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Artwork for Identity/Crisis
Israel
Jewish Identity
Zionism
Anti-Semitism
Hamas
Shalom Hartman Institute
Jewish Community
Judaism
Leadership
Antisemitism
American Judaism
Political Polarization
Gaza
Anti-Zionism
Holocaust
Liberalism
American Jewry
Passover
Sacrifice
Jewish Leadership

In a frenzied media cycle, Identity/Crisis creates better conversations about the issues facing contemporary Jewish life. Host Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, talks with leading thinkers to unpack current events affecting Jewish communities in North America, Israel, and around the world, revealing the core Jewish values underlying the issues that matter most to you. JOIN... more

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Latest Episodes

This episode was originally released on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

This episode is in honor of Abe Foxman, z”l

What does moral courage look like in an age of rising antisemitism and political polarization?

In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Ku... more

Are Trump, Netanyahu, and Iran acting like rational players—or are we misreading the logic of this war entirely?

In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with Chief Policy Officer at the Israel Policy Forum, Michael Koplow to ass... more

YouTube

When a mystical tradition meant for an elite few becomes a popular spiritual

practice — what is gained and what is lost?

In this episode of Identity/Crisis, guest host Deborah Barer is joined by scholar of Kabbalah Daniel Matt for a conversation abo... more

YouTube

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, what does this moment reveal about the future of the American- Jewish experiment?

In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer is joined by The Atlantic’s editor‑in‑chief Jeffrey Goldberg ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Daniel Matt
Professor of Jewish mysticism
Episode: When Mysticism Goes Mainstream — with Daniel Matt
Jeffrey Goldberg
Editor-in-chief of The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: Jewish Life in an Illiberal Age— with Jeffrey Goldberg
Flora Cassen
Belgian-American historian of medieval and early modern Jewish history
Brandeis University (former Hartman Institute faculty); author of Stained Glass
Episode: The Afterlife of Antisemitism — with Flora Cassen
Dr. Sarah Labaton
Director of Teaching and Learning at Hartman
Hartman Institute
Episode: Why Do We Pray?
Rabbi Annie Lewis
Rabbi discussed in debate on prayer and politics
Episode: Why Do We Pray?
Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt
Rabbi discussed in debate on prayer and politics
Episode: Why Do We Pray?
Maayan Stutman Shah
College student and Havruta program alum
Hartman Institute/Havruta
Episode: Why Do We Pray?
Rabbi Tamar Elad Applebaum
Rabbi carrying forward the question into Israel context
Episode: Why Do We Pray?
Jessica Fisher
Host in Episode 3 on Prayer and Politics in America
Hartman Institute
Episode: Why Do We Pray?

Host

Yehuda Kurtzer
Host of identity-focused discussions exploring Jewish life, values, and current events. A senior leader at a major Jewish think tank.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 315 ratings
  • Please stop with the divisive domestic politics

    Lowered my review based on the most recent episode about US domestic immigration policy. This topic is obsessively covered by the MSM and other liberal podcasts. I don’t need to hear more of the same but from a “Jewish” perspective. I subscribe to this podcast to hear subjects that I don’t hear anywhere else—this ain’t it. As a community we need to stop trying to universalize everything if we want to see the next generation of American Jews live proudly and freely as Jews. Also, framing the immi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    CuckerQatarlson
    United States3 months ago
  • not good

    Responding to a recent episode which I endured, called "America Betrays the Stranger"… while I happen to disagree with the esteemed podcasters on the central issue (I mean, why is every other country on the planet free to enforce their borders but not America?), that is not the real problem here… the real problem is telling people how they should be thinking on a given subject based on their ethnicity. If you are someone who thinks a Jew needs to hold this or that political opinion based on the ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DareBoBear
    United States3 months ago
  • Interesting discussions.

