The Jewish People's Podcast
The Jewish People's Podcast explores the most pressing issues facing the global Jewish community. Hosted by Yaakov Katz in conversation with leading experts, politicians and thought leaders, the podcast delves into topics such as Israel-Diaspora relations, religious and cultural identity, Israeli politics, and contemporary Jewish life. Each episode aims to inform and engage listeners through insightful discussions and in-depth analysis.
Episodes
172 episodes
Carrying Loss, Finding Strength with Rabbi Yirmi Stavisky
Join us for a powerful and deeply personal conversation with Rabbi Yirmi Stavisky, former principal of Himmelfarb High School in Jerusalem. Rabbi Stavisky, who has lost ten of his students in the current Israel-Hamas war, joins us to share his ...
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Season 1
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Episode 175
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44:17
Statecraft During War
In this episode, JPPI Co-Chair, author, and veteran American diplomat Dennis Ross joins Yaakov Katz for a wide-ranging conversation on the mechanics of statecraft in the context of war and regime change, drawing on key historical analogies. The...
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Season 1
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Episode 174
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46:02
Why is Bibi in America?
Dr. Shira Efron, Research Director at the Israel Policy Forum, joins Yaakov in this episode to hash out the politics, strategy, and symbolism behind Netanyahu’s trip to Washington. They take on big questions like whether this visit marks a turn...
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Season 1
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Episode 172
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31:18
Qatar and Israel - Behind the Headlines
In this episode, Yaakov Katz is joined by Dr. Einat Wilf, author of The War of Return, for an in-depth conversation on the Qatargate scandal, the role of UNRWA, and the Israeli government's failure—particularly under Prime Minister Net...
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Season 1
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Episode 171
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29:04
Can Israel Overcome Division?
In this episode, author Yossi Klein Halevi delves into the deepening divisions within Israeli society, the government's deliberate stoking of those fractures to maintain political leverage, Netanyahu's role in exacerbating the schism, and a vis...
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Season 1
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Episode 170
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34:08
Is Saudi Normalization Still Possible?
In this episode, Yaakov Katz speaks with Jason Greenblatt, former advisor on Israel and Assistant to the President and Special Representative for International Negotiations under President Donald Trump. They discuss the Trump administration’s r...
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Season 1
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Episode 169
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33:51
Protests, Power Struggles and The Path of War
As the war in Gaza resumes, the urgency surrounding the return of Israeli hostages has intensified the wave of protests across the country. Public frustration is mounting, not just over the prolonged captivity of those still held by Hamas, but ...
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Season 1
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Episode 168
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35:52
Israel On The Edge
In this episode, we welcome Haaretz journalist and author Anshel Pfeffer for an in-depth discussion on Israel’s renewed war in Gaza and the escalating internal political crisis, the Netanyahu coalition and whether or not the resumption of the w...
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Season 1
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Episode 167
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37:22
A Father's Fight, A Hostage Son's Survival
A father's fight, a hostage son's survival. In this episode, JPPI's Yaakov Katz speaks with Prof. Jonathan Dekel-Chen about his family's relentless battle to bring his son Sugui home from Hamas captivity, the diplomatic and political str...
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Season 1
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Episode 166
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41:28
Is Syria Disintegrating Again?
Clashes in Syria spark questions about the new regime’s stability. Charles Lister, head of the Syria Initiative at the Middle East Institute, joins JPPI senior fellow Yaakov Katz to break it down—what’s happening, regional reactions, and what i...
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Season 1
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Episode 165
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40:52
Jewish Peoplehood Post October 7th
In a post-October 7 world, what does Jewish peoplehood mean for Israelis today? Naama Klar, Director of The Koret International School for Jewish Peoplehood at ANU, joins us to explore how identity, resilience, and global connections can shape ...
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Season 1
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Episode 164
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37:34
The World Zionist Organization
In this episode, we speak with Yizhar Hess, Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, about the World Zionist Congress – the global Jewish parliament founded by Theodor Herzl. He explains how it shapes Jewish priorities, allocates bil...
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Season 1
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Episode 163
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29:21
The Ceasefire Deal at an Impasse
With the ceasefire deal at an impasse, Israel has suspended humanitarian aid into Gaza, and 24 living hostages remain in Hamas captivity. What happens next? In this episode, we’re joined by Michal Bar-Asher Siegal and Shmuel Rosner to break ...
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Season 1
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Episode 162
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31:16
The Politics Surrounding The Second Stage of The Hostage Deal
In this episode, we sit down with Tal Schneider, senior diplomatic and political correspondent for the Times of Israel, to dissect the high-stakes drama unfolding in Israel. Will it move to a second stage of the hostage deal, and can Prime M...
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Season 1
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Episode 161
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43:08
The Second Stage of the Hostage Deal
This episode digs into the high-stakes negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a potential second stage of a hostage deal and its impact on Netanyahu’s government. Gil Troy and Shmuel Rosner also analyze Trump’s stance on Ukraine an...
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Season 1
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Episode 160
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34:00
Qatar's Diplomatic Game
In this episode, we’re joined by Yigal Carmon, founder and president of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), to break down the complexities of Qatar’s diplomatic game. From hosting world-class sports events to funding Hamas, Qatar ...
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Season 1
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Episode 159
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39:34
The Significance of Diaspora Jewry
In this episode Yaakov speaks with Shlomit Mali, CEO of AMI – the National Alliance for Strengthening Israelis’ Connection to World Jewry. She argues that there is a vital need for Israelis to deepen their awareness of the significan...
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Season 1
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Episode 158
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28:39
Israel’s Standoff with Hamas over the Hostages
Jerusalem Post senior analyst Herb Keinon joins us today to break down the latest in Israel’s standoff with Hamas over the hostages, Trump’s Gaza plan, and what the future holds for PM Netanyahu. With decades of experience covering Israeli p...
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Season 1
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Episode 157
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37:30
The Haunting Images of Israeli Hostages
The haunting images of Eli, Or, and Ohad — frail, emaciated, yet finally free — are a stark reminder of the brutality they endured in Hamas captivity. In this episode, we discuss the moral and strategic imperatives behind eliminating Hamas and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 156
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41:02
Trumps Plan for Gaza
In this episode, we discuss President Trump’s provocative remarks about transforming Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East." JPPI senior fellow's Shmuel Rosner and Sara Hirschhorn explore how Trump’s bold move disrupts decades of policy a...
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Season 1
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Episode 155
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35:31
Israel's Economy and The War
In this episode, Prof. Ran Kivetz of Columbia University challenges the narrative that Israel’s economy is on the brink. Hear why he believes Israel’s economy is not only resilient but poised for growth, particularly in the tech sector. We’l...
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Season 1
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Episode 154
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34:28
Israel and Saudi Arabia
Dan Feferman, co-chair of Sharaka, discusses the shifting landscape of Jewish engagement since October 7. and how Israel can normalize ties with Saudi Arabia. He also shares insights from his recent JPPI report, “In Search of Authenticity”, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 153
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36:37
Tamar Ish Shalom
Tamar Ish Shalom, one of Israel’s top journalists, joins us in today’s episode. She discusses her new podcast Jewish Crossroads, which explores how the October 7 attacks and the ongoing war are reshaping Jewish identity in the U.S. <...
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Season 1
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Episode 152
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34:18
Where Israel Went Wrong in Gaza
In this episode, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, President of Shurat HaDin - Israel Law Center, joins us to discuss her efforts defending Israel's legitimacy and combating online extremism. We also dive into the recent hostage deal with Hamas, explori...
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Season 1
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Episode 151
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36:48