Vision Magazine Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Vision Magazine
How can gentiles best ally with the children of Israel in accomplishing the Hebrew mission?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Noaḥide organizer Rod Bryant to discuss his personal journey and the upcoming Noaḥide Congress in Jerusalem.
Do the Jewish people have an agenda for humanity?Could there be any truth to the conspiracy theories about a Jewish agenda for the world? Where does the State of Israel fit in?
Now that the 'US-Israel relationship' is falling apart, will Jews allow themselves to explore what our prophets and sages teach about its deeper nature?Yehuda HaKohen airs a conversation with Rav Mike Feuer about the deeper essence of Israel's relationship with the United States particularly and Western civilization more generally.The two also discuss US President Donald Trump and the need to understand the practical application of prophecy to contemporary events.
in the Diaspora?How does the Jewish future look to someone who's been on an intellectual journey from bourgeois American suburbs to Israel's Ḥaredi community to the halls of academia and the Diaspora Jewish left?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Professor Shaul Magid of Harvard University for a special double length episode examining sociopolitical trends among the younger generation of politically engaged Israelis and Diaspora Jews.The two also discuss anti-Semitism, the collapse of Liberal Zionism, and the next stage of Jewish liberation.
If Diaspora Jewish educational institutions have failed to connect young Jews to their people's story, how could anyone see increasing communal investment in these institutions as the solution?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Masha Merkulova of Club Z to discuss her recent opinion piece on the failures of Jewish educational institutions and why it would be a mistake to redirect communal resources from fighting anti-Semitism to strengthening the already existing models for Jewish education.The two also explore and debate deeper psychological obstacles to effective Jewish education in the Diaspora.
Can the intellectual tools that have been weaponized against Israel be applied to the Jewish people in a way that actually advances Jewish liberation?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by doctoral candidate Adam Louis-Klein for a broad discussion covering several topics surrounding Jewish identity, colonialism, indigeneity, liberation, and Israel's place in the modern world. The two also discuss systemic anti-Semitism and debate the meaning of the hyphen (or lack of hyphen) in the terms anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.
protest movement, to discuss the narratives and fears driving opposition to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud) and his government.The two also discuss Israeli society's socio-political tribes and how inaccurate it is to superimpose Western political framings (left, right, religious, secular, liberal, conservative) on the people of Israel.
The desire by powerful Hebronite clans for a local emirates model to replace the failed 'two-state solution' paradigm could be a game changer. But is Israeli society psychologically ready for such a plan?
Could direct US involvement in Israel's war against Iran change the historic significance of the conflict or prevent Jerusalem from taking a post-war leadership role in the Semitic region?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Jacob Siegel of Tablet Magazine to discuss Israel's current war against Iran and its historic ramifications. The two also discuss how President Donald Trump's administration operates and the reasons for Israel to avoid the Abraham Accords.
The Betar movement appears to have sprung back to life in recent months. But why is this so threatening to the official World Zionist Organization?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Ronn Torossian - a key figure in reviving Z'ev Jabotinsky's Betar movement that appears to be experiencing a major come back as a result of the nationalist awakening that's taken place within Diaspora Jewish communities since the events of October 7, 2023.The two discuss the merits of more aggressive Jewish activism, the distinctions between Revisionist Zionist and Sternist thought, and Betar's disqualification from the recent elections for the World Zionist Congress.
How did Israel education in the Jewish Diaspora fail as abysmally as it did? Can it still be corrected?In a special double episode, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Joe Schwartz to discuss the state of Israel education for Diaspora Jews and his work in the field through the Makom organization.In the course of their rich conversation, the two also reminisce about life in late 20th Century New York City and discuss Jewish identity, the pros and cons of liberal ideology, how to relate to Diaspora-based Jewish religious denominations, and the tribal socio-political tensions currently dividing Israeli society.
What's it like to grow up as the son of a man who dedicates his entire being to his people and country?Prime Minister Yitzḥak Shamir was a Jewish national hero. When the British ruled Palestine, he served as a leading figure in the anti-colonial struggle to free the country. After the State of Israel was established, he was recruited into the Mossad. Later he entered politics and became Israel's seventh prime minister - where he still saw himself as a fighter for Israel's freedom.In anticipation of the new documentary, Shamir: War, Peace & [a] Dream, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by former Minister of Agriculture Yair Shamir to discuss his father's life and legacy, as well as his own experiences growing up as the son of a national hero.
Could passing responsibility for peace to the Jews most deeply rooted in our collective story help Israel to create better relationships with our neighbors? Member of Knesset Ohad Tal (Religious Zionism) joins Yehuda HaKohen to discuss his efforts towards regional peace and how he represents Israel to the Islamic world. The two also discuss how the larger process of the Jewish return to the stage of history and its potential meaning for humanity.
While most Israelis now reject the notion of ceding land, our further advancement requires the construction of a new ideological paradigm.Following nearly a year of war since the Hamas attacks on Simḥat Torah of last year, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Rav Gavriel Reiss to discuss how Israeli society has changed during the war and what limitation still block Israel's further development.Rav Gavriel also shares some ideas on the deeper meaning of the simḥa we're meant to experience on the Sukkot festival.
What are the values pushing some Jewish students to call for an end to Israel's current war?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Columbia University student organizer Aharon Dardik, who spent his formative years in a Judean/West Bank Jewish community but now calls for a ceasefire as Israel fights on multiple fronts.
Could students of postcolonial studies benefit from examining the Zionist movement as an example of both settler-colonialism & national liberation?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Professor Derek Penslar for a conversation about the unique relationship between Ashkenazi Jews, Orientalism, anti-Semitism, Zionism, colonialism & postcolonialism.The two also discuss aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the distinction between the Zionist movement and the ancient Jewish concept of "Shivat Tzion" (the "Return to Zion") expressed through various liberation movements throughout the centuries.
Is there a uniquely Jewish balance one can strike between tribal rootedness & universalism?After hosting Rav Gavriel Reiss in Phoenix, Rav Shmuely Yanklowitz of the Valley Beit Midrash joins Rav Yehuda HaKohen for a follow up conversation on the need to create a critical mass of young Jewish organizers able to show up for other oppressed and marginalized groups as their full "Israelite" selves.The two also discuss the importance of being rooted in one's identity and values while open to constant learning and growth.
The most pressing challenges of our time demand a deeper embrace of our unique identities & a principled rejection of shallow political thinking.Rav Gavriel Reiss addresses the Valley Beit Midrash in Arizona & discusses the need to move away from the "two-state" paradigm in favor of an approach based more on the very real identities & realities on the ground.
Rav Gavriel Reiss shares his personal journey from life as an assimilated Jew growing up on the outskirts of Los Angeles to creating facts on the ground in southern Judea.
Can Israel truly receive a fair trial according to the moral standards of the West if Western civilization is fundamentally rooted in a Christian worldview?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Professor Jeremy England to discuss his recent piece, Live by the Law or Die on the Cross, and the extent to which Israel could hope to survive and thrive as a Jewish state in a Western-led global order inherently based on a Christian ideological paradigm.
