Episodes

2d ago

American Jewry has long thrived in a society built on institutions. But today, we live in an anti-establishment age, where subtlety fuels suspicion and open displays of power are seemingly valued for their authenticity. In this environment, should America’s Jews think and act like a state, as Jordan Chandler Hirsch argues in his essay “The Need for a Jewish Sovereign Wealth Fund”? Or is this proposed cure an abandonment of the features that have long defined American exceptionalism — and the Jewish experience within it, as Roger Zakheim argues in response. On December 8, SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens moderated a conversation on the future of the American Jewish community in an anti-institutional era with Jordan Chandler Hirsch, senior counselor to the CEO of Palantir Technologies, and Roger Zakheim, director of the Ronald Reagan Institute Roger Zakheim. Read Jordan Chandler Hirsch’s essay: https://sapirjournal.org/money/2025/the-need-for-a-jewish-sovereign-wealth-fund/ Read Roger Zakheim’s rebuttal: https://sapirjournal.org/letters/against-a-jewish-sovereign-wealth-fund-renewing-americas-covenantal-promise/ Watch the virtual discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g51WmzVsNw Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Dec 10

The assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin 30 years ago, in November 1995, marked a major turning point in the prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Now, three decades later, the likelihood of a safe and secure Israel coexisting alongside an independent Palestinian state appears increasingly more remote.Despite growing international pressure, Israeli support for a two state-solution continues to drop while skepticism that peace is achievable continues to grow. In the shadow of the October 7th attacks and a two-year long war in Gaza, is lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians possible? Is There a Realistic Future for the Two-State Solution?On November 17, SAPIR hosted a debate on this question on the plenary stage of the Jewish Federations of North America's General Assembly in Washington, D.C.Speakers:Tamar Ish-Shalom, Israeli journalist & host of Jewish CrossroadsDr. Michael Koplow, Chief Policy Officer, Israel Policy ForumJohn Podhoretz, Editor, Commentary Magazine Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/track/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Dec 3

Of Israel’s many achievements since October 7, none perhaps was as unforeseen as the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange reaching an all-time high two years since the start of the war. While this reflected the resilience and dynamism of the start-up nation, there are troubling signs ahead for Israel’s economy: the high cost of war; stagnant economic sectors; bureaucratic malaise; high population growth; and more. Can Israel make the adjustments and double its GDP over ten years? Can Jews in the Diaspora help it get there? Israeli venture capitalist Michael Eisenberg joined SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens for a conversation about what it will take for Israel to become a trillion-dollar economy. Watch this SAPIR Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S4BQEQynhM Read Michael Eisenberg’s essay: https://sapirjournal.org/money/2025/building-israels-trillion-dollar-economy/ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Nov 12

Why does the stereotype about Jews and money endure? Is Judaism a contractual or covenantal religion? Is Jewish life today too expensive? Should the cost of Jewish education be offset by philanthropic giving or public funding? Join Bret and Rabbi Wolpe for a wide-ranging SAPIR Conversation on these questions and more, which are featured in the newly released issue of the journal on Money. Dive into the issue at sapirjournal.org/issues/money . Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Oct 30

