Curriculum For Freedom

Disrupting the Narrative with Tali Aynalem

THE RABBI AVI SHOW: EPISODE 23 SHOW NOTES In this very special episode, Rabbi Avi sits down with the outstanding Tali Aynalem—an Israeli-Ethiopian-American, IDF veteran of the Givati Brigade, and a sharp marketing professional who is completely shifting the conversation on social media. Born in Israel to parents who made Aliyah in the early 1980s, Tali grew up in Oregon, giving her a completely unique perspective on both the Israeli cultural fabric and modern American activism. They dive into a deep, long-form conversation about her lived experience, breaking through the victim mentality on progressive American campuses, the hidden systemic realities of the Middle East, and her exciting new grassroots project, Breaking Bread. KEY TOPICS * Generational Roots & Aliyah History: Tali shares her family's unique background, predating the famous military airlifts of the mid-80s, and discusses the profound longing for Jerusalem (Beit HaMiqdash) that defined early Ethiopian pioneers. * The Shock of American Racial Politics: Moving from Israel to Oregon, Tali describes the bizarre shift of entering an American university environment where she was explicitly introduced to an "oppression and victimhood" mentality for the first time. * Life in the Fabric of Israel: Pushing back against online myths of a systemic "apartheid state," Tali shares her lived reality of total cultural belonging in Israel compared to the actual second-class citizenship and labor abuse under the Kafala system in parts of the Arab world. * The Morality of the IDF: Drawing from her service in the Givati Brigade, Tali humanizes the soldiers on the borders, refuting Western media caricatures and detailing a culture that celebrates life rather than glorifying destruction. * The Betrayal of October 7th: Tali reflects on being physically on the ground in Israel during the Simchat Torah attacks, catching one of the last flights out, and navigating the painful relational fallout with long-term American friends in the weeks that followed. * Grassroots Leadership & "Breaking Bread": A look at Tali's new project with Ashira (Black and Jewish Podcast), moving past traditional, institutional "pastor and rabbi dinners" toward a model focused on business networking, economic partnership, and uncompromised Zionist dialogue. * The Core of Jewish Identity: Tali explains why her personal representation doesn't matter as much as strong foundations built at home, culminating in her latest thesis: There is no Judaism without Zionism, and there is no Judaism without God. IMPORTANT LINKS * Support the Show: Show your appreciation for independent, long-form media by supporting our channel at https://www.patreon.com/horizontalmediaHorizontal Media Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/horizontalmedia]. * Tali’s Writing: Read, subscribe, and share Tali's sharp weekly cultural commentary on https://taliaynalem.substack.comTali Aynalem's Substack [https://taliaynalem.substack.com]. FINAL TAKEAWAY "Always answer with truth. Look for the numbers yourself, look for the pictures yourself, and you'll find everything that you are looking for. Because truth always wins." — Tali Aynalem

The Rabbi Avi Show: Waking Up to History — Assimilation, Trauma, and The Past, Again with Benjamin Abravenel

