Welcome Host Rabbi David Wolpe! Our Newly Revamped Podcast Sep 18, 2025

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

In today’s episode, Stephens and Wolpe tackle the issue of Chosenness. How was the concept perceived throughout Jewish history and how is it interpreted in Jewish liturgy? Is chosenness a status or a calling? Does it create burdens or standards? And how how Bret Stephens respond to non-Jewish friends when asked for his understanding of chosenness?

Our Political Moment with Bret Stephens and Mijal Bitton Sep 12, 2025

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

Views from the Iranian Diaspora with Roya Hakakian and Mehdi Yahyanejad Jul 03, 2025

Twelve days of war between Israel and Iran sparked passionate debates about the future of the Islamic Republic. How did Israel’s strikes impact the stability of the regime? What are the implications of the war on Iranian dissidents, opposition figures, and everyday Iranian citizens? And what does the historically fractious Iranian diaspora hope for in the weeks and months ahead?

To answer these questions and more, on July 3, SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman moderated a conversation between SAPIR contributors and prominent Iranian-American activists – Roya Hakakian, an acclaimed writer and author, Mehdi Yahyanejad, a tech entrepreneur who founded methods to bypass censorship in Iran.

S17E3: Can the Media Keep Kosher? with Bret Stephens and Amit Segal Jun 30, 2025

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

Can the Media Keep Kosher? (Stephens)
If Not Now, When? (Segal)

Did Israel and the U.S. destroy or delay Iran's nuclear program? with Eyal Hulata Jun 27, 2025

It’s been less than a week since the unprecedented U.S. military strikes against the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities in Iran. Codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the attack was designed to degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities. However, there are conflicting reports about its success. Were the sites destroyed or severely damaged? What is the impact of the attacks on the Iranian nuclear weapon program? What are the implications for the United States and Israel moving forward?On Friday, June 27, SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman was joined by Eyal Hulata, for a timely conversation about what took place in Iran, and what that means for the region now. Hulata is Israel’s former National Security Advisor and former head of Israel’s National Security Council responsible for coordinating the national effort on Iran. He is currently a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).

S17E2: Renewing Jewish Activism with Sara Forman and Mark B. Rotenberg Jun 23, 2025

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

Politics (Forman)
Lawfare (Weiss & Rotenberg)

U.S. Perspectives on the Israel-Iran War with Lieutenant General Joseph Guastella and Dana Stroul Jun 20, 2025

On Friday, June 13th, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting nuclear sites, drones and rocket launchers, and senior Iranian military leadership. In response, Iran has deployed hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones that led to many civilian deaths and destruction of property on the Israeli home front. Now, one week later, the U.S. is deliberating whether to join the fight and eliminate Iran’s nuclear program.To make sense of this moment, former Commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command Lieutenant General Joseph Guastella and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Dana Stroul joined SAPIR Institute Director, Chanan Weissman for a timely and insightful conversation.

S17E1: Building Alliances in a Post-10/7 World with David Hazony and Amy Spitalnick Jun 10, 2025

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

Read Hazony's most recent essay in the latest edition of SAPIR.

SAPIR Debates @ 92NY: Is Donald Trump Good for the Jews? May 23, 2025

In American Jewish life, few questions are as fraught — or as revealing — as this one: Is Donald Trump good for the Jews? In this launch of the SAPIR Debates, two prominent Jewish voices take opposing sides of this urgent and emotionally charged question: Jason Greenblatt, who served as Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East and worked for him for 20 years, and Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Obama, Mayor of Chicago, and US Ambassador to Japan. Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens, this is a timely, unsparing exchange on identity, power, politics — and what it means to stand with the Jews in America today. Recorded May 15, 2025, at The 92nd Street Y, New York.

