Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas

Boundless Israel, Inc.
  • 0.0 (0)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED TWICE WEEKLY

When it comes to Israel, antisemitism, and American Jewry, the conversations are seemingly endless—there are so many perspectives and so many difficult questions that it can be hard to know where to start.That’s why we created Boundless Insights—to bring you thoughtful, in-depth, and engaging discussions to help make sense of the issues.Our goal is to become your trusted source for insights that are not just informative, but also empowering – giving you the confidence to start conversations of your own.

  1. Why the West Struggles to Recognize Evil – with Natan Sharansky

    11 HR AGO

    Why the West Struggles to Recognize Evil – with Natan Sharansky

    Host Aviva Klompas speaks with Natan Sharansky about one of the defining challenges facing democratic societies today: why the West often struggles to recognize and confront evil. Drawing on his experience as a Soviet dissident who spent nine years in prison, Sharansky reflects on how authoritarian regimes operate and why democratic societies frequently misunderstand them. The conversation explores why many in the West hesitate to clearly identify evil even when faced with terrorism, hostage-taking, and deliberate attacks on civilians.  Sharansky discusses the dangers of moral equivalence, the erosion of moral clarity since the Cold War, and the recurring mistakes democratic societies make when confronting regimes that reject their values. He also reflects on the role fear can play within democracies themselves and whether, after a lifetime spent fighting for freedom, he remains optimistic about the future of free societies. Guest Bio Natan Sharansky is a Soviet-born Israeli human rights activist, former political prisoner, and leading voice on democracy and freedom. Born in Donetsk, Ukraine, Sharansky became a prominent spokesman for the Soviet Jewish and human rights movements and was imprisoned by the Soviet regime for nine years on fabricated charges of treason and espionage after seeking to immigrate to Israel. Following an international campaign for his release, he was freed in 1986 and immigrated to Israel the same day. Sharansky later served in several Israeli governments as a minister and deputy prime minister and went on to chair the Jewish Agency for Israel from 2009 to 2018. He is the recipient of both the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2018 he was awarded the Israel Prize for his contributions to aliyah and the ingathering of exiles. Sharansky is also the author of several influential books on democracy, identity, and freedom, including The Case for Democracy and Never Alone.

    25 min
  2. Taking Stock of the Iran War – with Elliott Abrams

    3 DAYS AGO

    Taking Stock of the Iran War – with Elliott Abrams

    As the war with Iran continues, the conflict is raising fundamental questions about how the United States uses military power and how President Trump’s foreign-policy doctrine may be evolving. For years, Trump was closely associated with an “America First” approach that emphasized avoiding prolonged wars and limiting U.S. military involvement abroad. But the current campaign against Iran suggests a shift.  In this episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with Elliott Abrams, a former deputy national security advisor and Special Representative for Iran. They examine how the war is unfolding so far, what might realistically be achieved militarily, and what the strategic endgame could look like. The conversation also explores the domestic political tensions surrounding the conflict, particularly among Americans who supported Trump because of his opposition to “endless wars.” Abrams discusses whether the president is redefining what “America First” means in practice and whether the campaign against Iran signals a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy. Finally, they step back to consider the global implications of the conflict and how Iran fits into the wider landscape of American adversaries alongside China and Russia. Guest Bio: Elliott Abrams is a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. He has held senior foreign-policy positions in several U.S. administrations, including serving as deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor in the administration of George W. Bush, where he oversaw U.S. policy in the Middle East. During the administration of Donald Trump, Abrams served as Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela. Earlier in his career, he was an assistant secretary of state in the administration of Ronald Reagan.  Abrams was educated at Harvard College, the London School of Economics, and Harvard Law School. He has served on numerous public commissions and advisory boards, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, and he is the author of several books on American foreign policy and the Middle East.  More From This Guest: Trump’s Rules of War in The Free Press

    22 min
  3. Can the US-Israel Alliance Survive This War? - with Dr. Michael Oren

    11 MAR

    Can the US-Israel Alliance Survive This War? - with Dr. Michael Oren

    As the war in the Middle East unfolds, its consequences are being felt far beyond the battlefield. The conflict has triggered fierce debate about American involvement, Israel’s role in U.S. foreign policy, and the future of one of Washington’s most important alliances. In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with historian and former Israeli ambassador to the United States Dr. Michael Oren about how the current war fits into the broader chain of events that began with the October 7 attacks and the strategic miscalculations that helped bring the region to this point. They examine new polling showing deep partisan divisions among Americans toward Israel. The conversation also explores the resurgence of conspiracy theories and antisemitic tropes circulating in political commentary and social media. Guest Bio: Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy. He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group. More From This Guest: The Free Press - From October 7 to Killing Khamenei by Dr. Michael Oren

    24 min
  4. Winning the War and Losing the Narrative – with Dr. Einat Wilf

    9 MAR

    Winning the War and Losing the Narrative – with Dr. Einat Wilf

    As the war with Iran enters its second week, the military campaign has already shown successes. Key leaders have been eliminated, missile and drone attacks have sharply declined, and critical parts of Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure have been damaged. But in the public discourse, a very different battle is unfolding. Across media and politics, fierce arguments have erupted about the legitimacy of the war, America’s role in it, and Israel’s influence on foreign policy. In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Einat Wilf about the narratives surrounding the conflict. They discuss why the wars involving Israel are framed so negatively, how criticism is now coming from both the political left and the populist right, and what these debates reveal about deeper ideological shifts in the West. If the military campaign succeeds but the narrative turns against it, what does that mean for Israel, the United States, and future conflicts? Guest Bio: Dr. Einat Wilf is a leading thinker on Israel, Zionism, foreign policy and education. She was a member of the Israeli Parliament from 2010 to 2013, where she served as Chair of the Education Committee and Member of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Born and raised in Israel, Dr. Wilf served as an Intelligence Officer in the Israel Defense Forces, Foreign Policy Advisor to Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres and a strategic consultant with McKinsey & Company. Dr. Wilf has a BA from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cambridge. She was the Goldman Visiting Professor at Georgetown University. Dr. Wilf is the author of seven books that explore key issues in Israeli society. “We Should All Be Zionists“, published in 2022, brings together her essays from the past four years on Israel, Zionism and the path to peace; the co-authored “The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace”, was published in 2020 Mentioned In this Episode: Wall Street Journal Editorial The Washington Iran War Pessimists

    30 min
See All (146)

About

When it comes to Israel, antisemitism, and American Jewry, the conversations are seemingly endless—there are so many perspectives and so many difficult questions that it can be hard to know where to start.That’s why we created Boundless Insights—to bring you thoughtful, in-depth, and engaging discussions to help make sense of the issues.Our goal is to become your trusted source for insights that are not just informative, but also empowering – giving you the confidence to start conversations of your own.

Information

You Might Also Like