SAPIR Conversations - SAPIR: Ideas for a Thriving Jewish Future

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.