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

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/

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

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.

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/

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

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.

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/

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

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.

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

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.

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.

In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski speak with Nadav Tamir, Executive Director of J Street Israel, former Israeli diplomat, and former senior adviser to President Shimon Peres.

This is a conversation about J Street — but it is also about something larger: how Jews who care deeply about Israel argue about its future without turning disagreement into demonization.

At a time of war, trauma, rising antisemitism, devastation in Gaza, and deepening divisions between Israel and Diaspora communities, questions about liberal Zionism, U.S. military aid, democracy, security, and Palestinian statehood have become more urgent — and more painful.

Nadav shares how he understands his work with J Street as part of a lifelong commitment to Israel, including his years in the Foreign Ministry, at Israel’s Embassy in Washington, as Consul General in Boston, and as an adviser to President Shimon Peres. He also speaks about the complexity of advocating for American Jewish engagement with Israel while his own son is serving in the IDF.

The conversation does not erase disagreement. It makes room for it.

Together, Josh, Orly, and Nadav discuss:
* Why Nadav chose to join J Street in service of Israel's Future
* The growing gap between Israeli and American Jewish conversations about Israel
* Liberal Zionism after October 7- Democracy, occupation, security, and Jewish peoplehood
* The debate over U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
* How to criticize Israeli policy without giving up on Israel’s future

If liberal Zionists cannot argue seriously with one another about Israel’s security, democracy, military power, diplomacy, and moral future, then the space for honest Zionist conversation becomes smaller and smaller.

Criticism is legitimate and disagreement is part of democratic life.

Demonization is not the answer.

Watch the full conversation and join us in asking what responsible disagreement about Israel can look like today.

The Pluralist Podcast shares a deeply moving conversation between Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, originally recorded live as part of the Reform Movement’s Israel in Depth program.

Over the past two and a half years, Rachel Goldberg-Polin has become one of the most important moral voices to emerge from the struggle to bring the hostages home after October 7. In this conversation, she reflects on Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s life and legacy, grief, faith, “tragic optimism,” and what it means to continue living after unimaginable loss.

Rachel speaks about:

• faith, love, memory, and continuing forward after loss and why she believes that “grief is a badge of love”
• Hersh’s prophetic journal writings years before October 7
• the emotional reality of grief and public mourning
• Learning about Hersh’s experience in captivity
• Experiencing “tragic optimism” and connection with Victor Frankl

This conversation is not only about tragedy. It is also about humanity, compassion, dignity, and the struggle to remain emotionally open during one of the most painful periods in modern Israeli and Jewish life.

📖 Rachel’s book:
When We See You again

🎧 Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for thoughtful conversations about Israel, democracy, Jewish life, pluralism, and shared humanity.

Jerusalem Day is supposed to celebrate the unity of Jerusalem. But what is the reality of the city in 2026?

In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg sit down with Haaretz Jerusalem correspondent Nir Hasson for an honest and deeply important conversation about the realities shaping Jerusalem today: the growing extremism surrounding the Flag March, the unequal realities between East and West Jerusalem, the changing demographics of the city, and the surprising places where coexistence and shared life still exist.

Drawing on years of reporting — and after covering the devastation of Gaza throughout the war — Nir reflects on why Jerusalem remains both one of the most painful and one of the most hopeful places in Israel.

Together, they discuss:
• Why Jerusalem Day has become so controversial
• The reality of life in East Jerusalem for Palestinians
• The rise of racism and violence during Jerusalem Day’s Flag March
• The growing “Israelization” and shared daily life between Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem
• The changing character of Jerusalem and tensions inside Jewish society itself
• Why Nir still finds hope in Jerusalem despite everything

The Pluralist Podcast: From Both Sides of the Ocean is hosted by Orly Erez-Likhovski, Executive Director of IRAC, and Rabbi Josh Weinberg, Vice President for Israel and Reform Zionism at the URJ and Executive Director of ARZA.

Israel is facing a dangerous moment.

In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski discuss the rising violence, extremism, racism, and democratic erosion shaping Israeli society — and why they believe it is becoming impossible to look away.

Together, they examine the murder of Yemaenu Zelka, attacks against Christian clergy in Jerusalem, the normalization of political violence and hateful rhetoric, growing concerns around the politicization of the police, and the broader atmosphere being created under Israel’s current government.

Orly also reflects on a recent visit to the West Bank with Rabbis for Human Rights and Reform communities, where they witnessed violence, intimidation, displacement, and a growing sense of lawlessness firsthand — and why more Israelis are beginning to understand that these realities cannot simply be ignored.

But this conversation is not only about despair.

Josh and Orly also discuss the recent People’s Peace Conference in Tel Aviv, where thousands gathered to insist that even now, we cannot give up on democracy, equality, shared society, and the possibility of peace. They explore the political shifts already beginning to emerge ahead of Israel’s coming elections — and why they still believe a different future is possible.

📌 IN THIS EPISODE:
• The rise in violence, racism, and extremism in Israeli society
• Democratic erosion and the growing crisis facing Israeli institutions
• What Orly witnessed during her recent visit to the West Bank
• The People’s Peace Conference and the fight for a shared future
• Why hope and democracy are still worth fighting for

🗓️ Join “Israel in Depth” on May 17:
A half-day virtual learning experience exploring some of the biggest questions facing Israel and the Jewish world today, featuring Orly Erez-Likhovski, Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Rabbi Lindsay Danziger, Blake Ziegler, and more.
👉 https://events.urj.org/event/8dc0ff1b-c691-4634-95a5-aefbf9663898/summary?utm_medium=web&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

📚 Mentioned in this episode:
Rabbi Jonah Pesner’s article on voting rights, democracy, and the recent Supreme Court decision:
https://forward.com/opinion/822799/voting-rights-act-civil-rights-jews/

The Pluralist Podcast exists because we believe Israel can be better — for all who live here, and for all who care about it from afar.

If these conversations are important to you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who should be part of this conversation.

In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast: From Both Sides of the Ocean, we speak with educator and author Dr. Alex Sinclair about a moment that quickly went viral — when he was detained for wearing a kippah stitched with both Israeli and Palestinian flags, only to have it returned with the Palestinian flag cut out.

But this conversation goes far beyond one incident.

Together, we explore what it means to love Israel honestly at a time when many are struggling with the gap between their values and the actions of the state — and what it looks like to hold onto a vision of a more just, pluralistic future.

In this episode:

• What actually happened in the café — and why it resonated so widely
• The challenge of being a liberal Zionist in this moment
• The line between criticism, loyalty, and responsibility
• What gives hope, even now

Learn more from Alex Sinclair:

📘 Perfect Enemy (novel):
http://alexjsinclair.com/perfectenemy

📘 Loving the Real Israel:
https://a.co/d/06Ookd4H

📝 Alex’s original Facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18eLhedZ5v/?mibextid=wwXIfr

📰 Jerusalem Post article:
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894260

📰 HAARETZ article:

https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026-04-26/ty-article-opinion/.premium/a-kippa-with-israel-and-palestine-flags-got-me-detained-this-is-why-i-wear-it/0000019d-ca74-d11b-a7df-ef7e1aff0000?utm_source=App_Share&utm_medium=iOS_Native