SpeechCast: Recent Episodes
Jewish Institute For Liberal Values
The Jewish Institute for Liberal Values and The Speech Project of the Jewish Journal present their first joint venture: SpeechCast.
Jewish Contrarians this week will be joined by Chuong Nguyen, who will discuss his intellectual journey and how a Vietnamese kid ended up hosting a podcast and reading publications such as Tablet and Sapir.------------------------------Show Notes------------------------------Podcast: Unlicensed Philosophy with Chuong Nguyen | https://musicallyspeaking.substack.com/Immigration and American Values (David Bernstein, March 3, 2001) https://jilv.org/immigration-and-american-values-david-bernstein-march-3-2001/
David Bernstein and Bar Ilan University professor of English literature William Kolbrener discuss Kolbrener's PhD alma mater, Columbia, and other subjects.
David and Brandy delve into the vital work carried out by the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values on the ground, emphasizing the tangible impact JILV has in various communities. They address the experiences of Jewish parents across the country who experience antisemitism launched in an ideological curriculum.
David and Brandy are back after a short hiatus traveling. They are joined by JILV's Director of Partnership Development, Rabbi Mark Cohn, to discuss whether guests who actively oppose the existence of Israel would disrupt the purpose of the Seder or enhance it.
Fern Oppenheim, cofounder of the Brand Israel Group, joins David and Brandy about her recent analysis of data pertaining to young people's attitudes toward Israel and Hamas.
David and Brandy discuss how many Jews feel unrepresented by the traditional Jewish community organizations. They explore how many Jews feel underrepresented by traditional communal bodies and discuss the critical need for these organizations to reassess their alignment with progressive politics.
The podcast speaks with Rabbi Jeff Salkin the author of "Tikkun Ha'am / Repairing Our People: Israel and the Crisis of Liberal Judaism." We discuss the role of faith in challenging society and the reframing needed in our Liberal Jewish institutions.
On the heels of the genocide case brought by South Africa in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) we discuss with Josephine Gon, the Vice President of JCRC of Palm Beach County in Flordia and Sara Gon, Head of Strategic Engagement at Institute of Race Relations in Johannesburg, South Africa to discuss SA domestic Jewish relations as well as relations internationally with Israel.
Kara Jesella will join us this week. She recently published an article for Quillette that detailed the history of feminist theory and activism from the 1960s to the present and argues that it has become increasingly hostile to Jews and Israel, adopting a queer anti-Zionist stance that celebrates violence and demonizes Jewish women.
The Black-Jewish alliance in the civil rights movement has been challenged by the rise of Black Power and the black leadership's attitudes toward Israel.
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week, we will discuss the current state of affairs in the American rabbinate with JILV’s Rabbinic Liaison and newly appointed Director of Leadership Development, Rabbi Mark Cohn.
JILV's Social Media manager, Christina Buttons, discusses her recent Quillette article covering how pro-Hamas propaganda on Instagram influences young social media users to support terrorism in the name of social justice.
A recent report from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) claims that a sizable portion of the funds were donated by authoritarian regimes around the globe, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, and the UAE. The huge windfall of cited money was not recorded with the US Department of Education between 2014 and 2019.Carnegie Mellon University received the most from foreign entities in that time span at $1.47 billion while Cornell University scooped up $1.29 billion, Harvard University notched $894 million, and MIT collected $859 million, according to the report.The authors of the report, Lee Jussim and Joel Finkelstein say that it “raises the sobering possibility that international actors are using undisclosed channels to funnel large amounts of money into college campuses (including elite institutions that often have outsized influence on American culture and politics) for purposes harmful to the democratic norms of pluralism, tolerance, and freedom.”
Show notes:
Poison Ivy League | Jewish Journal
A long-term plan to address the roots of campus hate and antisemitism will benefit not just the Jews, but America.
https://jewishjournal.com/cover_story/366280/poison-ivy-league/
David Bernstein and Professor William Kolbrener discuss, after the now-expired/violated cease-fire, the concept of how Jewish Unity is the determination in the face of death.
Protests have delayed the Thanksgiving parade, disturbed Christmas tree lighting, and stopped Hilary Clinton's class at Columbia.
