Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis – Details, episodes & analysis

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Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis

Tamar Ish Shalom

Religion & Spirituality

Frequency: 1 episode/19d. Total Eps: 29

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

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

Tamar on X: https://x.com/tamarishshalom
Tamar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamarishshalom/
JPPI on X: https://x.com/JewishPolicy
JPPI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishpeoplepolicyinstitute/

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Yair Lapid on Mamdani and the Shifting Landscape of U.S.-Israel Relations

Season 2 · Episode 1

Thursday, November 13, 2025 • Duration 35:28

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

Join us for a conversation that will make you stop, think, and maybe even rethink.

If you’d like to be in touch with us, contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

Tamar on X: https://x.com/tamarishshalom
Tamar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamarishshalom/
JPPI on X: https://x.com/JewishPolicy
JPPI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishpeoplepolicyinstitute/

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

Season 1 · Episode 16

Sunday, September 21, 2025 • Duration 40:56

In this episode, Tamar Ish Shalom sits down with journalist and commentator Batya Ungar-Sargon, whose journey from progressive to outspoken critic of “woke” culture has made her one of the most provocative voices in American political discourse.

Batya is the author of two books (a third on Jews and the left is in the works) – Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy and Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women. She calls herself a “MAGA leftist” and an enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump, while at the same time insisting that the voices of ordinary Americans be part of the national conversation.

Agree or disagree with her, Batya challenges assumptions about media, politics, and democracy itself. Tamar and Batya discuss her unlikely trajectory, the blind spots of American elites, and why talking about class is so often avoided.

Join us for a conversation that will make you stop, think, and maybe even rethink.

If you’d like to be in touch with us, contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

Tamar on X: https://x.com/tamarishshalom
Tamar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamarishshalom/
JPPI on X: https://x.com/JewishPolicy
JPPI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishpeoplepolicyinstitute/

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Former Obama Speechwriter Tackles Antisemitism

Season 1 · Episode 8

Saturday, April 19, 2025 • Duration 42:41

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, we sit down with Sarah Hurwitz—former chief speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama—to discuss her upcoming book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us.

Sarah opens up about how a personal breakup sparked an unexpected intellectual and emotional journey into Judaism—not through traditional religious practice, but through a deep engagement with Jewish texts, history, and ideas. She challenges the concept of “cultural Judaism,” advocating instead for a more informed, substantive connection to Jewish heritage.

We also delve into how centuries of antisemitism have shaped Jewish self-perception, and hear Sarah’s candid and deeply disappointed reflections on how her alma mater, Harvard University, has responded to recent events.

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

Tamar on X: https://x.com/tamarishshalom
Tamar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamarishshalom/
JPPI on X: https://x.com/JewishPolicy
JPPI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishpeoplepolicyinstitute/

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Special Pesach Episode with Rachel Goldberg-Polin

Season 1 · Episode 7

Sunday, April 6, 2025 • Duration 53:28

This special episode of Jewish Crossroads is released ahead of Passover — the holiday of freedom. But for 59 Israeli families, true freedom still feels painfully out of reach.

Tamar speaks with Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the American-Israeli mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. Rachel has become one of the most powerful and persistent voices in the global campaign to bring the remaining hostages home.

In this conversation, we discuss her grief, the moral clarity that sustains her, and the strength she’s found in prayer, in community, and in her son’s own words — shared in captivity to help others survive.

Rachel speaks with honesty about Hersh’s life and death, while continuing to fight for those still living in darkness. She challenges the government’s refusal to act, honors the voices of the diaspora, and asks us all: What kind of people will we be in this moment?

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

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Why Progressives Failed The Test of October 7 with Joshua Leifer

Season 1 · Episode 6

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 • Duration 01:00:06

When Joshua Leifer’s book Tablets Shattered was released, it was clear he wasn’t pulling any punches. A fierce critique of the Jewish establishment, a personal reckoning with American Jewish identity, and a progressive take on Israel that refuses easy answers – the book was bound to provoke strong reactions. But no one expected his Brooklyn launch event to be canceled at the last minute because his guest, a Reform rabbi, was a Zionist. In this episode, Leifer joins Tamarto unpack that surreal moment and the deeper tensions it exposed. With sharp insight and unflinching honesty, he delves into the struggles of being a progressive Jew in today’s polarized environment, the moral test of October 7th, and why he believes many of his progressive allies failed it – leading him to reassess his affiliations while holding firm to his core political beliefs.

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Jewish Philanthropy After October 7

Season 1 · Episode 5

Sunday, March 9, 2025 • Duration 36:19

Julie Platt, a prominent leader in the American Jewish community, currently serves as Chair of the Jewish Federations of North America. Following the tumultuous congressional hearings and the subsequent resignations of the President and Chair of the University of Pennsylvania, Platt was appointed as the institution’s interim Chair. In our latest podcast, she discusses the critical importance of maintaining a Jewish presence in key positions: “Either you have a seat at the table, or you’re on the menu.” Platt shares her experience of being inundated with hate mail after accepting the interim role and reflects on the weight of leadership in turbulent times.