SHOW NOTES: THE RABBI AVI SHOW, EPISODE 22 EPISODE OVERVIEW In this powerful and timely episode, Rabbi Avi unpacks a profound tectonic shift currently altering the collective Jewish psyche in the wake of October 7th. Tracing a direct narrative arc over recent conversations, the show explores what it truly means to wake up to history when comfortable diaspora illusions of security begin to shatter. Rabbi Avi is joined remotely by physician and debut novelist Benjamin Abravenel to discuss his captivating new psychological family drama, The Past, Again (published by Koehler Books). Together, they dive deep into the heavy existential questions facing modern Jewry: Is American exceptionalism a fragile myth? Can diaspora Jews ever truly unpack the suitcase in the closet? And how does transgenerational trauma shape our response to rising contemporary anti-Semitism? CONNECTING THE THREADS: THE ARC OF WAKING UP Before sitting down with today's guest, Rabbi Avi reflects on the foundational themes laid down across recent episodes that bridge personal trauma, institutional betrayal, and the moral burdens of self-defense: * The October 8th Awakening (with Chloe Loos): A raw look at the immediate psychological shattering that occurred the morning after the attacks. This conversation confronted the sudden birth of the "October 8th Jew"—the jarring moment when the comfortable, sun-bleached illusions of diaspora exceptionalism cracked open. * Ideological Evolution (with Dr. Molly Dunn): An analysis of the macro-level systemic failures and the moral collapse within elite academic and cultural institutions. This episode illuminated the deep isolation and political homelessness felt by Jewish families when the modern public square pressures them to mute or repackage their trauma just to stay palatable for prime time. * Truth, Fiction, and the Modern Golem (with Roger Simon): A deep dive into theological fiction through the novel Emmet. Roger Simon demonstrated how dry journalism and political essays reach their limit when trying to capture existential dread, showing that narrative fiction is often the best vessel capable of holding the raw spiritual weight of our historical survival. KEY DISCUSSION POINTS WITH BENJAMIN ABRAVENEL 1. MOVING FROM MEDICINE TO FICTION After 35 years of practicing medicine, Dr. Abravenel turned to fiction to unpack heavy, modern anxieties. He shares the defining turning point behind the book: a poignant conversation with an Auschwitz-surviving patient who told him she still keeps a packed suitcase in her closet because safety is only guaranteed "so far." This, combined with witnessing literal anti-Semitic graffiti on the walls of modern Europe, sparked a desire to write a dystopian narrative set right in his idyllic hometown. 2. THE ILLUSION OF PARADISE The novel is intentionally set in the carefree, sun-bleached paradise of Santa Barbara and Montecito. Dr. Abravenel explains that Jewish history is full of cycles where Jews reach the highest pinnacles of societal success before elements of society abruptly turn against them. In modern America, he flags the rise of fragmented tribalization and "lone wolf" attacks from both the far left and far right as modern echoes of these historical repetitions. 