What does it mean to be a Jewish and democratic state?

In this episode, Dr. Roy Peled—legal scholar and former youth activist—reflects on the legal and political forces shaping Israel’s identity. Speaking at the Israel at a Crossroads convening, Speaking at the Israel at a Crossroads convening, Peled traces the unfinished story of Israel’s constitution and the impact of Basic Laws on minority rights—especially the Arab minority. With clarity and nuance, he unpacks the political forces behind the Nation-State Law, the shifting role of the judiciary, and the tensions between national identity and democratic principles.  Peled brings both scholarly insight and personal conviction, inviting listeners to engage deeply with questions of power, belonging, and constitutional change in Israel today.
Bio of Roy Peled

Discussion Questions 

1. Constitutional Identity
   Dr. Peled discusses the absence of a formal Israeli constitution. What do you think are the implications—positive or negative—of defining a state's identity without a written constitution?
2. Majority and Minority
   Peled highlights a lack of clear vision for the role of the Arab minority in Israel. How might a state balance national identity with full inclusion of minorities? What models from other countries, if any, come to mind?
3. The Role of the Courts
   What tensions emerge between legal decisions that protect individual rights and those that shape public or national identity? How should courts navigate these tensions?
4. Nuance in Debate
   Dr. Peled criticizes the polarization of conversations around Israel, both in Israel and abroad. What helps you hold space for nuance when discussing Israel’s identity and minority rights?
5. Personal Values
   Dr. Peled identifies as a Zionist who believes in equality and democracy. How do your personal values shape how you engage in conversations about Israel? What assumptions do you bring to the table?

Show Notes Video

• Roy Peled speaking at Israel at a Crossroads

Further Reading

• Basic Law: Israel -- The Nation State of the Jewish People (Originally adopted in 2018)

In Israel today, the question of “Who is a Jew?” is not only legal—it’s deeply personal.

In this episode of Expanding the Conversation, Rabbi Seth Farber, founder and director of Itim, reflects on the intersection of religious authority, individual identity, and democratic values. Drawing from biblical narratives, courtroom battles, and grassroots activism, Rabbi Farber explores how Israel’s religious bureaucracy impacts the lives of citizens at every major life cycle moment—marriage, burial, conversion—and what it will take to create a Jewish state that welcomes all Jews. 

Bio of Seth Farber
Discussion Questions

1. “Mi Eilah?” – Who Are These?
   Rabbi Farber frames his talk around Jacob’s biblical question, “Mi Eilah?” as a metaphor for how Israeli institutions question Jewish identity. How does this question resonate today, especially for converts, immigrants, and those outside the Orthodox mainstream?
2. Pluralism and State Power
   What are the implications of having state-controlled religious institutions in a democratic society? What models might reflect a pluralistic vision of Judaism in Israel?
3. Conversion and Inclusion
   What does the episode reveal about the experience of Jews by choice in Israel? What does it say about the boundaries of community and the authority to define Jewishness??
4. Judaism and Zionism
   Farber argues that Judaism is not an afterthought in the Zionist story, but central to it. How do you interpret the relationship between Judaism and Zionism today?
5. Hope and Responsibility
   Despite the bureaucratic and legal challenges, Rabbi Farber speaks of being “blessed to live in this moment.” What gives you hope when thinking about Jewish identity and the future of the Jewish people?

Video/Image

• Seth Farber speaking at Israel at a Crossroads

Further Reading

• Itim: The Jewish Life Advocacy Center
• Seth Farber "The Chief Rabbinate's blacklist isn't defending Judaism. It's undermining it." JTA (July 10, 2017)--Farber referred to this article in his talk.

What does Jewish pluralism actually look like in Israel today?

In this episode of Expanding the Conversation, Rakefet Ginsberg, Executive Director of the Masorti Movement in Israel, reflects on how Israelis are redefining religious identity and reclaiming spiritual space—from the egalitarian Kotel to public Yom Kippur services in Tel Aviv. Drawing on her work at the grassroots level, she offers stories of coexistence, struggle, and hope, and makes a compelling case for expanding access to Judaism that is both meaningful and inclusive. 