Is Decolonial Ideology "woke"? Does being “woke” imply agreement with the most radical forms of decolonial ideology? Are there degrees of being an ideologue or are they all the same?-
---- Show notes -----
The Atlantic - The Decolonization Narrative Is Dangerous and False | https://jilv.org/31w0
Tablet Magazine: The Cult of ‘Antizionism’ | Izabella Tabarovsky | https://jilv.org/sndv
NYT, David Brooks: Universities Are Failing at Inclusion | https://jilv.org/gznh
With the surge in antisemitism over the weeks following October 7th, Jewish students have experienced a rise in incidents such as professors praising the Hamas attack, physical assaults on Jewish students, and equivocation by university administrators. It is a tinderbox that we saw coming, but could we have expected it to cascade with such force and so fast?
Brandy and David tackle the tension between two core values in our universities and colleges. The value of Freedom of speech/freedom of expression and the value of equal protection. Even if we believe that Jewish sensitivities around antisemitism are not treated the same as other campus groups and not afforded the same protections should we be advocating for that? Or should we be arguing for sustaining, preserving, and promulgating a free speech environment on campus because that serves our long-term interests and benefits the interests of an academic environment? Show notes:
SJP Still Deserves Freedom of Speech | Nadine Strossen & Kenneth Stern | https://jilv.org/2y2v
SJP Does Not Belong on Campus | Jacob Baime | https://jilv.org/sdwb
How do we simultaneously protect people’s right to say hateful things and ensure the safety of Jewish students amidst pro-terrorist activity on campus? What is the role of administration during this rising tide of Jew hatred seen at many universities nationwide?Listen to our discussion about this timely issue with three panelists: Stanley Dubinsky, Professor of Linguistics and Founding Director of the Jewish Studies Program at the University of South Carolina, Dr. T. Lee, former DEI officer and Director of the Coalition for Empowered Education, and Rebecca Roiphe, Distinguished Professor of Law at New York Law School. The program is moderated by JILV's Director of Academic Affairs, Marcy Braverman Goldstein, Ph.D.
Again, David Bernstein and Professor William Kolbrener reflect on what the attacks on Israel mean for the Jewish people in Israel and abroad.
For the past two and a half years, we've been warning American Jews that a certain ideology that begins with the letter W has been fanning the flames of antisemitism. Some said we were doing "harm." Maybe we were right?
-----------------------Show Notes:----------------------
Woke Antisemitism: A Reckoning - Quillette | David Bernsteinhttps://quillette.com/2023/10/16/woke-antisemitism-a-reckoning/On Israel, Progressive Jews Feel Abandoned by Their
Left-Wing Allies - New York Times | Jennifer Medina and Lisa Lererhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/us/politics/progressive-jews-united-states.html
I was a DEI director — DEI drives campus antisemitism- New York Post | Tabia Leehttps://nypost.com/2023/10/18/i-was-a-dei-director-dei-drives-campus-antisemitism/Identity politics is a game Jews can’t win-
Washington Post | Jason Willickhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/17/identity-politics-game-jews-cannot-win/
The Deep Roots of the Left’s Deafening Silence on Hamas- Persuasion | Yascha Mounkhttps://www.persuasion.community/p/yascha-the-deep-roots-of-the-lefts?publication_id=61579
Hamas, the Jews, and the Illiberal Left The schism on the left is not just about the Middle East- New York Magazine | Jonathan Chait,https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/10/hamas-jews-illiberal-left-progressive-israel-terrorism.htmlWe’ve Lost So Much. Let’s
Not Lose Our Damn Minds- Ikar | Rabbi Sharon Broushttps://ikar.org/sermons/lets-not-lose-our-minds-rabbi-sharon-brous/
David Bernstein and Professor William Kolbrener reflect on what the attacks on Israel mean for the Jewish people, and to what degree must we--especially Israelis facing war--live in the present moment and to what degree can we, should we, at the same time think about the Jewish and Israeli future.
As always, an honest and open conversation. When a company states they want you to bring your 'whole self' to work, they say they want you to feel like you belong. In that belonging, employees ideally give full of themselves to collaborate and accomplish work-specific goals or tasks. The theory goes that this creates a workplace culture where everyone feels welcome and is highly productive. Why is this not a good idea?
