Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas

Four years after Israel's last election, Israelis have returned to the polls in a country transformed by war, political upheaval, and profound changes across the Middle East. But what have voters decided, and who will lead the country next?

Dr. Michael Oren, historian, former Israeli ambassador to the United States, joins Boundless Insights to unpack the election results, the winners and losers, and the complicated process of forming Israel's next government.

They discuss what the results reveal about Israeli society, what they mean for Benjamin Netanyahu's political future, and how the election could reshape Israel's relationships with Washington and its neighbors across the Middle East.

With the U.S. midterm elections just days away, the stakes extend well beyond Israel's borders.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy.

He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group.

Mentioned in this Episode

Israel’s Tragic Choice by Micah Goodman

From Micah Goodman - "Do Israelis really not care what the world thinks about them? No. They care a lot. But what concerns them even more is what their enemies think. Israel’s problem is that it must cultivate two reputations, one for the West and one for the Middle East. These two reputations clash. Israelis want the Western world to love them, but their enemies in the Middle East to fear them."

We want to hear from you. Have a question, comment, or idea for the show? Email us at podcast@boundlessisrael.org

What happens when antisemitic ideas begin to shape how people understand American power, Israel, and the country’s interests abroad?

Recorded live at the University of Texas at Austin, Aviva is joined by historian, bestselling author, and former Israeli ambassador to the United States Dr. Michael Oren for a conversation about antisemitism through the lens of national security.

They examine how America’s understanding of terrorism and military power has changed in the years since 9/11, why the Palestinian cause has become intertwined with broader ideological battles over colonialism and the West, and the growing debate over whether Israel remains a strategic asset to the United States. They also grapple with where legitimate criticism of the U.S.-Israel alliance ends and older antisemitic ideas about Jewish power and influence begin.

Our thanks to the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin, the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission, and Texas Hillel for hosting this live conversation at the Topfer Center for Jewish Life.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy.

He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group.

We want to hear from you. Have a question, comment, or idea for the show? Email us at podcast@boundlessisrael.org.

Canada has long presented itself as a model of multiculturalism, tolerance, and minority inclusion. But for many Canadian Jews, that image is becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile with their lived reality.

Jews make up roughly one percent of Canada’s population, yet they have become the target of a vastly disproportionate share of religious hate crimes. So what happened to Canada?

Warren Kinsella joins Aviva to examine how antisemitism became so pervasive in a country that prides itself on protecting minorities. And they confront the question many Canadian Jews are increasingly asking: Is there still a future for Jews in Canada?

Guest Bio:

Warren Kinsella is a lawyer, political strategist, and bestselling author with decades of experience at the highest levels of Canadian politics. A former chief of staff in the Chrétien government and veteran of multiple federal and provincial election campaigns, he has also worked as a journalist, communications consultant, and legal expert. He is the author of ten books, including his latest, The Hidden Hand, which examines the global propaganda campaign against Israel and the West

More from Warren Kinsella
The Hidden Hand The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda

The Campaign Documentary Trailer

Jew-haters push vile propaganda in wake of Flydubai hijacking

We want to hear from you. Have a question, comment, or idea for the show? Email us at podcast@boundlessisrael.org.

Three years after being taken hostage on October 7, Dr. Shoshan Haran recounts the fifty days she spent as a hostage in Gaza with her daughter and young grandchildren.

Abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri after her husband and sister were murdered, Shoshan found herself responsible for helping her family survive captivity while protecting children too young to comprehend what was happening around them. She gave herself a mission: bring everyone home alive.

Drawing on her memoir, Mission in Captivity: One Woman’s Struggle to Survive and Save Her Family in Gaza,  Shoshan joins Aviva to share her story of survival and reflect on whether, three years later, she can still imagine a future of peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Shoshan Haran is a Fulbright scholar and the founder and president of Fair Planet, a global nonprofit that helps smallholder farmers in Africa improve food security and escape poverty.

On October 7, 2023, Shoshan was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri and held hostage in Gaza for 50 days along with members of her family. Her husband, Avshalom, was murdered in the attack.

Since her release, Shoshan has become an advocate for international action to prevent civilian abduction from being used as a weapon of war. She is the author of the bestselling memoir Mission in Captivity: One Woman’s Struggle to Survive and Save Her Family in Gaza, which received the 2026 Bernstein Prize for Non-Fiction Literature.

We want to hear from you. Have a question, comment, or idea for the show? Email us at podcast@boundlessisrael.org.

What allows a person to survive the seemingly unendurable?

Glenn Cohen has spent much of his career trying to understand how human beings respond under extreme pressure. A former Israeli Air Force helicopter pilot and chief psychologist of the Mossad, he helped select and prepare elite personnel for high-risk missions, including the possibility of capture.

After October 7, that expertise was suddenly needed on an unprecedented scale. Cohen was called back into service, helped develop Israel’s protocols for receiving returning hostages, and led the team responsible for debriefing the 168 hostages who came home alive.

In this conversation, Cohen takes Aviva inside the psychology of captivity and survival. He explains what happens when people are stripped of control, how individuals can preserve agency under extreme conditions, and why enduring terrible trauma does not necessarily mean being permanently broken by it. He also reflects on the delicate process of bringing hostages home, the lessons Israel learned from earlier generations of returning POWs, and what the hostages themselves taught him about the limits — and surprising strength — of human resilience. As Cohen puts it: “We are capable of going to hell and coming back.”

Guest Bio:

Glenn Cohen is a former Mossad Chief Operational Psychologist, Israeli Air Force pilot, and IDF hostage negotiator. Following October 7, he returned to emergency reserve duty and was appointed the first mental-health professional to meet freed hostages upon their return to Israel. He helped develop Israel’s protocol for receiving returning hostages and led the team of psychologists that debriefed the 168 hostages released by October 2025. Today, he coaches executives and trains organizations on resilience and peak performance. His upcoming book on Post Traumatic Growth has been acquired by Simon and Schuster and Glenn is a sought-after international speaker. More information is available on his site Glenn-cohen.com.

We want to hear from you. Have a question, comment, or idea for the show? Email us at podcast@boundlessisrael.org.

On October 27, Israelis will head to the polls for the first national election since the October 7 attacks, after three years that have profoundly reshaped the country.

Three years of war have altered the country’s sense of security, tested its institutions, and forced Israelis to confront fundamental questions about the leadership and policies that brought them to this moment.

Yet the political system Israelis are returning to remains remarkably familiar. Benjamin Netanyahu is still at its center. His opponents are still struggling to assemble a coalition capable of replacing him. And a deeply divided electorate must now decide what comes after one of the most consequential periods in Israel’s history.

Dr. Michael Oren, historian, former Israeli ambassador to the United States, and former member of the Knesset, joins Aviva to look beyond the campaign and consider what this election reveals about Israel three years after October 7 — how the country has changed, what hasn’t, and what Israelis are choosing when they cast their ballots.

Guest Bio:

Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy.

He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group.

As world leaders gather in New York for a new session of the United Nations General Assembly, Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, joins host Aviva Klompas to examine the power and politics of an institution he has spent more than two decades scrutinizing.

They discuss the influence authoritarian regimes wield within the UN, the disproportionate attention directed at Israel, and the political forces that help explain that focus. The conversation also tackles a larger dilemma: if democracies retreat from international institutions they believe have become deeply politicized, do they simply surrender those institutions to authoritarian regimes?