After years of branding Israel as a 'Western nation' closely allied to the United States, the campus-based pro-Israel advocacy organizations shouldn't be surprised when Israel is perceived by many students as a settler-colony.Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Vision student organizer Sharon Levy to analyze why the mainstream pro-Israel advocacy organizations have failed so miserably on North American university campuses.
Why do the children of Israel celebrate the seventh night of Pesaḥ (referred to by Rav Sa’adya Gaon as "Ḥag HaShmada" – the “Festival of Destruction”)? Yehuda HaKohen teaches that in addition to commemorating the smashing of Egypt’s military at the Sea of Reeds, the 21st of Nisan also marks something more significant to Israel’s development – the climax of our miraculous national birth and the attainment of collective prophecy.
What was the ancient Egyptian worldview that humanity required liberation from?Ahead of the festival of Israel's freedom, Yehuda HaKohen shares his thoughts on the Egyptian ideology & true educational purpose of the ten plagues.
Did the US intelligence community intentionally deceive Israel's leadership regarding the likelihood of being attacked on Yom Kippur of 5734 (1973)?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by former NSA Mideast intelligence analyst Bruce Brill to discuss his new book Deceit of an Ally: A Memoir of Military Anti-Semitism, NSA's Secret Jew Room and Yom Kippur Treachery.
As the Biden administration schemes to remove Netanyahu from office, the prime minister's domestic political needs have aligned with exposing the toxicity of the US-Israel relationship.Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Vision organizer Aryeh Shapiro for a discussion on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's defiant wartime posture towards the United States.
If different societies have different concepts of freedom, what does freedom mean to Israel?Ahead of the anniversary of Leḥi (Fighters for the Freedom of Israel) leader Natan Yellin-Mor's passing, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by a Vision affiliated "Anonymous Soldier" to discuss the need for political education within Israel's national-religious camp.
What does it mean to engage Yishmael from a place of power? Can a stronger Jewish identity help Israel to better communicate with the Islamic world?Lizzy Oziel & Yehuda HaKohen are joined by Inon Kehati of the Home movement to discuss his new book aimed at communicating Israel's story to the Muslim world.The three also discuss the importance of defining the Jewish people's historic mission and replacing Western political framings with a political map based on the diverse Israeli tribal identities.
Is Washington's aggressive push for partition inadvertently strengthening Binyamin Netanyahu & increasing the Israeli public's desire for freedom?Lizzy Oziel & Yehuda HaKohen discuss how the Biden administration's efforts to push Israel back to a two-state paradigm have actually backfired against American interests in the Semitic region.The two also discuss socio-political transformations in Israeli society, the current state of Israeli-Palestinian peace work, and what line needs to be crossed for individual Jews to be seen as having turned against their people.
Now that westernization has lost its grip on society, is Israel returning to the ethos of the Zionist era or advancing to a new stage of national development?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Rav Gavriel Reiss to discuss the meaning and potential ramifications of the mentality shift that's taken place within Israeli society since the Hamas attacks of Simḥat Torah.
The story of Israel's judicial reform battles from the perspective of one of the initiative's main architects.Member of Knesset Simḥa Rothman (Religious Zionism) joins Yehuda HaKohen for a discussion on the Supreme Court's recent move to strike down the government's cancelation of the "reasonableness" clause that has historically been used by the court to overturn Knesset legislation.Rothman, who heads the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and was one of the two main architects of the judicial reform legislation, also sheds light on some of the lesser known parts of the national drama surrounding judicial reform.
Has the current Gaza War created better conditions for Israel to move towards military self-sufficiency and free ourselves from the United States?Lizzy Oziel & Yehuda HaKohen are joined by "Prisoner of Zion" Jonathan Pollard to discuss Israel's looming battle over identity and the extent to which the people of Israel have begun to recognize the dangerous nature of the US-Israel relationship.
Washington is demanding that Jerusalem present a plan for Gaza following the war against Hamas. But would unveiling such a plan be helpful right now?Lizzy Oziel & Yehuda HaKohen record a special Ḥanukah episode to discuss whether or not Israel should submit to US demands for a "day after" the war plan.In response to Jerusalem's stated requirements that Hamas be removed from power, that Gaza be demilitarized and that Gazan Palestinians be deradicalized, the two also debate what options exist for Gaza moving forward.Maoz Tzur outro music by Yehonatan Roth.
What does it really mean to be a Maccabi today?Following a special announcement, Lizzy Oziel & Yehuda HaKohen talk about some of the deeper themes surrounding Ḥanukah and how they continuously repeat themselves throughout Israel's history. The two also discuss the dangerous psychological ramifications of Israelis celebrating the 1947 UN partition plan on the 29th of November.Maoz Tzur outro music by Yehonatan Roth.
How does the current conflict between Israel & Hamas in Gaza concern Hezbollah, Iran, the US empire, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia & the hostages?As Israel's army pivots from areal strikes to a ground assault on northern Gaza, Lizzy Oziel & Yehuda HaKohen are joined by former United States diplomat and CIA case officer Ariel Avidar to analyze Israel's conduct of the war, what might be motivating some of the other actors involved and how this relates to a sudden spike in anti-Semitism.
Israel & Israel advocacy organizations have adopted messages that unwittingly strengthen anti-Israel narratives.As Israel sends soldiers into Gaza to fight Hamas, Lizzy Oziel & Yehuda HaKohen discuss the challenges and benefits of understanding the narrative of the Other during war.The two also discuss the failure of the hasbara industry's efforts to properly frame the conflict and effectively present Israel's position.
Can the crises surrounding the current war with Hamas help Israel grow beyond Western ideological paradigms & realize our true potential on the world stage?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Rav Gavriel Reiss - a founder of the movement who created a farm in southern Judea to actualize Vision ideals.The two discuss how this war exposed Western civilization's narrow conception of humanity as being largely irrelevant to most Israelis and Palestinians.
The only way to stop further conflicts with Hamas is for Israel to acknowledge the mistake of leaving Gaza & formulate a visionary strategy for return.As Israel reels from the horrific Hamas attacks of Simḥat Torah & finds itself fighting a new war on multiple fronts, Lizzy Oziel & Yehuda HaKohen are joined by Shai Hershel to discuss the situation.
How should we understand the recent attacks on Yom Kippur services by Tel Aviv protestors?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Shanna Fuld of Tribe TLV to discuss the disruptions and their implications for Israeli society.
Do current tensions in Israeli society indicate a need to separate into a new Israeli state & a Judean state?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Nitzan Amit of the Israeli Separation Movement that seeks to copy the Biblical model of dividing the country into a new Israeli state (Yosef) and a Judean state (Yehuda).
Can Gen Z Jews - detached from the traumatic experiences of previous generations - engage in more nuanced conversations about Israel?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by McKenna Bates, director of Israel engagement at the Towson University Hillel, to discuss the challenges of teaching a multilayered understanding of Israeli society to a generation accustomed to quick bites of information on social media.