3. THE GENERATIONAL RIFT & FAMILY SECRETS The book charts a profound family divide: * Brian (The Father): A deeply analytical Talmudic scholar who embodies the naive confidence of American exceptionalism. * Judah/James (The Son): A protagonist who undergoes childhood trauma from early exposure to Holocaust imagery, choosing to change his name to "James" and aggressively adopting dogmatic atheism just to fit in and escape his heritage. * Lori (The Mother): Born in Baghdad, she survived the horrific 1941 Farhud pogrom. She goes to great lengths to play down her Mizrahi roots to present herself strictly as Israeli—not out of shame, but because her history carries the lingering, haunting truth that paradise is never permanent. 4. CULTURAL GASLIGHTING AND LITMUS TESTS Rabbi Avi and Benjamin confront the modern public square, where mentioning historical anti-Semitism is often treated as an aggressive act, and perpetrators claim the mantle of victimhood. They discuss the immense pressure placed on modern American Jews—particularly on elite college campuses—to undergo ideological litmus tests and reject their own identity or connection to Israel simply to be accepted by contemporary society. 5. IS THERE A SAFE HAVEN? The conversation concludes on a sobering yet resilient note. While the novel's characters try to outrun history through renaming, erasure, or silence, history ultimately catches up to them in a gripping conclusion tied to the reality of regional warfare. Yet, leaning on the words of the book's Auschwitz-surviving grandmother, Benjamin notes that Jewish survival has always been anchored in a refusal to be erased: "I'm still here." FEATURED BOOK * The Past, Again [https://a.co/d/0hA5ijXy] by Benjamin Abravenel (Published by Koehler Books). Available now on Amazon [https://a.co/d/0hA5ijXy]. MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE "I always keep the packed suitcase in my closet... So far." — Benjamin Abravenel, quoting an Auschwitz-surviving patient "The unique thing about anti-Semitism, Jew hatred, is that it comes from both sides—the far left and the far right... Jews are being forced to undergo a litmus test before they can move on in society." — Benjamin Abravenel "Our identity is not merely a casual religious preference. It's an interconnected civilization in a continuous historical chain." — Rabbi Avi "While we may not be expected to finish the work of repairing this fractured world, we are absolutely not free to desist from it." — Rabbi Avi SUPPORT INDEPENDENT JEWISH MEDIA! The Rabbi Avi Show is entirely independent, produced under the banner of Horizontal Media. We are not backed by corporate sponsors, and we do not answer to institutional boards. Diving into heavy truths, political realignments, and the raw vulnerability of our people takes immense time and operational resources. If you value these long-form dialogues and believe that independent Jewish thought is an absolute necessity, please consider turning from a passive listener into an active financial partner. * Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/horizontalmediapatreon.com/horizontalmedia [https://patreon.com/horizontalmedia] Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode to refuse to let the past be erased or distorted.

