Israel was founded on a promise—to be the defender of the Jewish people. On October 7, that promise was broken. In the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust, Israel’s security, deterrence, and very raison d’être were shaken to the core.

What went wrong? How does Israel begin the process of reckoning with its failures—not just to return the hostages, but to rebuild trust, restore deterrence, and reclaim its sovereignty?

In this episode, historian, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., and author Michael Oren breaks down the hard truths about what happened, the challenges ahead, and the steps Israel must take to ensure that October 7 never happens again.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others.

Learn more about Boundless: https://boundlessisrael.org/

Mentioned in this episode:
Our choice between ‘never again’ and ‘again’ by Dr. Michael Oren

Is U.S. Aid a Threat to Israel? by Dr. Michael Oren 

Last month, Israel made a surprising diplomatic move, voting alongside the United States and Russia against a United Nations resolution reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity. It was the first time Israel had taken such a stance since the war began—raising questions about the pressure Jerusalem faces as President Trump reshapes U.S. foreign policy.

Since taking office in January, Trump has distanced himself from Biden’s strong backing of Ukraine, labeling President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and urging him to agree to a ceasefire with Moscow. Tensions boiled over in a high-stakes White House meeting where Zelensky clashed publicly with both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.

For former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren, the moment was strikingly familiar. He recalls a pivotal 2011 exchange in the Oval Office when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly challenged President Obama’s Middle East policy. Oren sees important parallels between Netanyahu’s bold approach and the situation Zelensky now faces.

In this episode, we explore how smaller nations like Israel and Ukraine navigate relationships with global superpowers, what diplomatic leverage they hold, and what lessons can be drawn from history.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others. Learn more about Boundless: https://boundlessisrael.org/

Mentioned in the episode: Michael Oren: What Zelensky Can Learn from Netanyahu

The U.S. has been in direct talks with Hamas, aiming to negotiate the release of hostages still held in Gaza. Leading the discussions is Adam Boehler, the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, who recently met with Hamas officials in Doha. He described the talks as “very productive,” indicating they extend beyond hostage negotiations to broader discussions about a long-term ceasefire.

Boehler has suggested that Hamas may be willing to disarm and relinquish control of Gaza—but not without significant concessions. For its part, Israel is increasing pressure, cutting off electricity and halting aid deliveries to Gaza.

So, is a deal within reach? Or are these negotiations heading nowhere?

Host Aviva Klompas discusses the latest developments with former Israeli ambassador to Washington, Dr. Michael Oren.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others. Learn more about Boundless: https://boundlessisrael.org/

In this episode of Boundless Insights, Dr. Rachel Fish sits down with former Palestinian negotiator Ghaith al-Omari to examine the shifting landscape of Palestinian leadership and the viability of a two-state solution.

They discuss the historical evolution of Palestinian nationalism, the deep legitimacy crisis facing the Palestinian Authority, and the role of Arab nations in rebuilding Gaza and advancing a diplomatic resolution.

Ghaith also weighs in on the impact of U.S. leadership in driving Palestinian political reform, the generational shifts shaping Israeli and Palestinian perspectives, and how identity factors into the peace process. Throughout the conversation, he underscores the urgent need for pragmatic, courageous leadership to counter extremism and build a path toward lasting stability.

Guest Bio:

Ghaith al-Omari is the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Senior Fellow in The Washington Institute’s Irwin Levy Family Program on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship. Previously, he served as executive director of the American Task Force on Palestine and was an advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team during the 1999–2001 permanent-status talks. He has held various other positions within the Palestinian Authority.

While much of the world’s attention remains fixed on Gaza, the security situation in Judea and Samaria / the West Bank is escalating. In January, the IDF launched Operation Iron Wall, a major campaign aimed at dismantling terror networks. The operation began in Jenin—a long-standing hub for terrorist activity – and has since expanded into nearby towns.

To understand what’s happening on the ground, Aviva Klompas speaks with retired Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, one of the most respected voices on Middle East security.

Subscribe and stay connected: Don’t miss future episodes of Boundless Insights. Follow us for more expert analysis and deep dives into the issues shaping Israel and the world.

Learn more about Boundless: https://boundlessisrael.org/

Guest Bio:

Jonathan Conricus is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on the Middle East. He served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for 24 years as a combat commander in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He also served as a military diplomat, foreign relations expert, and international spokesperson. He recently retired as lieutenant colonel. Jonathan was the first Israeli officer to be seconded to the United Nations (UN), during which he provided military and strategic analysis for UN peacekeeping forces. He has directed social media and public diplomacy efforts and has extensive on- and off-camera experience from his years as a spokesperson. 

For months, world leaders have been asking: What comes next for Gaza once the war ends?

President Trump stirred controversy by suggesting an unconventional approach—relocating Palestinians from Gaza to other countries while the Strip undergoes reconstruction. The backlash was swift.

Now, Arab states are rallying around a counterproposal. Leading the charge is Egypt, which is promoting a plan to rebuild Gaza without relocating its residents and to establish a new governing authority.