Guest Bio

International lawyer, writer and activist, Hillel Neuer is the Executive Director of UN Watch, a human rights organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Neuer’s speeches at the United Nations have been seen by millions around the world. He has appeared in debates on CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera. McGill University awarded Neuer an honorary doctorate for his work to advance human rights and for being “a voice for those without one.” In 2016, the City of Chicago declared “Hillel Neuer Day,” citing his role “as one of the world’s foremost human rights advocates.” The Tribune de Genève said Neuer is “feared and dreaded” by the world’s dictatorships. The Journal de Montréal wrote that Neuer “makes the U.N. tremble.” The Jerusalem Post, Ynet, and Ma’ariv have listed Neuer as one the most influential Jewish people in the world 

Learn more at UNWatch.org

Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis joins host Aviva Klompas for a wide-ranging conversation about the meaning of the Jewish New Year and the questions it asks us to confront.

As Jews around the world prepare to welcome 5787, Chief Rabbi Mirvis reflects on what we might learn from Rosh Hashanah about the lives we are living, the choices we make, and the possibility of a different year ahead. He also shares the question he would put to every Jewish family around the Rosh Hashanah table and his blessing for the Jewish people in the year to come.

Guest Bio:

Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis is only the 11th Chief Rabbi of Great Britain since the office was introduced in 1704. He is the religious figurehead for Jewish communities right across the Commonwealth, from Hull to Hong Kong and from Cardiff to Cochin. He was installed on 1st September 2013 in an historic ceremony attended by His Majesty King Charles III, then The Prince of Wales.

Born in South Africa, he previously served as Chief Rabbi of Ireland and Rabbi of the Western Marble Arch and Finchley (Kinloss) Synagogues in London, making him one of the UK’s most respected community Rabbis. As Chief Rabbi, he is a primary representative of the Jewish community to government, other faiths and civil society as well as being responsible for oversight of crucial parts of the UK Jewish community’s religious infrastructure.

Chief Rabbi Mirvis is known as a principled leader who has broken new ground in the fields of interfaith and social responsibility as well as tackling a number of particularly complex or controversial issues including the welfare of LGBT+ students in Orthodox Jewish Schools and antisemitism in the British Labour Party. Chief Rabbi Mirvis serves as Associate President of the Conference of European Rabbis, President of the London School of Jewish Studies and was made a Knight Commander of the British Empire, by His Majesty The King in 2023.  

SAPIR is a journal exploring the future of the American Jewish community and its intersection with cultural, social, and political issues. It is published by Maimonides Fund with Bret Stephens serving as Editor-in-Chief. Subscribe at www.sapirjournal.org/subscribe.

Since October 7, American universities have become the center of a fierce debate over antisemitism, free speech, civil rights, and the proper role of government.

In this special live debate, recorded at the Israel on Campus Coalition's National Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., host Aviva Klompas moderates a discussion on the resolution: "The campus crackdown is good for America."

Noah Pollak and Jonathan Rauch debate whether federal intervention has made campuses safer for Jewish students, where the line between oversight and overreach should be drawn, and how universities should balance civil rights, free expression, and institutional independence.

This debate is part of the SAPIR Debates, a forum for thoughtful disagreement on some of the most consequential issues facing the American Jewish community today.

Guest Bios

Noah Pollak is a political appointee in the Trump administration. He is Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Education, where he works on higher education policy and civil rights enforcement, and he’s a Senior Advisor in the Treasury Department's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a contributing writer at The Atlantic, and a board member of Heterodox Academy. He is the author of The Constitution of Knowledge and has written extensively on free speech, liberal democracy, and the institutions that sustain them.

In the days after October 7, anti-Israel slogans, protests, and narratives appeared across the globe with extraordinary speed. To many, the movement looked spontaneous. But was it?

Host Aviva Klompas speaks with political strategist and bestselling author Warren Kinsella about his new book, The Hidden Hand: The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda. Drawing on decades of experience running political campaigns and combating extremist movements, Kinsella argues that the anti-Israel movement that emerged after October 7 bears the hallmarks of a sophisticated information campaign designed to shape public opinion, influence policymakers, and redefine how Israel, Jews, and the West are perceived.

Their conversation explores what distinguishes a grassroots movement from an organized influence operation, why anti-Israel narratives have found such fertile ground in Western democracies, and why extraordinary claims about Jews and Israel increasingly receive little skepticism.

Guest Bio:

Warren Kinsella is a lawyer, political strategist, and bestselling author with decades of experience at the highest levels of Canadian politics. A former chief of staff in the Chrétien government and veteran of multiple federal and provincial election campaigns, he has also worked as a journalist, communications consultant, and legal expert. He is the author of ten books, including his latest, The Hidden Hand, which examines the global propaganda campaign against Israel and the West.

Mentioned in the Episode:

The Hidden Hand The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda

The Campaign Documentary Trailer 

Christian support for Israel has been a significant force in American politics for decades. But the evangelical community is changing, and younger Christians are not necessarily adopting the same attitudes toward Israel as previous generations.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee joins host Aviva Klompas to discuss what has historically driven Christian support for Israel and why that support may be changing. They explore the role of faith, shared values, and strategic interests; generational divides among evangelicals; and the growing influence of isolationism on the American right.

As a new generation of Christians forms its own views of Israel, Ambassador Huckabee reflects on what is changing, what has endured, and what will determine the future of one of Israel's most important sources of support in the United States.

Guest Bio

Mike Huckabee is the U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Before his appointment, he served as Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007, ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, and hosted nationally syndicated television and radio programs. A longtime evangelical Christian leader and outspoken supporter of Israel, Huckabee has spent decades engaging with Israeli politics, society, and history through his extensive travel and advocacy.

For years, Israel's international standing has been measured by military strength, diplomatic alliances, and peace agreements. Today, a different challenge has come to the forefront: a growing crisis of legitimacy.

Host Aviva Klompas sits down with diplomat, legal scholar, and former Israeli Foreign Ministry Legal Adviser Tal Becker to explore why support for Israel has eroded in many parts of the world, and whether the roots of that shift lie in Israeli policy, broader cultural and political changes in the West, or something deeper still.

Drawing on decades of experience representing Israel on the world stage—including before the International Court of Justice and during the negotiations that led to the Abraham Accords—Tal Becker offers a framework for understanding the current moment. He discusses the difference between Israel's critics and its enemies, why not all criticism should be dismissed as hostility, and how Israel can engage those acting in good faith while confronting those seeking to undermine its legitimacy.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Tal Becker is a Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, a Counsel at Honigman LLP, and as a leading consultant and public intellectual on geo-politics, the Middle East and peace and security policy. Until recently, Dr. Becker served as the Legal Adviser of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has been a senior member of the Israeli peace negotiation team in successive rounds of peace negotiations. Tal has represented Israel before the International Court of Justice, played an instrumental role in negotiating and drafting the “Abraham Accords”, and served as a key behind the scenes player in many complex bilateral and multilateral processes in which Israel was involved. 

For decades, the U.S.-Israel relationship has been one of the defining features of American foreign policy. But as both political parties undergo change, many of the assumptions that have sustained the alliance for generations are being tested.

