The Jewish People's Podcast

In this episode, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, President of Shurat HaDin - Israel Law Center, joins us to discuss her efforts defending Israel's legitimacy and combating online extremism. We also dive into the recent hostage deal with Hamas, exploring its legal and humanitarian complexities.

Religious Zionism is often seen as a fundamentalist movement, but what if its roots are deeply intertwined with modernity? Dr. Shlomo Fischer, a sociologist and expert on religion and nationalism, unpacks the surprising connections between Romantic nationalism, self-expression, and the sacralization of the state.

In this episode, Yaakov Katz, Gil Troy, and Noah Slepkov discuss the complexities of the imminent hostage deal. They look at the potential outcomes for both the Israeli government and the captives' families, and weigh the regional risks and benefits.

Andrew Fox, a former British Army officer and defense expert, joins Yaakov to discuss the accuracy of the casualty figures reported by Hamas. His recent study casts doubt on these numbers, revealing discrepancies and distortions. Tune in for a critical analysis of what’s really behind the reports.

In this episode, we talk with Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, about the rise of antisemitism, with over 10,000 incidents reported, and the work the Federations are doing to combat Jew hatred.

In this episode, we look back at the 1929 Hebron Massacre, when 67 Jews were brutally killed in a violent pogrom. Award-winning journalist Yardena Schwartz discusses her book Ghosts of a Holy War, which explores how the massacre ignited the Arab-Israeli conflict and continues to influence the Israel-Hamas war today.

In this episode, we explore the powerful new booklet "I Will Be With Him in Trouble," which features voices from Israel's national religious community on the hostage crisis. Created by Tzvi Zussman, whose son Ben was killed in Gaza, the booklet encapsulates the debate around whether to negotiate for the hostages' return. Zussman aims to rally support for a deal, urging the comm...

In Israel, there are those who sleep at night and those who do not. This distinction was drawn recently by a leading Israeli journalist. He was referring to the difference between those who serve in the IDF in wartime and those who do not or have no relatives in harm's way. How does Israel cope with this fault line, and what is the media's role?

In this episode, we speak with Rabbi Raphael Shore about his new book, Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Jew?, which delves into roots of Jew hatred drawing on historical facts, religious insights, and contemporary analysis. He discusses the complexities of antisemitism, the resilience of the Jewish spirit, and the power of faith in the face of adversity.

Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Irwin Cotler talks with JPPI about the 670% increase in antisemitism since October 7 and threats to his life at the hands of the regime in Iran. 

In a major blow to Russia and Iran, Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule has come to an end. His father came to power in 1971 and almost  54 years later the family that had murdered hundreds of thousands of its own people is gone.  For Israel – like most things – this is an event that carries with it opportunity and risk. Opportunity because it is a massive blow to Iran and risk becau...

Rebel forces in Syria have seized control of Aleppo and are poised to expand their grip on other parts of the divided nation. What are the implications for Israel? How does this connect to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon? And what role does Iran play in this unfolding crisis?

10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College, the essential new book by Blake Flayton and Emily Schrader, enables Jewish students to tackle antisemitism on campus while embracing their cultural and historical roots. Blake joins us today to share his journey from progressive Jew to Israel advocate, his insights on campus dynamics, and his plans for the future.

On Wednesday a ceasefire went into effect, ending - at least for now - 14 months of war with Hezbollah. Elliott Abrams, who served in three U.S. administrations, was George Bush's Deputy National Security Adviser in 2006 during the Second Lebanon War, which also ended with an international supervisory mechanism. We discuss how it might work this time, and what Trump's Iran policy is like...

What is the sentiment among American Jews following the recent U.S. elections, and what are their predictions for the future of U.S.-Israel relations? JPPl's Voice of the Jewish People Index, which conducts monthly surveys of American Jews, examines expectations from Donald Trump and reflections on Joe Biden's presidency, including his efforts to combat antisemitism. To take part in the...

The Biden administration imposed sanctions this week against Amana, the main development company of West Bank settlements. The floodgates of sanctions from the US, the UK and the EU have been opened. What does this mean for Israel?

Donald Trump is building his foreign policy team and Israel is watching closely. What do the appointments of Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and Mike Huckabee mean for Israel and what should Benjamin Netanyahu be doing ahead of Inauguration Day?

JNF Canada recently faced an unprecedented challenge as the Canada Revenue Agency moved to revoke its charitable status, sparking public and legal debate. Lance Davis, CEO of JNF Canada, will offer insights into the reasons behind this decision, JNF Canada's response, and its broader implications for charitable organizations.

On Thursday night, an antisemitic pogrom erupted on Amsterdam's streets, a chilling echo of Kristallnacht. Micha Zweibach, an Israeli who moved to Amsterdam six years ago, talks about the insecurity Jews feel in "progressive" Europe. Dr. Dov Maimon discusses the situation's severity and urges Israel and European governments to take concrete actions to counter rising antisemitis...

Donald Trump is the 47th President of the U.S. In this episode, Shmuel Rosner and Lahav Harkov provide an in-depth analysis of the elections, exploring their impact on both domestic and international fronts, including how the results could affect U.S.-Israel relations. Tune in to understand what the election means for the future of American politics and its ripple effect across the Jewish world.

Join JPPI's Shmuel Rosner and Sara Hirschhorn on the key U.S. election  issues with implications for Israel and Jewish communities. In this episode, we explore each candidate stances, past voting trends, and critical policy areas. We also look into how the outcome could impact U.S.-Israel relations, antisemitism in AMerica, and broader Jewish interests in the political arena.

On Monday, October 28, the Knesset overwhelmingly passed legislation to ban UNRWA from operating inside Israel. Dr. Einat Wilf, a former MK and co-author of The War of Return argues that UNRWA has long been the problem and not the solution.

Shmuel Rosner and Avi Gil discuss Israel's strategic dilemmas as it enters the second year of war, the key issues awaiting the Knesset's return today - particularly the Haredi conscription bill - and the coalition's survival prospects.

Evangelical support for Israel may be waning - particularly among the young generation. Why? What could be done to mitigate this trend, and what does it mean for next month's presidential election? JPPl's Dr. Shlomo Fischer discusses his new study: Evangelicals, Jews, and Israel.