Bio of Rakefet Ginsberg

Discussion Questions

1. Pluralism in Practice
   Rakefet Ginsberg described the egalitarian section of the Kotel as a space where diverse Jewish expressions coexist. What does this tell us about how pluralism functions outside of formal policy? What challenges and opportunities does this model present?
2. Ownership of Judaism
   Ginsberg emphasizes the need for Israelis to "take ownership" of their Judaism. What might that look like in practice—for religious, secular, and traditional Jews?
3. Building Trust Across Difference
   How can trust be built between communities with vastly different religious worldviews? What lessons can we take from Ginsberg’s conversation with Rabbi Eliezer Melamed?
4. The Role of Institutions
   What role should state institutions like the Chief Rabbinate play in defining or regulating Jewish life in Israel?
5. Sources of Hope
   In difficult times, Ginsberg points to community, song, prayer, and memory as sources of hope. What spiritual or communal practices sustain you in moments of challenge?

Show Notes  
Video

• Rakefet Ginsberg speaking at Israel at a Crossroads

Further Reading

• Masorti Movement
• Rabbi Eliezer Melamed "The Reform Jews Prayer in ‘Ezrat Yisrael’" Weekly Article Revivim (July 24, 2021)
• Rabbi Daniel Gordis "The one where Yom Kippur escaped from the synagogue..." Israel from the Inside (October 9, 2022)

What does it mean to be both a witness and a bridge in a time of war?

In this powerful episode, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib—a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and a Palestinian American raised in Gaza—shares his story of survival, loss, and conviction. Speaking at the Israel at a Crossroads convening, Ahmed explores the personal and collective traumas that shape Palestinian life today, including the impact of the current war on his own family.Refusing the binaries that dominate public discourse, Ahmed pushes for a third space—one grounded in mutual empathy, moral courage, and an unflinching commitment to truth. His vision for Gaza’s future goes beyond reconstruction; it is a call to transformation rooted in justice, dignity, and pragmatic hope.
Bio of Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib 

Discussion Questions 

1. Trauma and Politics
   Ahmed describes the impact of personal and collective trauma in Gaza and emphasizes the importance of healing. How can trauma—both individual and communal—shape political realities? What might it mean to include healing as part of a vision for peace?
2. Making Space for Complexity
   Throughout the episode, Ahmed resists aligning with rigid ideological positions and instead calls for a “third space” rooted in empathy and complexity. What makes it difficult to hold space for multiple truths in today’s discourse around Israel and Palestine?
3. Diaspora and Responsibility
   Ahmed speaks openly about his frustration with Palestinian and Arab diaspora communities who engage in rhetoric but avoid practical action. What role should diaspora communities play in shaping the future of Gaza and Israel? What does responsible engagement look like?
4. Barriers to Dialogue
   The episode concludes with a challenge to consider what barriers exist within the Jewish community that prevent meaningful dialogue. What assumptions or structures might limit these conversations—and how might we begin to dismantle them?
5. A Vision for Gaza
   Ahmed outlines a bold vision for Gaza’s future—one that prioritizes autonomy, dignity, and opportunity. Which aspects of his vision resonated most with you? What would it take to move from reconstruction to transformation?

Show Notes Video

• Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib speaking at Israel at a Crossroads

Further Reading
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib. "An Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Nearly Killed Me. But I Recognize Both Sides' Trauma." Haaretz (April 30, 2017)
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib. "The Case for Pragmatism" The Atlantic (March 15, 2025)
 Dahlia Scheindlin. "Is Prominent Hamas Critic Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib a Palestinian Prophet or a Voice in the Wind?" Haaretz (May 5, 2025)

What role can a library play in a time of national crisis?

In this episode of Expanding the Conversation, Dr. Raquel Ukeles, Director of Collections at the National Library of Israel, reflects on how cultural institutions like the library serve as spaces of dialogue, connection, and resilience. Drawing on her experience overseeing one of the most important repositories of Jewish, Israeli, and Middle Eastern culture, Dr. Ukeles shares how the National Library has responded to war, social fragmentation, and political tension—not by retreating from controversy, but by doubling down on its mission to collect, curate, and make accessible the voices of all communities.  This conversation, recorded as part of the “Israel at a Crossroads” convening hosted by JTS, challenges us to consider the power of memory work, the ethics of curation, and the library’s potential to shape the public square.
 