Can this new plan succeed where so many others have failed? Host Aviva Klompas sits down with Dr. Michael Oren—former Israeli ambassador to the U.S.—to unpack the latest developments.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others.

Learn more about Boundless: https://boundlessisrael.org/

PR9A6pZGGmWr97nIiGuG

This week, Israel laid to rest four murdered hostages—Oded Lifshitz, Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas—all from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Their names are now etched into the heart of a grieving nation.

Oded Lifshitz was an 83-year-old peace activist, a man who dedicated his life to coexistence. On October 7, he was shot in the hand, dragged into Gaza, and murdered in captivity. At his funeral, his wife spoke of the deep betrayal she felt—how after years of championing peace with Palestinians, they were attacked by the very people they had tried to help.

The Bibas family has become the face of national heartbreak. The world watched the footage of Shiri Bibas clutching her young sons, Ariel and Kfir, as they were taken hostage. Her face—frozen in terror is an image burned into collective memory.

When Yarden Bibas was released after 16 months in captivity, many held onto a desperate hope that his family would also emerge alive. Instead, this week, he was forced to bury them. His grief and loss are incomprehensible.

On today’s episode, Aviva Klompas and Dr. Michael Oren sift through the heartache and discuss the deeper national reckoning that this tragedy has set in motion.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others.

 Learn more about Boundless: https://boundlessisrael.org/

Since October 7, it has felt like we’ve been trapped in an unending nightmare. That horror deepened when Hamas staged a grotesque spectacle in Gaza, parading the coffins of hostages through the streets.

The scene was chilling: a stage draped with propaganda banners, celebratory music blaring, and crowds—including Palestinian children—cheering as the coffins were handed over to the Red Cross. Even the UN, an organization rarely sympathetic to Israel, condemned the display as "cruel and degrading."

To unpack the significance of these events, Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States and historian. Together, they confront the reality of evil, explore how Israel might respond, and discuss the search for moral clarity in a world increasingly muddled by false equivalencies and moral relativism.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others.

Learn more about Boundless: https://boundlessisrael.org/

Since the horrific attacks of October 7, the absence of moral courage has been glaring. In a time when speaking the truth comes with real consequences—risking careers, reputations, and even personal safety—many have chosen silence over principle. But what does it truly mean to stand up for what’s right? Why do some rise to the occasion while others retreat into the background? And how can we cultivate the strength to act, even when the cost is high?

In this episode, Aviva Klompas is joined by Bret Stephens, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist known for his intellectual clarity and willingness to challenge prevailing narratives, no matter how uncomfortable. Together, they examine today’s crisis of moral courage—why it’s so scarce, what forces discourage people from speaking out, and what it will take to foster a culture where standing up for truth and justice isn’t the exception, but the expectation.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others.

Guest Bio

Bret Stephens is an op-ed columnist for The New York Times and editor-in-chief of Sapir (sapirjournal.org), a new quarterly dedicated to exploring issues of Jewish concern. He has previously worked as foreign-affairs columnist and deputy editorial-page editor for The Wall Street Journal and as editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post. Among his many prizes and distinctions are the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary, the 2019 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and three honorary doctorates. His 2014 book, "America in Retreat: The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder" correctly predicted many of the events of our day. In 2022 he was permanently banned by the government of Russia from visiting that country.

Bret was raised in Mexico City and educated at the University of Chicago and the London School of Economics He and his wife, Corinna, have three children and live outside of New York City.

In this special episode of Boundless Insights, guest host Dr. Rachel Fish speaks with award-winning author and scholar Dr. Dara Horn about the shortcomings of Holocaust education. Too often, it emphasizes universal moral lessons while overlooking Jews themselves and disregarding Jewish life before and after the Holocaust. They explore the concept of the “null curriculum”—the lessons schools leave out—and reveal how a narrow focus on the Holocaust can mislead students into seeing Jews solely as historical or symbolic victims rather than as a thriving, evolving people. Dara also unpacks the “big lie,” the false accusation that portrays Jews as a collective threat to society, and underscores the urgent need to teach a broader, richer view of Jewish history and culture to challenge these dangerous misconceptions.

Guest Bio

Dara Horn is an award-winning author, including People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present and the novels Eternal Life and The World to Come. Named one of Granta's Best Young American Novelists, she has won three National Jewish Book Awards, and her work has been recognized as a New York Times Notable Books and translated into 13 languages. Her essays have appeared in leading outlets like The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Wall Street Journal. A Harvard-trained scholar of Yiddish and Hebrew, she has taught at institutions like Sarah Lawrence and Harvard, and lectures internationally. Dara is also the founder of Mosaic Persuasion, a nonprofit dedicated to educating the American public about Jewish civilization.

More from Dara Horn
Dara Horn's website: darahorn.com
One Little Goat by Dara Horn
Why the Most Educated People in America Fall for Anti-Semitic Lies in The Atlantic by Dara Horn
Is Holocaust Education Making Anti-Semitism Worse in The Atlantic by Dara Horn
People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present by Dara Horn