The Zionist Paratroopers and the Meaning of Heroism — with Matti Friedman
About this episode
Yehuda Kurtzer discusses the narratives of heroism in Jewish history with journalist Matti Friedman.
What do our narratives of heroism do for the Jewish people—and what do they hide? On this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer sits down with journalist and author Matti Friedman to discuss his new book, Out of the Sky: a story about the Zionist paratroopers sent into Europe during World War II. Together they explore the uneasy relationship between myth and history: how failed missions become national legend, why Jewish heroism became so central to Zionist self-understanding, and what gets lost when real people are turned into symbols. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS Here’s more from the Shalom Hartman Institute this week: Register for our summer programs for lay leaders, rabbis, and educators! Secure your spot at the Florida Leadership Conference this Sunday!
People in this episode
Host: Yehuda Kurtzer
Guest: Matti Friedman
Topics covered
- heroism
- Zionism
- Jewish identity
- myth vs history
- World War II
- national legend
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Shalom Hartman Institute
Books & works: Out of the Sky
More episodes of Identity/Crisis
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- The Afterlife of Antisemitism — with Flora Cassen
- Why Do We Pray?
- Staying Human in the Age of AI — with David Zvi Kalman (Re-release)
- A Hollywood Midrash: The Making of The Prince of Egypt
- What Do We Owe the Stranger? — with Seyla Benhabib
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