Bio of Raquel Ukeles

Discussion Questions

1. The Role of Cultural Institutions
   Dr. Ukeles describes libraries as civic spaces that hold and reflect a nation’s complexity. How do you see the role of libraries, museums, or archives in your own society? How do they shape public values or political culture?
2. Collecting in Times of Crisis
   How should institutions decide what to collect during moments of upheaval or war? What are the risks of documenting events too quickly—or too slowly?
3. Pluralism and the Public Good
   The National Library of Israel collects materials across religious, ethnic, and ideological lines. What does it mean for a state institution to be inclusive in this way? What tensions might arise from such a commitment?
4. Memory as Responsibility
   Dr. Ukeles suggests that memory is not only about preservation but about shaping the future. How can remembering—or forgetting—impact a society’s direction?
5. Libraries as Spaces for Dialogue
   Should libraries be places for civic repair or democratic renewal? What would that look like in practice?

Video/Image

• Raquel Ukeles speaking at Israel at a Crossroads

Further Reading

• "National Library of Israel launches ‘unprecedented’ effort to collect everything it can about Oct. 7 attacks" eJewishPhilanthropy (November 9, 2023)
• National Library of Israel Links:
  • Bearing Witness Archive
  • Explore the Collections
  • October 7th Memorial Wall

In this episode of Expanding the Conversation, political strategist and public opinion expert Dr. Dalia Scheindlin explores the urgent challenges facing Israel today. Recorded live at The Jewish Theological Seminary’s Israel at a Crossroads convening, this talk examines three major dilemmas: the war in Gaza and the West Bank, the future of Israeli politics under Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the country’s democratic resiliency. Scheindlin discusses possible outcomes—from political stagnation to regional diplomacy, political change, and constitutional reform.This episode offers essential insight into Israeli democracy, public opinion, and the role of civil society, while also addressing how American Jews can meaningfully engage with Israel’s current reality.

Bio of Dahlia Scheindlin 

Discussion Questions
  1. Crossroads of War and Occupation

• Dr. Scheindlin outlines two divergent paths regarding Israel’s military presence in Gaza and the West Bank. What do you think are the long-term implications of each path for Israel, Palestinians, and regional stability?

2. Crossroads of Politics

• She speaks of the possibility of elections becoming less meaningful due to erosion of democratic norms. What indicators do you think signal a democracy in decline? Are those indicators present in Israel today?

3. Crossroads of Democracy and Constitution

• Dr. Scheindlin argues that Israel needs a formal constitution to define equality, the source of legal authority, and citizenship. How might the absence of a formal constitution affect public trust and civil rights in Israel?

4. The Role of Civil Society

• In her talk, civil society mobilization is described as a primary source of hope in the face of political dysfunction. What lessons can be drawn from the way Israeli civil society has responded to government actions since 2023? Can civil society maintain momentum and influence policy without formal political power?

5. Diaspora Engagement

• Dr. Scheindlin emphasizes that American Jews must “learn the situation for real” and bring their democratic values to conversations with Israelis. How can American Jews engage responsibly and effectively with Israel’s internal struggles?
  What tensions exist between solidarity and critique when it comes to Diaspora-Israel relations?

6. Personal Reflection

• Which of the crossroads Dahlia Scheindlin identifies—war, politics, or democracy—feels most urgent to you? Why?
• What gives you hope for Israel’s future? What are you most concerned about?

Show Notes

• Video
  • Dahlia Scheindlin speaking at Israel at a Crossroads
• Further Reading
  • Scheindlin, Dahlia. The Crooked Timber of Democracy in Israel: Promise Unfulfilled, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2023.
  • "The Fight for a New Israel." Foreign Affairs (November/December 2024)
  • Author profile and articles on Haaretz

What does it mean to live fully in two worlds—and feel at home in neither?

In this episode of Expanding the Conversation, Dr. Nasreen Haddad Haj-Yahya, one of Israel’s leading experts on Arab society and state policy, shares a deeply personal and analytical perspective on the experience of Palestinian citizens of Israel. Drawing from her research and lived experience, she explores how government policy, economic marginalization, and social separation shape everyday life for Arab Israelis—and what it means to seek belonging, dignity, and equality in a divided society.This conversation, recorded after her appearance at the JTS convening Israel at a Crossroads, offers a rare and nuanced window into the complexities of identity, the enduring impact of the Nation-State Law, and the fragile promise of a shared future.


