SAPIR Conversations

On Friday, June 13th, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting nuclear sites, drones and rocket launchers, and senior Iranian military leadership. In response, Iran has deployed hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones that led to many civilian deaths and destruction of property on the Israeli home front. Now, one week later, the U.S. is deliberating whether to join the fight and eliminate Iran’s nuclear program.To make sense of this moment, former Commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command Lieutenant General Joseph Guastella and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Dana Stroul joined SAPIR Institute Director, Chanan Weissman for a timely and insightful conversation.

In a time of rising antisemitism, extremism, and anti-Zionist sentiment, are we too discerning about our allies? Or does the moment demand that Jews hold fast to our values and insist that our partners share them? On Monday, June 9, essayist David Hazony and CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs Amy Spitalnick joined SAPIR’s Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens for a conversation about the challenges and opportunities of forging alliances and building coalitions in a post-10/7 world.

Read Hazony's most recent essay in the latest edition of SAPIR.

In American Jewish life, few questions are as fraught — or as revealing — as this one: Is Donald Trump good for the Jews? In this launch of the SAPIR Debates, two prominent Jewish voices take opposing sides of this urgent and emotionally charged question: Jason Greenblatt, who served as Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East and worked for him for 20 years, and Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Obama, Mayor of Chicago, and US Ambassador to Japan. Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens, this is a timely, unsparing exchange on identity, power, politics — and what it means to stand with the Jews in America today. Recorded May 15, 2025, at The 92nd Street Y, New York.

In American Jewish life, few questions are as fraught — or as revealing — as this one: Is Donald Trump good for the Jews?

In this launch of the SAPIR Debates, two prominent Jewish voices take opposing sides of this urgent and emotionally charged question: Jason Greenblatt, who served as Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East and worked for him for 20 years, and Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Obama, Mayor of Chicago, and US Ambassador to Japan. Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens, this is a timely, unsparing exchange on identity, power, politics — and what it means to stand with the Jews in America today. This event was recorded live on May 15, 2025, at The 92nd Street Y, New York.

The SAPIR Debates is a new series that will feature a spirited but civil exchange of views on the most consequential issues facing the Jewish community.

Is multiculturalism destined to fail? Is it possible to reject identity politics while also championing strong Jewish identities? On Wednesday, April 9 at 12:00 PM ET, join SAPIR editor-in-chief Bret Stephens for a conversation with Rabbi Meir Soloveichik on his recent SAPIR essay "Jewish Identity vs. Identity Politics."

Diversity of opinion is a key feature of our ancient tradition. Dating back to the Talmud, we have taken pride in our capacity to transcend difference through dialogue. And yet, should there be limits around what constitutes acceptable discourse within Jewish communities? How are those boundaries set? Celebrating the launch of the SAPIR issue on diversity, Park Avenue Synagogue's Senior Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove moderated a discussion with Bret Stephens, SAPIR Editor-in-Chief, Adam Kirsch, SAPIR contributing writer and editor for the The Wall Street Journal's Weekend Review section, and Ariella Saperstein, director of Viewpoint Diversity Initiatives at Maimonides Fund and the associate publisher of SAPIR.

This conversation was recorded live at Park Avenue Synagogue in NYC on March 31, 2025. If you have not yet had the opportunity to read the articles discussed in the latest volume of SAPIR, please click on the links below:

• Viewpoint Diversity — Up to a Point by Bret Stephens

• Are Zionists and Anti-Zionists Arguing for the Sake of Heaven? by Adam Kirsch

As we prepare to celebrate our freedom from slavery, has the promised land lived up to the promise of Zionism? After October 7, can Israel’s internal differences be an asset rather than a liability? Moving forward, can the Israel-Diaspora relationship weather the range of emotions? Yes to all, argues Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, in his recent essay in SAPIR. On March 31 we held a special conversation between SAPIR editor-in-chief Bret Stephens and the 11th President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog to discuss all this and more.

In her recent SAPIR essay, Mijal Bitton wrote that she does not identify as a Jew of color, despite being a non-white Jew, because the “term often feels more focused on “white” Jews than on people like me.” How is that the case? And what does it say about the political movement that accompanied the rise of the term? On Wednesday, March 26, Bitton joined Associate Editor Felicia Herman for a conversation on her essay, “Why I Am Not a Jew of Color.”

In the latest issue of SAPIR, Dana W. White observes that historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), once places that honored and taught the historical alliance between black and Jewish Americans, have now become spaces where antisemitism and anti-Zionism are actively encouraged.

How can our communities reinvigorate the long-neglected black and Jewish alliance, address misunderstandings, and rebuild trust? How do we celebrate our past accomplishments and pursue future objectives together? On Monday, January 27 former assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs under Secretary James Mattis, Dana W. White, joined SAPIR editor-in-chief Bret Stephens for a conversation on her recent SAPIR essay.

In the latest issue of SAPIR, Dana W. White observes that historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), once places that honored and taught the historical alliance between black and Jewish Americans, have now become spaces where antisemitism and anti-Zionism are actively encouraged.

How can our communities reinvigorate the long-neglected black and Jewish alliance, address misunderstandings, and rebuild trust? How do we celebrate our past accomplishments and pursue future objectives together? On Monday, January 27 former assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs under Secretary James Mattis, Dana W. White, joined SAPIR editor-in-chief Bret Stephens for a conversation on her recent SAPIR essay.