Host Aviva Klompas is joined by journalist and political commentator Eli Lake to examine the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship in an era of political realignment.

They discuss whether support for Israel is undergoing a temporary backlash or a more fundamental transformation, the forces driving changing attitudes toward Israel within the Democratic Party, and whether a return to bipartisan consensus is still possible. They also explore the rise of the America First movement, the implications of a potential J.D. Vance presidency, generational shifts in foreign policy thinking, and what the next decade could mean for one of America's most important alliances.

Speaker Bio

Eli Lake is a journalist and geopolitical analyst, currently a contributing editor and columnist at The Free Press and host of the excellent Breaking History podcast. He was previously a columnist for Bloomberg, The Daily Beast, and Newsweek, where he covered national security, foreign policy, and global affairs. Known for his sharp analysis and independent voice, Eli brings a nuanced and thought-provoking perspective to some of the most pressing issues in international politics.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org

Israel will head to the polls on October 27 in what promises to be one of the most consequential elections in its history. It will be the first Israeli government to complete a full term in more than five decades.

Host Aviva Klompas is joined by former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Dr. Michael Oren to examine what this election is really about. While much of the international media will frame the vote as a referendum on Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israelis are weighing far broader questions about security, leadership, national priorities, and the country's future nearly three years after October 7.

Together, they discuss how the war has reshaped Israeli politics, whether the government's wartime record will help or hurt Netanyahu at the ballot box, how Israelis are balancing military achievements with unresolved challenges, and what coalition scenarios are most likely to emerge after the vote. They also explore whether international opinion will influence Israeli voters and what this election could mean for Israel's direction in the years ahead.

Guest Bio:

Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy.

He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org

The rise of democratic socialism is no longer confined to a handful of high-profile politicians. Across the country, insurgent candidates are defeating establishment Democrats, building sophisticated political organizations, and reshaping the future of the Democratic Party.

Host Aviva Klompas is joined by political strategist and former congressional candidate Brianna Wu to examine what is driving this movement and why its influence extends far beyond a few headline-grabbing elections.

They discuss the growing divide between traditional Democrats, progressives, and democratic socialists; why opposition to Israel has become a defining feature of the movement; the role of activist networks and political infrastructure; and what recent primary victories reveal about the Democratic Party's future.

The conversation also explores the upcoming Michigan Senate race, the rise and fall of insurgent candidates like Graham Platner, and whether the party is undergoing a temporary shift or a more lasting political realignment.

Guest Bio:

Brianna Wu rose to national prominence during Gamergate, a flashpoint in the video game industry that pioneered many of the toxic tactics now common in online political discourse. She ran for Congress in 2018 as a progressive Democrat, but experienced a sharp break with her party following the October 7th Hamas attacks. Today, she is a prominent advocate for U.S./ Israel national security cooperation and a leading voice in the evolving debate over liberalism, extremism, and the future of the trans movement.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org

Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel used a major speech in Israel to lay out what many see as the foreign policy vision of a potential 2028 presidential campaign and his message was blunt: the U.S.-Israel relationship is at a crossroads.

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas is joined by Dr. Michael Oren to examine Emanuel's diagnosis of Israel's strategic position and the future of the alliance between Jerusalem and Washington.

They discuss Emanuel's claim that Israel has become too reliant on military power and his argument that decades of unconditional American support enabled some of Israel's worst decisions.

Guest Bio:

Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy.

He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group.

Mentioned in This Episode:
Rahm Emanuel’s Speech

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

Just when it seemed the conflict between the United States and Iran might be settling into an uneasy stalemate, the region lurched back toward escalation.

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas is joined by Ambassador Dan Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, to make sense of a fast-moving and often contradictory situation.

They discuss the latest military exchanges between the United States and Iran, the uncertain future of the MOU, the status of Iran's nuclear program, and whether diplomacy is gaining ground—or simply delaying another round of conflict.

Guest Bio:

Ambassador Daniel Shapiro is a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative. He previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East from 2024 to 2025, Senior Adviser on Regional Integration in the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and US Ambassador to Israel from 2011 to 2017.

For generations, American Jews were among the Democratic Party's most loyal supporters, seeing liberal politics as a natural extension of Jewish values. Today, that relationship is under increasing strain.

Host Aviva Klompas sits down with columnist, television host, and author Batya Ungar-Sargon to discuss her new book, The Jews and the Left. Together, they examine how a century-long political alliance evolved—and why so many Jews now feel politically and culturally homeless.

They explore why Jews became Democrats in the first place, the ideological transformation of the modern Left, and how opposition to Israel became a defining issue within progressive politics. Batya explains why she believes October 7 exposed deep fault lines for many progressive Jews, addresses the debate over anti-Zionism and antisemitism, and discusses whether similar political shifts could emerge on the Republican right.

Whether you agree with Batya's conclusions or not, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at one of the most consequential political and cultural questions facing American Jews today.

Guest Bio

Batya Ungar-Sargon is the host of Batya! on NewsNation, where she is a weekend anchor. She is a frequent contributor to the New Yok Post and a columnist for the Free Press. An Orthodox Jew, she earned her PhD in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Empathy is usually considered one of humanity's greatest virtues. But what happens when empathy becomes untethered from reality?

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas sits down with Dr. Gad Saad to discuss his new book, Suicidal Empathy. Drawing on evolutionary psychology, cultural analysis, and his own experiences growing up Jewish in Lebanon before fleeing civil war, Saad argues that many Western societies have become reluctant to judge ideas, behaviors, and ideologies on their merits—even when doing so undermines their own values and interests.

The conversation explores why intelligent people often embrace narratives that conflict with observable reality, the role social media plays in spreading misinformation, and whether concepts like tolerance, compassion, and empathy can become self-destructive when taken to an extreme.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Gad Saad is an evolutionary behavioral scientist, professor, and bestselling author whose work explores the intersection of psychology, culture, and human behavior. A visiting scholar at the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), he pioneered the application of evolutionary psychology to consumer behavior and marketing. He is the author of several books, including The Parasitic Mind, The Saad Truth About Happiness, and his newest book, Suicidal Empathy. Through his writing, media appearances, and popular podcast The Saad Truth, he has become one of the most prominent public intellectuals examining the impact of ideology on modern society.

What does a 14th-century stained glass window in a Brussels cathedral have to do with a "Jew hunt" in the streets of Amsterdam in 2024 or the slogans appearing on American campuses after October 7? Professor Flora Cassen joins Dr. Rachel Fish to discuss her new book, Stained Glass: A Reflective History of Antisemitism, and to explore how antisemitism has taken shape across different places and historical periods. 

Drawing on both her scholarly work on European Jewish history and her personal experience, Cassen explains that contemporary antisemitism cannot be understood apart from the deep cultural layers it draws on, even when its newest expressions appear secular, political, or imported from elsewhere. The conversation examines how anti-Jewish ideas have been constructed, adapted, and sustained over time, from early religious frameworks to later economic, racial, and political forms. The discussion highlights the importance of approaching antisemitism with historical precision, avoiding overly simplistic narratives while still recognizing its persistence and adaptability.