Bio of Nasreen Haddad Haj-Yahya

Discussion Questions

1. Glass Ceilings and Early Awareness
   Dr. Haddad Haj-Yahya begins her story with a childhood memory of visiting a kibbutz and realizing that her dreams were bounded by social barriers. How do early experiences of exclusion shape identity and ambition? Can you recall a moment when you recognized social or cultural boundaries for the first time?
2. Identity and Belonging
   “We are part of the Palestinian people, and we are citizens of the State of Israel.” How does Dr. Haddad Haj-Yahya describe the experience of holding both identities? What tensions—and possibilities—does she identify in that duality?
3. Measuring Democracy
   Dr. Haddad Haj-Yahya suggests that one way to evaluate a democracy is by how it treats its largest minority. What does this lens reveal about Israeli society? How might that same question apply to other democracies?
4. October 7 and Aftermath
   How did the events of October 7 and the war in Gaza impact Arab-Jewish relations within Israel, according to Dr. Haddad Haj-Yahya? What role can shared grief, empathy, or civic dialogue play in times of national crisis?
5. Hope and Responsibility
   Despite the challenges she outlines, Dr. Haddad Haj-Yahya emphasizes the need for shared society and a win-win future. What forces or values give her hope? What role can external Jewish communities play in supporting that vision?

SHOW NOTES Video/Image

• Nasreen Haddad Haj-Yahya speaking at Israel at a Crossroads

Further Reading

• Publications by NAS Research & Consulting
• Publications by Nasreen Haddad Haj-Yahya from the Israel Democracy Institute
• Insisting on Democracy for All (Remarks from the New Israel Fund's Conference, May 15, 2025)

In this episode of Expanding the Conversation, we explore pluralism in Israel with Dr. Nurit Novis-Deutsch, a lecturer at the University of Haifa. She delves into the challenges and paradoxes of pluralism, distinguishing between diversity and a true pluralistic mindset. Through thought experiments and real-world research, she reveals how pluralism—or the lack of it—shapes Israeli society, especially in times of conflict. Can embracing multiple perspectives strengthen both Jewish identity and democracy? And how do we teach pluralism without eroding core beliefs?

Discussion Questions

• Dr. Novis-Deutsch discusses pluralism towards groups vs. pluralism towards ideas. Do you think it’s easier to accept different people or different beliefs? Why?
• Dr. Novis-Deutsch’s research shows that sacred values often limit pluralism. Can you think of a belief or value that feels “too sacred” to compromise on? How does that affect your openness to opposing views?
• The Magic Wand Thought Experiment asks if you would erase differences to make others think like you. How did you react to that idea? In what areas of life do you wish others shared your views?
• After war, societies must rebuild. How might pluralism shape Israel’s future? What lessons from Jewish tradition could help guide this process?

Welcome to the first episode of Expanding the Conversation, a new podcast from The Jewish Theological Seminary. This season, we bring you insights from Zionism: Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond, a JTS convening that explores the evolving meaning of Zionism and the Israel-Diaspora relationship.  

In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Sarna, Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History and Director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University, explores the roots of North American Zionism. He discusses how technological advancements—particularly steam travel—enabled the practical realization of Zionist aspirations. Dr. Sarna also examines pivotal historical moments, from the pogroms of 1881 to the rise of anti-Semitism in Vienna, which shaped the movement’s trajectory. Additionally, he highlights the role of Louis Brandeis in reshaping American Zionism and argues for reclaiming and embracing the term "Zionism" in contemporary discourse.

Discussion Questions:

• Dr. Sarna argues that steam travel was a key technological factor that made Zionism possible. How does technological advancement shape political and ideological movements? Can you think of other historical or contemporary examples where technology transformed a movement’s feasibility?
• Sarna notes that 1881 was an “October 7th moment” for Jews, when optimism about their place in Russia collapsed. How does historical trauma shape political movements? Can we draw parallels to more recent global events?
• Dr. Sarna stresses the importance of embracing and reclaiming the term "Zionism" rather than allowing others to define it negatively. How do labels and terminology affect public discourse, and what are effective ways to engage in conversations about contentious terms?

 

Join us for the new  podcast from The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) Expanding the Conversation, a podcast that brings the thought-provoking discussions and dynamic scholarship of JTS directly to you. 

Each episode explores the critical issues shaping the Jewish world today, from contemporary cultural moments to enduring questions of Jewish thought, practice, and identity. Whether you’re looking for intellectual engagement, spiritual insight, or a deeper connection to Jewish learning, Expanding the Conversation invites you to join the dialogue.

Subscribe now and bring the rich conversations of JTS wherever you go.