S16E4: Jewish Identity vs. Identity Politics with Rabbi Meir Soloveichik Apr 09, 2025

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

S16E3: The Bounds of Jewish Disagreement Apr 08, 2025

Diversity of opinion is a key feature of our ancient tradition. Dating back to the Talmud, we have taken pride in our capacity to transcend difference through dialogue. And yet, should there be limits around what constitutes acceptable discourse within Jewish communities? How are those boundaries set? Celebrating the launch of the SAPIR issue on diversity, Park Avenue Synagogue's Senior Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove moderated a discussion with Bret Stephens, SAPIR Editor-in-Chief, Adam Kirsch, SAPIR contributing writer and editor for the The Wall Street Journal's Weekend Review section, and Ariella Saperstein, director of Viewpoint Diversity Initiatives at Maimonides Fund and the associate publisher of SAPIR.

This conversation was recorded live at Park Avenue Synagogue in NYC on March 31, 2025. If you have not yet had the opportunity to read the articles discussed in the latest volume of SAPIR, please click on the links below:

Viewpoint Diversity — Up to a Point by Bret Stephens

Are Zionists and Anti-Zionists Arguing for the Sake of Heaven? by Adam Kirsch

S16E2: Pre-Passover Conversation with President Isaac Herzog Apr 01, 2025

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

S16E1: I Am Not a Jew of Color with Mijal Bitton Mar 26, 2025

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

S15E4: Dana W. White on Why HBCUs Are Key to Fighting Antisemitism Jan 27, 2025

In the latest issue of SAPIR, Dana W. White observes that historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), once places that honored and taught the historical alliance between black and Jewish Americans, have now become spaces where antisemitism and anti-Zionism are actively encouraged.

How can our communities reinvigorate the long-neglected black and Jewish alliance, address misunderstandings, and rebuild trust? How do we celebrate our past accomplishments and pursue future objectives together? On Monday, January 27 former assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs under Secretary James Mattis, Dana W. White, joined SAPIR editor-in-chief Bret Stephens for a conversation on her recent SAPIR essay.

S15E3: “Academia’s Palestine Exception” with Shaul Kelner Jan 08, 2025

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

On Tuesday, January 7, Professor Kelner joined SAPIR Associate Editor Felicia Herman to unpack his essay, “Turning Critical Theory on Its Head,” and discuss whether and how this might be changed.

First Principles for the University with Danielle Allen and Jonathan Haidt Jan 03, 2025

Following the release of its issue on The University, SAPIR brought together leaders and experts from academia, philanthropy, and Jewish organizational life for a convening focused on identifying practical solutions to the serious challenges facing higher education. That gathering began with a discussion between Harvard University professor Danielle Allen, social psychologist and author, Jonathan Haidt and Maimonides Fund Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi David Wolpe, exploring why trust has diminished in institutions of higher education and what could be done to restore their values and faith in them. SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman delivered opening remarks, a condensed version of which you will hear in this recording.

This SAPIR Conversation was recorded live in New York City on December 16, 2024.

S15E2: The Purpose of the University with Ari Berman and Ron Liebowitz Dec 20, 2024

The modern university is at a crossroads. Is it still defined by its foundational mission to cultivate curiosity and advance knowledge, or is it defined by advocacy and activism centered around certain moral absolutes? And where do Jewish students, faculty, and ideas fit in? Listen as SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Yeshiva University President Ari Berman and former Brandeis University President Ron Liebowitz to discuss the purpose of the modern university and the role for Jews and Jewish ideas on campus.

S15E1: The Rising Threat of Academic Boycotts with Netta Barak-Corren and Ronald R. Krebs Dec 06, 2024

Since October 7, Israeli researchers and faculty have felt the chilling effects of a flourishing global boycott movement. In a shift that’s taken hold at high levels of American academia, Israeli scholars and universities have been barred from conferences, squeezed out of research grants, and cut out of collaboration with colleagues around the world. Is there a way out of this mess? On Thursday, December 5, SAPIR editor-in-chief Bret Stephens interviewed Netta Barak-Corren, the Haim H. Cohn Chair in Human Rights Law at the Hebrew University’s School of Law and Ronald R. Krebs, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota to discuss the dangerous normalization of academic boycotts and which forces in the American university are fighting back.