    Mostly an interesting podcast with well thought out debate. I do question a lot what you say about genocide. If decades of oppression and bias, and then such extreme cruelty and killing was done to Jewish people, you would speak so differently. it doesn't diminish the horror of the terrorism against the Jewish people, to say that what has been done to the Palestinians is categorically wrong. The extreme and inhuman violence done to them is on an incomparable scale. If the positions were reversed... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    3.Elena
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • The presenter

    He is utterly predictable and boring, tikkum olam’ish wokish bore.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Crataegus101
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Black-Jewish relations with Terrance Johnson

    I can’t thank you enough for taking on this topic—two communities that have had so much in common and yet have had different trajectories. The moral understandings of my early life in Detroit were in the shadow of the Holocaust (and earlier pogroms) and Jim Crow, and then the rising of both communities in the Civil Rights movement and the birth of the state of Israel. The break in our communities has been heartbreaking, I think, for ourselves and the American narrative. The moral understanding ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    womanbyherradio
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners frequently mention the host's ability to connect personal experiences with broader social questions.
Guests are top thinkers; discussions are deep and well-referenced.
Some episodes polarize listeners depending on their views on sensitive topics, but many praise the rigorous dialogue.
Thoughtful, nuanced conversations that model civil discourse and tackle timely issues with care.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When Mysticism Goes Mainstream — with Daniel Matt
Q: Why did Kabbalah become popular in the modern era, and what changes did that bring to how people practice it?
Daniel Matt attributes the rise to a mix of accessibility, translation work, and a modern search for spiritual meaning, while emphasizing the balance between mystical insight and ethical action as essential for responsible practice.
Jewish Life in an Illiberal Age— with Jeffrey Goldberg
Q: What role does technology and the media environment play in shaping Jewish life today?
Technology accelerates learning and engagement but also risks fragmenting attention and amplifying demagoguery; a Hartman-inspired approach calls for thoughtful use of tech to foster education, resilience, and dialogue across differences.
Jewish Life in an Illiberal Age— with Jeffrey Goldberg
Q: How should American Jews relate to Israel in a liberal democratic framework?
They should articulate a strong, nuanced attachment to Israel that supports liberal democratic values while building educational and political pathways to advocate for a more liberal Israeli society, avoiding blanket condemnation and instead pursuing constructive engagement.
Jewish Life in an Illiberal Age— with Jeffrey Goldberg
Q: What is the current state of American Jewry at this 250-year milestone?
American Jews have experienced unprecedented internal flourishing and influence, yet face a sense that the sky is falling as liberalism is challenged from both the right and the left; the conversation emphasizes balancing pride in past achievements with vigilance and active participation in democratic life.
What Do We Owe the Stranger? — with Seyla Benhabib
Q: How should we think about the moral hierarchy between refugees, asylum seekers, and economic migrants?
Refugees have protection owed to them because their state withdraws that protection; economic migrants raise different concerns, but the ethical obligation to treat human beings with dignity and rights extends beyond status, requiring humane policies that avoid turning people into scapegoats while balancing practical needs and international norms.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Identity/Crisis

What is Identity/Crisis about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on nuanced conversations about contemporary Jewish life, exploring how global events, policy decisions, and cultural shifts intersect with Jewish identity, values, and communal action. Across episodes, guests—from scholars and rabbis to journalists and activists—offer historical context, analytical frameworks, and personal narratives to illuminate complex topics such as religious pluralism, anti-Semitism, immigration, Zionism, and the evolving role of Jewish communities in North America and Israel. A notable strength is the willingness to engage challenging ideas with care and intellectual honesty, often foregrounding moral responsibility, pluralism, and democratic values in discussions that span academia, public life, and... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Identity/Crisis?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Identity/Crisis:

1. For Heaven's Sake
2. What Matters Now
3. Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
4. Ask Haviv Anything
5. The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

How many episodes of Identity/Crisis are there?

Identity/Crisis launched 6 years ago and published 295 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Identity/Crisis?

Recent guests on Identity/Crisis include:

1. Daniel Matt
2. Jeffrey Goldberg
3. Flora Cassen
4. Dr. Sarah Labaton
5. Rabbi Annie Lewis
6. Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt
7. Maayan Stutman Shah
8. Rabbi Tamar Elad Applebaum

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