How much space can Israel's westernized ruling class make for the growing majority of Israelis who champion a different vision for the country?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Paul Gross, who’s been an organizer in the protest movement against Israeli judicial reforms, to discuss the different perspectives driving supporters and opponents of the government’s legislation to balance power between the people’s elected representatives and the Supreme Court.
Israel isn't the only country where the Americans orchestrate anti-government protests but it might be the only country where the US-backed faction is called 'the left' (despite being the bourgeoisie).
Yehuda HaKohen shares his thoughts on the re-intensification of Israel's judicial reform debate and plays a deleted conversation with Aryeh Shapiro from the 100th episode & a clip from a recent Red Menace podcast blasting the US Supreme Court with critiques that could just as easily be applied to Israel's judicial oligarchy.
What can we say we've learned about Jewish liberation from 100 episodes of The Next Stage?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Vision movement organizers Lizzy Oziel, Aryeh Shapiro & Shai Hershel for the 100th episode of The Next Stage podcast to discuss the need for a post-Zionist Jewish liberation movement and to outline some of its objectives.
Should the word 'Zionist' be used to refer to all of history's many Jewish liberation movements or should the term be more narrowly limited to the actual Zionist movement?
Does it really make a difference?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by conservative neo-Zionist media personality Adam Scott Bellos for a multi-layered discussion on whether or not the Jewish people have advanced beyond the Zionist era and require a new Jewish liberation tendency to address the current challenges confronting the children of Israel.
It's important that the Jewish people engage our Torah through the ideological lens of Israel's cherished prophets & sages. In a special pre-Shavuot bonus episode of The Next Stage, Yehuda HaKohen addresses several misconceptions regarding Israel's Torah that have resulted from the many layers of colonization that the Jewish people experienced in exile.
What is the Torah that Israel received on Shavuot & what must Jews do in order to properly receive it?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Rav David Samson to discuss what it means for the Jewish people to prepare to receive the Torah.
Is there a model for a Jewish state that could work for Palestinians? Can Jews and Muslims become partners in achieving our respective missions?Yehuda HaKohen shares a recording of a Clash and Mash podcast episode in which he's interviewed by diaspora Palestinian activist Anas Salah.
Can the current societal tensions tearing Israeli society apart help inspire a much needed conversation about the future of the country?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by [neo-?]Zionist political researcher Samuel Hyde to discuss the protests against judicial reform, the future status of the West Bank, the need for a national postcolonial conversation and rival visions for Israeli society as the state prepares to celebrate 75 years.
Can the State of Israel create new governmental structures that allow its various socio-political tribes to live together?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Ariel Beery, who's been participating in recent protests against Israeli judicial reforms and puts forward the narrative that's been driving the protests. The two also discuss Beery's recent piece on the need to restructure Israel's political institutions in order to allow the nation's various tribal identities to harmoniously coexist.
If concerns surrounding judicial reforms are about human rights & civil liberties, why are the weakest sectors of society supporting the reforms while Israel's elites & security agencies oppose them?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by attorney Tehila Gimpel for a deep dive into the backstory of Israel's Basic Laws as a quasi-constitution, on Aharon Barak's "constitutional revolution" of the 1990s, on the contentious judicial reform legislation being advanced by the coalition to check the power of the Supreme Court and on the protests that have rocked Israeli society in reaction to the proposed reforms.
Where does Israel's historic arch foe come from?What are its foundational beliefs?Who can best be identified as Amalek in modern times when examined through the lens of Jewish historiography?The original Amalek was the grandson of Esav. Our sages identify Esav as the progenitor of Western civilization (not necessarily biologically but certainly in terms of values and behavior). Amalek should therefore be seen as the most militantly nationalist component of the West - essentially white nationalism. Amalek generally sees Israel as the greatest threat to its civilization (((white genocide))) and we Jews in turn regard Amalek as the worst of our foes. We've confronted each other several times in our long history. The German Holocaust is the last time they attempted to destroy us. But Purim celebrates a conflict in which we got the upper hand and triumphed against them. 🎭
What might the Jewish attack on Huwara reveal about the trajectory of Israeli-Palestinian relations?Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Jerusalem educator Shammai Siskind for a discussion on how the recent Jewish attack on the Palestinian village of Huwara should be understood beyond the headlines.
What can Tu B'Shvat teach us about formulating a new vision for Jewish liberation & the reborn nation of Israel's critical role on the international stage?Yehuda HaKohen shares a recording of a Tu B'Shvat seder he led in Phoenix Arizona at the Valley Beit Midrash.
'Prisoner of Zion' Jonathan Pollard discusses the state of the Jewish people's subjugation to the US and the steps Israel must take in order to attain freedom.Yehuda HaKohen and Pollard discuss his personal story, the US-Israel relationship, American anti-Semitism, Israeli judicial reforms, the Iranian nuclear threat, the inferiority complexes of Israeli and Diaspora Jewish leaders and the importance of Jewish identity education.
Is the formation of Israel's new 'extremist' government a revolutionary moment with potential for positive change or does it signal Zionism's demise (or both)?Rabbis Yehuda HaKohen and Mike Feuer debate the pros and cons of Israel's new "extremist" governing coalition under Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud).
The tension between Israel's 'Jewish' & 'democratic' features should force us to become more of both.Lizzy Oziel & Yehuda HaKohen record a special Ḥanukah episode to address some inaccurate positions attributed to Yehuda by neo-Zionist journalist Samuel Hyde.The two also clarify some misconceptions surrounding the Vision movement and discuss what makes a society truly democratic.Maoz Tzur outro music by Yehonatan Roth.
How can non-Ḥaredi feminists best show up for women in Ḥaredi Jewish communities? Lizzy Oziel & Yehuda HaKohen are joined by Postcolonial Hebrew Feminist theorist Sharona eshet-Kohen to discuss a recent Haaretz op-ed by Yehudis Fletcher on issues confront women in Ḥaredi Jewish communities.Lizzy & Yehuda also discuss the potential political ramifications that an upsurge in Israeli-Palestinian violence could have on the coalition Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud) might form.
Do Jewish crusaders against anti-Semitism unwittingly contribute to systemic anti-Semitism in ways they aren't aware of?
Yehuda is joined by Vision organizer Lizzy Oziel to discuss her recent piece on how the "anti-anti-Semitism" crowd often falls into the trap of strengthening anti-Semitism as a system of oppression.
What can the Jewish people learn about our own liberation movement and current state policies by examining violence and its various manifestations.
Rabbis Mike Feuer and Yehuda HaKohen discuss the healing role that violence played in Zionist thought and the structural violence that manifests today in various Israeli policies.
How is Israel's current election cycle antagonizing contradictions within the national-religious sector?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Jerusalem educator Shammai Siskind for a discussion on what Israel's upcoming elections mean within the context of broader societal shifts.
