2 Sep 2025
What Matters Now to Deborah Conway & Tamar Paluch: Australia is rife with antisemitism
Musician Deborah Conway and editor Tamar Paluch discuss the surge of antisemitism in Australia following the October 7 attacks, and their response through the anthology "Ruptured," which captures Jewish women's experiences. Their conversation delves into the historical context of Jewish life in Australia, the silence of feminist groups, and the impact on public life and personal identities.
26 Aug 2025
What Matters Now to legal expert Menachem Rosensaft: Israel is not committing genocide
Menachem Rosensaft, a legal expert on genocide, argues that Israel is not committing genocide in its conflict with Hamas, differentiating between genocide and crimes against humanity. He highlights the need for a peace process aiming at a two-state solution despite the political complexities and inflammatory rhetoric from some Israeli politicians.
19 Aug 2025
What Matters Now to Dennis Ross: There is a deal to be made to end the Gaza war
Diplomat Dennis Ross explores the possibility of negotiations to end the Gaza conflict, emphasizing that both Palestinian and Israeli sides must focus on needs rather than wants. He also assesses the outcomes of international negotiations, including the Alaska summit's lack of tangible results, and the shifting multipolarity in global politics.
13 Aug 2025
What Matters Now to Prof. Dan Turner: Treating our enemies humanely makes us human
Prof. Dan Turner discusses how humane treatment of all individuals, including Palestinians, meshes with fundamental human values and medical ethics. Despite facing criticism for his activism, Turner maintains that empathy and human rights should guide actions even amidst conflict.
5 Aug 2025
What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: When Temple Mount prayer is a call to settle Gaza
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's provocative visit to the Temple Mount and his call for the Jewish resettlement of Gaza ignited debate on Israel's political maneuverings and public sentiment. Haviv Rettig Gur discusses the broader implications of Ben Gvir's actions, Israeli public opinion, and the challenges facing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid political frustrations and ongoing tensions with Gaza.
30 Jul 2025
What Matters Now to Daniel Taub: Still mourning, Israel is not ripe to talk peace - yet
Daniel Taub discusses how Israeli society is not ready for peace negotiations due to ongoing mourning and internal divisions, notably around the universal draft. He draws on Talmudic principles of constructive disagreement, highlighting their potential for improving discussions and relationships within and beyond the Jewish community.
23 Jul 2025
What Matters Now to Dan Ben-David: Israel's moment of truth is here
Dan Ben-David argues that Israel is at a critical juncture, necessitating comprehensive reforms in education, budget management, government structure, and the adoption of a constitution. He emphasizes the urgent need for effective leadership to seize this pivotal moment, particularly in light of demographic and socioeconomic pressures.
15 Jul 2025
What Matters Now to comic Guri Alfi: Israelis and American Jews must remain unified
Guri Alfi emphasizes the importance of maintaining unity between Israeli and American Jews amid rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism in the U.S., highlighted by the recent experiences of Jewish leaders and families of fallen soldiers. Alfi also explores how cultural projects like "Speeches Against Despair" can foster hope and solidarity through reinterpretations of historical speeches.
9 Jul 2025
What Matters Now to Micah Goodman: Israel may soon remake the region
Micah Goodman discusses the geopolitical implications of Israel's recent military actions and explores the potential for regional realignment in the Middle East if Israel can navigate complex compromises, particularly related to the Gaza situation. He highlights the two gambles by leaders of Hamas and Israel, comparing their outcomes and discussing the paradoxes present in Israel’s domestic and international strategies.
1 Jul 2025
What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: When Israeli extremists go to war - against Israel
Haviv Rettig Gur discusses the complex origins and evolution of the settler movement in Israel, emphasizing the recent extremist actions against the IDF by certain radical settler groups. He delves into the diverse motivations within the settler community and the political dynamics influencing how Israeli society is addressing these extremist elements.