As always, an honest and open conversation. To what degree have the liberal Jewish denominations lived up to their own liberal values, namely in promoting viewpoint diversity? What is the role of the rabbi in upholding the free exchange of ideas and setting the culture of Jewish institutions? Jewish Contrarians podcast welcomes the newest Contrarian (who doesn't see himself this way!) Rabbi Mark Cohn, who is JILV's new Rabbinical Liaison.
Rabbi's Statement: https://jilv.org/rabbistatement
The New Ideological Gatekeepers of American Judaism: https://jilv.org/fc5i
Power of 49 class registration: https://jilv.org/power-of-49-registration/
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week, David Bernstein will speak with David Hazony, an award-winning editor, translator, and author. He is the former editor-in-chief of the journal Azure and was the founding editor of TheTower.org. Hazony will speak about his newest edited compilation, "Jewish Priorities." The recently released book offers a wide-ranging, ambitious, and genuinely “pan-Jewish” conversation with 60+ thinkers. Each contributor provides a different priority for the Jewish people.
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week we will speak about the new brazen effort to create and legitimize a new field called 'Critical Zionist Studies.'
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week David is speaking with Moms for Liberty activist Brooke Weiss. Weiss is Moms for Liberty chapter chair for Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, Vice Chair of the North Carolina Legislative Committee, and the Moms for Liberty 2023 National Summit Business Development Manager.
As always, an honest and open conversation. The Florida Board of Education approved a new set of standards for how Black history should be taught in the state’s public schools, sparking criticism from education and civil rights advocates. Among the many criticisms, most notably by Vice President Kamala Harris, was the assertion that slaves learned skills that “could be applied for their personal benefit.”
--- Show Notes --- New York Times One Sentence Does Not Define a Curriculum John McWhorter https://jilv.org/7ui4
The Bulwark Sorting Out the Florida Teaching-About-Slavery Mess Cathy Young https://jilv.org/fl0g
AP African American Studies https://jilv.org/yzmr
Flordia State Academic Standards Social Studies https://jilv.org/sf46
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week we will discuss viewpoint diversity in the academy with Marcy Braverman Goldstein, JILV’s newly appointed Director of Academic Affairs.
Show Notes:
___________
The Harvard Crimson: More Than Three-Quarters of Surveyed Harvard Faculty Identify As Liberalhttps://jilv.org/zgi7
Cambridge University Press: The Nature and Consequences of Ideological Hegemony in American Political Sciencehttps://jilv.org/vhvx
The Washinton Examiner: COVID-19 and 'woke' culture drive enrollment increases at conservative religious colleges https://jilv.org/l6f5
The Bulwark: Sorting Out the Florida Teaching-About-Slavery Mess by Cathy Young
https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/sorting-out-florida-teaching-about-slavery-mess
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week we will discuss when something or someone should be branded antisemitic.
Show Notes:
The Bernstein Antisemitism Test
- Is there an underlying ideology that provides a permission structure for antisemitism?
- Do the actions or remarks implicitly draw on antisemitic tropes?
- Do the actions or remarks explicitly and/or intentionally use antisemitic tropes?
- Are the actions or remarks so explicit that the person can reasonably be viewed as an antisemite? Is the person a repeat offender? Has the person apologized and taken action that demonstrates contrition?
George Soros is portrayed as a puppetmaster:
https://images.app.goo.gl/rrCdqM19qLYx64aB7
https://images.app.goo.gl/Guy73TJgtFTXCoV36
Moms for Liberty newsletter quoting Hitler:
https://images.app.goo.gl/7c2naqjVe5h54txD6
Marco Rubio's Tweet about George Soros:
https://tinyurl.com/yvspzjbp
Rep. Pramila Jayapal calls Israel a racist state at Netroots Nation event :
https://tinyurl.com/mrxuap9c
Rep Pramila Jayapal statement after many in her party rebuked her:
https://images.app.goo.gl/XG7i3iD4S7P5m7X27
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week we will review the Supreme Court striking down decades of legal precedent that allowed colleges and universities to consider race as a factor in admissions.