She also unveils an unexpected Jewish connection in Wicked – the beloved musical and film produced by her husband, Marc Platt. Beneath its dazzling spectacle lies a deeper resonance, one intertwined with Jewish history and identity in ways most audiences never realize.

Additionally, Platt expresses her deep disappointment with many Hollywood stars following October 7, but also highlights those whose unwavering support profoundly moved her. We examine the extraordinary mobilization of Jewish federations in support of Israel after October 7 and the emergence of new philanthropists – individuals who hadn’t previously donated to Jewish or Israeli causes but have now stepped up to the plate. Join Tamar for an incisive conversation with a woman whose tireless dedication continues to inspire the community.

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

Antisemitism as Cultural Sadism with Professor Susannah Heschel

Sunday, February 23, 2025 • Duration 51:00

For the past 16 months, U.S. campuses have been rocked by protests, encampments, and confrontations, with university leaders often struggling – or outright failing – to respond. But one Ivy League school took a different path, leading to a different outcome. Dartmouth stands out for something rare: a sense of hope.

At the center of this story is Professor Susannah Heschel, a leading scholar of Jewish Studies and the daughter of the legendary Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel – one of the great moral voices of the 20th century. In this conversation, she shares what happened at Dartmouth, why it worked, and what it reveals about this moment in history.

We also explore her powerful argument that antisemitism isn’t just hatred – it’s cultural sadism. What does that mean? And why does her father’s legacy feel more urgent than ever?

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

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Why Are Young Jews Turning Away from Israel? Rabbi Ammi Hirsch on the Crisis of Jewish Identity

Season 1 · Episode 3

Sunday, February 9, 2025 • Duration 48:24

It’s not every day that a Yom Kippur sermon goes viral—but Rabbi Ammi Hirsch’s did. His powerful message struck a nerve across generations: Why are so many young Jews distancing themselves from Israel? Have we raised a generation so committed to Tikkun Olam—repairing the world—that they’ve forgotten Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh lazeh—that all Jews are responsible for one another?

In this gripping conversation, Rabbi Hirsch—one of the most influential voices in American Judaism—breaks down the forces shaping Jewish identity today, from campus protests to generational shifts in Zionism. A former IDF tank commander and longtime leader of Reform Judaism, he doesn’t hold back.

A must-listen episode for anyone who cares about the future of Jewish identity and Israel-Diaspora relations.

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

Rabbi Ammi Hirsch: https://x.com/ammihirsch/

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Nicole Krauss: Writing, Identity, and the Struggle to Speak After October 7th

Season 1 · Episode 2

Sunday, January 26, 2025 • Duration 55:05

Nicole Krauss is one of the most brilliant and influential American writers of our time. In an intimate and thought-provoking conversation with Tamar Ish Shalom, she opens up about the challenge of finding the right words for the open letter she wrote to the Israeli public after October 7th. She shares her deep concerns about whether, in today’s literary climate, it will still be possible to publish books that explore Jewish identity and Israel—and why a young Nicole Krauss wouldn’t stand a chance in today’s world.

In this compelling discussion, Krauss delves into the prophetic dimension of one of her novels, which depicts the daily reality of missile attacks in Tel Aviv before October 7th, and examines the profound self-denial ingrained in Israeli society. She reflects on why the Jewish American characters in her books are repeatedly drawn to Israel and explores the deep urge to break free from the ‘Jewish chains’—the constraints we, as Jews, have been taught to impose upon ourselves.

Krauss also shares a personal dilemma as a mother: what should she say to her eldest son, who traveled to Paris wearing a bracelet with Jewish symbols?

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

Tamar on X: https://x.com/tamarishshalom
Tamar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamarishshalom/
JPPI on X: https://x.com/JewishPolicy
JPPI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishpeoplepolicyinstitute/

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Jewish Courage in the Face of Antisemitism

Season 1 · Episode 1

Sunday, January 12, 2025 • Duration 42:21

Rabbi David Wolpe, one of the most influential rabbis in the U.S., a brilliant and fascinating thinker, made headlines this year after stepping down from Harvard’s antisemitism advisory group, realizing their vital recommendations would go unheeded.

In this conversation, he shares his thoughts and experiences—what is Jewish courage today? Where did he go wrong in believing antisemitism was his father’s generation’s problem? What did a conversation with a student and former IDF soldier reveal about the alarming campus climate? Why doesn’t he recommend every Jew attend Harvard, and how do the Gilmore Girls fit into all of this?

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

Tamar on X: https://x.com/tamarishshalom
Tamar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamarishshalom/
JPPI on X: https://x.com/JewishPolicy
JPPI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishpeoplepolicyinstitute/
Rabbi Wolpe on X: https://x.com/RabbiWolpe
Rabbi Wolpe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djwolpe/

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Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis – Details, episodes & analysis

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Jewish Crossroads: Jewish Identity in Times of Crisis – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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Instagram4

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RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

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Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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Instagram4

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