Did Yiddish ever really die? On this episode 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 s...
Jan 20, 2026•44 min•Ep. 259
What does it mean to defend liberal democracy in a world shaped by power, domination, and moral compromise? In this episode of Identity/Crisis , Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with Washington Post columnist and author of The Case for American Power , Shadi Hamid , about whether liberal societies can wield power without betraying their own ideals. From Trump’s approach to Venezuela to the war in Gaza, their conversation asks whether restraint, morality, and democratic purpose can guide power in a fracture...
Jan 13, 2026•51 min•Ep. 260
Who pays the price for identifying antisemitism? In this episode of Identity/Crisis , Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with journalist and Canadaland host Jesse Brown about his recent series What Is Happening Here and his decision to investigate the rise of anti-Zionism and antisemitism in Canada. Together, they examine why media and political institutions have struggled to respond and what it costs to name these realities publicly. We're grateful to the Charles H. Revson Foundation for supporting the Shal...
Jan 06, 2026•51 min•Ep. 259
Why have universities become flashpoints for broader cultural and political battles and what can higher education do to repair a fractured public sphere? In a conversation recorded live at the Vilna Shul in Boston, Yehuda Kurtzer and Harvard president Alan Garber reflect on leadership in a moment of crisis—exploring free speech and protest, institutional neutrality, and the rise of antisemitism on campus. As a university president and a Jew, Garber shares what worries him about the current momen...
Dec 30, 2025•46 min•Ep. 254
How do ideas travel—and what happens when they cross borders? In this episode of Identity/Crisis , Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with author and historian Adam Ferziger to explore how liberal and moderate forms of Judaism, forged in North America, took root in Israel and helped shape a distinctly Israeli religious center. Drawing on Ferziger's new book Agents of Change , the conversation examines education, power, backlash, and belonging—and asks what it really means for Jewish ideas to be “imported,...
Dec 23, 2025•51 min•Ep. 252
This episode was originally released on December 24, 2024 The relegation of Hanukkah merchandise to a tiny corner of the grocery aisle can cause Jews to feel excluded or marginalized by the Christmas holiday season. But the impact of Jews on the history and culture of secularized Christmas is deeper than you might think. In this exciting Yuletide episode of Identity/Crisis, host Yehuda Kurtzer and American composer and music commentator Rob Kapilow sit down at the keyboard to better understand t...
Dec 16, 2025•59 min
What does it take to rebuild Jewish community after two years of trauma and division? On this special episode of Identity/Crisis, Senior Editor Claire Sufrin turns the tables and interviews Yehuda Kurtzer about his article in the newest issue of Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas , where he unpacks why communities need clearer values and a renewed ethic of care to move beyond crisis. Their conversation offers us a roadmap for belonging, boundaries, and rebuilding connection after October 7. We'r...
Dec 09, 2025•55 min
What does it take for Black–Jewish partnerships to flourish in a moment of rising fear, political polarization, and mutual misunderstanding? On this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer and scholar Terrence Johnson discuss the stories we carry — about vulnerability, power, Israel, America, and identity — and why they often fail to translate across racial lines. Together, they explore how demythologizing each other and leaning into deeper, more intimate conversations might reshape the futur...
Dec 02, 2025•53 min•Ep. 252
This episode was originally released on Tuesday, November 26th, 2024 This political moment may cause American Jews to ask: “Where have we seen this before?” In this episode recorded live in NYC, Yehuda Kurtzer challenges the impulse to reach backwards for old frameworks to describe our current situation, and instead offers a vision for a new era in American-Jewish politics – one shaped by a culture of compromise and defined by an embrace of kindness. We're grateful to the Charles H. Revson Found...
Nov 25, 2025•49 min•Ep. 253
Why are conspiracy theories about Jews surging in the American mainstream — and why are so many young Americans embracing them? In this episode of I dentity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer and Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at The Atlantic, unpack how Tucker Carlson’s platforming of Nick Fuentes reveals a broader ecosystem of digital extremism and populist politics that increasingly places Jews at the center of national discontent. We are grateful to the Charles H. Revson Foundation for supporting the Shal...