----- show notes---- Coleman Hughes Substack: 10 Notes on the End of Affirmative Action - https://jilv.org/mfzt
AOC Tweet: https://twitter.com/aoc/status/1674447137877397505
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week we will examine the term "woke," which has a long history and varied meanings. Should David and Brandy strike the word from their vocabularies? Is it ok to use if you use air quotes? Should they even be having this podcast?
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week we will examine a number of items in the news: Starbucks' race-related $25 million settlement, Arkansas Univeristy dissolving DEI,, the testimony before Congress on gender-affirming care, and the UK decision to ban puberty blockers. David and Brandy weekly explore on the podcast the possibility of a middle ground even if extreme voices in the culture wars insist that they pick sides.
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week we will examine the newly released White House strategy to combat antisemitism. David and Brandy weekly explore on the podcast the possibility of a middle ground even if extreme voices in the culture wars insist that they pick sides.
Show notes:
The White House National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism
https://jilv.org/kmh6
David Bernstein's Jewish Journal oped: Do Jews Get to Define Antisemitism? Yes and No.
https://jilv.org/P7wG
As always, an honest and open conversation. David and Brandy explore on the podcast the possibility of a middle ground even if extreme voices in the culture wars insist that they pick sides. This week we will not broadcast on Friday due to the observance of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. In this episode, we will look at the current issues that comprise the concern of a social breakdown in Israeli society, such as judicial reform, economic inequality, political polarization, and ethnic tensions.
As always, an honest and open conversation. This week we will Look at the antisemitism that stems from the Right and the emergence of it on the Left. David and Brandy weekly explore on the podcast the possibility of a middle ground even if extreme voices in the culture wars insist that they pick sides.
Brandy and David invite David E. Bernstein, professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law and author of "Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America," to the podcast. We will discuss the proposed new 'Middle Eastern and North African' (MENA) classification to be included in the US Census pushed by Arab American groups. What would this mean for the American Jewish community? Will Israeli Americans be considered part of a new MENA classification? Can Mizrahi Jews claim this distinction? What of Ashkenazi Jews who may feel closer to their Middle Eastern heritage than to a European one? And how could this new classification play out for those seeking a legal victim status?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have often promoted “groupthink," dogma, and exclusion at many colleges and universities. Some state legislatures are trying to pair back these programs or outright ban them. Is such a move warranted, or does it interfere with academic freedom?
Matt Fernández Konigsberg spoke about the current state of the Latino-American/ American-Jewish relationship and how the clash of different ideological approaches (including classical liberalism and far-left ideology) create tension within and between the communities. Matt believes honest, well-informed discussion of ideas and freedom of expression is the key to progress and true liberalism. Matt is concerned with the anti-Latino sentiment, and the alarming rise of antisemitism, as well as supporting the decolonization of (and Congressional investment in) the island of Puerto Rico and its 3 million U.S. citizens.
Due to a technical glitch, we previously uploaded the incorrect episode as Episode 4. As always, an honest and open conversation. This week we will dive into the layered nuance of Micro-cancellation and Micro-aggression. David and Brandy weekly explore on the podcast the possibility of a middle ground even if extreme voices in the culture wars insist that they pick sides.
Show notes:
Journal of Free Black Thought
The B.E.S.T. Microaggression Training You’ve Never Heard Of
https://freeblackthought.substack.com/p/the-best-microaggression-training
University of MinnesotaExamples of Racial Microaggressions
https://www.sph.umn.edu/site/docs/hewg/microaggressions.pdf
As always, an honest and open conversation on today’s tortured gender identity debate. David Bernstein, Founder of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, and Brandy Shufutinsky, Director of Education and Outreach for JILV explore the possibility of a middle ground even if extreme voices in the culture wars insist that they pick sides.
This week David Bernstein, Founder of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, and Brandy Shufutinsky, Director of Education and Outreach for JILV will discuss: "Should Jews of Color be a separate category?"