The Battle for the Soul of Islam and the Future of American Liberty

SHOW NOTES EP. 21 In this comprehensive, long-form conversation, Rabbi Avi Alpert sits down with Dr. Zuhdi Jasser—a U.S. Navy veteran, practicing Phoenix physician and cardiologist, founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD), and candidate for U.S. Congress in Arizona's 4th District. Together, they go far beyond the standard political talking points to diagnose the deep systemic pathologies facing both Western democracy and modern Islamic thought. From comparing bureaucratic institutional "groupthink" to religious authoritarianism, to outlining a proactive ideological strategy for the Middle East, this episode serves as an unfiltered masterclass in independent thinking. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MEDIA The Rabbi Avi Show is entirely listener-supported. If you find value in these deep, long-form intellectual dialogues, please consider partnering with us financially to keep our production standards high. * Support us on Patreon: https://www.google.com/search?q=https://patreon.com/horizontalmediapatreon.com/horizontalmedia [https://patreon.com/horizontalmedia] KEY EPISODE THEMES & DISCUSSION POINTS * A Clinical Diagnosis of Washington: How primary care medicine teaches a leader to build diverse coalitions, look beyond superficial symptoms, identify the root pathology of a crisis, and apply evidence-based treatments to policymaking. * The "Red-Green Axis" and Tribalization: Analyzing how multi-billion-dollar foreign funding operations and identity politics have radicalized American discourse, shifting ideological traditions into weaponized, protective identity groups. * The Pathology of Authoritarianism: Drawing direct structural parallels between the dictatorial control of religious imams who demand uncritical fealty ("Godolatry") and the federal mandates, media silencing, and bureaucratic overreach witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. * National Security & Border Ideology: Why securing the southern border requires moving past defensive, reactive organizational blacklists to proactively vetting immigrant populations for anti-constitutional, totalitarian ideologies. * The "Cold War" Strategy for the Middle East: Moving past the failed nation-building models of the Bush era to employ "muscular liberalism"—deploying a robust ideological offense that pumps classical liberal values directly to oppressed populations via media networks. * Pluralism vs. Triumphalism: Dr. Jasser addresses the fear of global Islamic dominance, arguing for an internal Islamic Reformation that isolates political Islam (Islamism) and elevates a character-driven, personal faith rooted in individual liberty. * A Rational Muslim Defense of Israel: Exploring why the Jewish State stands as a vibrant, free-market beacon of Western values in the Middle East, featuring autonomous, adaptive judicial precedents that outshine state-controlled theological blocks. ORGANIZATIONS & POLICY FRAMEWORKS MENTIONED * American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) [https://aifdemocracy.org/] – Founded by Dr. Jasser to champion the separation of mosque and state. * The Muslim Reform Movement [https://muslimreformmovement.org/] – An initiative launched in 2015 by secular and reform-minded Muslim patriots across the West. * The Declaration of the Muslim Reform Movement [https://muslimreformmovement.org/first-page-posts/declaration/] – A foundational two-page document establishing principles of human rights, gender equality, and secular governance used to distinguish patriotic faith from political Islam. * The Clarity Coalition – An umbrella group patterned after the Cold War-era Committee on the Present Danger (CPD), standing for "Champions for Liberty Against the Reality of Islamist Tyranny". * Committee on the Present Danger (CPD) – The historic, bipartisan coalition formerly led by Senators Jon Kyl and Joe Lieberman that helped shape the Reagan administration's peaceful triumph over the Soviet Union. BOOKS & SCHOLARS REFERENCE LIST Books Mentioned: * A Battle for the Soul of Islam: An American Muslim Defeats Radical Islam by Dr. Zuhdi Jasser (2013) – Dr. Jasser's personal narrative and blueprint for systemic internal reform. * What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East by Bernard Lewis – A historical analysis tracking the ossification of critical thinking and the decline of intellectual diversity in the Islamic world. * The Jews of Islam by Bernard Lewis – A study documenting the historical coexistence and cultural achievements of religious minorities under classical Islamic rule. * Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville – A seminal text exploring how a shared moral fabric and decentralized civic virtue made American republicanism uniquely successful without relying on authoritarian military enforcement. * The Protocols of the Elders of Zion – Referenced historically as a fraudulent, early 20th-century Russian text deployed across Arabist regimes to fuel systemic anti-Semitism. Scholars & Intellectuals Cited: * Maimonides (The Rambam) – The premier medieval philosopher whose towering legal and rational works flourished under Sefarad/Muslim governance. * Fatima Mernissi – Islamic scholar and writer noted for her foundational texts analyzing the compatibility of Islam and democracy. * Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im – Emory University professor recognized for his extensive work on Islamic reform and secular civic law. * Abdolkarim Soroush – Renowned Tehran philosopher and intellectual who articulated a framework for Islamic liberalism. * Mustafa Akyol – Contemporary author and journalist focusing on liberty, reason, and the history of liberal thought within Islamic traditions. CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST * Campaign Website: https://www.z4az.comZ4AZ.com [https://Z4AZ.com] (Z number four A Z) * Social Media: Learn more about Dr. Jasser's ongoing movement to bring constitutional principles and robust discourse back to Washington. Subscribe & Review: If this masterclass in independent thinking challenged your assumptions, please subscribe to The Rabbi Avi Show, leave us a five-star review, and share this episode with someone looking for political sanity. Tizku Lamitzvot!

