The Fifth Question

Daniel Levine
  • 5.0 (35)
  • Judaism
  • Daily

My name is Daniel Levine and I am a Rabbi and Jewish History Lecturer at UC Irvine! I have conversations about the most pressing issues facing the Jewish community with professors, Rabbis, and politicians with a wide range of views. Hope you enjoy :)

  1. Nov 6

    JD Vance Turns on Israel. Are Jewish Republicans Next? | Jonathan Tobin

    Rabbi Daniel Levine speaks with Jonathan Tobin about JD Vance, Israel, antisemitism in American politics, and the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Does Vance’s willingness to blame Israel and avoid taking sides in debates over antisemitism signal a deeper shift in the Republican Party? They also discuss the challenges facing American Jews, political divisions in Israel, and what today’s political climate could mean for Jewish communities.Watch the full conversation and share your perspective in the comments. 00:00 Introduction00:51 JD Vance, midterm losses, and Israel08:29 Vance and Jewish Republicans12:42 Vance, Tucker Carlson, and antisemitism15:19 Is MAGA over?20:32 The future and safety of American Jews27:35 Abdul El-Sayed and anti-Israel politics32:45 Netanyahu and Israel’s election39:19 Arab parties and Israeli coalition politics46:54 Haredim and Israel’s coalition math48:48 Jewish resilience and closing thoughts#JDVance #Israel #Antisemitism #AmericanPolitics #JonathanTobin

  2. Nov 2

    Should Jews Lose Faith in Liberalism After October 7? | Andrea Martin

    Since October 7, many Jews have questioned where they belong in liberal politics. Has liberalism failed to protect Jewish communities from antisemitism—or is this a moment to rethink how Jewish identity fits within it?Professor Andrea Martin, a law professor at Penn State Dickinson Law and co-founder of the Center for Jewish Legal Studies, joins the conversation to discuss Jewish peoplehood, antisemitism on campus, anti-Zionism, free speech, and the law. We explore how courts assess claims of antisemitic discrimination, why Jewish legal studies is emerging as a field, and how legal scholarship can help institutions better understand and address antisemitism.#Antisemitism #Liberalism #JewishIdentity #FreeSpeech #JewishStudies

  3. Oct 21

    Israel’s Next Election: Can Netanyahu Stay in Power? | Alon Burstein

    Israel’s next election could determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu stays in power—and what direction the country takes. Rabbi Daniel Levine speaks with Alon Burstein, of the ‪@Israel-Palestine-Report‬, about how Israeli elections work, the major political blocs, and the issues shaping the race. They explain Israel’s parliamentary system, proportional representation, and coalition negotiations, including why smaller parties can have significant influence. The conversation also explores Netanyahu’s appeal, Itamar Ben-Gvir and the far right, the opposition’s path to forming a government, and how judicial reform could affect Israel’s future.If you’re looking for an explanation of Israeli politics, the next Israeli election, or the debate over who will lead Israel, this conversation offers context and analysis. Subscribe for more conversations about Israel, Jewish life, politics, and the issues shaping the region. #IsraelElection #IsraeliPolitics #Netanyahu

  4. Oct 16

    Debating an Anti-Zionist: Shaiel Ben Ephraim

    Is anti-Zionism antisemitism? Rabbi Daniel Levine and Shaiel Ben Ephraim discuss Israel, Zionism, antisemitism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a candid conversation across deep disagreement.They explore whether criticism of Israel is sometimes conflated with antisemitism—and whether antisemitism also appears within anti-Israel activism. The conversation turns to accusations of double standards at the UN, U.S. support for Israel, Jewish self-criticism, Hamas’s goals and ideology, Palestinian civilian protections, and the future of Israel.Shaiel Ben Ephraim explains his evolving relationship to Zionism and argues for equal rights. Rabbi Daniel Levine challenges him on the historical comparisons, Hamas, and whether a one-state solution is realistic. They close by discussing Israel’s elections and the difficulty of having a serious conversation across ideological differences.Chapters00:00 The conversation and the earlier Gaza debate01:00 Antisemitism in anti-Israel activism06:52 Is anti-Zionism antisemitism?09:06 Israel criticism and claims of double standards10:21 Jewish self-criticism and Israel11:58 U.S. policy, the ICC, and arms14:00 U.S. ties with other countries in the region42:08 Historical comparisons and antisemitism44:09 Hamas, Israel, and civilian protections48:29 Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood52:27 Shaiel on Zionism and Israel’s election54:14 Equal rights and the one-state idea56:06 Closing reflections #Israel #Antisemitism #Zionism #IsraeliPalestinianConflict #Hamas

  5. Oct 11

    Jewish Lesbian Candidate Says She Was Rejected for Supporting Israel | Tanya Tsikanovsky