Show Notes:
eJewish Philanthropy: In light of the new Pew Study, it’s time for Jewish leaders to make amends by David Bernstein https://bit.ly/3mwuyNJ
Jewish Journal: Out of Exile, Jews Are Not a Color-Centric Binary by Brandy Shufutinsky https://bit.ly/3JvrIBS
Slides shared on the podcast: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/11DknOhV7hEgVLx7wc7ARFw79LX4AStsD/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110837794775776372833&rtpof=true&sd=true
Article David referred to in the podcast: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/high-school-students-are-being-indoctrinated-in-white-supremacy-culture
In this weekly podcast, David Bernstein, Founder of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, and Brandy Shufutinsky, Director of Education and Outreach for JILV, discuss (and occasionally debate) current issues in the culture wars, antisemitism in its various forms, cancel culture (not ok except when it is) and what we Jewish (and non-Jewish) contrarians, thought criminals, and gadflies can do about it all. Join us weekly except when one of our kids needs to be picked up from school.
Panel discussion with David BenMoshe, Shekhiynah Larks, Chaya Lev, Dmitri Shufutinsky, Noah Shufutinsky, and Tyler Samuels, who discuss ongoing tensions between Black and Jewish communities, exploring how these tensions impact Black Jews. Frequently uninvited to these conversations, JILV decided to hold our own.
A panel discussion on how social justice movements have manifested for our neighbors to the north, exploring how Canadians are managing the ideological influences and their unique impact on the Jewish community. Panel participants were Ellie Avishai from the Mill Center. Avishai is a strategist, teacher, and non-profit leader who has worked in education for more than 20 years, and Jonathan Kay was born in Montreal, Quebec, to an anglophone Jewish family and now lives in Toronto. He is a Quillette editor, podcaster, and advisor to The Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism.
A special Shine-A-Light evening. Our expert panel discussed the recent Jewish Institute for Liberal values commissioned poll that highlights the dangers of this political ideology to Asian Americans and Jews. The panel included Nathan Klein, a pollster from OnMessage Public Strategies; David Bernstein Founder, CEO, and Author, Wai Wah an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute and the founding president of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York, and Dr. Lizzie Wahab, a leader in transnational education.
David L. Bernstein, Founder and CEO of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, authored the forthcoming book “Woke Antisemitism: How a Progressive Ideology Harms Jews,” with a Foreword by the great Natan Sharansky. Woke Antisemitism is a firsthand account from a long-time Jewish leader about how woke ideology shuts down discourse, corrupts Jewish values, and spawns a virulent new strain of antisemitism.
Eight years ago, the nation watched as the city of Ferguson, Missouri, erupted in the wake of the police shooting death of Michael Brown, a Black man. The protesters chanted "Black lives matter" in the streets of Ferguson. Black Lives Matter went from being a mantra to a mass movement to a well-funded organization. Should Jews support this movement? This Livestream is coordinated with the release of our Black Lives Matter backgrounder, "Can Jews Support Black Lives Matter," by David Ben Moshe. With registration for this event, you will gain early access to the backgrounder. https://jilv.org/download-blm-backgrounder/
Americans are understandably squeamish about official racial and ethnic classifications. Nevertheless, they are ubiquitous in American life. Applying for a job, mortgage, university admission, citizenship, government contracts, and much more involves checking a box stating whether one is Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American. Professor Bernstein discusses the surprising history of American racial classifications from research findings for his new book: Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America.
The Jewish Studies Zionist Network is composed of scholars and educators in Jewish Studies who affirm that Zionism is a legitimate movement for the national self-determination of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland. Founded by Jarrod Tanny and Adam Fuller, the newly formed organization is joined by 80 scholars of Jewish and Israel studies to combat mischaracterizations of Zionism and Israel that seek to discredit the legitimacy of Israel and its supporters on campuses.
Brookings Scholar Robert Litan argues that the key to progress in society isn't in achieving a contrived consensus but in preparing people for better disagreements.
Co-sponsored Livestream with the Alliance for Constructive Ethnic Studies discusses curriculum changes and newly introduced graduation requirements in Ethnic Studies. The presentation, given by Elina Kaplan, President and Co-Founder of Alliance for Ethnic Studies (ACES), and Dr. Brandy Shufutinsky, social worker, writer, researcher, advocate, and board member of Jewish Institute for Liberal Values discuss the current curriculum and how some approaches are antisemitic. Using California as a case study, learn what is under consideration, its implications for our Jewish students and the Jewish community, and what you can do. Special introduction by human rights icon Natan Sharansky and commentary by one of America’s top Jewish leaders, Rabbi David Wolpe.
