Vision Magazine Podcasts

Yehuda HaKohen is joined by author Yossi Klein Halevi for a lively discussion on the purpose of Jewish history, the State of Israel's role in that story and the best way to move forward in attaining peace with the Palestinians. The two discuss themes from their life experiences relevant to Klein Halevi's writings, including the Jewish Defense League, 1967 Six Day War, Israeli-Palestinian peace wor...

Could death have strengthened Sarah's influence over Avraham? How was Yitzḥak able to get out from under Avraham's towering shadow and win over Yishmael to recognize his place as their father's heir?

Before introducing his new podcast on the weekly Torah portion, Yehuda HaKohen shares his thoughts on the contentious US presidential election and how its results might impact Israel and the rest of the world.

What challenges was Sarah forced to overcome in order to play her part in founding the Hebrew nation? What can the dynamics between Yitzḥak and Yishmael teach us about Israel's ideal relationship with the Muslim world? What mistake from Avraham's past contributed to the destruction of the city of S'dom?

After years of crusading against the idolatrous beliefs and practices of the ancient world, the nomadic leader of a universal spiritual movement underwent a series of difficult challenges to help him refine his own trait of ḥesed and reorient himself to the understanding that his goals for humanity could only be achieved through the vehicle of a distinct nation in a specific land.

Yehuda HaKohen is joined by anti-missionary activist Rav Tovia Singer to address the threat posed to Israeli society by Christian Zionist groups. The two discuss Christian approaches to the Jewish people, some significant recent battles and how an unhealthy desperation for "friendship" causes many nationalist Jews to unwittingly enable missionary activities in the State of Israel.

Why does the Torah use the Name that connotes Divine mercy rather than Divine judgement when telling of the Creator's decision to destroy humankind with a flood? Could there be more to this story? The story of the flood was really the story of the Creator reconciling Himself (so to speak) to the fact that humankind couldn‘t yet handle the immense power given us. The situation required Divine inter...

Broadcasting from his sukkah in the ancient Maccabean partisan camp, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Justin Ellis of Fuel for Truth. The two discuss FFT's role as a "gateway drug" for many Diaspora Jews towards a deeper national consciousness, as well as the need for nuanced political conversations built on a foundation of mutual understanding.

Yehuda HaKohen shares a 2013 class he taught at Machon Meir on how connecting to the expanded consciousness of Yom Kippur can allow us to recognize humanity's inner unity and discover our own unique purposes in life.

Yehuda HaKohen is joined by political analyst Mordechai Taub for a deep dive into the inner workings and constantly shifting dynamics of Israel's political system. The two discuss how the Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the priorities of the electorate, as well as how the socio-cultural trajectory of Israeli society can influence the strength of various political factions.

In commemoration of the 85th anniversary of Rabbi Avraham Yitzḥak HaKohen Kook's departure from our world, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Rav Moshe Kaplan - one of the foremost English-speaking teachers of Rav Kook's writings - for an in depth explanation into the Rav's life, teachings and impact on Jewish history. Throughout this deep dive into the approach to Torah driving the State of Israel's mos...

Yehuda HaKohen is joined by "Lila" - a Diaspora Jewish student who moved from pro-Israel advocacy organizations to the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on her campus. The two discuss the shortcomings of hasbara movements, how these flaws drive so many bright young Jews out of the pro-Israel camp, and how these students can actually play a meaningful role in helping Jews and Palestinians to...

Ahead of Tisha b'Av - Israel's national day of mourning for the destruction of the Jewish people's national framework nearly 2,000 years ago - Yehuda shares a 2015 class he taught on how the Judean freedom movement came to be vilified by historians and even many rabbis following its crushing defeat at the hands of the Romam empire.

Former Member of Knesset Dr. Arieh Eldad joins Yehuda HaKohen on The Next Stage podcast to discuss his new book, Chips Fly when Trees are Felled: The Final Chapter of Leḥi, focusing on how revolutionary movements must by necessity "break eggs to make an omelette." The two also speak about the split within Leḥi (Fighters for the Freedom of Israel), the ideological legacy of Dr. Israel Eldad and the...

Yehuda HaKohen tells the story of Prime Minister Yitzḥak Shamir, who fought for the freedom of Israel his entire life and exemplified an inner strength and sense of responsibility to Jewish history sorely lacking from Israel’s current political leadership. Prime Minister Shamir left our world on the 10th of Tammuz eight years ago. We urge listeners to honor his legacy by helping the Vision movemen...

Justin Ellis of Fuel For Truth invites Yehuda HaKohen to discuss his own political journey, Hebrew liberation, Jewish-Palestinian reconciliation & Israel's place in global struggles for justice and social change.

As protests for racial justice rock the United States in the wake of George Floyd's murder by Minnesota police officers, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Vision activist Daniel Kling to speak about his experiences at the protests. The two discuss the mainstream Jewish community's failure to show up for marginalized groups and analyze how systemic anti-Semitism has divided US Jews from other minority gr...

Ahead of Yom Yerushalayim, which celebrates the Jewish people's liberation of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Director of International Affairs for the City of David Foundation Ze'ev Orenstein to discuss the deeper spiritual and historical significance of Israel's return to its ancient capital. The two also discuss some of the archaeological discoveries at the Ci...

Ahead of Pesaḥ Sheni, which traditionally offers Israel opportunities for second chances, Rabbis Yehuda HaKohen and Mike Feuer discuss the need to address and correct mistakes made at the time of the State of Israel's establishment that have had harmful ramifications for the nation's development in recent decades. The two also discuss different narratives surrounding Yom HaAtzmaut and how this has...

On The Next Stage podcast, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Col. Geva Rapp (res.) of the Panim el-Panim (Face to Face) organization that works to resist foreign efforts to westernize Israel through instilling a deep sense of Jewish identity and purpose in thousands of soldiers and students throughout the country.

Yehuda HaKohen and Rudy Rochman discuss the Vision movement's recent election campaign for the World Zionist Congress, as well as some of the new conversations the campaign sparked among Diaspora Jews. Yehuda shares the story of the "Two Eliyahus" - freedom fighters executed in Cairo for the assassination of Lord Moyne 75 years ago on the 8th of Nisan. Special Bonus Content for Vision supporters o...

Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Brooklyn-based organizer Yotam Marom. The two touch on Yotam's work as a trainer and facilitator for social movements but focus primarily on how anti-Semitism operates within a capitalist system and how that can clarify the State of Israel's role on the world stage.

Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Yehuda Katz of the California Bay Area's Doreinu chapter. The two discuss resisting the Trump plan, Jewish organizing in the Bay Area and the Vision movement's run in the current elections to the World Zionist Congress (slate 5 at zionistelection.org).

On the 78th anniversary marking Avraham 'Yair' Stern's assassination, Yehuda HaKohen and Sharona eshet-Kohen examine the development of Yair's ideological worldview, specifically exploring his relationship with Marxism, Fascism, Futurism, Israel's Torah and various Zionist tendencies.

Yehuda HaKohen explores his relationship to Hebron with Yishai Fleisher - international spokesperson for the ancient city's Jewish community. The two discuss how Hebronite Jews experience the status quo, efforts to improve relations between the city's populations and the need for a new ideological framework to advance Jewish history beyond Zionism's limited capabilities.