Nov 18, 2025•55 min•Ep. 252
What’s next for Israel’s democracy after years of polarization, war, and political stagnation? In this episode of Identity/Crisis , Yehuda Kurtzer talks with Tani Frank, Director of the Center for Judaism and State Policy at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, about Israel’s rapidly changing political landscape ahead of the 2026 elections. They discuss Benjamin Netanyahu’s enduring power, the rise of a possible “Zionist alliance,” and the growing demand for political accountability and un...
Nov 11, 2025•45 min•Ep. 251
Thirty years after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with Yossi Beilin, one of the architects of the Oslo Accords, about the night that changed Israel forever. Together they revisit Rabin’s legacy, the rise of extremism that followed, and ask: what will it take to revive the hope of peace? We're grateful to the Charles H. Revson Foundation for supporting the Shalom Hartman Institute's digital work, including Identity/Crisis. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Cris...
Nov 04, 2025•46 min•Ep. 250
What does Zohran Mamdani’s rise reveal about the shifting power, politics, and identity of New York City’s Jews? As New York stands on the verge of electing its first anti-Zionist mayor, on Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer and political strategist Howard Wolfson explore what happens when the Jewish community, who once defined New York’s political center of gravity, finds itself on the outside looking in. We're grateful to the Charles H. Revson Foundation for supporting the Shalom Hartman Institut...
Oct 28, 2025•46 min•Ep. 249
Last week on the Jewish Broadcasting Network, Shalom Hartman Institute presidents Yehuda Kurtzer and Donniel Hartman joined journalist Abigail Pogrebin for a live conversation reflecting on this pivotal moment: the immense Israeli public effort to bring the hostages home, the roles of Trump and Netanyahu in current and future politics, and the dueling priorities of Israeli and American Jews. As the ceasefire went into effect and all remaining living hostages and some of the fallen returned to Is...
Oct 21, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 215
At a time of unprecedented leaps in technology and ethical questions about artificial intelligence, one scholar seeks answers from an unlikely source — ancient Jewish wisdom. In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer talks with technology guru, Hartman scholar, and founding Identity/Crisis Producer David Zvi Kalman about the religious and ethical dilemmas AI poses for Jewish life — from sermons written by bots to the erosion of truth and authority. This thoughtful conversation is for an...
Oct 13, 2025•54 min•Ep. 245
What is at stake when Holocaust memory fades—or worse, loses its relevance? This week on Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with Anita Friedman — daughter of survivors, renowned educator, and executive producer of the new film Among Neighbors — about the future of Holocaust education, the dangers of “Holocaust fatigue,” and how storytelling can help make Holocaust memories relevant for generations to come. Register for the Sapir Debate HERE. Learn more and register for our Winter Leadership ...
Oct 06, 2025•44 min•Ep. 244
In this episode of Arc: The Podcast, Mark Oppenheimer sits down with Yehuda Kurtzer to discuss the aesthetics of yarmulkas, the crisis facing clergy-members, and how the war in Israel is changing American Jewry. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS...
Sep 30, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 245
What happens when the words we pray clash with the values we hold? Just in time for the High Holidays, this week on Identity/Crisis Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with Ethan Tucker, president of Hadar and co-author of Gender Equality and Prayer in Jewish Law , about what it means to pray ancient words in a world shaped by present fears and political tensions and how we can navigate the frameworks of tradition and modern egalitarian commitments. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HER...
Sep 22, 2025•52 min•Ep. 242
Does Benjamin Netanyahu need Hamas — and even this war —for political survival? This week on Identity/Crisis, following Israel’s puzzling strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, Yehuda Kurtzer and Michael Koplow, Chief Policy Officer at Israel Policy Forum, try to get inside Netanyahu’s head and understand the ways in which he and Hamas may be inextricably linked. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS...
Sep 16, 2025•42 min•Ep. 243
What does it mean to reclaim the Jewish story in an era of shame, assimilation, and contested narratives? On this episode of Identity/Crisis, host Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with author Sarah Hurwitz about her new book, As a Jew , her journey from superficial Jewish identity to deeper engagement with Jewish tradition, and why knowledge and countercultural courage may be key to Jewish continuity today. You can listen to more from Sarah Hurwitz on Ark Media's Call Me Back podcast HERE If you loved list...