Izabella Tabarovsky discusses how the present-day version of Antisemitism seen in the progressive left is a conspiracy theory eerily similar to the Antisemitism of the Soviet Union, and her astonishment that this fact is not recognized by American Jews.
This podcast is the third in a series of live discussions JILV had with new partners in fighting the onset of illiberal ideologies and growing antisemitism on both sides of the political spectrum. This panel discussion was with thought leaders Samuel J. Abrams, a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and professor of politics and social science at Sarah Lawrence College and Blake Flayton, a columnist and new media director at The Jewish Journal in Los Angles and the co-founder of the New Zionist Congress. illiberal
This podcast is the second in a series of live discussions JILV had with new partners in fighting the onset of illiberal ideologies and growing antisemitism on both sides of the political spectrum. This panel discussion was with Black Leaders Greg Thomas, journalist and CEO/Co-Founder of the Jazz Leadership Project, and Dr. Sheena Mason, Podcaster and experienced leader in education management.
This podcast is the first in a series of live discussions JILV had with new partners in fighting the onset of illiberal ideologies and growing antisemitism on both sides of the political spectrum. This panel discussion was with Asian American Leaders George Lee, founding member of Chinese American Citizens Alliance Greater New York (CACAGNY), and Dr. Liang Chao, the Vice Mayor of Cupertino, CA.
Steven Nasatir, the legendary President of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago for 40 years, talks to our own David Bernstein about antisemitism on the far left and how the Jewish community should navigate the current moment. The underlying ideology is "not a good road for America, it's not a good road for Jews," he states.
Leon Wieseltier, the founding editor of Liberties - Journal of Culture and Politics, discusses what he learned from his experience as a pariah in the Jewish, literary and intellectual worlds. He returns from exile a wiser person. "You learn a lot from the margins." To find out more about Liberties, go to https://libertiesjournal.com/
David Bernstein and Monica Osbourne interview Yaffa Tegegne, an Ethiopian Jewish communal advocate and member of the Canadian delegation to the IRHA. Yaffa discusses how millennials feel pressured to speak with high moral authority in order to construct a positive narrative of who they are.
Aaron Sibarium, a journalist for the Washington Free Beacon, discusses the role of educational accreditation bodies in promulgating coercive curriculum on race and racism, and the controversial proposal of the American Bar Association insisting on diversity training at law schools.
Daphna Kaufman, a noted researcher on trends in progressive ideology, explains that "there's an exceptionality to the Jewish story that defies this kind of binary categorization."
David L. Bernstein, David E. Bernstein, and David S. Bernstein discuss the antisemitism inherent in the social justice lexicon.
Seth Forman, staff Member of the National Association of Scholars, managing editor of Academic Questions, and professor at Stonybrook University, discusses how Jews and Asians have become a target because they defy the foundational raison d'etre of Critical Race Theory.
How can I be part of a movement which condemns my identity? Philosopher, and professor at Connecticut College, Andrew Pessin, discusses being pro-Israel in progressive circles. His books can be found at: https://andrewpessin.com/
Russian-born Boston College professor and prolific author Maxim D. Shrayer joins David Bernstein and Monica Osborne to discuss the parallels between what American Jews are currently facing in the West and what Jews previously faced in the Soviet Union. The present-day assaults on liberal values originate from the right and the left -- when do we sound the alarm?
Steven Windmueller, a Professor Emeritus at Hebrew Union College and a former JCRC director in Los Angeles, has long been a preeminent philosopher of Jewish community relations. He speaks with David about the threats to liberal values and the need for the Jewish community to reassess its strategic options.
Thane Rosenbaum, a novelist, essayist, and Distinguished Fellow at New York University School of Law and Touro College is the director of the Forum on Law, Culture & Society, and the author, most recently, of the novel, How Sweet It Is!