Ideological Evolution With Dr. Molly Dunn

SHOW NOTES | THE RABBI AVI SHOW EPISODE 20 EPISODE SUMMARY In this powerful continuation of our exploration into modern political and cultural shifts, Rabbi Avi sits down with Dr. Molly Dunn, a critical criminologist and former university professor whose life story reads like a roadmap of our current intellectual landscape. Following up on our recent conversation with Chloe Loos regarding journeys away from the far left, this episode dives into the mechanics of high-level academia, institutional power, systemic anti-Semitism, and the law. Dr. Dunn shares her profound ideological evolution from the deconstructive frameworks of progressive critical theory to an active position in the pro-Israel political center. Now serving as the Education Associate for the Center for Jewish Resilience under the Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona, she details her personal transition from the ivory tower to hands-on community building, unpacking what it truly means to foster Jewish continuity and pride today. KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED * The Ideological Pivot: How tracking omissions of Jewish identity in historical research—and facing pushback from her own doctoral committee—shattered standard progressive paradigms for Dr. Dunn. * The Gaps in Intersectionality: Why modern academic frameworks miscategorize the Jewish people by forcing an ancient ethnicity, nation, and faith into rigid, contemporary American racial boxes. * When Theory Meets Reality: A look inside the criminology department and the inherent disconnect of viewing crime entirely as a social construct when Jewish communities actively require institutional protection. * The Battle with NAU: Dr. Dunn's firsthand experience dealing with antisemitic hostility from university authorities behind closed doors, and how mainstream pro-Israel legal advocates stepped up to secure an amicable resolution. * Building Institutional Literacy: Moving past street activism to teach the next generation of students how to read student handbooks, navigate institutional policies, and stand up to administrative overreach. * Legislative Hurdles & Local Action: The battle for Arizona House Bill 2867, designed to protect Jewish students and faculty, and why outside special interest groups are pushing back against those on the front lines. * The "Jewson" Community: Why Tucson’s unique ability to bring Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform leaders together to fight for Jewish peoplehood provides a powerful model for the rest of American Jewry. RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED * Support Independent Media: Help keep our studio running and our content free from corporate influence by partnering with us at https://www.patreon.com/horizontalmediapatreon.com/horizontalmedia [https://patreon.com/horizontalmedia] * Connect with Legal Support: If you are experiencing anti-Semitism or legal challenges on a college campus, find resources through https://www.standwithus.comStandWithUs [https://www.standwithus.com]. * Explore Local Resilience: Learn more about the community initiatives, public affairs advocacy, and educational programming at the https://www.jparizona.orgJewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona [https://www.jparizona.org]. * Previous Episodes Mentioned: * Catch up on the foundational episode on Christian Zionism featuring Pastor Jeff Logsdon at the beginning of the season. * Listen to our previous episode detailing personal journeys out of the far left with Chloe Loos.

The Oct 8th Awakening

SHOW NOTES In this installment of The Rabbi Avi Show, Rabbi Avi Alpert sits down with Chloe Loos, the Director of Arts and Culture at the Tucson JCC. Chloe shares her profound journey of "de-assimilation," tracing her path from a secular upbringing in Flagstaff to becoming a dedicated Jewish communal professional in the wake of personal and collective trauma. The conversation explores the "October 8th" phenomenon, where many Jews are rediscovering their heritage and a fierce commitment to Israel following the events of late 2023. ---------------------------------------- KEY DISCUSSION POINTS * Growing Up in Flagstaff: Chloe reflects on being one of the only Jewish children in her community, navigating "othering" experiences and a lack of visible Jewish infrastructure. * The Mediterranean Parallel: A look at the cultural similarities between Chloe’s Jewish and Italian-Catholic heritage and how those parallels shaped her identity. * A Journey Through Grief: How the loss of her mother in 2020 served as the first bridge back to Jewish tradition through the daily practice of the Mourner’s Kaddish. * The "October 8th" Awakening: Chloe discusses the "absolute rupture" she experienced within progressive and secular circles following October 7th, leading to her decision to dedicate her life to Jewish peoplehood. * The "Double Cross" of the Far-Left: A candid look at the ostracization Chloe faced from long-term friends and the "weaponization of therapy language" used to dismiss Jewish lived experiences. * Arts as Avodah: How Chloe utilizes the Tucson International Jewish Film Festival and other cultural programs to build a "vibrant mosaic" of Jewish life that fosters belonging. * De-assimilation Across Generations: The inspiring story of how Chloe’s own return to tradition has encouraged her grandmothers to reclaim their own Jewish symbols and heritage. ---------------------------------------- NOTABLE QUOTES "The Chloe who voted for Bernie was doing her best... her frontal cortex wasn't developed." "I really came back to the religious piece of Judaism or the spiritual aspect through grief, even though we're such a joyful practice." "You don’t have to try so hard to fit in, because you already do." ---------------------------------------- SUPPORT THE SHOW This episode is part of a series at Horizontal Media exploring the deep shifts in Jewish identity today. If you find value in these conversations, please consider supporting our mission. * Patreon: https://www.google.com/search?q=http://www.patreon.com/horizontalmediawww.patreon.com/horizontalmedia [https://www.patreon.com/horizontalmedia]