The Pluralist Podcast - with Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg

Walking the Tightrope of Liberal Zionism with IPF’s Shanie Reichman

Liberal Zionists can either remain isolated and anxious about Israel’s direction—or organize to help shape its future. In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski speak with Shanie Reichman, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Director of IPF Atid at Israel Policy Forum, about young liberal Jews’ relationship with Israel, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Diaspora engagement, and the institutions and political power needed to advance a different vision for Israel. Learn more about IPF Atid: https://israelpolicyforum.org/atid/ [https://israelpolicyforum.org/atid/] Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for more conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish life, religious freedom, and pluralism. If this conversation matters to you, please consider supporting IRAC’s work to defend democracy, equality, religious freedom, and pluralism in Israel: https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM [https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM] Many young liberal Jews remain deeply connected to Israel while feeling profoundly troubled by its government and uncertain about how their involvement can make a difference. Shanie challenges the idea that they have simply stopped caring. Many are instead watching from a distance, discussing Israel only with trusted friends, and becoming increasingly isolated. This conversation asks how they can move from concern and “quiet doomscrolling” to meaningful partnership with Israelis working for democracy, equality, religious pluralism, peace, and human rights. It also explores what liberal Zionists can learn from movements that have invested patiently in education, leadership, funding, institutions, and political action. Safeguarding the future of both Israel and American Judaism will require a deeper partnership between liberal Jews in Israel and the Diaspora—and a shared ability to help shape Israel’s future. This is a conversation about liberal Zionism, Israel-Diaspora relations, young Jewish leaders, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, democracy, civil society, institution-building, political power, and the future of Israel.

On Independence Day: Religion, Democracy, and the Promise of America at 250 -Rabbi Michael Holzman

Religious communities can either deepen division — or help repair democracy. In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski speak with Rabbi Michael Holzman, rabbi of Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation and founder of Faith 250, about America’s 250th birthday, democracy, religious nationalism, and how communities can practice the habits liberal democracy needs. Learn more about Faith 250: https://faith250.org/ [https://faith250.org/] Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for more conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish life, religious freedom, and pluralism. If this conversation matters to you, please consider supporting IRAC’s work to defend democracy, equality, religious freedom, and pluralism in Israel: https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM [https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM] As America approaches its 250th birthday, this conversation asks how we celebrate an imperfect democracy without denial or despair. Rabbi Holzman helps us think about houses of worship as “little democracies” — places where people can practice listening, disagreement, responsibility, and care for the vulnerable. This is a conversation about religion, democracy, America at 250, Israel, religious nationalism, interfaith work, civic responsibility, and hope.

An Insider’s View of the Haredi World with Dr. Yakir Englander

Israel’s Haredi crisis is about more than IDF enlistment. In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski speak with Dr. Yakir Englander — a scholar, educator, and community bridge-builder who grew up inside Israel’s Haredi community, later left it, served in the IDF, and has spent much of his life working across Jewish, Israeli, and interfaith communities. To learn more about Yakir’s work or to connect with him directly, visit: https://yakirenglander.com/about/ [https://yakirenglander.com/about/] Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for more conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish life, and religious freedom. If this conversation matters to you, please consider supporting IRAC’s work to defend democracy, equality, religious freedom, and pluralism in Israel: https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM [https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM] As Israel approaches elections, the place of Haredi society has reached a boiling point. Mass protests over army service are disrupting daily life, while the political system continues to avoid a real solution. At the same time, the debate over Haredi integration touches some of the deepest questions facing Israel: shared civic responsibility, women’s rights, equality, education, religious freedom, and the rule of law. Yakir helps us understand Haredi society from the inside — not as a slogan, demographic threat, or political bloc, but as a complex community with different leaders, different fears, different relationships to the state, and growing numbers of Haredim seeking a more modern path. For Orly and IRAC, the question is not only whether Haredim can become more integrated into Israeli society. It is whether Israel can make that integration possible without sacrificing the liberal democratic values that protect us all. If integrating Haredi men into the army requires pushing women out of sight, what happens to female soldiers? If opening academia to Haredi students requires gender-segregated programs, what happens to female lecturers? And if public funding continues to support schools that refuse to teach core subjects, what kind of future are we building — for Haredi children, and for Israel as a whole? This is a conversation about Haredim, democracy, responsibility, fear, power, and the possibility of a shared future.

Power in Partnership: Organizing for Impact in Israel and the U.S. with RAC

In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski share a conversation from Israel in Depth with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Rabbi Lindsey Danziger, and Blake Ziegler of the Religious Action Center. Together, they discuss the partnership between RAC and IRAC, the threats facing democracy and religious pluralism in Israel and the United States, and the ways organizing can turn fear and helplessness into agency. The conversation touches on the Kotel bill, attacks on Reform Judaism, public pressure, elections in both countries, antisemitism, religious extremism, and the evolving work of IRAC — from litigation to advocacy, media, community organizing, and local power. At a time when democratic values are being tested across the world, this episode asks what Reform Jews in Israel and North America can learn from each other, how we can act together, and why partnership matters now more than ever. Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for honest conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish pluralism, and the future of liberal Judaism. To access all On Demand videos from Israel in Depth, register at this link [https://click.email.rj.org/?qs=ABB7InYiOjEsImQiOjQ5MDJ9AAQAAAAAAJQMHy0jxNlFfLeX64UHwEv9x_QkyBlYO-Gq7LgLzGKlPkpUC-LKOxzexKa0VPWY7dbNO_jn44euzRvDKy6xrM3OtArct1caREejXeWqWSw]

Pride... and Prejudice in the Holy Land: Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie

What does it mean to be proudly queer, deeply Jewish, and connected to Israel in a time of growing polarization? In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg speak with Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie—an Israeli-born rabbi, storyteller, queer Jewish leader, and co-founding spiritual leader of Lab/Shul in New York. Raised in one of Israel’s most prominent Orthodox rabbinic families, Amichai became the first openly queer rabbi in 39 generations of his family. His remarkable journey is also at the center of the award-winning documentary Sabbath Queen. [https://www.sabbathqueen.com/] Together, they discuss: * Growing up queer in a prominent Orthodox rabbinic family and the journey to Progressive Judaism in New York * The connection between LGBTQ+ equality, democracy, and human rights * The progress and remaining prejudice facing LGBTQ+ people in Israel * Whether Judaism can become not only more accepting, but a place where LGBTQ+ Jews can fully belong and thrive * Rabbi Benny Lau’s outspoken support for LGBTQ+ and the critical importance of family support and allyship in helping LGBTQ+ people live openly, authentically, and safely * The role of religious leaders, legal advocacy, and community partnerships in creating change * The challenge of being queer, Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist in progressive spaces after October 7 This is a conversation about Pride and prejudice, progress and backlash, and the kind of Judaism—and Israel—we still have the power to build. Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast and share this episode to help amplify liberal Jewish values, equality, religious freedom, and democracy in Israel and beyond.