Kippahgate: From Controversy to the Classroom with Alex Sinclair

Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education

Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education
Kippahgate: From Controversy to the Classroom with Alex Sinclair
May 07, 2026 Season 6 Episode 29
The Jewish Education Project

In this exclusive, uncensored conversation, David Bryfman interviews Alex Sinclair, the Israel educator at the center of a recent controversy. His kippah, embroidered with both Israeli and Palestinian flags, sparked outrage, led to his arrest, and was ultimately returned to him with the Palestinian flag removed. 

David and Alex go beyond the incident to explore the deeper, harder questions: How can you be a proud, public Zionist while openly criticizing Israel? Can you hold complexity without losing connection?  

Alex pushes the boundaries of what it means to love a country authentically, reminding us that there’s no such thing as apolitical Israel education, and that the work is personal. A raw and honest must-listen for anyone having these conversations with their students or children. 

Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.org

This episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Rina Cohen Schwarz. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 

This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 

If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. 

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