5 Sep 2025
Richard Goldberg on How American Energy Dominance Is Reshaping the Middle East: A new era of U.S.-Israel cooperation
Richard Goldberg discusses the impact of American energy dominance on the Middle East and its strategic implications for U.S.-Israel cooperation, particularly concerning Iran. He emphasizes the National Energy Dominance Council's role in shaping energy policy and promoting infrastructure projects to counterbalance Chinese and Iranian influence.
29 Aug 2025
Ido Hevroni on Teaching Homer in Wartime: The dust and blood and bronze of the Trojan War come to life in Gaza
Ido Hevroni, a professor at Shalem College, explores how Homer's ancient epics become intensely personal for his students who are soldiers currently experiencing combat in Gaza. These texts offer a lens through which students analyze their own experiences of personal sacrifice and duty, resonating deeply with their lives as defenders of Israel.
21 Aug 2025
David Myers and Andrew Koss on Whether Jewish Studies Has Turned against the Jews: Has the field lost its way, and can it recover?
David Myers and Andrew Koss discuss whether the focus of Jewish studies professors and their responses to recent political events represent a turn against the Jewish community and Israel. They explore concerns over the silence of Jewish studies academics in the face of anti-Semitic acts on campus and the potential de-Judaization of the field due to new scholarly trends.
15 Aug 2025
Barry Strauss on the Jewish Conflict with Ancient Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion
Jonathan Silver hosts Barry Strauss to explore the Jewish revolts against Ancient Rome from 63 BCE to 136 CE, probing the interplay between these two civilizations and how their historical narratives diverge. Strauss contextualizes the geopolitical and cultural stakes of these conflicts, considering Rome's imperial ambitions and the Jewish resistance's enduring theme of freedom.
8 Aug 2025
Michael Doran on Israel and the American Right: Republicans remain staunchly pro-Israel, despite their social-media eccentrics
Michael Doran discusses the surprising strength of Republican support for Israel despite a vocal anti-Israel presence in right-wing media. He explores how the online conservative landscape, influenced by figures like Tucker Carlson, diverges from traditional Republican values regarding the U.S.-Israel relationship.
1 Aug 2025
How Islamism Took Over the Middle East
Hussein Aboubakr Mansour argues that the intellectual crisis in the Middle East, leading to the rise of Islamism, is rooted in a misapplication of German philosophy rather than merely resistance to Western ideas. This dynamic is explored alongside a debate regarding the impact of traditional Islam and modern ideologies in shaping the current political landscape.
25 Jul 2025
Tal Fortgang and David E. Bernstein on Defending Jewish Civil Right on Campus: How the government can fight anti-Semitism effectively and legally
Columbia University recently agreed to a $200 million settlement with the Trump administration, marking significant governmental action against antisemitism on campus. The episode explores the legal avenues available to ensure Jewish civil rights are protected at universities without infringing on free speech or academic freedom.
18 Jul 2025
Rabbi J.J. Schacter on the Jewish Meaning of Memory: What does it mean to remember the destruction of the Temples?
Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter explores the concept of collective memory in Judaism, probing how Jews remember events they did not directly experience, such as the destruction of the Temples. This episode focuses on the Jewish ritual of commemorative fasting during the Three Weeks period and introduces the idea of national memory as a foundation for Jewish identity.
11 Jul 2025
Robert Satloff on Revitalizing Middle East Studies: A new graduate program promises to restore scholarly integrity to a debased field
Robert Satloff discusses the state of Middle East studies in American universities, particularly the problem of ideological biases against Israel and the influence of foreign funding. To counteract this, Satloff has initiated a new graduate program in partnership with Pepperdine University to provide rigorous, unbiased training in Middle East policy studies.
3 Jul 2025
Yuval Levin on American Renewal
Yuval Levin explores the concept of cultural renewal through the biblical story of Nehemiah, highlighting the dual responsibilities of rebuilding and defending cultural and institutional foundations. He argues that to preserve and renew American Jewish life, individuals must actively engage in cultural construction while also confronting adversaries to traditional values.