Can Ayelet Shaked convince voters to see past her involvement in the plutocratic Bennett-Lapid coalition?
Jeremy Sultan - director of the Yamina Knesset faction & candidate on the Bayit Yehudi list for Knesset - joins Yehuda HaKohen to defend the outgoing coalition & discuss what sectors of Israeli society could potentially vote for Shaked in the upcoming elections.
The two also discuss the potential motivations behind many of Binyamin Netanyahu's moves while serving as prime minister.
Can Jewish women be empowered in such a way that originates from a Hebrew worldview, preserves the Jewish people's value system and seeks solutions through Israel's unique cultural/historical lens?
Yehuda HaKohen shares a class taught by Sharona eshet-Kohen on the ATID online leadership program introducing her approach to postcolonial Hebrew Feminism.
Can social media be a forum for high level conversations around Jewish identity & liberation?
Yirmiyahu Danzig joins Yehuda HaKohen to discuss the challenge of using social media to teach Jews about decolonization without sacrificing intellectual depth (can we avoid reducing the conversation to a caricaturish form of Israel advocacy?)
The two also debate the merits of using the term "Zionist" to describe both contemporary and ancient Jewish liberation efforts.
Is Tu B'Av merely the Jewish 'Valentines Day' or is that understanding part of our people's deep colonization?
Rina bat Eliyahu asks Yehuda HaKohen for a deep dive into the six actual reasons that the people of Israel historically celebrate the 15th day of Av.
Who were the major Zealot personalities leading Israel's Great Revolt against the Roman Empire?
Ahead of Tisha b’Av – Israel’s national day of mourning for the destruction of the Jewish people’s national framework nearly 2,000 years ago – Yehuda HaKohen shares a 2019 class he taught at Machon Meir on various leaders of the anti-Roman Judean freedom movement.
Do the people of Israel have something meaningful to contribute to the contemporary discourse surrounding masculinity? How can an 'Aleph Male' differ from an 'Alpha Male'?
Rina bat Eliyahu & Yehuda HaKohen are joined by Eitan ben Avraham to discuss his Aleph Male beard products, Hebrew masculinity & Jewish beard culture.
What does 'Religious Zionism' mean to Diaspora Jews who identify with that label today & how do those Jews look at Israel's national-religious youth?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Ben Greenfield, rabbi of the Greenpoint Shul, to discuss what being a “Zionist” means to a self-defined “Religious Zionist” living comfortably in the Diaspora.
The two also address the liberal International Rabbinic Fellowship’s recent condemnation (drafted by Greenfield) of the violence against Palestinians at the Yom Yerushalayim flag march in Jerusalem and whether or not the young perpetrators of that violence can be redirected towards actually leading efforts to heal Jewish-Palestinian relations.
As the Bennett-Lapid plutocracy collapses, we should examine whether Israelis experience the term 'Israeli' as referring to a civic national or ethnic national (children of Israel) identity.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Jerusalem educator Shammai Siskind for a discussion on both the imminent collapse of Israel's current government and the meaning behind a recent poll claiming that 60% of Israeli Jews prefer to live in exclusively Jewish communities.
How easy is it to shift the paradigm through which Diaspora Jewish leaders understand Israeli issues?
Yehuda HaKohen is invited onto The Wildescast, hosted by Rabbi Mark Wildes of the Manhattan Jewish Experience, to discuss Jewish liberation and his vision for Jewish-Palestinian reconciliation in a single state between the river and the sea.
The Vision movement often references the notion of "Hebrew Universalism" - but what does that actually mean?
Rina bat Eliyahu interviews Yehuda HaKohen for a deep dive into the concept as a stage of Jewish liberation that comes after Zionism.
When makes Yom HaZikaron l’Shoah v’l’Gvura (a day for remembering the Holocaust & the Heroism) different from other days on the Hebrew calendar that commemorate the Holocaust?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Rina bat Eliyahu to discuss the Christian roots of European Jew hatred, different ways for understanding Yom HaShoah and the lessons of the Holocaust for the Jewish people today.
How did the young fighters executed during Israel's struggle to free Palestine from British rule cure the Jewish people of its curse of fear?
In commemoration of the date (8 Nisan) that Eliyahu Bet-Zuri and Eliyahu Ḥakim were executed in Cairo, Yehuda HaKohen shares a 2012 class he taught on the 'Olei HaGardom' (those who mounted the gallows) and the deeper spiritual value of martyrdom in Torah thought.
Since accomplishing its revolutionary historic role, has Zionism slid back towards an assimilationist impulse aimed at transforming the State of Israel into a "normal" state on the international stage?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Israel Advocacy professional and journalist Samuel Hyde to discuss Zionism, the future status of the West Bank, the need for a national postcolonial conversation and rival visions for Israeli society.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Ryerson University student Rina bat Eliyahu to discuss systemic anti-Semitism, the Jewish relationship to whiteness and the exclusion of Jews from conversations about oppression.
Ysabella Elisheva Hazan joins Yehuda HaKohen to talk about her https://decolonizedjudean.com/ movement and the application of postcolonial tools to Jewish identity issues. The two also discuss Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation and how 'Sternism' differed from Zionism during the pre-state era.
As Oslo architect Yossi Beilin attempts to repackage his "two-state solution" as a "confederation" plan, Yoel Oz of the Abrahamic movement joins Yehuda HaKohen to discuss alternative models for Jewish-Palestinian reconciliation and potential opportunities for Israel and the Islamic world to partner in advancing the mission(s) of Avraham.
The concluding episode of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The penultimate episode of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
On the 80th anniversary of Avraham 'Yair' Stern's assassination, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Aryeh Shapiro for a discussion on 'Sternism' as a non-Zionist ideological tendency that applies revolutionary theory to Jewish liberation issues.
The sixteenth chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The fifteenth chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
Can Israel incorporate the socio-economic features of the Shmita (Sabbatical) & Yovel (Jubilee) years?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Shaul Judelman of Roots to talk about ways to apply the values of the Shmita year to a modern Jewish nation-state.
The fourteenth chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The thirteenth chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The twelfth chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
Do today's popular superheroes express deep Jewish values, internal struggles and aspirations for a better world?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by author Roy Schwartz for a fascinating discussion on the Jewish roots of the comic book industry and Israel's heavy cultural influence on the entire superhero genre.
The eleventh chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The tenth chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The ninth chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The eight chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Doreinu NY leader Ari Osher to discuss recent revelations by journalist Barak Ravid that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had actually spent years protecting Israel from US President Donald Trump's two-state agenda.
The two also talk about the broader decline of US global power and the deep divide between Jewish values and those of Lockean liberalism.
Dedicated to the speedy recovery of Reine bat Baile.
The seventh chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The sixth chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The fifth chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
What's the hidden meaning of the Greek "defilement" of the Temple oils?