In the shadow of the war in Gaza, shifting ideological fault lines and coalitions are redefining the boundaries of progressive politics nationwide. The normalization of rhetoric on the Left that questions Israel’s legitimacy has become a source of growing discomfort, if not concern, for Zionists across the political spectrum. Likewise, actions of the Israeli government – before and since the recent war – have prompted those on the Left to reevaluate their association with and support for Israel. Nowhere is this phenomenon more pressing than in New York City, home to more Jews than any city in the world. On both a local and national level, many are asking: can one be both proudly Zionist and firmly on the Left, or has the divide grown too wide to bridge? Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens , this second of the SAPIR Debates featured four distinguished voices: Kathy E. Manning , board chair of the Democratic Majority for Israel and former two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives Yehuda Kurtzer , president of the Shalom Hartman Institute and host of the Identity/Crisis podcast James Kirchick , contributing opinion writer to the New York Times and best-selling author of two books Batya Ungar-Sargon, author of three books, including the forthcoming The Left and the Jews , and host of Batya! on NewsNation The SAPIR Debates is a new series that features a spirited but civil exchange of views on the most consequential issues facing the American Jewish community. Watch this SAPIR Debate on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g-ftd9gNjw Read SAPIR essays relevant to the Debate: To Err is Human; To Disagree, Jewish - by Rabbi David Wolpe: https://sapirjournal.org/cancellation/2022/to-err-is-human-to-disagree-jewish/ Zionism and Liberalism in America - by Michael Koplow: https://sapirjournal.org/resilience/2024/zionism-and-liberalism-in-america/ Pro-Israel Progressives with Rep Ritchie Torres: https://sapirjournal.org/friends-and-foes/2024/pro-israel-progressives/ Saving Israel for Democrats - by Ronald Radosh: https://sapirjournal.org/zionism/2022/saving-israel-for-democrats/ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Oct 21

Amid a troubling resurgence of antisemitism, Princeton scholar Robert P. George declared in his most recent SAPIR essay that “any attempt to deny or undermine God’s unique and mysterious bond with the Jewish people … is antithetical to Christianity.” At a moment when the concept of Jewish chosenness is increasingly uncomfortable to discuss, how should we approach it with honesty and integrity — especially across lines of faith? George recently joined SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens for a virtual conversation. Read Robert P. George's piece, “An Unbreakable Covenant,” here: https://sapirjournal.org/chosenness/2025/an-unbreakable-covenant/ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Sep 29

What does the process of conversion — joining the Jewish people— reveal about the meaning of chosenness? In his recent essay for SAPIR, Rabbi Adam Mintz writes that “we, Jews by birth and Jews by choice, are all destined for the same story.” Similarly, Rabbi Noa Kushner writes that “it is possible that to be chosen is not only a designation at birth or conversion.” They recently joined Rabbi David Wolpe for a conversation. Watch this SAPIR Conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JspDKWCYs7Q Read Adam Mintz’s essay: https://sapirjournal.org/chosenness/2025/the-paradoxes-of-conversion/ Read Noa Kushner’s essay: https://sapirjournal.org/chosenness/2025/american-sinai/ Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Sep 22

“For many of its secular pioneers,” writes former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren in his most recent SAPIR essay , “Zionism was a revolt against chosenness. It was an attempt to become a nation like every other.” Today, especially after October 7, many Israelis are reevaluating this very notion and wondering: is the Jewish state chosen, and if so, for what purpose? Ambassador Oren joined SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens for a searching discussion on Israel’s identity and destiny in a post-October 7 world . This SAPIR Conversation was recorded live on Monday, September 8th. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Sep 18

Today marks a new chapter as we re-launch the podcast, SAPIR Conversations, 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 affecting 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? Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Sep 12

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.

Jul 3

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.

Jun 30

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)

Jun 27

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).

Jun 23

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)

Jun 20

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.

Jun 10

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.

May 23

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.

Apr 9

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."

Apr 8

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

Apr 1

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.

Mar 26

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.”

Jan 27

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 .

Jan 8

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.

Jan 3

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.

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.

Dec 6, 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.

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.

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.

Oct 9, 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.

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.

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.”

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.

Aug 7, 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.

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?"

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.

May 8, 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.

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.

Apr 3, 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.”

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.

Feb 2, 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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

Nov 2, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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"

Sep 8, 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"

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 .”

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.

May 31, 2023

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

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"

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.

Feb 27, 2023

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

Feb 21, 2023

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

Feb 14, 2023

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

Dec 8, 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.

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

Nov 1, 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?

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

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.

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 .

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

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

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 .

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mar 7, 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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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? 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.

Nov 18, 2021

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

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. 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.

Sep 15, 2021

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

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. 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.

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. 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.

Aug 11, 2021

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

Jun 8, 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 ." 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.

Jun 2, 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. 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.

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. 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.

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 ." 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.