24 Jun 2025
What Matters Now to director Daniel Syrkin: How 'Tehran' season 4 reflects Israel-Iran war
Daniel Syrkin, director of the TV series 'Tehran', discusses the show's connection to Israel-Iran tensions amidst ongoing geopolitical conflicts. He shares insights into the challenges of producing content that mirrors current events and the emotional impacts on Iranian actors involved in the project.
14 Jun 2025
What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: The existential Israel-Iran War
Israel has entered into a war with Iran, a conflict deemed necessary to secure the future of the Jewish people against an Iranian nuclear threat. Haviv Rettig Gur discusses the inevitability of this confrontation and the potential of this moment to incite internal change within Iran, despite skepticism around Prime Minister Netanyahu's motivations.
10 Jun 2025
What Matters Now to Rabbi Noa Sattath: Global LGBTQ+ support for Hamas
Rabbi Noa Sattath discusses the complexities surrounding global LGBTQ+ support for Hamas amidst their condemnation of Israel, especially in the context of Pride Month. Her insights delve into the history and evolution of the LGBTQ+ movement in Israel, linking it to broader democratic struggles and human rights issues, particularly relating to Palestinians.
3 Jun 2025
What Matters Now to David Horovitz: Shedding light on war when the facts are dim
David Horovitz addresses the challenges journalists face in covering the Israeli-Gaza conflict with limited access to facts and information, compounded by biased narratives shaping international media perceptions. The conversation emphasizes Israel's failure to effectively communicate its narrative, leaving media reliant on unverified reports from Hamas, and discusses the consequences of this vacuum for accurate reporting and public perception.
27 May 2025
What Matters Now to Prof. Elie Podeh: When the IDF disengaged from Gaza, 20 years ago
Prof. Elie Podeh delves into the complexities of Israel's 2005 disengagement from Gaza, emphasizing its multilateral dynamics despite a unilateral appearance. He argues that the disengagement should remain a lesson against reoccupation, warning against reestablishing Israeli settlements in Gaza given historical and current political tensions.
20 May 2025
What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: What did Trump mean when he said...
ToI senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur dissects Trump's recent speech in Riyadh, highlighting a return to US foreign policy rooted in economic alliances rather than ideological intervention. While Israel is scarcely mentioned, it remains a central theme, illustrating broader Middle East dynamics and Trump's vision for stability through commerce.
14 May 2025
What Matters Now to Eurovision mega-fan Tal Dahan: Politics, protests and camp in Basel
Tal Dahan, a Eurovision mega-fan, discusses Israel's history and challenges in the Eurovision Song Contest as they prepare for their participation in this year's event amidst political protests in Basel. Dahan highlights both the love and hostility Israel faces, as well as the contest's complex voting systems and Israel's varied entries over the years.
7 May 2025
Bereaved mother Elana Kaminka: End the Gaza 'forever war'
After losing her son, Lt. Yannai Kaminka, to Hamas attackers, Elana Kaminka calls for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, challenging the Israeli leadership's decisions and advocating for empathy and dialogue. As an active member of Tag Meir and the Parents Circle Families Forum, Kaminka emphasizes the need for coexistence and criticizes the societal and governmental patterns that hinder reconciliation.
29 Apr 2025
What Matters Now to The Times of Israel: That all Oct. 7 fallen are remembered
The Times of Israel's 'Those We Have Lost' project solemnly commemorates each of the individuals killed during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, providing personal stories and details of the deceased to ensure they are not just statistics. Amy Spiro, who leads the project, shares the emotional and logistical challenges encountered in documenting the lives of over 1,100 victims.
23 Apr 2025
What Matters Now to Prof. Manuela Consonni: How women resisted the Nazis
Prof. Manuela Consonni highlights the multifaceted forms of resistance by Jewish and non-Jewish women during the Holocaust, focusing on physical, civic, and political resistance efforts. The discussion also touches on the complexities of using Holocaust terminology in discussing modern events, like the plight of hostages held by Hamas.