    West Hollywood City Council candidate Tanya Tsikanovsky joins Rabbi Daniel Levine to discuss why a lesbian bar canceled her campaign meet-and-greet after backlash over her support for Israel. She shares her experience as a Jewish lesbian in LGBTQ spaces, her family’s Soviet Jewish history, and why she left the Democratic Party after October 7.They also discuss antisemitism, Zionism, political identity, and the growing divide over Israel on college campuses. Chapters00:00 Meet Tanya Tsikanovsky00:56 Why her campaign event was canceled03:49 Jews and LGBTQ spaces04:50 Soviet Jewish identity and her political shift10:20 Intersectionality and LGBTQ activism18:44 Backlash in the gay community21:09 Jewish Democrats and political identity26:37 Antisemitism on campus#Antisemitism #Zionism #lgbtq

  6. Oct 6

    Why Universities Failed to Confront Campus Antisemitism | Shai Davidai

    Why did universities struggle to confront antisemitism on campus after October 7? Columbia professor Shai Davidai joins Rabbi Daniel Levine to discuss campus protests, Columbia’s response, and what Davidai calls “American intellectual antisemitism.”Drawing on his new book, American Intellectual Antisemitism, Davidai discusses the Columbia vigil that opens the book, the Mahmoud Khalil case, and why he believes university leaders failed to enforce their own rules. He and Daniel also talk about how Jewish students can respond to anti-Zionist activism, the limits of confrontational protest, and the political future of Israel and the United States.Subscribe to The Fifth Question for conversations about Jewish life, Israel, antisemitism, and the ideas shaping public debate.#ShaiDavidai #CampusAntisemitism #ColumbiaUniversity

  7. Sep 30

    Debating a Religious Anti-Zionist: Is Zionism Anti-Jewish?

    Can a Jew reject Zionism on religious grounds? Rabbi Daniel Levine and Jacob Faturechi debate Satmar anti-Zionism, Jewish theology, and the history of the modern State of Israel.The conversation begins with a question that often gets blurred: What do we mean by Zionism? They examine the differences between political, religious, and cultural Zionism; how Jewish communities have understood sovereignty and exile; and whether the founding of Israel represents a break with traditional Judaism, a continuation of Jewish history, or both.Rabbi Levine challenges Satmar arguments about Zionism’s historical consequences while acknowledging that religious anti-Zionism has deep roots in Jewish thought. The discussion also turns to Chabad’s complex relationship with Israel and the tension between Jewish life in the Diaspora and Jewish self-determination.This is a long-form debate about where theology ends and historical argument begins—and whether people with sharply different views can still have a serious, civil conversation.Watch and share your perspective in the comments: Is religious anti-Zionism a legitimate Jewish position?#Satmar #AntiZionism #Zionism #Israel #JewishHistory #Judaism #Chabad #JewishTheology

  8. Sep 23

    Should Jews Leave the Democratic Party? | Jenny Rae Le Roux

    Are Jewish voters leaving the Democratic Party over Israel and antisemitism?Jenny Rae Le Roux, Republican candidate for Congress in California’s 47th District, joins Rabbi Daniel Levine for a candid conversation about the political realignment taking place among Jewish voters—and why she believes Orange County’s Jewish community could decide this election.Jenny Rae discusses her support for Israel, her disagreements with Congressman Dave Min, the Democratic Party’s changing relationship with Jewish voters, and whether Republicans have adequately confronted antisemitism within their own coalition.The conversation also covers Donald Trump, JD Vance, Tucker Carlson, January 6, abortion, tariffs, housing affordability, artificial intelligence, the future of young Americans, and Jenny Rae’s experiences visiting Israel.Is the Republican Party becoming a new political home for Jewish voters—or will disagreements over abortion, Trump, and other social issues keep most Jews aligned with the Democratic Party?Learn more about Jenny Rae Le Roux and her campaign:https://jennyraeca.comCHAPTERS:00:00 – Introduction00:39 – Why Jewish voters could determine the election01:46 – Is the Democratic Party still a safe political home for Jews?09:00 – Rabbi Daniel’s experience with Dave Min14:37 – Jenny Rae’s criticism of Dave Min’s Israel record18:26 – Why many Jewish voters remain Democrats23:03 – JD Vance, Tucker Carlson, Trump and Israel25:00 – January 6 and election integrity28:17 – Tariffs, free markets and the changing Republican Party32:00 – California’s housing affordability crisis35:55 – Abortion and the Jewish vote39:10 – The Jewish perspective on abortion42:58 – What matters to young voters?46:43 – Will AI eliminate young people’s jobs?50:20 – Jenny Rae’s experiences in Israel54:29 – The America First case for supporting Israel58:03 – A message to Orange County’s Jewish votersSubscribe for thoughtful conversations about Judaism, Israel, politics, history and the defining debates shaping Jewish life today.#JewishVoters #Israel #JennyRaeLeRoux #CaliforniaPolitics #RepublicanParty

See All (205)

5
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

My name is Daniel Levine and I am a Rabbi and Jewish History Lecturer at UC Irvine! I have conversations about the most pressing issues facing the Jewish community with professors, Rabbis, and politicians with a wide range of views. Hope you enjoy :)

Information

  • Creator
    Daniel Levine
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    205
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Daniel Levine
  • Show Website
    The Fifth Question

You Might Also Like