Identity/Crisis

Latest Episodes:

The Jewish Politics of Self-Destruction—with Amotz Asa-El Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Could lessons from ancient politics help shape Israel’s future?

As Israel heads toward its October 2026 election, Yehuda Kurtzer talks with author and historian Amotz Asa-El to explore what ancient Jewish political failures can teach us about Israel’s current crossroads. Drawing on Asa-El’s book, The Jewish March of Folly (newly out in English), they examine the dangers of tribalism, the challenges of democracy, and the question of whether Jewish politics can balance power with moral purpose.

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Here’s more from the Shalom Hartman Institute this week: Watch select sessions from our summer learning in Jerusalem.

A Yiddish Renaissance: Language, Memory, and Modern Jewish Life — with Rukhl Schaechter (Re-run) Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

Did Yiddish ever really die?

On this re-release of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Rukhl Schaechter, editor of the Yiddish Forverts, to explore the surprising renaissance of the Yiddish language—from new dictionaries and online media to Duolingo learners and Hasidic vernacular. Together they discuss what is drawing people back to the language, how Yiddish carries culture across generations, and why so many Jews are using it to seek connections to their roots in a moment of renewed searching.

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The Right to Belong: A Palestinian Perspective - with Rana Fahoum Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

What happens when citizenship and identity point in different directions?

In this episode, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Rana Fahoum, Vice President of the Shalom Hartman Institute and Director of Hartman’s Center for Shared Society, to examine the complexities of citizenship in Israel. Drawing on personal history, they reflect on belonging, collective rights, and the challenges of building Israel’s future for all its citizens.

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Learn more about our Wellspring programming for young Jews and the professionals who serve them.

Surviving, Thriving, and Excelling in Jewish Life – with Barry Finestone Jul 21, 2026

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How should North American Jewish communities balance security, vibrant communal life, and moral purpose?

Recorded live in Jerusalem during the Shalom Hartman Institute's Community Leadership Program, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Barry Finestone, President and CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation, to explore the future of North American Jewish life. Together, they examine the challenges of antisemitism, Jewish education, philanthropy, leadership, and the future of Jewish thriving, and ask what it means not only to survive but also excel as a community.

You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. 

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Here’s more from the Shalom Hartman Institute this week:

Learn here how Siach helps young Jews grapple with big questions.

Hip-Hop, Protest, and Patriotism After October 7 – with Shaanan Streett Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Can Music Heal a Divided Society?

Recorded live at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Israeli artist, activist, and Hadag Nahash frontman Shaanan Streett for a wide-ranging conversation about hip-hop, dissent, patriotism, and the role of artists in times of crisis. Through songs and stories, Streett reflects on the judicial reform protests, October 7, Israeli-Palestinian relations, and the power of music to build empathy across divides.

You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more.
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The Promise and Peril of Jewish Power — with Zachary Truboff Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

Can Zionism survive a crisis of its own making?

In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Zachary Truboff, director of the Institute for Agunah Research and Education at the International Beit Din, to discuss the moral and political questions facing Israel after October 7. As Israelis grapple with war, trauma, and the responsibilities of power, they explore whether Zionism has adequately reckoned with its own vulnerabilities, assumptions, and failures. Their conversation examines the tension between victimhood and agency, the demands of collective responsibility, and what it would mean for Zionism to undergo a process of teshuvah of its own.

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Watch our summer live streams HERE

Beyond the Myth of Jewish Wealth – with Ilana Horwitz Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Money shapes who can access Jewish life—and who gets left out. In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with sociologist Ilana Horwitz about the overlooked reality of a quarter of American Jews living in economic vulnerability, challenging the persistent myth of universal Jewish affluence. Drawing on Horwitz’s research, they explore how class and financial instability intersect with Jewish education, communal participation, and belonging.

This episode is sponsored in honor of Robert Kogod’s 95th birthday by his loving family.

Read Ilana Horwitz’s article on affordability and Jewish education in Sources.

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Teaching Jewish History in America — with Natalia Mehlman Petrzela (Re-run) Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

This episode of Identity/Crisis was originally released on Tuesday, March 10, 2026

What does it mean to tell Jewish stories in a moment of political polarization and distortion?

On this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer is joined by historian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela to examine the role of the historian in public life: not to offer talking points or easy analogies, but to deepen public understanding in a time of simplification and certainty. Through a conversation about education, Jewish identity, and the place of Jews in American history, they consider why richer storytelling matters—and what it can offer to students, Jews, and the broader public.

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Strong Beliefs and Open Minds: A Graduation Challenge — with Jonathan Kroll Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

In a polarized age, how do we raise young Jews who can think deeply—and listen across disagreement?

In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer talks with principal of SAR High School Jonathan Kroll about his recent commencement address to SAR’s graduating class of 2026, where he challenged students to embrace a “revolution of moderation,” and integrate conviction with openness. Together, they explore pluralism in Orthodox education, the formation of Jewish identity, and what it means to prepare the next generation for a divided world—without sacrificing commitment or clarity.

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The Role of Journalism in a Post-Truth Age — with Abigail Pogrebin Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

With the marketplace of ideas outpacing our ability to discern truth, who still cares about keeping up with journalistic standards?

In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with journalist Abigail Pogrebin to explore how media, authority, and public conversation are changing as traditional standards of journalism dissolve and algorithms shape what we see and believe. They turn to the Jewish community to examine how these shifts are intensifying polarization and defining who gets to speak—and who gets heard. Together, they consider what responsibility these changing standards places on those who shape public conversation to hold complexity without collapsing it.

You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more.

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