In an effort to go deeper into the Ḥanukah story, Yehuda HaKohen shares a class taught by his teacher, Rav Moshe Kaplan, on the ideological conflict in Judean society between the Maccabi underground and Seleucid Greek Empire (based on the teachings of HaRav Avraham Yitzḥak HaKohen Kook).
Maoz Tzur outro music by Yehonatan Roth.
The fourth chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The third chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The second chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The State of Israel has many structures, policies & even foundational ideas in need of repair. But are liberal western political framings helpful when trying to resolve Israeli society's contradictions?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Peter Beinart of Jewish Currents to discuss Beinart's journey from the two-state Liberal Zionist paradigm to his current one-state position.
The two also talk about correct versus incorrect framings for understanding Israeli society, Jerusalem's new governing coalition's attempt to revive Liberal Zionism and the positive reception it's been receiving in the West.
The first chapter of Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
The introduction to Robert Goodman's series on the first Book of Maccabees.
Illustration by Moshe Katz @art_ofthe_covenant_
Rav Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Professor Shaul Magid of Dartmouth University to discuss his book, Meir Kahane: The Public Life and Political Thought of an American Jewish Radical.
The two also talk about anti-Semitism, the revolutionary potential of Israel’s national-religious community, the Jewish relationship with bourgeois liberalism and the crisis of Liberal Zionism following the collapse of the two-state paradigm.
Rav Yehuda also shares his own political journey from entering the Jewish world through the Jewish Defense to his current project aimed at formulating what Jewish liberation can look like in a post-Zionist era.
What does Jewish 'decolonization' really look like? What are the ramifications of pro-Israel figures & organizations utilizing the notion of Jewish 'indigeneity' as a shallow political talking point?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Vision organizer Shai Hershel to discuss the recent flare up in the debate between pro-Israel & pro-Palestinian Diaspora Jews over the question of Jewish decolonization & indigeneity to Eretz Yisrael.
Rav Benny Eisner was a cherished student of HaRav Zvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook and a beloved teacher to thousands. In addition to spreading Torah to Jews in Israel and the Diaspora, he had the merit of meaningfully participating in Jewish history.
On the tenth anniversary of Rav Benny leaving the world, Yehuda HaKohen discusses his teacher and shares a post-funeral recording of another teacher, Rav Moshe Kaplan, speaking about Rav Benny and the Torah he represented.
There is a hidden understanding of our Torah that has yet to reach the English-speaking Jewish world.
Why does the Torah's narrative of Creation appear to conflict with leading scientific theories?
What failure of Hevel led to his murder at the hands of Kayin?
What is the secret meaning of the genealogical verses tracing the descendants of Kayin and Shet?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined in New York by Zachary Schaffer to discuss the situation and mentality of young Diaspora Jews.
The conversation addresses increased alienation from the State of Israel and how the next generation of Jewish leaders in the United States understands itself - and the choice to remain in exile - within the context of the larger Jewish story.
Could exploring some of the scarier areas of Israel's Torah help us find unexpected solutions to some of our generation's most daunting challenges?
Enjoy this 2016 participatory discussion confronting and unpacking some of the Torah's most challenging issues (taking enemy women in battle, gentile slaves, vengeance against hostile populations within Israel's borders, etc.).
On the 86th anniversary of HaRav Avraham Yitzḥak HaKohen Kook's departure from our world, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Hart Levine of RZA-Mizrachi USA to discuss the importance of Rav Kook's Torah and its relevance to the current generation of Diaspora Jews.
The two also address the challenges of relating to Jewish identity & Jewish issues within the context of a foreign civilization.
Yehuda HaKohen shares a clip from a recent interview on the Ari Louis Show, where several topics relevant to decolonization and advancing Jewish history were discussed.
What did Rudy, Noam & David unwittingly get involved in by going to film a documentary about the Igbo people in Nigeria?
David Mark joins Yehuda HaKohen on the program ahead of Tisha B'Av to provide insight into the Jewish connections of the Igbo people and to explain the conflict between the Nigerian state and Biafra separatists that members of the Vision movement unintentionally stepped into.
Dedicated to the elevation of the soul of Faiga bat David 🔥
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Ramallah resident Bryan Williams to discuss the protests against the Palestinian Authority that have erupted in Ramallah following Nazir Banat's murder at the hands of Western-backed PA security forces.
Yair Lapid's "change coalition" is almost totally comprised of factions representing the State of Israel's wealthiest and most westernized elites.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Aryeh Shapiro for an analysis of Lapid's new "change government" and the need to take it down before it can cause too much harm to the State of Israel's Jewish character and working poor.
The two also discuss Binyamin Netanyahu's success protecting Israel from Washington for 12 years and the political mistakes that led to the establishment of the current coalition.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Rav Mike Feuer from "The Jewish Story" for a discussion on the State of Israel's new governing coalition under the leadership of Naftali Bennett (Yamina) and Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid).
The two also discuss the "Diasporic" approach to Jewish identity, various angles for understanding the "Sin of the Spies" & issues pertaining to Israel's national-religious sector.
In response to the recent upsurge of violence in Israel, Yehuda HaKohen criticizes the unwillingness on all sides to transcend narrow generic narratives and explains how the false image of the State of Israel crafted by the “hasbara industry” actually causes more people to misunderstand Israeli society.
Only a holistic approach to the history of Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians can allow both peoples to escape the seemingly endless cycle fo violence.
Dedicated to the speedy recovery of Z’ev ben Faiga & Uri ben Faiga, as well as the elevation of the souls of Rav Pinḥas G’dalya HaKohen ben Shimon, Ḥaya Alla bat Ḥaim & Masha Bat Ḥaim.
The Six Day War concluded the Zionist era, sparked a major crisis for Western civilization & began the next chapter of the Jewish people's story.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Jerusalem educator Shammai Siskind for a discussion on Yom Yerushalayim, various Israeli political camps & the next stage of Jewish liberation.
How does the Jewish people's national story help human history attain its goal?
A 2016 class on Lag B'Omer and the deeper meaning of Jewish history taught by Rav Yehuda HaKohen at Machon Meir.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Bethlehem activist Noor A'wad to discuss the Palestinian Authority elections scheduled to take place, as well as the need to include more "extremist" Israelis and Palestinians in meaningful reconciliation work.
How should we relate to the new dates of significance added to the Hebrew calendar since the establishment of the State of Israel?
Is there something about each of these days that even most of the Jewish world doesn't fully appreciate?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Justin Ellis of Fuel For Truth for an in depth discussion unpacking the deeper meanings of Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, Yom HaAtzmaut & Yom Yerushalayim.
Do Western political labels like 'right' and 'left' really fit Israeli society?
Yehuda is joined by Rav Mike Feuer from The Jewish Story for a discussion on freedom ahead of the Pesaḥ festival and to present new ways of understanding Israel's political spectrum.
In what way does the Sinai Covenant serve us as a ladder to transcend this world?
Why was it Moshe and not Aharon who consecrated the Mishkan?
In what way do the final three Books of the Torah continue separate but parallel themes featured in Sefer Sh'mot?