Further Reading:

Stained Glass: A Reflective History of Antisemitism by Flora Cassen

Guest Bio:

Flora Cassen is the Lavine Family Director of the Brandeis Center for Jewish Studies and the Director of the Sarnat Center for the Study of Anti-Jewishness at Brandeis University. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute. Originally from Antwerp, Belgium, Cassen earned her B.A. in History and Law from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, her M.A. in Comparative History from Brandeis, and her PhD in Hebrew and Judaic Studies from New York University. She has published widely in both academic and public venues such as Haaretz, The Forward, Slate, Aeon, Sources, and Smithsonian Magazine.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

Qatar is one of the smallest countries in the world. Yet according to a new report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, it has invested more than $400 billion in the United States over the past fifteen years.

Where has that money gone? And what does Qatar hope to gain in return?

In this episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about Qatar's vast footprint across American life—from universities and K-12 education to lobbying firms, think tanks, real estate, energy infrastructure, professional sports, and defense.

They discuss why Qatar has spent so heavily cultivating influence in the United States, how it has positioned itself as an indispensable partner in Washington while simultaneously hosting Hamas leaders and supporting Islamist movements, and why so many American institutions have accepted Qatari funding with relatively little scrutiny.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is Executive Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he oversees the organization’s research and policy work. A former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Treasury, Jonathan has tracked and disrupted funding networks for groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda. He’s authored several books on the Middle East, including Gaza Conflict 2021, State of Failure, and Hamas vs. Fatah. A frequent congressional witness and media commentator, his analysis appears regularly in major outlets including CNN, Fox News, and the BBC.

Mentioned in this episode:

Mapping Qatar’s $400 Billion Footprint in the United States

The Ugly Game: The Corruption of FIFA and the Qatari Plot to Buy the World Cup by Heidi Blake

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

One year after the United States and Israel launched a war that devastated Iran's military leadership and nuclear infrastructure, Washington and Tehran say they have reached an agreement to formally end the conflict.

But what exactly is in the deal?

In this episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about the emerging agreement, what Iran may be gaining in return, and whether the war's original objectives have quietly been set aside.

They discuss Iran's use of Hezbollah and the Strait of Hormuz as leverage, the effort to link the Lebanese front to the broader confrontation with Israel, and what the agreement could mean for the future of the region.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is Executive Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he oversees the organization’s research and policy work. A former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Treasury, Jonathan has tracked and disrupted funding networks for groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda. He’s authored several books on the Middle East, including Gaza Conflict 2021, State of Failure, and Hamas vs. Fatah. A frequent congressional witness and media commentator, his analysis appears regularly in major outlets including CNN, Fox News, and the BBC.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

For weeks, President Trump has insisted that Washington and Tehran are on the verge of a deal. But events over the last 24 hours tell a different story. Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel. Israel struck targets inside Iran. The Houthis launched a missile from Yemen. And once again, the region finds itself balancing between diplomacy and escalation.

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas is joined by Andrew Fox, a former British Army major and conflict researcher, to unpack the latest escalation and the strategic questions now facing Israel, Iran, and the United States.

They discuss Iran's attempt to link the Hezbollah front in Lebanon to the broader confrontation with Israel, whether the latest exchange is likely to remain limited or expand into something larger, and what President Trump's diplomacy reveals about the current state of U.S.-Israel relations.

The conversation also examines the future of negotiations with Iran, the role of Hezbollah and the Houthis, the difference between tactical and strategic success in warfare, and how military leaders balance battlefield gains against political and diplomatic realities.

Guest Bio

Andrew Fox is a frontline conflict researcher and former British Army officer who served for 16 years in the Parachute Regiment, reaching the rank of Major. He completed multiple deployments in Afghanistan—including alongside U.S. Army Special Forces—as well as tours in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, and the Middle East. A specialist in modern warfare, disinformation, and the Middle East, he previously taught War Studies and leadership at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and is currently pursuing a PhD focused on lessons from the October 7 attacks and the war in Ukraine.

Andrew is a senior associate fellow at several international policy institutes and a frequent media commentator, appearing on outlets including Fox News, BBC Newsnight, Sky News, and i24. His reporting and analysis have taken him to the front lines in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine. He is also the author of a widely read Substack on conflict, security, and global affairs.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

As the Trump administration weighs its next move on Iran, Israel faces a familiar but uncomfortable question: What happens if Washington reaches a deal that Jerusalem believes leaves the Iranian threat unresolved?

In this episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Michael Oren about the lessons of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, how Israel should navigate disagreements with its closest ally, and whether the Jewish state is entering a new era of strategic self-reliance.

They discuss President Trump's approach to Iran, the conditions under which a deal might be acceptable from Israel's perspective, and the continuing threat posed by Hezbollah. The conversation also explores whether Israel should seek new military capabilities that would allow it to act independently against future Iranian nuclear threats.

Finally, they turn to a different but related concern: the resurgence of antisemitic tropes in mainstream discourse, the growing normalization of conspiracy theories involving Jews and Israel, and what these trends may mean for Jewish communities around the world.

Guest Bio:

Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy.

He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group.

More from Dr. Michael Oren

A Time for Intimacy

After fighting publicly for the return of her son Hersh from Gaza, Rachel Goldberg-Polin joins the podcast to reflect on grief, uncertainty, love, and the challenge of continuing to live after profound loss.

Drawing from her new book When We See You Again, Rachel speaks with her characteristic honesty about the experience of mourning, the pressure people feel to “get better,” and why she believes grief is not something to overcome, but an expression of enduring love. She reflects on the stories and ideas that shape her thinking during Hersh’s captivity and wrestles openly with questions of destiny, suffering, faith, and purpose.

The conversation also explores what Rachel learned while moving through rooms of power and influence during the global campaign to free the hostages, and why she ultimately came away with a more complicated understanding of how the world works.

Finally, Rachel shares what she believes Hersh’s legacy asks of all of us: more humility, more listening, and a willingness to move away from extremism and back toward each other.

Guest Bio:

Rachel Goldberg-Polin, born and raised in Chicago, is an educator who lives in Jerusalem. She and her husband Jon are the parents of three children. Rachel is the author of When We See You Again, a portrait of pain and love in the wake of unthinkable tragedy.

Hussain Abubakr Mansour joins Dr. Rachel Fish to examine antisemitism, antizionism, and the ideological currents shaping American public life after October 7. Mansour reflects on growing up in a society where Jews were largely absent but antisemitic ideas were culturally omnipresent, and how his study of Jewish history, Zionism, and Hebrew led him to radically different conclusions.

The conversation explores how antisemitism became central to modern Arab political identity, the challenge of escaping inherited ideological frameworks, and why elite education has not protected societies from moral failure. Mansour also traces the role of universities, postcolonial theory, and progressive antizionism in making antisemitic narratives socially acceptable in contemporary America.

The discussion turns to the danger antisemitism poses not only to Jews but also to American democracy and civil society. Mansour warns that Jew-hatred is a corrosive force that can devour institutions, distort reality, and empower the worst actors in society if left unchecked.

Guest Bio:

Hussein Aboubakr Mansour is a Fellow at JINSA’s Gemunder Center, where his work focuses on the intersection of Arab politics, Islamist movements, and regional security architecture. An expert in Arab political thought and shifts within Islamist movements, Mansour analyzes how structural evolution impacts U.S. strategic interests and security. His research provides critical insights into the post-Arab Spring ideological currents and the shifting geopolitical landscape of the Gulf.

