Jewish Life in an Illiberal Age— with Jeffrey Goldberg

About this episode

Yehuda Kurtzer and Jeffrey Goldberg discuss the future of American-Jewish life in the context of rising antisemitism and the challenges to liberalism.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, what does this moment reveal about the future of the American- Jewish experiment? In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer is joined by The Atlantic’s editor‑in‑chief Jeffrey Goldberg for a conversation about American-Jewish power, flourishing, and fear. Reflecting on the unprecedented success of Jewish life in the United States — and the growing sense that the liberal project that made it possible is under strain — they wrestle with antisemitism before and after October 7, the erosion of pluralism from both the right and the left, and the enduring Jewish tension between pessimism and hope. This conversation was recorded at an event convened by the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Washington, DC center for Judaism, Israel, and Public Policy, at the Capital Jewish Museum on April 16th. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

People in this episode

Host: Yehuda Kurtzer

Guest: Jeffrey Goldberg

Topics covered

• American-Jewish experience
• antisemitism
• liberalism
• pluralism
• Jewish identity
• hope and pessimism

Keywords

• American-Jewish power
• antisemitism
• liberal project
• pluralism
• Jewish flourishing
• hope
• pessimism

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Atlantic, Shalom Hartman Institute

Books & works: Identity/Crisis

Places: Washington, DC, Capital Jewish Museum

More episodes of Identity/Crisis

• The Role of Journalism in a Post-Truth Age — with Abigail Pogrebin · June 9, 2026 · 51 min
• The American Jewish Past and What Comes Next — with Nicholas Lemann · June 2, 2026 · 51 min
• American Catholics, the Pope, and the Jews – with Robert George · May 26, 2026 · 52 min
• When Do We Speak Up? – with Abe Foxman (Re-release) · May 19, 2026 · 51 min
• Rational or Reckless? War, Iran, and the Limits of Strategy— with Michael Koplow · May 12, 2026 · 50 min
• When Mysticism Goes Mainstream — with Daniel Matt · May 5, 2026 · 46 min