Ahead of the State of Israel's fourth election cycle in two years, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Knesset candidate Elie Yosef to talk about his current hunger strike in front of the defense minister's home and how his HaLev HaYehudi (The Jewish Heart) party hopes to end Israeli arms sales to governments that violate human rights.
How were the unique orientations of Moshe and Aharon synthesized for the practical construction of the Mishkan?
Why was Moshe hesitant to accept the women's copper mirrors as contributions?
If Dan is the extreme expression of Yosef in the same way that Shimon is the extreme expression of Yehuda, what was the importance of appointing tribesmen of Yehuda and Dan to lead the construction of the Mishkan?
What did the Golden Calf represent from a Hebrew perspective and how was it different from other forms of idolatry?
What prevented Aharon from being able to stand up to the people?
Why was it necessary to combine the tribal forces of Yehuda and Dan to construct the Mishkan?
How does the light of Purim and all of its rituals and customs help us to recognize HaShem behind the scenes of our reality?
How are Israel's kohanim different from the spiritual leaders of other cultures?
How does the kehuna as an institution benefit the broader nation of Israel?
Why does the Torah place so much importance on the details of the priestly uniforms?
The 13th of Adar was once Yom Nikanor - a holiday marking the date Yehuda Maccabee defeated the Seleucid-Greek General Nikanor at Adasa.
Yehuda HaKohen shares the story of this ancient Maccabean festival that's currently experiencing a revival in the State of Israel.
A 2012 class about Yosef Trumpeldor's life, deeds and legacy in honor of the 11th of Adar that marks the day he fell in battle.
Why was Israel instructed to place graven images of kruvim atop the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies?
Why was shaatnez permitted in the Mishkan (and later the Mikdash)?
How did Moshe and Aharon differ in their understandings of the Mishkan's purpose?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Vision movement activists Shai Hershel, Aryeh Shapiro, Samantha Muskat, Yonah ben-Avraham & Danit Grady for a discussion on Leḥi (Fighters for the Freedom of Israel) leader Natan Yellin-Mor's revolutionary legacy as a political thinker during the underground period and early decades of Israeli independence.
What exactly did Israel receive at Sinai?
In what way do the people of Israel and the Torah interact through a symbiotic relationship?
Why are the statutes as expressed in the Written Torah almost always so different from Jewish law in practice?
Why are Moshe's sons rarely mentioned in the Torah?
What were the Hebrews expecting when leaving Egypt and why were they so caught off guard by the news that they would receive the Torah in the form of a set of laws?
What are the different models for gentiles to participate in Israel's historic mission?
In what way must Israel process the Torah in order to make it accessible to humanity?
Yesha Council chairman David Elḥayani joins Yehuda HaKohen to speak about his lonely fight against the Trump administration's two-state "Deal of the Century."
The two also discuss Trump's empowering of white nationalist groups in the United States and the need for the State of Israel to take responsibility for the Palestinians under its control.
Why couldn't the numerically superior Hebrews fight Egypt at the Sea of Reeds?
If the Torah shares Israel's collective soul, why was it necessary to be given in the form of a "rule book"?
Who was Yehoshua and what about his background made him capable of leading the war against Amalek?
How does Tu B'Shvat teach us to recognize the subtle stirrings of redemption taking place beneath the surface?
Why was the establishment of a Hebrew calendar the first commandment given to Israel as a nation?
What can the wealth Israel took out of Egypt teach us about incorporating foreign ideas into our society?
In what way were t'fillin a sign of Hebrew victory over Egypt?
Z'ev Golan joins Yehuda HaKohen to discuss his personal relationship with Sternist freedom fighter Dr. Israel Eldad.
The two address Dr. Eldad's life, deeds and legacy as an underground leader and nationalist intellectual who always pushed to advance Israel's redemption forward.
How was the Egyptian ideology blocking humanity from receiving a prophetic message?
Why was it necessary for Egypt to be hit with ten plagues instead of one?
What is the origin story of the erev rav?
The third part of a 2016 series taught by Rav Gavriel Reiss on the concept of Mashiaḥ ben Yosef and how it manifests within the Children of Israel.
What is the force of Yosef in in the collective Hebrew identity and what is its relevance to identity crises in contemporary Israeli society?
What incident made the Egyptians so fearful of the children of Israel?
Why was it so important to Moshe that he kill the Egyptian overseer when he could have simply ordered him to stop beating the Hebrew slave?
What was the incident with Moshe nearly being killed at the inn for not circumcising his son really about?
Yehuda HaKohen responds to the feature on him recently published by The Daily Beast calling him a "Prep-School Gangster turned enigmatic West Bank Rabbi" and takes the pro-Israel Diaspora Jewish community to task for its reaction to Jonathan Pollard's dramatic arrival in the State of Israel.
The second part of a 2016 series taught by Rav Gavriel Reiss on the concept of Mashiaḥ ben Yosef and how it manifests within the Children of Israel.
What is the force of Yosef in in the collective Hebrew identity and what is its relevance to identity crises in contemporary Israeli society?
What are the individual contributions of each Hebrew tribe to Israel's national collective?
Why does Israel sound so harsh in his final blessings to his three eldest sons?
What makes Yehuda the only son of Israel properly suited for national leadership?
In what way were each of Yaakov's sons unique prototypes for different kinds of Jews throughout history?
The first part of a 2016 series taught by Rav Gavriel Reiss on the concept of Mashiaḥ ben Yosef and how it manifests within the Children of Israel.
What is the force of Yosef in in the collective Hebrew identity and what is its relevance to identity crises in contemporary Israeli society?
How did Yehuda thwart Yosef's plan to realize his second dream?
How does the conflict between Yehuda and Yosef reverberate through history and play out in the State of Israel today?
What is the hidden value of the Diasporic Jewish identity expressed by Yaakov (as opposed to Israel)?
Did Yosef use the famine to bring his family down to Egypt in hopes of implementing an alternative Hebrew mission in the Diaspora?
Did Yosef import prophetic dreams to Egypt?
Were his intentions to correct or to abandon his father's family?
If all Egypt knew of Yosef's Hebrew (from Ever) identity, were his brothers aware of this too?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Aryeh Shapiro for a discussion applying Frantz Fanon's teachings on colonization and anti-colonial struggle to the Maccabean Revolt commemorated on Ḥanukah.
What did Yosef misunderstand about the Hebrew mission in his youth?
How did Tamar help Yehuda rediscover himself after decades of self-imposed exile from the Hebrew clan?
How do the forces of Yosef and Yehuda express themselves in the people of Israel today?
In what way did Leah help Yaakov learn to become Israel?
What challenge did Yaakov pose to Lavan's worldview?
What did Yaakov's fight with Esav's angel actually determine?
What caused Yaakov to believe he would find an appropriate husband for Dina in Shkhem?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Diaspora-based co-host Justin Ellis and political analyst Mordechai Taub for a discussion on upcoming Israeli elections, the Jonathan Pollard Affair and whether or not United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (the "partition plan") actually "gave" the Jewish people a nation-state.
