One People, Two Realities: Israeli and American Jews in Tension (285)
About this episode
The episode explores the emotional and psychological divide between Israeli and American Jews in the context of recent tensions and events.
Check out Orthodox Conundrum Commentary on Substack and get your free subscription by going to https://scottkahn.substack.com/ - and paid subscribers get this and other episodes of the Orthodox Conundrum Podcast ad-free and with early access and additional bonus content! In the wake of war, many Israelis have begun asking a difficult question: Have American Jews become more distant from Israel, or does it only feel that way? In this wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation, Rabbi David Fine and Dr. Laura Shaw Frank join me to explore what is really happening beneath the surface. Together, we examine shifting patterns of engagement, the emotional and psychological divide between Israeli and American Jewish experiences, and the uncomfortable reality that what strengthens one community can sometimes strain the other. From declining fundraising and "compassion fatigue," to rising antisemitism in the United States and divergent beliefs about the advisability of the current war, and the very different ways each community experiences this moment, this episode challenges easy assumptions. It also raises a deeper question: are we witnessing disengagement, or simply living in two very…
People in this episode
Host: Scott Kahn
Guests: Rabbi David Fine, Dr. Laura Shaw Frank
Topics covered
- Israeli and American Jews
- community engagement
- antisemitism
- cultural divide
- shared destiny
Keywords
- Israeli Jews
- American Jews
- engagement
- antisemitism
- war
- community
- understanding
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Orthodox Conundrum, Substack, Women's Gallery Podcast
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