The Day After: One Year Later with Ambassador Michael Oren Oct 22, 2024

On November 27th, 2023, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren laid out his vision for Israel’s endgame in Gaza. Now, more than ten months after its publication, how should we understand the realistic potential for “a day after”? Will this proverbial day ever arrive? And how does last fall’s vision hold up? As the final event in SAPIR's 'One Year Later' series, former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren joined SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman for a discussion on what’s changed and what comes next.

The Progressive Community: One Year Later with Sheila Katz Oct 15, 2024

Following Hamas’ October 7 attack, many in the Jewish community were profoundly distressed by those on the Left who celebrated the attack or immediately cast blame at the victims of the massacre. To grapple with these reactions, National Council of Jewish Women CEO Sheila Katz and Joel Rubin joined SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman for a virtual conversation last fall. One year later, what has changed? What has it been like to work within progressive coalitions amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas? SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman and Sheila Katz came back together for a conversation on Jews, the Left, and antisemitism. This is the second of three conversations in SAPIR’s virtual ‘One Year Later’ series, where we revisit our ideas and presumptions following the tragic events on October 7.

Jewish Peoplehood: One Year Later with Mijal Bitton Oct 09, 2024

Maimonides Fund Scholar in Residence and Downtown Minyan Rosh Kehillah Mijal Bitton crystalized the despairing unity felt by Jews around the world on October 7 in her essay “That Pain You’re Feeling Is Peoplehood” published on November 1, 2023. After the brutal attacks in southern Israel, “many of us — thousands of miles away — cried out in visceral pain,” wrote Bitton. “This is what Jewish peoplehood feels like.”

Mijal Bitton joined SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman for a conversation on how Jewish peoplehood has evolved in the year since October 7. Prior to listening to this conversation, we encourage you to revisit Bitton’s essay and reflect on how things have changed in the last year.

This is the first of three conversations in SAPIR’s virtual ‘One Year Later’ series, where we revisit our ideas and presumptions following the tragic events on October 7.

S14E3: The Draft Controversy and a New Haredi Outlook with Yehoshua Pfeffer Sep 24, 2024

The Haredi community has been facing — and facing down — mounting pressure to participate meaningfully in areas of Israeli civic life, including military service and the workforce. While many in the community wish to maintain their isolation, it is widely seen by the rest of Israeli society as unfair and unsustainable. Haredi community rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, head of the Iyun Institute, an organization that promotes Haredi integration and responsibility joined SAPIR Managing Editor Philip Getz for a conversation on the ideas and fears that have shaped Haredi opinion against IDF service and civic engagement, and how to change the status quo.

S14E2: Faith in the Future of American Jewry with Pamela S. Nadell Sep 10, 2024

Is the recent uptick in antisemitism a sign that a golden era of American Jewish life is over? Or is it the latest chapter in a long history of prejudice that American Jews can, and will, overcome? Historian Pamela S. Nadell joins SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman to unpack her essay, “For America’s Jews, Past is Prologue.”

S14E1: The Trust Trap with Yuval Levin Aug 26, 2024

Americans’ faith in our leaders and institutions is at an all-time low. What is the source for this loss of confidence and what are the implications for the Jewish community? Yuval Levin of the American Enterprise Institute joined SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens for a conversation on addressing the “trust trap” and restoring faith in our future.

S13E3: Democracy's Pessimism Paradox with Bret Stephens Aug 07, 2024

Can uncertainty — and even full-on doubt — about the future of democracy be an unlikely source of democratic strength? Watch as SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman and SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens come together for a conversation on “Democracy’s Pessimism Paradox” and its implications for Jewish communities worldwide.

S13E2: The Resilience of Israel's Intelligence Services with Chuck Freilich Jul 31, 2024

Fifty years after the Yom Kippur War, Israel’s vaunted military and intelligence establishment again failed to protect the Jewish state. What must it do to regain its reputation and deterrence? Former Israeli deputy national-security adviser Chuck Freilich joined Bret Stephens for a conversation on his recent SAPIR article, "Can Israel’s Intelligence Services Be Saved?"

