Rephonic
Artwork for Identity/Crisis
Israel
Jewish Identity
Zionism
Anti-Semitism
Shalom Hartman Institute
Hamas
Judaism
Jewish Community
Antisemitism
Leadership
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes313Founded7 years ago
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JudaismNewsNews CommentaryReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Identity/Crisis

Latest Episodes

Are religious liberty and liberal democracy a natural match or are they destined to be in conflict?

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments about religious liberty, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with legal scholar Michael Avi Helfand to discuss c... more

What does it mean to plant seeds for a future you may never see?

Following the death of Gloria Steinem, Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with Judith Rosenbaum, educator, historian, and CEO of the Jewish Women's Archive, to reflect on Steinem’s legacy, the powe... more

YouTube

What might happen if, instead of demanding certainty, we allowed ourselves to "pretend" belief and see where the journey leads?

Ahead of the High Holidays, Yehuda Kurtzer welcomes Rabbi Noa Kushner, founder of The Kitchen, a synagogue and institute ... more

YouTube

In the face of rising antisemitism, what does courage look like?

Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with author Dara Horn about her new book, The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living, and the intense experiences that led her to writ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Noa Kushner
Rabbi, founding rabbi of The Kitchen in San Francisco
The Kitchen, San Francisco
Episode: Don't Believe in God? Try It Anyway – with Noa Kushner
Dara Horn
Cookbook author and writer discussing anti-Semitism and her latest book
Episode: Where Criticism Ends and Antisemitism Begins — with Dara Horn
Tali Rosenblatt-Cohen
Host of The Five Books, Jewish Authors on the Books that Shaped Them
The Five Books
Episode: Who Is American Jewish Literature For? – with Tali Rosenblatt-Cohen, Naomi Firestone-Teeter, and Lauren Wein
Naomi Firestone-Teeter
CEO of Jewish Book Council
Jewish Book Council
Episode: Who Is American Jewish Literature For? – with Tali Rosenblatt-Cohen, Naomi Firestone-Teeter, and Lauren Wein
Lauren Wein
Editor-in-Chief of Avid Reader Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Episode: Who Is American Jewish Literature For? – with Tali Rosenblatt-Cohen, Naomi Firestone-Teeter, and Lauren Wein
Adeena Sussman
Cookbook author and food storyteller
Sababa, Shabbat, Zariz (and other works)
Episode: People of the Shuk – with Adeena Sussman
Amotz Asa-El
Israeli author and journalist, senior commentator and former executive editor of the Jerusalem Post
Shalom Hartman Institute (Kogod Research Center fellow)
Episode: The Jewish Politics of Self-Destruction—with Amotz Asa-El
Rana Fahoum
Vice President and Director of the Center for Shared Society at the Shalom Hartman Institute
Shalom Hartman Institute
Episode: The Right to Belong: A Palestinian Perspective - with Rana Fahoum
Barry Finestone
President and CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation
Jim Joseph Foundation
Episode: Surviving, Thriving, and Excelling in Jewish Life – with Barry Finestone

Host

Yehuda Kurtzer
Host of Identity Crisis (and moderator in interviews)

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 324 ratings
  • Most measured, serious Jewish podcast

    'Measured' conveys highest praise for a podcast that aims to thread the needle, to hew to an ethical standard worthy of Jewish tradition. Among so many jingoist, self-satisfied, oddly childish and self-soothing Jewish podcasts, so simplistic (and patronizing to listeners), I appreciate Kurtzer and guests' integrity and serious confrontation with the corruption around us and within. Thanks for the thoughtful discussion.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    neworleansditty
    United States4 months ago
  • 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 States7 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 States7 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 Kingdom8 months ago
  • The presenter

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

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Crataegus101
    United Kingdom8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners push back on perceived political framing or ideological leanings.
Positive reception of thoughtful, balanced discussions and high-quality guests.
Listeners often praise the host's ability to facilitate civil dialogue across perspectives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Where Criticism Ends and Antisemitism Begins — with Dara Horn
Q: Your book discusses the danger of reducing anti-Semitism to a simple political stance; what balance should educators strike between critiquing Israel and recognizing broader antisemitic dynamics?
Educators should distinguish between legitimate policy critique and movements whose primary goal is the elimination of Jews from public life. The focus should be on understanding power dynamics, defending Jewish rights, and promoting dialogue that does not excuse or normalize hatred under the guise of discourse.
Where Criticism Ends and Antisemitism Begins — with Dara Horn
Q: Why do you think universities and media have been so central to this struggle, and how can education be redesigned to meet the moment?
Universities and media are powerful amplifiers of ideas and social norms. Education must go beyond awareness to cultivate courage in students and educators, by creating environments where questioning anti-Semitism is safe and actions against harassment are supported by policy and community backing.
Where Criticism Ends and Antisemitism Begins — with Dara Horn
Q: You describe a shift from simply recognizing anti-Semitism to confronting an eliminationist movement; can you explain what changed your view and what you think needs to happen next?
The shift came from witnessing not just isolated incidents but a pattern of organized harassment, legal challenges, and cultural boycott tactics that push Jews out of public life. The next step is building institutional will and new educational approaches that inoculate against manipulation while clearly exposing and opposing the movement.
Don't Believe in God? Try It Anyway – with Noa Kushner
Q: If you're not trying to convince people of God's existence, what is the project of your leadership in Judaism?
The aim is to serve God and the Jewish people, cultivating a long-term, communal practice that honors mystery, humility, and the possibility of transcendence rather than forcing agreement on doctrine.
Don't Believe in God? Try It Anyway – with Noa Kushner
Q: You ask people to enter into this imaginative exercise of belief. What are you inviting people to do exactly?
Kushner explains that the invitation is to explore belief as a lived, imaginative stance rather than a literal proof, opening space for wonder, humility, and responsibility toward the sacred and the community.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Identity/Crisis

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

Thoughtful, policy-leaning conversations about contemporary Jewish life, identity, and community in North America and beyond. Episodes frequently center on Jewish education, public discourse, Israel, antisemitism, and the balance between liberal democratic values and Jewish life. The host curates interviews with leading scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals to unpack how history, culture, and current events shape Jewish practice and public life. Notable strengths include a rigorous, pluralistic approach, a willingness to challenge assumptions, and guest lineups that mix academics, journalists, religious leaders, and policymakers. The show is likely to appeal to listeners who want nuanced, intellectually engaged discussions about h... 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 7 years ago and published 313 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. Noa Kushner
2. Dara Horn
3. Tali Rosenblatt-Cohen
4. Naomi Firestone-Teeter
5. Lauren Wein
6. Adeena Sussman
7. Amotz Asa-El
8. Rana Fahoum

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