jews have grappled with what it means to not only engage in activism—a longstanding tradition in Jewish history and culture—but to advocate effectively for themselves across diverse environments. On Monday, June 23, 2025 SAPIR’s Editor-in-Chief, Bret Stephens, was joined by Sara Forman, Executive Director of the New York Solidarity Network (NYSN) and Mark B. Rotenberg, Senior Vice President for University Initiatives and General Counsel at Hillel International

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01:00:01

U.S. Perspectives on the Israel-Iran War

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/06/20

On Friday, June 13th, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting nuclear sites, drones and rocket launchers, and senior Iranian military leadership. In response, Iran has deployed hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones that led to many civilian deaths and destruction of property on the Israeli home front. Now, one week later, the U.S. is deliberating whether to join the fight and eliminate Iran’s nuclear program.To make sense of this moment, former Commander of U.S. Air Forces Central

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01:00:17

S17E1: Building Alliances in a Post-10/7 World with...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/06/10

In a time of rising antisemitism, extremism, and anti-Zionist sentiment, are we too discerning about our allies? Or does the moment demand that Jews hold fast to our values and insist that our partners share them? On Monday, June 9, essayist David Hazony and CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs Amy Spitalnick joined SAPIR’s Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens for a conversation about the challenges and opportunities of forging alliances and building coalitions in a post-10/7 world.Read

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01:36:11

SAPIR Debates @ 92NY: Is Donald Trump Good for the Jews?

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/05/23

In American Jewish life, few questions are as fraught — or as revealing — as this one: Is Donald Trump good for the Jews? In this launch of the SAPIR Debates, two prominent Jewish voices take opposing sides of this urgent and emotionally charged question: Jason Greenblatt, who served as Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East and worked for him for 20 years, and Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Obama, Mayor of Chicago, and US Ambassador to Japan. Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief

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01:01:14

S16E4: Jewish Identity vs. Identity Politics with...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/04/09

Is multiculturalism destined to fail? Is it possible to reject identity politics while also championing strong Jewish identities? On Wednesday, April 9 at 12:00 PM ET, join SAPIR editor-in-chief Bret Stephens for a conversation with Rabbi Meir Soloveichik on his recent SAPIR essay "Jewish Identity vs. Identity Politics."

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01:13:50

S16E3: The Bounds of Jewish Disagreement

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/04/08

Diversity of opinion is a key feature of our ancient tradition. Dating back to the Talmud, we have taken pride in our capacity to transcend difference through dialogue. And yet, should there be limits around what constitutes acceptable discourse within Jewish communities? How are those boundaries set? Celebrating the launch of the SAPIR issue on diversity, Park Avenue Synagogue's Senior Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove moderated a discussion with Bret Stephens, SAPIR Editor-in-Chief, Adam Kirsch, SAPIR

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00:31:33

S16E2: Pre-Passover Conversation with President Isaac...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/04/01

As we prepare to celebrate our freedom from slavery, has the promised land lived up to the promise of Zionism? After October 7, can Israel’s internal differences be an asset rather than a liability? Moving forward, can the Israel-Diaspora relationship weather the range of emotions? Yes to all, argues Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, in his recent essay in SAPIR. On March 31 we held a special conversation between SAPIR editor-in-chief Bret Stephens and the 11th President of the State

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01:00:44

S16E1: I Am Not a Jew of Color with Mijal Bitton

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/03/26

In her recent SAPIR essay, Mijal Bitton wrote that she does not identify as a Jew of color, despite being a non-white Jew, because the “term often feels more focused on “white” Jews than on people like me.” How is that the case? And what does it say about the political movement that accompanied the rise of the term? On Wednesday, March 26, Bitton joined Associate Editor Felicia Herman for a conversation on her essay, “Why I Am Not a Jew of Color.”

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01:00:18

S15E4: Dana W. White on Why HBCUs Are Key to Fighting...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/01/27

In the latest issue of SAPIR, Dana W. White observes that historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), once places that honored and taught the historical alliance between black and Jewish Americans, have now become spaces where antisemitism and anti-Zionism are actively encouraged.How can our communities reinvigorate the long-neglected black and Jewish alliance, address misunderstandings, and rebuild trust? How do we celebrate our past accomplishments and pursue future objectives

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00:58:46

S15E3: “Academia’s Palestine Exception” with Shaul...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/01/08

Critical theory – the study of the ways “oppression gets produced and reproduced within and across societies” – is the dominant method of inquiry in many areas of higher education, especially in the humanities and social sciences. Yet many scholars resist applying it honestly to the study of the Jewish people and Zionism. Were they to do so, argues Vanderbilt professor Shaul Kelner, they might find they had entirely misunderstood these categories and the place of Jews in the oppressor/oppressed

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01:03:41

First Principles for the University with Danielle...

SAPIR Conversations ·

2025/01/03

Following the release of its issue on The University, SAPIR brought together leaders and experts from academia, philanthropy, and Jewish organizational life for a convening focused on identifying practical solutions to the serious challenges facing higher education. That gathering began with a discussion between Harvard University professor Danielle Allen, social psychologist and author, Jonathan Haidt and Maimonides Fund Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi David Wolpe, exploring why trust has diminished in

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83 results

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