A widely published author and commentator, his strategic analysis has appeared in The Free Press, Commentary, Tablet, and the Athens Review of Books. Formerly an assistant professor at the Defense Language Institute, he is a recipient of the 2022 Per Ahlmark Award from UN Watch and the 2024 German Mercator Fellowship.

More From this Guest:

The Abrahamic Metacritic on Substack
"How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Feed the Jews to the Mob" by Hussein Abubakr Mansour
“Antisemitism Has a Big Future” by Hussein Abubakr Mansour
"There Is Actually No Solution" by Hussein Abubakr Mansour

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

Hannah Senesh is one of the most iconic figures of Israel’s pre-state history - a young poet and parachutist whose story has become part of national memory. But who was she beyond the symbol, and what can her story still teach us today?

Host Aviva Klompas speaks with Matti Friedman about his new book Out of the Sky, which revisits the story of Senesh and the Jewish parachutists who were sent behind enemy lines during World War II. Together, they explore the gap between the mythology and the lived reality of these young fighters, and what motivated them to act in a moment when the world largely stood by.

The conversation examines how Jews have historically understood vulnerability, responsibility, and the limits of relying on others for protection. It also looks at the tension between individual lives and the national narratives that are later built around them.

Along the way, they draw connections to the present: the persistence of old questions about identity and belonging, the limits of assimilation, and the ways Jewish history continues to echo in contemporary moments of crisis.

Guest Bio:

Matti Friedman is an award-winning author of five works of nonfiction, translated into more than a dozen languages. His newest book is Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe, published in 2026.

His previous books include Who by Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai, a Vanity Fair best book of the year, Spies of No Country, which won the Natan Book Award, and Pumpkinflowers, a New York Times Notable Book.

A former Associated Press correspondent, his reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Smithsonian. He now writes from Jerusalem for The Free Press.

Matti was born in Toronto and lives in Jerusalem with his family.

In the two and a half years since the Gaza war began, a new body of writing has taken hold, one that claims to explain not just the conflict, but the world itself. In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Matti Friedman about his essay Introduction to Gazology. He argues that this emerging genre isn’t really about Gaza as a place, but uses it as a framework to interpret global politics, morality, and power. 

They discuss why this narrative has gained traction after October 7, the central role of language—especially the use of “genocide”—and how key elements of the conflict are often left out. The conversation also explores how Gaza has become a lens for broader Western concerns, and what that reveals about the way the conflict is being understood.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Introduction to Gazology by Matti Friedman

Guest Bio:

Matti Friedman is an award-winning author of five works of nonfiction, translated into more than a dozen languages. His newest book is Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe, published in 2026.

His previous books include Who by Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai, a Vanity Fair best book of the year, Spies of No Country, which won the Natan Book Award, and Pumpkinflowers, a New York Times Notable Book.

A former Associated Press correspondent, his reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Smithsonian. He now writes from Jerusalem for The Free Press.

Matti was born in Toronto and lives in Jerusalem with his family.

After months of tension along Israel’s northern border, a fragile ceasefire has opened the door to renewed diplomacy between Israel and Lebanon. But with Hezbollah rejecting the agreement and the Lebanese government constrained in its ability to act, the path forward is anything but clear.

Aviva Klompas speaks with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter about the latest round of U.S.-brokered talks in Washington and what they are actually trying to achieve. They discuss whether talk of peace is realistic, how Israel defines success in Lebanon, and the challenge of negotiating stability with a state that does not fully control the armed group operating within its borders.

The conversation also explores the role of the United States in shaping the ceasefire, the skepticism within Israel about whether the campaign ended too soon, and the broader regional dynamics—including Iran—that continue to influence the situation.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Yechiel (Michael) Leiter was appointed Israel’s Ambassador to the United States in January 2025. A longtime public servant, he has served as adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Chief of Staff to then-Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and held senior roles in the Ministries of Education and Transportation. He holds a PhD in political philosophy and is the author of a Cambridge University Press book on John Locke and the Hebrew Bible. Ambassador Leiter is a father of eight. His eldest son, Maj. Moshe Yedidya Leiter—a doctor, special ops commander, and father of six—was killed in Gaza in November 2023.

After weeks of heavy headlines - from multiple conflicts to rising antisemitism and political tension - we’re switching things up. 

Host Aviva Klompas is joined by actor and comedian Michael Rapaport to talk about everything from Jewish holidays to pop culture, life hacks, random obsessions, the unexpected things bringing joy right now, and the kind of advice that sticks.

They also check in on Rapaport’s campaign to be New York City’s next mayor – if you have ideas for slogans, theme music, email us at podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

On Israel’s 78th Independence Day, we reflect on what the Jewish state means today, and why it still matters.

Aviva Klompas sits down with Dr. Einat Wilf to explore the enduring idea of Zionism - how it is being challenged, misunderstood, and defended in a rapidly shifting global conversation. They discuss Israel’s central role in Jewish life, the widening gap between Israel’s reality and how it is perceived in the West, and why that gap has grown so stark.

The conversation also examines how language is shaping the debate around Israel, and what it takes to engage in a world where facts alone are often not enough. Against the backdrop of war and internal strain, they reflect on what this period has revealed about the resilience of Israeli society and the Jewish people more broadly.

Looking ahead, Aviva and Einat consider what a confident, modern Zionism might look like and what it will take to sustain and strengthen the Jewish state in the decades to come.

Guest Bio

Dr. Einat Wilf is a leading thinker on Israel, Zionism, foreign policy and education. She was a member of the Israeli Parliament from 2010 to 2013, where she served as Chair of the Education Committee and Member of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Born and raised in Israel, Dr. Wilf served as an Intelligence Officer in the Israel Defense Forces, Foreign Policy Advisor to Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres and a strategic consultant with McKinsey & Company.

Dr. Wilf has a BA from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cambridge. She was the Goldman Visiting Professor at Georgetown University.

Dr. Wilf is the author of seven books that explore key issues in Israeli society. “We Should All Be Zionists“, published in 2022, brings together her essays from the past four years on Israel, Zionism and the path to peace; the co-authored “The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace”, was published in 2020

As Israel marks Yom HaZikaron - the country’s day of remembrance for fallen soldiers and victims of terror - this year carries added weight, unfolding in the shadow of an ongoing war and fresh loss still felt across the country.

In this episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with Rabbi Doron Perez, whose son, Captain Daniel Perez, was killed on October 7 while defending Israel’s border. Taken hostage after his tank was overrun, Daniel’s remains were returned months later as part of a ceasefire agreement.

Rabbi Perez reflects on who Daniel was, how his family carries his memory, and what it means to live with grief that is both deeply personal and shared so publicly. The conversation explores faith, loss, and the challenge of holding onto purpose in the aftermath of tragedy.

They also discuss the broader moment Israel is facing - how a society processes ongoing loss, the responsibility to rebuild, and the question of what remembrance asks of those who are still here.

Guest Bio: 

Rabbi Doron Perez is the Executive Chairman of the Mizrachi World Movement and President of the World Zionist Organization. Since 2014, he has led a major transformation of World Mizrachi, expanding its educational and communal work across more than 30 countries. He previously served for 15 years as a senior rabbinic leader in South Africa.

