In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar speaks with Roya Hakakian, the acclaimed Jewish Iranian-American writer, journalist, and poet. While the headlines say "ceasefire," nothing truly feels at rest. Tensions between Israel and the Iranian regime remain thick in the air, and the deeper currents shaping the region are still in motion. That’s why Roya is the perfect guest. With the insight of someone who lived through Iran’s revolution and exile, she offers a perspective that goes beyond geopolitics. Roya doesn’t just analyze events, she gives voice to the people living through them – to questions of identity, memory, and truth. This conversation is essential if you want to understand not just the facts on the ground in Iran, but the soul of a society.

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In the latest episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar sits down with acclaimed writer Adam Kirsch to unpack the most important concept you've probably never fully understood: settler colonialism. From campus encampments to the terror attack on embassy staff in D.C., and even the shocking celebration of October 7th by some academics — this is the lens that explains it all. Kirsch offers one of the clearest, most incisive explanations of the ideology fueling today’s most alarming movements. If you want to make sense of this moment, don’t miss this essential conversation.

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In this episode, Tamar reflects on a Friday night dinner that took an unexpected turn — a conversation about how one podcast has become a lifeline for American Jews navigating an era of upheaval. Call Me Back, hosted by Dan Senor, is no longer just a podcast. It’s a ritual, a cultural touchstone, and for many, a new pillar of Jewish identity.

Dan Senor joins Tamar to unpack how Call Me Back rose to prominence in the American Jewish world, and why its impact goes far beyond politics or news. It’s about belonging, about searching for clarity in chaos, and about the dialogue between Israel and the diaspora that now feels more urgent than ever.

If you’d like to be in touch with us, contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

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