Sep 09, 2025•51 min•Ep. 242
Who gets to decide someone’s Jewish status, and what happens when that status comes into conflict with someone’s identity? This week on Identity/Crisis , Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Christine Hayes, Sterling Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at Yale and Hartman Senior Fellow for a provocative conversation about intermarriage, Jewish adjacency, and the boundaries of community and belonging. Check out Yehuda’s substack HERE Learn more about Hartman’s Hevruta Gap-Year Program HERE Learn more...
Sep 02, 2025•53 min•Ep. 237
This episode was originally released on April 1, 2025 The future of American Judaism is uncertain, some even might say at risk. In this special episode, recorded live at the Jewish Funders Network Conference in Nashville, Yehuda Kurtzer , Franklin Foer , and Sarah Hurwitz engage in a dynamic discussion about what ails American Judaism, why we fear change, and what we want to strengthen and preserve for the future. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN ...
Aug 26, 2025•43 min•Ep. 237
This week, Identity/Crisis is excited to share Hartman’s newest podcast, Future Tense , where rising Jewish leaders drive conversations with scholars from the Shalom Hartman Institute on the most pressing issues facing their generation. What kind of Jewish future do we want to build – and how do we build something that will last? On this episode of Future Tense, hosts Anna Weiss, Sami Jinich, and Yadid Orlow reflect on their upbringings and share their visions for Jewish life. Together with Yehu...
Aug 19, 2025•53 min•Ep. 236
What happens to the credibility and power of scholarship when practitioners abandon careful methodology in favor of rhetorical certainty? In this special episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer explores the intellectual and ethical responsibilities of scholarship in the face of the Gaza war and asks: how can we confront a horror and feel it deeply, yet stop short of giving that horror a name? You can read Barry Wimpfheimer's Sources article HERE You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Cris...
Aug 12, 2025•47 min
What can Jewish summer camps teach us about building stronger, more inclusive Jewish communities? On this episode of Identity/Crisis , guest host and editor of Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas , Claire Sufrin , sits down with Adina Frydman , CEO of Young Judaea Global, to explore how Jewish camps create spaces where North American and Israeli campers live, learn, and wrestle with complex identities together. Together they discuss bridging cultural divides, navigating political tensions, and fo...
Aug 05, 2025•53 min•Ep. 231
What does it mean to be “okay” when your community is not? What is the role of an educator in times of moral emergency? And how can we resist turning loyalty into a litmus test for empathy? In this far-reaching and emotionally charged conversation recorded live in Jerusalem, Yehuda Kurtzer and Donniel Hartman reflect on what it means to lead the Hartman Institute in a moment of profound trauma. For the latest issue of our award-winning winning journal Sources, click HERE You can now sponsor an e...
Jul 29, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 236
Who should we trust when the truth is unknowable? On this episode of Identity/Crisis , Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz for a candid conversation about journalistic integrity, media bias, and the urgent need for honest storytelling in a time of global confusion. Listen to our new podcast, Future Tense, HERE Listen to a new special season of TEXTing: IRL HERE Learn more about our regional programming HERE You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisi...
Jul 22, 2025•53 min•Ep. 235
What does it mean to build a culture of argument that strengthens rather than weakens us? As Jews around the world mark the somber weeks between the 17 Tammuz and Tisha B’Av — a period our tradition links to the breakdown of social trust and the dangers of baseless hatred — Identity/Crisis turns to what it means to disagree constructively. Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with former Israeli ambassador and author Daniel Taub to explore his new book and the deep Jewish roots of better arguments. You can ...
Jul 15, 2025•54 min•Ep. 234
Does the Jewish community think big enough? Is the Jewish philanthropic market fair? Is Jewish innovation still innovative? In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Aaron Katler, CEO of UpStart, to explore the emotional stakes of Jewish leadership post-October 7 and whether the Jewish community still knows how to take risks and dream big. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS...
Jul 08, 2025•52 min•Ep. 233
What happens to Jewish leadership when crisis becomes the norm rather than the exception? In this episode of Identity/Crisis , host Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Barry Finestone, President and CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation, to explore the emotional and organizational toll of leading through upheaval—and discuss what it will take to build institutions that can thrive during times of uncertainty without losing sight of their long term goals. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Cl...
Jul 01, 2025•44 min•Ep. 232