Rabbi Perez is an ordained rabbi with advanced degrees in Jewish education and Jewish history, and the author of Leading the Way and The Jewish State: From Opposition to Opportunity. He lives in Yad Binyamin with his wife, Shelley. They have four children. Their second son, Captain Daniel Perez was killed in action on October 7th. His body was held in Gaza for two years before being returned to Israel for burial.

More from this guest:

The Jewish State from Opposition to Opportunity: A Vision for Unity in Israel and why the World Needs it by Rabbi Doron Perez

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

After the collapse of U.S.–Iran talks, Washington has turned to a new approach - imposing a naval blockade aimed at cutting off Iran’s ability to leverage the Strait of Hormuz. The goal is to apply economic pressure without escalating into a broader military campaign. But whether that pressure changes Tehran’s behavior remains an open question.

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Jonathan Schanzer about how Iran may respond and what this shift means for the trajectory of the conflict. They explore whether Iran still holds an advantage at the negotiating table, how its strategy may be evolving under pressure, and whether its traditional playbook of delay and deflection is still effective.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is Executive Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he oversees the organization’s research and policy work. A former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Treasury, Jonathan has tracked and disrupted funding networks for groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda. He’s authored several books on the Middle East, including Gaza Conflict 2021, State of Failure, and Hamas vs. Fatah. A frequent congressional witness and media commentator, his analysis appears regularly in major outlets including CNN, Fox News, and the BBC.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

U.S.–Iran talks in Islamabad ended without a deal, leaving the ceasefire on shaky ground and major questions unanswered.

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Michael Oren about what the breakdown means and where things may be headed. They examine whether the damage inflicted on Iran translates into lasting strategic gains, or if the regime retains enough leverage - through its nuclear program, regional proxies, and control over key shipping routes - to shape the next phase of the conflict.

The conversation also explores the growing gap between Washington and Jerusalem and whether Israel would continue acting if the United States steps back. They discuss whether the war reinforced Iran’s asymmetric strategy, the unresolved threat from Hezbollah, and what all of this signals about the likelihood of renewed confrontation.

Guest Bio:

Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy.

He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

After five weeks of fighting, the United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, halting strikes and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. But while the immediate crisis may be paused, the bigger questions are far from resolved.

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with journalist Eli Lake about what this moment represents. Has the war ended and if so, who came out ahead? 

They examine the damage inflicted on Iran’s military infrastructure and leadership, and whether those losses meaningfully change its long-term capabilities. Iran’s leadership is framing the ceasefire as a victory, with reports it may collect substantial fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially offsetting sanctions.

Aviva and Eli also step back to assess whether the war was necessary, and how to interpret President Trump’s unconventional and often provocative communication style. They discuss how to distinguish between rhetoric and policy, and what Trump’s approach reveals about how this war is being conducted and understood.

Speaker Bio

Eli Lake is a journalist and geopolitical analyst, currently a contributing editor and columnist at The Free Press and host of the excellent Breaking History podcast. He was previously a columnist for Bloomberg, The Daily Beast, and Newsweek, where he covered national security, foreign policy, and global affairs. Known for his sharp analysis and independent voice, Eli brings a nuanced and thought-provoking perspective to some of the most pressing issues in international politics.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

Global attention is focused on the war with Iran, but another issue is unfolding that raises urgent moral and political questions – the spike in attacks by Jewish extremists against Palestinians in the West Bank, or Judea and Samaria.

In this episode of Boundless Insights, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Yossi Klein Halevi about settler violence - how widespread it is and why it’s surging. The conversation also examines how these attacks affect Israel’s moral standing and where responsibility lies when it comes to enforcing the rule of law.

Guest Bio

Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. His 2013 book, Like Dreamers, won the Jewish Book Council's Everett Book of the Year Award and his latest book, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, is a New York Times bestseller. Yossi writes for leading op-ed pages in the US, including the Times and the Wall Street Journal, and is a former contributing editor to the New Republic.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

Iran has taken significant hits to its leadership and infrastructure, yet the regime remains in place, continues to project power across the region, and retains the ability to disrupt global energy markets.

So where does that leave us?

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas sits down with Ambassador Daniel Shapiro to examine what this campaign has achieved, whether the United States had a viable alternative to military action, and what a realistic end state might look like from here. They discuss whether an early off-ramp was missed, why both Washington and Tehran are advancing demands that appear impossible to reconcile, and what that signals about the role of diplomacy at this stage of the conflict.

The conversation also explores the credibility of U.S. claims that its objectives can be achieved without deploying ground troops, the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s leadership, and whether the current trajectory points toward a defined outcome or a prolonged and unstable phase of confrontation.

Guest Bio:

Ambassador Daniel Shapiro is a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative. He previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East from 2024 to 2025, Senior Adviser on Regional Integration in the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and US Ambassador to Israel from 2011 to 2017.

Professor Pamela Nadell joins Dr. Rachel Fish to examine the long history of antisemitism in the United States and how it has evolved from the colonial era to the present. They begin with the arrival of Jews in New Amsterdam in 1654 and trace how anti-Jewish tropes rooted in Christian theology and European prejudice were carried into American life from the very beginning. 

The conversation explores the shift from religious anti-Judaism to modern racial antisemitism, the role of immigration restriction in the early twentieth century, and the barriers Jews continued to face even as America projected ideals of freedom and equality. 

The discussion also examines how antisemitism changed after World War II, the unstable place of Jews within America’s racial framework, and the emergence of antizionism as a contemporary expression of Jew-hatred. Along the way, they consider how these ideas have entered public discourse, higher education, and political life, and what it means for American democracy when Jew-hatred becomes normalized.

Further Reading

Antisemitism, an American Tradition (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025) by Pamela S. Nadell

Guest Bio

Professor Pamela S. Nadell holds the Patrick Clendenen Chair in Women’s and Gender History at American University and is a leading scholar of American Jewish history. She is the author of America’s Jewish Women: A History from Colonial Times to Today, which won the 2019 National Jewish Book Award, and her most recent book, Antisemitism: An American Tradition, traces the history of antisemitism in the United States from colonial times to today. The book received a National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholars Award, won the 2025 National Jewish Book Award in American Jewish Studies, and was named a Wall Street Journal best book. A past president of the Association for Jewish Studies, Nadell has testified before Congress multiple times, including in hearings on antisemitism on college campuses, and serves as a consultant to Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life museum.

Host Aviva Klompas is joined by Ambassador Dennis Ross to assess where the war with Iran stands several weeks in and whether the current trajectory is leading toward a meaningful outcome or a prolonged stalemate.

While Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly degraded and key infrastructure has been damaged, the broader strategic picture remains unsettled. The regime is still intact, continues to launch attacks across the region, and retains leverage over global energy markets through the Strait of Hormuz. This raises a central question: what has this campaign actually achieved, and what can it realistically achieve from here?

The conversation examines the gap between tactical success and strategic clarity, including what the United States is ultimately trying to accomplish and how “success” should be defined. Ross explores whether weakening Iran’s capabilities is enough to change its long-term behavior, or whether the current approach risks leaving the core threat intact.

They also discuss Iran’s ability to rebuild with support from China, Russia, and North Korea, its use of energy disruption as a form of deterrence, and the indicators that would signal meaningful pressure on the regime. Finally, the episode considers the risks ahead, from mission creep to broader regional escalation, and what policymakers should be watching as the war continues to unfold.

