This podcast will begin with a sad story — about a family in turmoil. Their story mirrors what is happening in the larger society — the struggle over politics, culture and how to engage each other on those topics. Join me in a conversation with David Bernstein and Rabbi Amy Wallk as we discuss the ramifications of far-leftist politics, cancel culture and antisemitism.

I tell this story with the permission of the person involved.

It is not pretty.

A man came to see me in my office, very distraught. His two adult daughters have cut off all communication with him.

Why?

Because they disagree politically. The parents are conservative; the children are far left. They have accused their parents of being racist, misogynistic, etc.

I know this man and his wife. True, they are political conservatives. It is also true that they are on the board of a soup kitchen. They serve food in a church in one of the most impoverished areas of south Florida. We might disagree on policy issues, but these people are hardly racist.

The man tells me, through tears, that he is approaching 80 years old: “Who knows how much time I have left? We want our children! We want our grandchildren! Our love for them is far bigger than a political party!”

This poor man. This poor family. My heart breaks for them.

This story sat with me as I read David Bernstein’s new book “Woke Antisemitism: How a Progressive Ideology Harms Jews.” David is a veteran Jewish communal leader, a classic liberal (as am I) and the founder of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values.

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