27 Jun 2025
What the War Reveals about Providence and Jewish History with Meir Soloveichik
Amidst a backdrop of escalating conflict between America and Iran, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik reflects on the interplay between providence and action in Jewish history, drawing parallels with historic events like the Six-Day War. He discusses how recent operations echo Menachem Begin's doctrine, which intertwines Jewish self-defense and divine providence, emphasizing the enduring significance of Israel's survival and presence in world affairs.
20 Jun 2025
Jay Lefkowitz on New York City’s Democratic Primary
New York City's Democratic primary, a key determinant for the city's next mayor, holds significant implications for the Jewish community due to the city's sizeable Jewish population. Jay Lefkowitz and Jonathan Silver discuss how issues such as anti-Israel sentiments, education, and law enforcement influence Jewish voters, while examining the roles of various candidates, including the controversial Andrew Cuomo and Zoran Mamdami.
13 Jun 2025
Sadanand Dhume on Israeli Arms and the India-Pakistan Conflict: How two democracies found common cause
The episode delves into the evolving strategic partnership between Israel and India, marked by a shift from historical hostility to cooperation, particularly in arms trading. This relationship was exemplified during the recent 88-Hour War between India and Pakistan, where Israeli drones played a significant role in India's military strategy.
6 Jun 2025
Jeffrey Herf on the Transformation of Radical Speech into Violence
Historian Jeffrey Herf discusses the troubling rise in violent antisemitism in the United States, linking recent incidents to the spread of extremist ideologies. He draws parallels between the current climate and past radical movements, arguing that ideas rooted in leftist rhetoric are transforming into violent actions against Jews.
30 May 2025
Judge Matthew Solomson on Orthodox Judaism and American Public Service: A conversation with one of the highest-ranking observant Jews in the federal judiciary
Judge Matthew Solomson discusses the intersection of his Orthodox Jewish faith and public service, highlighting the possibilities for deeply observant Jews to engage meaningfully in American governance. He also reflects on the challenges and responsibilities of promoting Jewish integrity in the judiciary while organizing initiatives to counteract campus antisemitism.
23 May 2025
Yossi Melman on Israel’s Most Famous Spy: What we learn from the Eli Cohen files
The episode discusses the remarkable life and espionage activities of Eli Cohen, an Egyptian Jew who became an iconic Israeli spy in Syria, and the recent acquisition of his intelligence files by Israel. Yossi Melman delves into Cohen's legacy and the implications of these documents on Israeli intelligence strategy.
16 May 2025
J.J. Kimche on Paul Johnson’s Legacy of Philo-Semitism
Paul Johnson, a British Catholic writer, authored the well-regarded 'A History of the Jews,' highlighting Jewish contributions to Western civilization and their significant ideas. J.J. Kimche explores why Johnson, despite his Catholic background, wrote with such philo-Semitism, emphasizing Jewish endurance and providential history.
9 May 2025
Ari Heistein on the American War on the Houthis, and the Israeli One
Ari Heistein joins the Tikvah podcast to discuss the recent escalation of conflict involving Houthi missile strikes on Israel and how these actions are part of broader geopolitical tensions involving Iran. The podcast explores the history, ideology, and strategic alliances of the Houthis, highlighting their relationship with Iran and their impact on global shipping and regional stability.
2 May 2025
Michael Doran on Donald Trump's Middle East Policy
Michael Doran provides an in-depth analysis of President Trump's contrasting approach to the Middle East compared to his predecessors, focusing on strategic relationships with Israel and Iran. The discussion reflects on Trump's unique balance of instinct and strategy in geopolitical matters, notably his interactions with various Middle Eastern countries and domestic constituencies.
25 Apr 2025
Benedict Kiely on Pope Francis and the State of Jewish-Catholic Relations
The episode explores the legacy of the late Pope Francis regarding his engagement with the Jewish people, Israel, and the Middle East, highlighting both his unclear stance on some issues and the potential directions for the next papacy. Father Benedict Kiely provides insight into the historical and ongoing relationship between Jews and Catholics, along with the situations faced by Christians in the Middle East.