S13E1: The Courage to Be Uncool with Noa Tishby Jul 10, 2024

Since October 7, American Jews have been pushed out of the places that were once their cultural and political homes. This feeling of outsiderdom is a new one for American Jews, and one that took them by surprise. New York Times bestselling author Noa Tishby joined Bret Stephens for a conversation on the new position American Jews find themselves in and the steel they need in the battle to support Israel.

S12E3: The Roots of Black Antisemitism with Coleman Hughes May 08, 2024

Coleman Hughes joined Bret Stephens for a conversation on antisemitism in the black radical tradition. Hughes, the author of “Black Radicalism” in the recent Friends & Foes issue, analyzed the narratives driving rising antisemitism among black Americans — and how they can change. Plus, as a Columbia graduate, Hughes weighs in on recent developments on campus.

S12E2: Gen Z and Zionism: Is There a Future? with Ammiel Hirsch and Noam Weissman Apr 19, 2024

In stark contrast to previous generations, younger American Jews are growing up increasingly disconnected from Israel and Zionism. What accounts for this shift? How durable is it? And what are the implications for tomorrow’s leaders of American Jewish communities? Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and Dr. Noam Weissman of OpenDor Media discuss the future of Zionism among Gen Z.

S12E1: An Insider’s Look: Israel and the Human-Rights Establishment Apr 03, 2024

Former Human Rights Watch senior editor Danielle Haas sits down with SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens to discuss her recent essay, “The Human-Rights Establishment,” which chronicles years of behind-the-scenes experience and presents deep-seated concerns that human rights NGOs have become “increasingly hijacked by politics and dominated by groupthink.”

S11E3: Jewish Life in Our Technological Future with Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter and Dr. David Zvi Kalman Mar 14, 2024

The rapid ascent of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and other technologies requires Jewish leaders to understand the dramatic effects these innovations will have on Jewish life and faith. Are we ready for this technological Jewish future? SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman hosted a conversation with Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter of Yeshiva University and Dr. David Zvi Kalman of the Shalom Hartman Institute on what Jewish communal, philanthropic, and religious leaders must do to prepare for this new digital age.

S11E2: Synagogue Leadership in Turbulent Times with Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove and Rabbi Rachel Isaacs Feb 02, 2024

SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman hosted a conversation about the future of synagogue life in a time of disruption with Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City and Rabbi Rachel Isaacs of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life in Maine. They explored the shock of the October 7 attacks, the long-term structural changes brought on by the Covid pandemic, and their visions for the synagogue in a digital age.

S11E1: The Digital Fog of War with Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler and Zvika Krieger Jan 11, 2024

SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman is joined by Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, and Zvika Krieger, former director of responsible innovation at Meta discuss their recent essays in SAPIR’s Technology issue and explore how the virality of unsubstantiated information on social media is impacting perspectives on the Israel-Hamas war.

The Israel–Hamas War and the Battle over Free Speech on Campus Dec 18, 2023

SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman hosted a conversation about the conflict over free speech on college campuses with Nadine Strossen, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), and Ilya Shapiro, the director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute. Strossen and Kenneth S. Stern co-authored “SJP Still Deserves Freedom of Speech” in Sapir‘s War in Israel special edition, while Shapiro recently published “Where Free Speech Ends and Lawbreaking Begins” in The Free Press.

The Israel–Hamas War and the Future of Zionism Nov 21, 2023

SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman was joined by Einat Wilf, former member of the Israeli Knesset for the Labor Party, and Michael Koplow, chief policy officer of the Israel Policy Forum (IPF). They discussed the short- and long-term impacts and implications of the October 7 attacks on Israeli and American conceptions of Zionism.

The Israel–Hamas War and the Ethos of Jewish Peoplehood Nov 13, 2023

SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman is joined by Rabbi David Wolpe, visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School and the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, and Dr. Mijal Bitton, a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute and rosh kehillah at the Downtown Minyan in New York City. They discuss their recent SAPIR essays — Wolpe’s “Wisdom in the Face of Destruction” and Bitton’s “That Pain You’re Feeling is Peoplehood“ — and delve into how Jewish tradition conceptualizes the responsibilities of the Jewish collective in a time of war.