From a Livestream on August 31st, philosophy professor and public intellectual, Peter Boghossian, discusses how universities have become ideology factories. Boghossian fought the system by submitting and getting published several hoax papers in academic journals in the infamous grievance studies affair.
A Discussion with Helen Pluckrose, the founder of Counterweight, which opposes the imposition of CSJ. Pluckrose is a liberal humanist who just wants people to value evidence-based epistemology and liberal ethics. She is the author of “Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity”
A panel discussion on the heels of JILV's White Paper release. The event focuses on the seven ways that Critical Social Justice Ideology ideology contributes to antisemitism and methods we suggest to counter its rise. Panelists include Blake Flayton, Dr. Pamela Paresky, Dr. Lee J. Jussim, and Daphna Kaufman; moderated by David Bernstein.
Historically the Black and Jewish communities have been interconnected in the struggle for equality. Mired in a contemporary ideological ferment, the two communities have often become pitted against each other. Should efforts to combat racism and antisemitism be seen as separate struggles? Is there a common agenda to fight for liberal democracy? Hear heterodox black and Jewish thinkers explore new approaches. Transcript of the event is available here.
When the woke social-justice mob is activated by a particular issue, when is it appropriate to apologize, and when will it only agitate the mob further? Seth Moskowitz, author of the Persuasion article "Don't Apologize," discusses considerations to take into account in deciding whether to apologize and how to do so.
A fascinating conversation between writer/journalist Peter Savodnik and David Bernstein in which Peter talks about the current stifling atmosphere for writers and thinkers, brought about by popularization of the "impact over intent" moral paradigm. Peter describes this atmosphere as a "fraught time for Jews," due to the emergence of new types of antisemitism.
Lenore Skenazy is the founder of the Free-Range Kids movement and the founder of Let Grow, a non-profit organization promoting childhood resilience through independence. Skenazy discusses how the culture of "safetyism" blunts children's growth and how building independence in children is crucial for their development into functioning, mentally healthy adults. A must-listen for parents and teachers.
A lively conversation with two prominent members of the trans community — Seth Rainess, who is Jewish and a former rabbinical student, and Zander Keig, a first-generation of Mexican origin, who both believe the trans issue has currently become overly politicized.
Many voters believed Biden would stave off the most radical elements of social justice ideology, yet one of Biden's first executive orders was focused on equity. Political commentator Josh Kraushaar discusses the dangers to the Democratic party of embracing a woke, progressive worldview and forgoing a more moderate, pragmatic stance.
Eran Shayshon from Israel's Reut Group speaks about the dangers of viewing Israel through the prototypical lens of American anti-racism. He contends that it robs Israel of its own narrative and present a threat to Jews everywhere.
A riveting podcast with David Ben Moshe who spoke about his journey from incarceration to fighting for criminal justice reform and finding Judaism along the way. Ben Moshe talks about his challenges of gaining employment, getting accepted into a university program, and making aliyah with a criminal record, and how this experience helped shape his views on cancel culture.
Social psychologist, Lee Jussim, leads the Social Perception Laboratory at Rutgers University and is Chair of the Psychology Department. His scholarly work focuses on social perception, stereotypes, and how people judge others. Jussim argues that authoritarianism exists on both sides of the political spectrum and the locus of power is increasingly being held by the extremes. He believes that countering these powerful forces takes tremendous will on the part of moderates.
Brandy Shufutinsky holds a Ph.D. in Education. She is a writer, researcher, and advocate for advancing the rights of victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Shufutinsky believes that there has been a successful hijacking of discourse by people who want to silence Jewish voices and minimize the hatred inflicted on the Jewish community. People like her, she argues, don't visually and ideologically suit their narrative.
Jonathan Kay is an editor and writer at Quillette, and an op-ed columnist at National Post in Canada. The discussion was so riveting that Kay also choose to publish the exchange on the Quillette podcast. As an editor and self-described “lapsed Jew,” Kay argues that classical liberalism lacks a dependable or passionate constituency since it requires defending deplorables in the pursuit of principle.
Elliott Abrams is Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, served in two presidential administrations. Abrams talks about how American Jews are uniquely positioned to combat antisemitism on the left due to their proximity of influence. He argues that an ideology has taken hold that increasingly excludes or erases American Jewish Identity.
Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm talks about the future of progress on racial issues in America and how African American civil rights leaders have historically rooted their message in the Hebrew Bible. Rabbi Lamm is the founder of The Joshua Project, which brings together Americans from different faith traditions and creates new coalitions and collaborations around life, culture, history, and politics. He also hosts the Good Faith Effort podcast, where he speaks with thinkers, writers, artists, and faith leaders to explore how the Bible continues to inform our lives today.
The great Jonathan Rauch speaks about his new book "The Constitution of Knowledge," the current threat to liberal discourse on the right and on the left, the CRT debate, and how his Jewishness shapes his worldview.
Martin Gak was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and studied Philosophy in the US. He received his Ph.D. from The New School for Social Research. Gak discusses the construction and crystalization of the new power structures in academia from those with expertise to keepers of moral authority.
Seffi Kogen, the Global Director of Young Leadership for the American Jewish Committee, coordinates the organization’s activities for young post-college American Jews. Kogen discusses the censorious nature of both supporters of the left and the right in current discourse. He is the host of People of the Pod, AJC's weekly podcast, which can be found at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod
Jonathan Sarna, the preeminent scholar of American Jewish History, discusses how ideology has infected the academy and what we can do about it.
Sasha White talks about losing her job over comments she made on Twitter, a younger generation’s commitment to free speech, how she defines her own Jewishness and supporting the free speech movement.
Batya Ungar-Sargon discusses wokeness in media, how problems attributed to racism are often a function of class, what is and isn't leftism, and how a binary ideology generates opposition to Israel.
Barry Shrage, the legendary CEO of Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Boston’s Jewish Federation, and now Professor at Brandeis, talks with David Bernstein about the current ideological moment, cancel culture, and the need for Jewish leadership. He offers a message of hope that America and American Jews can find their way.
Nadine Strossen is an American civil liberties activist who was president of the American Civil Liberties Union from February 1991 to October 2008. She's currently a professor at New York Law School. Nadine is an outspoken critic of cancel culture and argues strenuously for the protection of liberal values. She also offers a spirited defense of the current ACLU.
Numerous LGBTQ+ Jews have been at the frontlines of the battle for free speech. What about their experience reinforces the importance of open discourse? What can the free speech movement learn from the gay rights movement? Moderated by Dr. Pamela Paresky with panelists Jonathan Rauch, Jessica Emami, James Kirchick, and Blake Flayton.
In this edition of SpeechCast, David Bernstein interviews civil libertarian, author, and feminist Wendy Kaminer. David asked Wendy why she chose not to sign the “Jewish Harper’s letter,” even though she agreed with much in it. Listen to her answer. A long-time Board member of the ACLU, Wendy explains why she became a critic of the organization.
JILV Founder David Bernstein interviews Rebecca Roiphe, a Trustee Professor of Law at New York Law School where she studies legal ethics and the history of law. She also happens to be the daughter of famed feminist writer Anne Roiphe. A signatory of the “Jewish Harper’s Letter”, Rebecca and David discuss among other issues the rise of Critical Social Justice and its deleterious effects on academia, public policy, and social discourse.
As you can imagine, these prominent figures from the FSU who grew up in a totalitarian environment have something to say about the current ideological moment in America. The inaugural live stream is moderated by Dr. Pamela Paresky, Chair of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values. Opening remarks by Natan Sharansky. Panelists include Cathy Young, Maxim D. Shrayer, Izabella Tabarovsky, and Oleg Ivanov.
The long-awaited Pew Study on American Jews was released this week. It revealed a growingly diverse community. It also revealed that Ira Sheskin and Arnold Dashefsky who were publicly pilloried one year ago for writing an article suggesting that the number of Jews of color is likely much less than the 12-15 percent figure given by another study, were right. Ira speaks with JILV founder David Bernstein in his first on the record talk since the controversy erupted.
The Jewish Institute for Liberal Values and The Speech Project of the Jewish Journal present their first joint venture. SpeechCast with David Bernstein. Episode 1 with guest Monica Osborne, editor of The Speech Project of The Jewish Journal.