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

Latest Episodes

With Israel's elections just weeks away, what

vision for the country's future will ultimately prevail?

In this episode, the third installment of our Israel/Today mini-series, Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with Israeli journalist Tamar Ish-Shalom. They exami... more

Three years after October 7, what are Israel’s possibilities for healing, renewal, and a different future?

In this episode, the second of our mini-series Israel/Today, Yehuda Kurtzer and journalist Yossi Klein Halevi reflect on how trauma, memory, a... more

YouTube

What does the rise in settler violence in the West Bank reveal about the future of Israel?

In this episode, the first of our mini-series Israel/Today, Yehuda

Kurtzer and political scientist and public opinion expert Dahlia Scheindlin, author of The ... more

YouTube

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

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Yossi Klein Halevi
Prominent Israeli journalist and thinker
Shalom Hartman Institute (guest on episode)
Episode: Israel/Today: How October 7 Changed the Jewish Story – with Yossi Klein Halevi
Dahlia Scheindlin
Public opinion expert, political scientist and political consultant
Haaretz (English edition)
Episode: Israel/Today: The Politics of Settler Violence — with Dahlia Scheindlin
Avi Helfand
Professor at Pepperdine Law School; affiliated with Orthodox Union and related coalitions
Pepperdine University; Yale University (affiliation); Orthodox Union
Episode: Jewish Religious Freedom and the Supreme Court – with Michael Avi Helfand
Judith Rosenbaum
CEO of Jewish Women's Archive, public historian
Jewish Women's Archive
Episode: Feminism, Jews, and the Legacy of Gloria Steinem—with Judith Rosenbaum
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
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

Host

Yehuda Kurtzer
Host focused on guiding nuanced discussions on Jewish life and politics.

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 States8 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 States8 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.

Offers deep dives into Jewish life without dogmatic takes.
listener feedback often highlights quality guest intellect and moderation.
Thoughtful, serious discussions with strong guest lineups.
Balances rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling.
Engaging, civil debates that stay humane and constructive.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Israel/Today: The Politics of Settler Violence — with Dahlia Scheindlin
Q: If there is an opposite government, how might they approach the issue differently and what concrete steps could they take?
An opposition-led government might still face the same structural dynamics but could emphasize stronger enforcement against violent settlers, seek better relations with the United States and Europe, and potentially implement more aggressive crackdowns to distinguish themselves from the prior administration.
Israel/Today: The Politics of Settler Violence — with Dahlia Scheindlin
Q: But what did I miss? What are the actually current implications of this spate of violence, which has been around, like I said, for a long time, but is taking on totally different magnitude in terms of its volume?
The guest explains that the violence is part of a broader, interconnected set of processes—concrete violence, bureaucratic pressure, and expansive settlement aims—that together threaten the possibility of a viable Palestinian state and alter the political landscape in Israel and abroad.
Jewish Religious Freedom and the Supreme Court – with Michael Avi Helfand
Q: Do you think the Supreme Court can hold a line that protects religious conscience while balancing government objectives, given how polarized the country is now?
The guests argue that the Court has shown principled restraint and careful expansion in free exercise cases, suggesting there is a track to protect religious conscience without letting government overreach erode other constitutional values, though they acknowledge uncertainty and the potential for shifts in how enduring that balance will be.
Feminism, Jews, and the Legacy of Gloria Steinem—with Judith Rosenbaum
Q: How do we sustain a mass movement while allowing diverse expressions and avoiding infighting or purity tests?
The guest emphasizes grassroots leadership, listening across generations, and celebrating shared goals while acknowledging different approaches, arguing that movements succeed when they empower many voices rather than relying on a single leader.
Feminism, Jews, and the Legacy of Gloria Steinem—with Judith Rosenbaum
Q: Let me ask you another history question, not about Steinem specifically, but about Jewish feminism or feminist Judaism, and how these movements navigated their distinct paths.
Judith Rosenbaum describes how Jewish feminism emerged from secular feminist roots while remaining deeply rooted in Jewish life, arguing that feminism enabled Jewish communities to reframe tradition, ritual, and leadership without abandoning core Jewish commitments.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Identity/Crisis

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

This program explores contemporary Jewish life through thoughtful, often provocative conversations with scholars, authors, and cultural leaders. Across episodes, topics span religious liberty, feminism and Jewish identity, antisemitism, Zionism, Israeli society, Jewish literature and food, education, philanthropy, and the role of culture in public life. The approach tends to blend historical context with current events, emphasizing pluralism, civil discourse, and practical implications for communities, institutions, and policy. A notable strength is hosting a diverse slate of guests—from legal scholars to chefs to journalists—while maintaining a steady throughline of shared humanity and democracy-centered values. Potential listeners will li... 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. A Mandatory Listen
3. Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
4. The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
5. Ask Haviv Anything

How many episodes of Identity/Crisis are there?

Identity/Crisis launched 7 years ago and published 316 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Identity/Crisis?

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What guests have appeared on Identity/Crisis?

Recent guests on Identity/Crisis include:

1. Yossi Klein Halevi
2. Dahlia Scheindlin
3. Avi Helfand
4. Judith Rosenbaum
5. Noa Kushner
6. Tali Rosenblatt-Cohen
7. Naomi Firestone-Teeter
8. Lauren Wein

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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