The Israel–Hamas War and the Future of American Progressive Coalitions Nov 02, 2023

SAPIR Institute Director Chanan Weissman interviewed Sheila Katz, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, and Joel Rubin, a longtime leader in progressive foreign policy and Jewish communities about "The Israel–Hamas War and the Future of American Progressive Coalitions." They discussed the challenges and complexities of navigating progressive communities and coalitions in the aftermath of the Hamas massacre of October 7.

Israel’s War and the Diaspora Oct 26, 2023

Chanan Weissman, director of the SAPIR Institute, and Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, discuss Yehuda’s recent trip to Israel, the deep trauma facing Israelis and Jews in the Diaspora, and the ethical considerations of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.

American Jewry and the War in Israel: What Do We Do Now? Oct 20, 2023

Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue, and Rachel Fish, co-founder of the nonprofit Boundless, discuss the geopolitical impact of the war in Israel, the implications for the American Jewish community, and our collective responsibilities during this crisis and beyond.

This Conversation is presented in partnership with Park Avenue Synagogue.

War in Israel: What Will Stop the Islamic Republic of Iran? Oct 12, 2023

As the war in Israel continues, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens is joined by SAPIR author Reuel Marc Gerecht, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to discuss and contextualize Hamas' attacks with developments in the broader region, offering a perspective on the consequences of Iran's aggression and sponsorship of terrorism. They discuss what to expect as the conflict unfolds in the coming days and weeks.

S10E3: Jonathan Greenblatt and James Kirchick Sep 19, 2023

SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Jonathan Greenblatt and James Kirchick, authors of “Complicit: Big Tech and Antisemitism" and "Censorship Is Not a Jewish Value"

S10 E2: Dahlia Lithwick and Avi Schick Sep 08, 2023

SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Dahlia Lithwick and Avi Schick, authors of "Between Charlottesville and Jerusalem" and "New York’s New Untouchables"

S10E1: Chanan Weissman and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Aug 22, 2023

Director of the SAPIR Institute Chanan Weissman interviews Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens about SAPIR's Antisemitism issue, including his article, “Three Falsehoods About Antisemitism – and One Truth.”

S9E4: A Conversation with Professor Avi Bell, Jesse Ferris, and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Jun 12, 2023

Professor Avi Bell and the Israel Democracy Institute's Jesse Ferris discuss the complexities of judicial reform in Israel. Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens.

S9E3: A Conversation with Rabbi Deborah Waxman and Chanan Weissman May 31, 2023

Director of The SAPIR Institute Chanan Weissman interviews Rabbi Deborah Waxman, author of “Israel Is in Danger of Losing American Jewry”.

S9E2: A Conversation with Daniel Gordis and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens May 22, 2023

SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Daniel Gordis, author of "Israel Is Less Fragile Than We Feared, More Fragile Than We Imagine"

S9E1: A Conversation with Daniella Greenbaum and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens May 18, 2023

Daniella Greenbaum interviews SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens about the newest issue, Israel at 75 and his contribution on Israel as a world power.

S8E3: A Conversation with Rokhl Kafrissen and Associate Editor Felicia Herman Feb 27, 2023

SAPIR Associate Editor Felicia Herman interviews Rokhl Kafrissen, author of “ The Jewish Future Needs Yiddish ”

S8E2: A Conversation with Allegra Goodman and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Feb 21, 2023

SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Allegra Goodman, author of “Judaism Without Borders, Diaspora Without Tears”

S8E1: A Conversation with John Podhoretz and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Feb 14, 2023

SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews John Podhoretz, author of “‘A Swinging Bunch of People’ No Longer”

S7E3: A Conversation with Rabbi David Wolpe and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Dec 08, 2022

In this episode, SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Rabbi David Wolpe, one of the contributors to SAPIR's new Ethics column, Shivim Panim, and author of "To Err is Human; To Disagree, Jewish" in our newest issue.

S7E2: A Conversation with Prof. Joshua Katz and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Nov 14, 2022

In this episode, SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens talks with Prof. Joshua Katz about his recent SAPIR article, The Culture of the Canceled

S7E1: A Conversation with Lionel Shriver and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Nov 01, 2022

In this episode, SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens talks with commentator and novelist Lionel Shriver about her recent SAPIR article, Are the Good Guys Winning the Culture War?