In order to become Israel, Yaakov had to first incorporate into himself many of his brother's characteristics.
His years in Aram working for Lavan and managing some very complicated family dynamics forced him to grow in such a way that helped him become more like Esav.
Why was Rivka's Aramean cosmopolitanism so crucial an ingredient for Israel's national roots?
What personal crisis caused Esav to abandon his family's path at the age of 15?
How do the personal traits of Yaakov and Esav find expression in the Hebrew and Western civilizations they produced?
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by author Yossi Klein Halevi for a lively discussion on the purpose of Jewish history, the State of Israel's role in that story and the best way to move forward in attaining peace with the Palestinians.
The two discuss themes from their life experiences relevant to Klein Halevi's writings, including the Jewish Defense League, 1967 Six Day War, Israeli-Palestinian peace work, ostensibly conflicting narratives and the failures of Israel's national-religious camp to present a universal vision capable of transcending narrow nationalism.
HaKohen and Klein Halevi sharply disagree on political conclusions, especially in regards to dividing the Land of Israel and on the question of to what extent Jewish values and ideological vision should influence Israeli policy decisions.
Could death have strengthened Sarah's influence over Avraham?
How was Yitzḥak able to get out from under Avraham's towering shadow and win over Yishmael to recognize his place as their father's heir?
Before introducing his new podcast on the weekly Torah portion, Yehuda HaKohen shares his thoughts on the contentious US presidential election and how its results might impact Israel and the rest of the world.
What challenges was Sarah forced to overcome in order to play her part in founding the Hebrew nation?
What can the dynamics between Yitzḥak and Yishmael teach us about Israel's ideal relationship with the Muslim world?
What mistake from Avraham's past contributed to the destruction of the city of S'dom?
After years of crusading against the idolatrous beliefs and practices of the ancient world, the nomadic leader of a universal spiritual movement underwent a series of difficult challenges to help him refine his own trait of ḥesed and reorient himself to the understanding that his goals for humanity could only be achieved through the vehicle of a distinct nation in a specific land.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by anti-missionary activist Rav Tovia Singer to address the threat posed to Israeli society by Christian Zionist groups.
The two discuss Christian approaches to the Jewish people, some significant recent battles and how an unhealthy desperation for "friendship" causes many nationalist Jews to unwittingly enable missionary activities in the State of Israel.
Why does the Torah use the Name that connotes Divine mercy rather than Divine judgement when telling of the Creator's decision to destroy humankind with a flood? Could there be more to this story?
The story of the flood was really the story of the Creator reconciling Himself (so to speak) to the fact that humankind couldn‘t yet handle the immense power given us.
The situation required Divine intervention and correction. In addition to destroying an entire generation, the flood weakened humanity’s connection with the natural world, reducing our level of influence over the earth and clouding our perception of HaShem’s presence.
Broadcasting from his sukkah in the ancient Maccabean partisan camp, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Justin Ellis of Fuel for Truth. The two discuss FFT's role as a "gateway drug" for many Diaspora Jews towards a deeper national consciousness, as well as the need for nuanced political conversations built on a foundation of mutual understanding.
Yehuda HaKohen shares a 2013 class he taught at Machon Meir on how connecting to the expanded consciousness of Yom Kippur can allow us to recognize humanity's inner unity and discover our own unique purposes in life.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by political analyst Mordechai Taub for a deep dive into the inner workings and constantly shifting dynamics of Israel's political system.
The two discuss how the Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the priorities of the electorate, as well as how the socio-cultural trajectory of Israeli society can influence the strength of various political factions.
In commemoration of the 85th anniversary of Rabbi Avraham Yitzḥak HaKohen Kook's departure from our world, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Rav Moshe Kaplan - one of the foremost English-speaking teachers of Rav Kook's writings - for an in depth explanation into the Rav's life, teachings and impact on Jewish history.
Throughout this deep dive into the approach to Torah driving the State of Israel's most controversial and ideologically committed sector, the two discuss Rav Kook's role in restoring Israel's pre-exilic relationship with Torah, as well as the importance of his teachings to properly appreciating the greater significance of the Jewish people's national rebirth.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by "Lila" - a Diaspora Jewish student who moved from pro-Israel advocacy organizations to the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on her campus.
The two discuss the shortcomings of hasbara movements, how these flaws drive so many bright young Jews out of the pro-Israel camp, and how these students can actually play a meaningful role in helping Jews and Palestinians to transcend competing narratives and move forward together.
Ahead of Tisha b'Av - Israel's national day of mourning for the destruction of the Jewish people's national framework nearly 2,000 years ago - Yehuda shares a 2015 class he taught on how the Judean freedom movement came to be vilified by historians and even many rabbis following its crushing defeat at the hands of the Romam empire.
Former Member of Knesset Dr. Arieh Eldad joins Yehuda HaKohen on The Next Stage podcast to discuss his new book, Chips Fly when Trees are Felled: The Final Chapter of Leḥi, focusing on how revolutionary movements must by necessity "break eggs to make an omelette."
The two also speak about the split within Leḥi (Fighters for the Freedom of Israel), the ideological legacy of Dr. Israel Eldad and the modern return of Biblical-style prophecy expressed through Uri Zvi Greenberg.
Yehuda HaKohen tells the story of Prime Minister Yitzḥak Shamir, who fought for the freedom of Israel his entire life and exemplified an inner strength and sense of responsibility to Jewish history sorely lacking from Israel’s current political leadership.
Prime Minister Shamir left our world on the 10th of Tammuz eight years ago. We urge listeners to honor his legacy by helping the Vision movement to inspire the next generation with his same sense of dedication to the Jewish liberation struggle: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=QD87G2Z8NLBAU&source=url
Justin Ellis of Fuel For Truth invites Yehuda HaKohen to discuss his own political journey, Hebrew liberation, Jewish-Palestinian reconciliation & Israel's place in global struggles for justice and social change.
As protests for racial justice rock the United States in the wake of George Floyd's murder by Minnesota police officers, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Vision activist Daniel Kling to speak about his experiences at the protests.
The two discuss the mainstream Jewish community's failure to show up for marginalized groups and analyze how systemic anti-Semitism has divided US Jews from other minority groups and created barriers to solidarity with Black and other oppressed peoples.
Ahead of Yom Yerushalayim, which celebrates the Jewish people's liberation of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Director of International Affairs for the City of David Foundation Ze'ev Orenstein to discuss the deeper spiritual and historical significance of Israel's return to its ancient capital.
The two also discuss some of the archaeological discoveries at the City of David, the neighborhood's centrality in reconnecting with Israel's roots and some of the practical challenges preventing better relations with local Palestinians.
Ahead of Pesaḥ Sheni, which traditionally offers Israel opportunities for second chances, Rabbis Yehuda HaKohen and Mike Feuer discuss the need to address and correct mistakes made at the time of the State of Israel's establishment that have had harmful ramifications for the nation's development in recent decades.