Guest Bio

Ambassador Dennis Ross is the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He also teaches at Georgetown University’s Center for Jewish Civilization. For more than twelve years, Ambassador Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process, dealing directly with the parties as the U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. He served two and half years as special assistant to President Obama and National Security Council senior director for the Central Region, spending the first 6 months of the Administration as the special advisor on Iran to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. His newest book is Statecraft 2.0: What America Needs to Lead in a Multipolar World (Oxford University Press, March 2025).

In this milestone 150th episode of Boundless Insights, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Jonathan Conricus for a clear-eyed look at where the war with Iran stands as it enters its fourth week.

Despite official messaging pointing to steady progress - degraded missile and drone capabilities, targeted strikes on senior figures, and significant damage to Iran’s military infrastructure - the picture on the ground remains far more complex. Israelis continue to face daily attacks, the regime remains intact, and Iran is still able to disrupt global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with growing economic consequences felt far beyond the region.

The conversation examines the gap between battlefield gains and strategic outcomes, including whether the current campaign is producing meaningful long-term change or simply managing the threat. 

Conricus also weighs in on Iran’s use of energy infrastructure as leverage and the possibility of further escalation. The episode also explores one of the most critical unresolved issues: Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and what it would take to neutralize that threat. 

Finally, the discussion turns to the broader regional picture, including the state of the fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon and how that front fits into the wider conflict.

Guest Bio:

Jonathan Conricus is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on the Middle East. He served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for 24 years as a combat commander in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He also served as a military diplomat, foreign relations expert, and international spokesperson. He recently retired as lieutenant colonel. Jonathan was the first Israeli officer to be seconded to the United Nations (UN), during which he provided military and strategic analysis for UN peacekeeping forces. He has directed social media and public diplomacy efforts and has extensive on- and off-camera experience from his years as a spokesperson. 

Host Aviva Klompas speaks with Natan Sharansky about one of the defining challenges facing democratic societies today: why the West often struggles to recognize and confront evil.

Drawing on his experience as a Soviet dissident who spent nine years in prison, Sharansky reflects on how authoritarian regimes operate and why democratic societies frequently misunderstand them. The conversation explores why many in the West hesitate to clearly identify evil even when faced with terrorism, hostage-taking, and deliberate attacks on civilians. 

Sharansky discusses the dangers of moral equivalence, the erosion of moral clarity since the Cold War, and the recurring mistakes democratic societies make when confronting regimes that reject their values. He also reflects on the role fear can play within democracies themselves and whether, after a lifetime spent fighting for freedom, he remains optimistic about the future of free societies.

Guest Bio

Natan Sharansky is a Soviet-born Israeli human rights activist, former political prisoner, and leading voice on democracy and freedom. Born in Donetsk, Ukraine, Sharansky became a prominent spokesman for the Soviet Jewish and human rights movements and was imprisoned by the Soviet regime for nine years on fabricated charges of treason and espionage after seeking to immigrate to Israel. Following an international campaign for his release, he was freed in 1986 and immigrated to Israel the same day. Sharansky later served in several Israeli governments as a minister and deputy prime minister and went on to chair the Jewish Agency for Israel from 2009 to 2018. He is the recipient of both the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2018 he was awarded the Israel Prize for his contributions to aliyah and the ingathering of exiles. Sharansky is also the author of several influential books on democracy, identity, and freedom, including The Case for Democracy and Never Alone.

As the war with Iran continues, the conflict is raising fundamental questions about how the United States uses military power and how President Trump’s foreign-policy doctrine may be evolving.

For years, Trump was closely associated with an “America First” approach that emphasized avoiding prolonged wars and limiting U.S. military involvement abroad. But the current campaign against Iran suggests a shift. 

In this episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with Elliott Abrams, a former deputy national security advisor and Special Representative for Iran. They examine how the war is unfolding so far, what might realistically be achieved militarily, and what the strategic endgame could look like.

The conversation also explores the domestic political tensions surrounding the conflict, particularly among Americans who supported Trump because of his opposition to “endless wars.” Abrams discusses whether the president is redefining what “America First” means in practice and whether the campaign against Iran signals a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy.

Finally, they step back to consider the global implications of the conflict and how Iran fits into the wider landscape of American adversaries alongside China and Russia.

Guest Bio:

Elliott Abrams is a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. He has held senior foreign-policy positions in several U.S. administrations, including serving as deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor in the administration of George W. Bush, where he oversaw U.S. policy in the Middle East. During the administration of Donald Trump, Abrams served as Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela. Earlier in his career, he was an assistant secretary of state in the administration of Ronald Reagan. 

Abrams was educated at Harvard College, the London School of Economics, and Harvard Law School. He has served on numerous public commissions and advisory boards, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, and he is the author of several books on American foreign policy and the Middle East. 

More From This Guest:

Trump’s Rules of War in The Free Press

As the war in the Middle East unfolds, its consequences are being felt far beyond the battlefield. The conflict has triggered fierce debate about American involvement, Israel’s role in U.S. foreign policy, and the future of one of Washington’s most important alliances.

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with historian and former Israeli ambassador to the United States Dr. Michael Oren about how the current war fits into the broader chain of events that began with the October 7 attacks and the strategic miscalculations that helped bring the region to this point.

They examine new polling showing deep partisan divisions among Americans toward Israel. The conversation also explores the resurgence of conspiracy theories and antisemitic tropes circulating in political commentary and social media.

Guest Bio:

Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy.

He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group.

More From This Guest:

The Free Press - From October 7 to Killing Khamenei by Dr. Michael Oren

As the war with Iran enters its second week, the military campaign has already shown successes. Key leaders have been eliminated, missile and drone attacks have sharply declined, and critical parts of Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure have been damaged.

But in the public discourse, a very different battle is unfolding. Across media and politics, fierce arguments have erupted about the legitimacy of the war, America’s role in it, and Israel’s influence on foreign policy.

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Einat Wilf about the narratives surrounding the conflict. They discuss why the wars involving Israel are framed so negatively, how criticism is now coming from both the political left and the populist right, and what these debates reveal about deeper ideological shifts in the West.

If the military campaign succeeds but the narrative turns against it, what does that mean for Israel, the United States, and future conflicts?

Guest Bio:

Dr. Einat Wilf is a leading thinker on Israel, Zionism, foreign policy and education. She was a member of the Israeli Parliament from 2010 to 2013, where she served as Chair of the Education Committee and Member of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Born and raised in Israel, Dr. Wilf served as an Intelligence Officer in the Israel Defense Forces, Foreign Policy Advisor to Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres and a strategic consultant with McKinsey & Company.

Dr. Wilf has a BA from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cambridge. She was the Goldman Visiting Professor at Georgetown University.

Dr. Wilf is the author of seven books that explore key issues in Israeli society. “We Should All Be Zionists“, published in 2022, brings together her essays from the past four years on Israel, Zionism and the path to peace; the co-authored “The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace”, was published in 2020

Mentioned In this Episode:

Wall Street Journal Editorial The Washington Iran War Pessimists 

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

Following coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, accusations that the operation was “illegal” and a violation of international law spread rapidly from social media to Congress to global institutions, often with great certainty and little explanation.