S6E4: A Conversation with Michael Sandel and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Sep 29, 2022

In this episode of SAPIR: Journal of Jewish Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens invites Michael Sandel to discuss his article on the Limits of Meritocracy

S6E3: A Conversation with Anshel Pfeffer and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Sep 21, 2022

In this episode of SAPIR: Journal of Jewish Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens invites Anshel Pfeffer to discuss his article on Jewish Life in Wartime Ukraine.

S6E2: A Conversation with Shuki Taylor, Ben Jacobs, and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Sep 15, 2022

In this episode of SAPIR: Journal of Jewish Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens invites Shuki Taylor and Ben Jacobs to discuss Jewish Education.

S6E1: A Conversation with Bethany Mandel and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Aug 31, 2022

In this episode of SAPIR: Journal of Jewish Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens invites Bethany Mandel to discuss her article on how Homeschooling Might Just Be Your Answer

S5E5: A Conversation with Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens Jun 13, 2022

In this episode of SAPIR: Journal of Jewish Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens invites Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch to discuss his article on how Judaism and Zionism Are Inseparable

S5E4: A Conversation with Susie Linfield and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens May 27, 2022

In this episode of SAPIR: Journal of Jewish Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens invites Susie Linfield to discuss her article on Amnesty International’s Israel Problem.

S5E3: A conversation with Rachel Fish and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens May 23, 2022

In this episode of SAPIR: Journal of Jewish Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens invites Rachel Fish to discuss her article on anti-Zionism in the academy and what we can do to fight back.

Follow SAPIR Conversations so you'll never miss new episodes! You can also visit the "Conversations" page on our website to register for upcoming events and sign up for our email newsletter.

S5E2: A conversation with Andrew Roberts and Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens May 11, 2022

Tune in to hear one of Britain's leading historians, Andrew Roberts, talk to Bret Stephens about the state of Europe and what his home country can learn from Israel. Read Roberts' piece in SAPIR here.

Follow SAPIR Conversations so you'll never miss new episodes! You can also visit the "Conversations" page on our website to register for upcoming events and sign up for our email newsletter.

S5E1: Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove & Bret Stephens Live at Park Avenue Synagogue Apr 19, 2022

How do we ensure that Judaism is carried on from generation to generation? In his article for the third issue of SAPIR, Rabbi Cosgrove identified a path forward aimed at reinvigorating a searching American Jewry. “It is only by way of mitzvot, the positive acts of Jewish identification, the language and behaviors of the Jewish religion, that Judaism will survive,” he writes. “Mitzvot are the mystic chords, the commitments and commandments by which one Jew connects to another–and, belief permitting, to God.” Cosgrove and SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens discussed this article and the ways the American Jewish community intersects with today’s cultural, social, and political issues in this live event at Park Avenue Synagogue.

S4E4: A Conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi, Chloe Valdary, Blake Flayton and Bret Stephens Mar 14, 2022

In this fascinating conversation, Yossi Klein Halevi, Chloe Valdary, and Blake Flayton discuss the future of Zionism and the Jewish relationship with other communities. Follow SAPIR Conversations so you'll never miss new episodes! You can also visit the "Conversations" page on our website to register for upcoming events and sign up for our email newsletter.

S4E3: A Conversation with Reuel Marc Gerecht and Bret Stephens Mar 07, 2022

In this especially timely discussion, Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former Iranian-targets officer in the Central Intelligence Agency and a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies discusses his contribution to SAPIR, which examines how Iran’s path toward nuclear weapons might ultimately be stopped (and whether Israeli military action may be necessary). Follow SAPIR Conversations so you'll never miss new episodes! You can also visit the "Conversations" page on our website to register for upcoming events and sign up for our email newsletter.

S4E2: A Conversation with Natan Sharansky, Gil Troy, and Bret Stephens Feb 28, 2022

Our guests take a deeper dive into their SAPIR contribution on reimagining a gap year program in Israel for every young Jew. Follow SAPIR Conversations so you'll never miss new episodes! You can also visit the "Conversations" page on our website to register for upcoming events and sign up for our email newsletter.