The two also discuss different narratives surrounding Yom HaAtzmaut and how this has impacted the way Israeli society sees itself, its national interests, its potential allies and the enemies it must overcome.
On The Next Stage podcast, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Col. Geva Rapp (res.) of the Panim el-Panim (Face to Face) organization that works to resist foreign efforts to westernize Israel through instilling a deep sense of Jewish identity and purpose in thousands of soldiers and students throughout the country.
Yehuda HaKohen and Rudy Rochman discuss the Vision movement's recent election campaign for the World Zionist Congress, as well as some of the new conversations the campaign sparked among Diaspora Jews. Yehuda shares the story of the "Two Eliyahus" - freedom fighters executed in Cairo for the assassination of Lord Moyne 75 years ago on the 8th of Nisan.
Special Bonus Content for Vision supporters of $18+/month: Yehuda & Rudy share some formative family stories while discussing Jewish identity, Israeli identity, The Plot Against America, the Holocaust & Muslim-Jewish dialogue. Donate here for access to the bonus content: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=QD87G2Z8NLBAU&source=url
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Brooklyn-based organizer Yotam Marom. The two touch on Yotam's work as a trainer and facilitator for social movements but focus primarily on how anti-Semitism operates within a capitalist system and how that can clarify the State of Israel's role on the world stage.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Yehuda Katz of the California Bay Area's Doreinu chapter. The two discuss resisting the Trump plan, Jewish organizing in the Bay Area and the Vision movement's run in the current elections to the World Zionist Congress (slate 5 at zionistelection.org).
On the 78th anniversary marking Avraham 'Yair' Stern's assassination, Yehuda HaKohen and Sharona eshet-Kohen examine the development of Yair's ideological worldview, specifically exploring his relationship with Marxism, Fascism, Futurism, Israel's Torah and various Zionist tendencies.
Yehuda HaKohen explores his relationship to Hebron with Yishai Fleisher - international spokesperson for the ancient city's Jewish community. The two discuss how Hebronite Jews experience the status quo, efforts to improve relations between the city's populations and the need for a new ideological framework to advance Jewish history beyond Zionism's limited capabilities.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Bethlehem activist Sami Awad of the Holy Land Trust. The two discuss the destructive influence of Western interests on the conflict and country, as well as the necessary conversations and healing processes that need to take place within Israeli and Palestinian societies.
Inon Kehati of the Home movement joins Yehuda HaKohen for a conversation about alternative peace work in the West Bank and the devastating effects of foreign governments artificially manufacturing support for a "two-state solution" through a network of NGOs.
Chris Whitman (https://soundcloud.com/visionmag/010-path-to-annexation-with-chris-whitman) joins Yehuda HaKohen for a deep dive into the Maccabean Revolt and the recurring conflict within Israeli society between forces of Yosef & Yehuda.
On The Next Stage podcast, Jon Loew joins Yehuda HaKohen to discuss Legion Alpha's efforts to train Diaspora Jews in combat, firearms and first-aid in order to ensure they're equipped to protect their families and communities from potential threats.
Z'ev Golan joins Yehuda HaKohen on The Next Stage podcast to discuss his book, Stern: The Man & His Gang, and to address questions of how a Sternist political orientation could be applied to contemporary Israeli foreign policy.
Ezri Tubi joins Yehuda HaKohen on The Next Stage podcast to share his work at Boomerang: Fighting for Israel. The two discuss Ezri's unique efforts to tell Israel's story from Samaria, divisions within Israeli society, Jewish identity colonization and what separates real Jewish nationalists from westernized Israeli conservatives.
Following recent violence between Israeli security forces and radical Jewish teenagers in and around Yitzhar, Yehuda HaKohen brings Akiva HaKohen onto The Next Stage to provide listeners with a rare inside glimpse of the often vilified “Hilltop Youth” subculture.
Broadcasting from a sukkah in the ancient Maccabean partisan camp, Yehuda HaKohen discusses what Israel should understand about Washington's betrayal of Rojava, how anti-Semitism functions in the current global system and how Avigdor Lieberman has been acting as an agent of the Trump administration.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by activist Rudy Rochman, who discusses his experiences as a Columbia University organizer confronting identity issues within the Jewish community and anti-Israel sentiment on the broader campus. The two differ on the validity of the Palestinian narrative and on the obligation to resist a "two-state solution" on Diaspora campuses but see eye-to-eye on the need to inspire young Diaspora Jews to become players rather than spectators in the current chapter of Israel's story.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by activist Chris Whitman, who discusses his work on behalf of immigrant rights at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, his years living in Ramallah, his experience being injured by Israeli security forces at a protest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gO19VwY8Gk&t=), and his first conversation with a West Bank Jew.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by political analyst Mordechai Taub to discuss Israel's second national election cycle in one year. The conversation focuses on Israel's political map, the strategies of various parties, the need to deepen the national conversation and the likelihood of a Netanyahu-Gantz government following elections.
Yehuda HaKohen and his wife, Sharona eshet-Kohen, discuss practical examples of decolonizing Jewish identity, as well as the need for Israeli society to engage in a national post-colonial conversation.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Palestinian activist Sulaiman Khatib, who talks about his years in prison and subsequent peace work. The two discuss the material forces driving Israelis and Palestinians into conflict, the need to transcend ostensibly rival narratives and meaningful approaches to peace and Semitic unity.
Rabbi Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Sheikh Omer Salem for an unfiltered Muslim-Jewish dialogue session focusing on the role of the children of Israel in Islamic thought and the role of Islam from a Torah perspective.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined in Jerusalem by Sarah Tuttle-Singer, blogger and social media director for The Times of Israel, to discuss life in Israel, societal frictions, ostensibly rival narratives and meaningful approaches to peace.
Leah Nesya joins Yehuda HaKohen to talk about her experiences as a college student working for Israel advocacy organizations and how those experiences ultimately led her to join the Brit Ḥazon movement and move home to Israel.
Elie Yosef joins Yehuda HaKohen on The Next Stage to discuss his fight to stop Israeli weapons sales to human rights violators.
Yehuda HaKohen is joined in Jerusalem by Rabbi Mike Feuer of "The Jewish Story" to discuss the failure to liberate the city in 1948, the historical significance of the Six Day War and how Yom Yerushalayim has influenced the State of Israel's socio-political trajectory.
In a special bonus episode of The Next Stage, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by political analyst Mordechai Taub to discuss how Israeli parties performed in the country's recent elections and what type of government Binyamin Netanyahu should be expected to form.
In the first episode of The Next Stage podcast, Yehuda HaKohen and Danit Felber discuss Israel's hosting of the Eurovision contest against the backdrop of cultural tensions within Israeli society between the spiritual forces of Yehuda and Yosef.
Welcome to The Next Stage Podcast, with Yehuda HaKohen as your host! We'll be publishing a new episode every other Thursday - don't forget to subscribe to get notifications when there's a new one!