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.

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In this episode, Tamar sits down with Guri Alfi and Moshe Samuels – the creative minds behind The New Jew, a groundbreaking Israeli documentary series exploring Jewish life in America. Guri, one of Israel’s most beloved comedians, and Moshe, an acclaimed director and producer, aren’t American Jews themselves. But over the last few years, they’ve immersed themselves in the hopes, challenges, and transformations of American Jewry.

Their journey began with a mission: to bridge the growing gap between Israeli and American Jews. That mission took shape in The New Jew, a humorous, heartfelt exploration of Jewish identity across the ocean. Now, after October 7, they’ve returned to the U.S. to ask deeper, harder questions – filming a new season in a very different world.

Tamar speaks with them about what’s changed since their first trip, what surprised them most in Jewish America after October 7, and what Israelis still don’t understand about their American cousins. With insight and candor, they reflect on the shifting relationship between the two largest Jewish communities in the world – and what it means to be part of a global Jewish story in a time of crisis and reconnection.

This episode was recorded in March 2025, and reflects events and sentiments from that time.*

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In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar sits down with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl – Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York and one of the most influential spiritual leaders in America today. Rabbi Buchdahl leads one of the largest and most vibrant congregations in the country, but what truly sets her apart is her ability to connect across lines of age, identity, and ideology.

With honesty and grace, she tackles some of the most pressing questions facing Jews today: What does it mean to lead in a moment of profound crisis? How do we maintain Jewish unity in a time of growing fragmentation? And what role does faith play in coping with a world that can feel increasingly chaotic – and, at times, hostile?

In this wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Buchdahl opens up about the responsibilities of leadership, the shifting terrain of American Jewish life, and how we can meet this moment with courage, compassion, and clarity.

* The episode was recorded in February 2025, and therefore any recent events, such as attacks, align with that timeline.

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In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, we sit down with Sarah Hurwitz—former chief speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama—to discuss her upcoming book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us.

Sarah opens up about how a personal breakup sparked an unexpected intellectual and emotional journey into Judaism—not through traditional religious practice, but through a deep engagement with Jewish texts, history, and ideas. She challenges the concept of “cultural Judaism,” advocating instead for a more informed, substantive connection to Jewish heritage.

We also delve into how centuries of antisemitism have shaped Jewish self-perception, and hear Sarah’s candid and deeply disappointed reflections on how her alma mater, Harvard University, has responded to recent events.

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

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This special episode of Jewish Crossroads is released ahead of Passover — the holiday of freedom. But for 59 Israeli families, true freedom still feels painfully out of reach.

Tamar speaks with Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the American-Israeli mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. Rachel has become one of the most powerful and persistent voices in the global campaign to bring the remaining hostages home.

In this conversation, we discuss her grief, the moral clarity that sustains her, and the strength she’s found in prayer, in community, and in her son’s own words — shared in captivity to help others survive.

Rachel speaks with honesty about Hersh’s life and death, while continuing to fight for those still living in darkness. She challenges the government’s refusal to act, honors the voices of the diaspora, and asks us all: What kind of people will we be in this moment?

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

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When Joshua Leifer’s book Tablets Shattered was released, it was clear he wasn’t pulling any punches. A fierce critique of the Jewish establishment, a personal reckoning with American Jewish identity, and a progressive take on Israel that refuses easy answers – the book was bound to provoke strong reactions. But no one expected his Brooklyn launch event to be canceled at the last minute because his guest, a Reform rabbi, was a Zionist. In this episode, Leifer joins Tamarto unpack that surreal moment and the deeper tensions it exposed. With sharp insight and unflinching honesty, he delves into the struggles of being a progressive Jew in today’s polarized environment, the moral test of October 7th, and why he believes many of his progressive allies failed it – leading him to reassess his affiliations while holding firm to his core political beliefs.