S4E1: A Conversation with Dara Horn and Bret Stephens Feb 15, 2022

Dara Horn and Bret Stephens discuss Horn’s contribution to our fourth issue – Dreams for Living Jews. Follow SAPIR Conversations so you'll never miss new episodes! You can also visit the "Conversations" page on our website to register for upcoming events and sign up for our email newsletter.

S3E4: A Conversation with Jonathan Rosenblum and Bret Stephens Dec 16, 2021

Jonathan Rosenblum and Bret Stephens discuss Rosenblum’s contribution to our third issue – More Unites Us Than Divides us: A Haredi perspective. We explore ideas that are already bringing Jews from a wide variety of backgrounds together in Israel, and whether some of those lessons might translate in America.

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S3E3: A Conversation with Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, Josef Joffe, and Bret Stephens Nov 30, 2021

Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Annika Hernroth-Rothstein,and Josef Joffe. What is the outlook for Jews in Europe? For Jews in America? Our three guests have written pieces exploring these questions. Be sure to read their pieces linked below:

Annika Hernroth-Rothstein: Two Weddings and a Sorrowful Wife

Josef Joffe: American Jews: A Threat Report

Bret Stephens: Is There a Future for American Jews?

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S3E2: A Conversation with Howard Jacobson and Bret Stephens Nov 18, 2021

Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Howard Jacobson about his article "Advice to a Jewish Freshman " from Issue 3 of SAPIR.

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S3E1: A Conversation with Liel Leibovitz and Bret Stephens Nov 11, 2021

Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Liel Leibovitz about his article "Seven Pillars of Wisdom for 21st Century Jews " from Issue 3 of SAPIR.

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S1E5: A Conversation with James Kirchick and Bret Stephens Sep 15, 2021

Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews James Kirchick about his article "Our Duty to Be Unimpressed" from Issue 1 of SAPIR.

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S2E3: A Conversation with Thane Rosenbaum and Bret Stephens Aug 24, 2021

SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Thane Rosenbaum about his article"The Eclipse of Jewish Cultural Power" and the Jewish role in American culture.

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S2E2: A Conversation with Ambassador Dore Gold and Bret Stephens Aug 16, 2021

SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Ambassador Gold about his article Israel Enters The Modern World," the power and limits of diplomacy, and new opportunities for Israel in the Middle East.

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S2E1: A Conversation with Ruth Wisse and Bret Stephens Aug 11, 2021

Bret Stephens interviews Professor Ruth Wisse about her contribution to SAPIR’s second issue, The Allure of Powerlessness.

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S1E4: A Conversation with Pamela Paresky and Jonathan Haidt Jun 08, 2021

NYU Professor and Author of Coddling of the American Mind, Jonathan Haidt interviews psychologist and writer Pamela Paresky about her SAPIR article "Critical Race Theory and the 'Hyper-White' Jew."

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S1E3: A Conversation with David Wolpe and Bret Stephens Jun 02, 2021

SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Rabbi David Wolpe about his article "Social Justice for Moderns," recent events in Israel, our current discourse on social media and elsewhere, and what it portends for the future.

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S1E2: A Conversation with Matti Friedman and Bret Stephens May 25, 2021

Matti Friedman's contribution to SAPIR - "Eight Tips for Reading about Israel"- went viral during the most recent conflict between Israel and Gaza in May. Bret Stephens interviews Matti about his piece and how to read the news with a critical eye.

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S1E1: A Conversation with Einat Wilf and Bret Stephens May 20, 2021

SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens and Einat Wilf discuss her article for the inaugural issue, "How Not to Think About the Conflict."

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SAPIR Conversations – SAPIR: Ideas for a Thriving Jewish Future

In this episode of SAPIR: Journal of Jewish Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens invites Susie Linfield to discuss her article on Amnesty International’s Israel Problem.

In this episode of SAPIR: Journal of Jewish Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens invites Rachel Fish to discuss her article on anti-Zionism in the academy and what we can do to fight back.

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