In this episode of Boundless Insights, host Aviva Klompas is joined by Natasha Hausdorff to cut through the noise and examine what international law actually says about the use of force. They explore when military action is lawful, how imminence is assessed in an age of missiles and proxy warfare, whether UN approval is required, how proportionality works in practice, and how states are held responsible for terror groups they fund and direct.

Guest Bio:

Natasha Hausdorff is a Barrister and expert commentator on international law, including the law of armed conflict, foreign affairs and national security policy. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on lawfare and the weaponization of international law against Israel. She regularly briefs politicians and international organisations and has spoken at Parliaments across Europe and at the United Nations. 

Natasha is a frequent contributor on legal matters for international media, including the BBC, Sky News, CNN, GB News, Talk TV and Fox and has written for publications including the Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, The Times, The Mail and Law Society Gazette. She holds law degrees from Oxford and Tel Aviv Universities and was a Fellow in the National Security Law Programme at Columbia Law School in New York. Natasha previously worked for American law firm Skadden Arps, in London and Brussels, and clerked for the President of the Israeli Supreme Court, Chief Justice Miriam Naor, in Jerusalem. She serves as director of the Centre for International Rule of Law and legal director of UK Lawyers for Israel Charitable Trust.

The United States and Israel launched a joint military campaign against Iran, signaling a decisive escalation after years of mounting confrontation. The operation appears aimed not only at degrading Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, but at fundamentally altering the regime’s trajectory, with President Trump openly calling on the Iranian people to challenge their rulers.

As strikes hit senior regime and military targets inside Iran, Tehran has responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel and U.S. positions across the region. In Israel, sirens have sounded throughout the day as civilians shelter and daily life is once again disrupted. Many Israelis, however, see this moment as a necessary reckoning with a regime that has spent decades pursuing Israel’s destruction and destabilizing the region through violence and proxies.

In this emergency episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with retired Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus to assess what is unfolding in real time. They explore the scale and intent of the operation, how it differs from earlier strikes, Iran’s capacity for retaliation, the risk of regional escalation through proxies like Hezbollah, and what success would actually mean for Israel, the United States, and the Middle East if this campaign reshapes the balance of power after forty years of conflict.

Guest Bio:

Jonathan Conricus is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on the Middle East. He served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for 24 years as a combat commander in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He also served as a military diplomat, foreign relations expert, and international spokesperson. He recently retired as lieutenant colonel. Jonathan was the first Israeli officer to be seconded to the United Nations (UN), during which he provided military and strategic analysis for UN peacekeeping forces. He has directed social media and public diplomacy efforts and has extensive on- and off-camera experience from his years as a spokesperson. 

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

As U.S. forces surge into the Middle East and diplomacy with Iran appears increasingly strained, questions are mounting about whether Washington is headed toward military action or using force to extract last-ditch concessions.

Host Aviva Klompas is joined by Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to assess what the current U.S. posture actually signals. They examine whether diplomacy still offers a real off-ramp, what a strike on Iran could target, and how exposed Israel and U.S. regional allies may be in a prolonged conflict.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is Executive Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he oversees the organization’s research and policy work. A former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Treasury, Jonathan has tracked and disrupted funding networks for groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda. He’s authored several books on the Middle East, including Gaza Conflict 2021, State of Failure, and Hamas vs. Fatah. A frequent congressional witness and media commentator, his analysis appears regularly in major outlets including CNN, Fox News, and the BBC.

Extremism expert and political scientist Dr. Lorenzo Vidino joins Dr. Rachel Fish to explore the history and spread of radical Islamism and how it has taken root in Western democracies.

They trace the movement’s origins to the founding of the Muslim Brotherhood, explain the difference between Islam as a religion and Islamism as a political ideology, and discuss how Islamist groups have adapted their messages for Western audiences, especially on college campuses.

The conversation also looks at how some Islamist actors have built alliances with parts of the progressive left, the role of Gulf funding in spreading these ideas, and the challenge liberal societies face to uphold pluralism and free speech while pushing back against extremist ideologies that exploit openness to gain influence.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Lorenzo Vidino is the Director of the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University and a leading expert on Islamism in Europe and North America. His work focuses on jihadist mobilization, counter-radicalization policies, and the activities of Muslim Brotherhood-inspired networks in the West. A native of Italy and American citizen, he holds a law degree from the University of Milan and a Ph.D. from Tufts University. Dr. Vidino has held positions at Harvard, the RAND Corporation, and the U.S. Institute of Peace, and has advised governments across Europe and North America. He is the author of The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West and The Closed Circle, and his commentary appears regularly in major global media.

Further Reading:

Lorenzo Vidino, The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West (Columbia University Press, 2010)

Lorenzo Vidino, The Closed Circle: Joining and Leaving the Muslim Brotherhood in the West (Columbia University Press, 2020)

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

In this special live podcast from Sydney, Australia, host Aviva Klompas is joined by Kellie Sloane, Member of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition in New South Wales. Two months after the antisemitic attack at Hanukkah by the Sea in Bondi, Kellie reflects on what it meant to arrive at the scene while the attack was still unfolding and to witness both the horror and the heroism firsthand.

Drawing on her background as a longtime journalist and now a political leader, Kellie discusses the responsibility of bearing witness, the courage of everyday Australians who ran toward danger, and the deeper reckoning Australia faces as it confronts rising antisemitism, online denialism, and extremism.

Guest Bio:

Kellie Sloane is the New South Wales Leader of the Opposition and NSW Liberal Leader, elected to Parliament in 2023 as the Member for Vaucluse. She previously served as Shadow Minister for the Environment and Shadow Minister for Health before being elected party leader in November 2025.

Before entering politics, Kellie built a distinguished career in journalism across radio and television and later served as National CEO of Life Education (Healthy Harold), Australia’s largest independent provider of preventive health education for children. As Opposition Leader, she is focused on strengthening essential services, improving health outcomes, driving economic opportunity, and delivering responsible, future-focused government for New South Wales.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

Since October 7, a key battlefield has been in courtrooms and international institutions. At the International Criminal Court, prosecutors have sought arrest warrants for Israel’s leaders. At the International Court of Justice, Israel is accused of genocide. And the United Nations churns out reports and statements condemning Israel.

In this episode, Aviva speaks with barrister Natasha Hausdorff, legal director of UK Lawyers for Israel, about how law has been turned into a weapon against the Jewish state. Natasha explains how this strategy has evolved since October 7, what recognition of a Palestinian state does and doesn’t mean in legal terms, and why symbolic gestures can carry dangerous consequences.

Guest Bio:

Natasha Hausdorff is a Barrister and expert commentator on international law, including the law of armed conflict, foreign affairs and national security policy. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on lawfare and the weaponization of international law against Israel. She regularly briefs politicians and international organisations and has spoken at Parliaments across Europe and at the United Nations. 

Natasha is a frequent contributor on legal matters for international media, including the BBC, Sky News, CNN, GB News, Talk TV and Fox and has written for publications including the Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, The Times, The Mail and Law Society Gazette. She holds law degrees from Oxford and Tel Aviv Universities and was a Fellow in the National Security Law Programme at Columbia Law School in New York. Natasha previously worked for American law firm Skadden Arps, in London and Brussels, and clerked for the President of the Israeli Supreme Court, Chief Justice Miriam Naor, in Jerusalem. She serves as director of the Centre for International Rule of Law and legal director of UK Lawyers for Israel Charitable Trust.