The Pluralist Podcast - with Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg

Orly Erez-Likhovski and Josh Weinberg
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Where Israel’s hardest questions meet Jewish values. This podcast brings Israeli lived reality and Diaspora perspective into honest conversation about religion and state, democracy, pluralism, and Jewish responsibility. Hosted by IRAC Executive Director and attorney Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg, Vice President for Israel and Reform Zionism at the Union for Reform Judaism, each episode creates space for thoughtful dialogue — without slogans, and without simplifications.

  1. Aug 6

    Why Liberal Zionists Cannot Abandon Israel’s National Institutions with KKL-JNF's Eyal Ostrinsky

    Liberal Zionists cannot influence Israel’s national institutions by abandoning them. In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski speak with Eyal Ostrinsky, Chair of KKL-JNF, the youngest person to hold the position and the first Reform Jew to lead one of the Zionist movement’s most powerful institutions. KKL-JNF is known around the Jewish world for blue boxes, forests, and tree planting. But it is also a major political institution whose decisions affect land, education, environmental policy, the rebuilding of Israel’s north and south, and the relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewry. Eyal explains how participation in the World Zionist Congress elections enabled Reform and liberal Zionist representatives to gain real influence over those decisions. He discusses KKL-JNF’s investments in communities devastated since October 7, its approach to community-led memorialization, and his commitment not to purchase land in the West Bank during his leadership. The conversation also examines the decision to stop support for agricultural farm outposts where programs presented as education for at-risk youth were contributing to settlement expansion, as well as KKL-JNF’s responsibilities toward Bedouin, Druze, and other non-Jewish communities. At a time when many liberal Jews feel alienated from Israel’s government, this episode asks whether national Zionist institutions can offer a different path: neither disengagement nor uncritical support, but organized participation capable of shaping policy, budgets, and the future of Zionism itself. Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish life, religious freedom, and pluralism. Please share this episode with someone who believes liberal Jews should have a meaningful voice in shaping Israel’s future. Support IRAC’s work to defend democracy, equality, religious freedom, and pluralism in Israel: https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM

    Why Liberal Zionists Cannot Abandon Israel’s National Institutions with KKL-JNF's Eyal Ostrinsky

  2. Jul 30

    Seeing Israel for Themselves: Yallah! Israel Teens Reflect on What They Found

    Young Jews are often asked to form strong opinions about Israel before they have had the chance to encounter the country for themselves. In this special live episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski sit down in Jerusalem with participants from Yallah! Israel, the URJ’s immersive Israel experience for teenagers. The students reflect on what surprised and challenged them: praying together at the egalitarian section of the Kotel, meeting Palestinian Arab teenagers, visiting Druze and Bedouin communities, confronting Israel’s security reality, and hearing perspectives that did not fit neatly together. Their experiences did not give them a simpler story about Israel. They gave them the knowledge, relationships, and confidence to begin forming their own views. The conversation asks what it takes to build a relationship with Israel that can hold Jewish connection, criticism of the government and Israeli society, responsibility, and hope. It also explores what young Diaspora Jews can do after returning home—not as uncritical defenders or distant observers, but as partners with Israelis working for democracy, equality, religious freedom, and pluralism. Yallah! Israel gives young people the opportunity to see Israel for themselves—and to begin building a relationship worth continuing. Learn more about Yallah! Israel: https://yallahisrael.org/ Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish life, religious freedom, and pluralism. If this conversation matters to you, please consider supporting IRAC’s work to defend democracy, equality, religious freedom, and pluralism in Israel: https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM #YallahIsrael #IsraelEducation #ReformJudaism #JewishYouth #PluralistPodcast #IRAC

  3. Jul 22

    Tisha B’Av in an Age of Jewish Power with Rabbi Michael Marmur

    What does Tisha B’Av ask of Jews who have returned to Jerusalem and now possess the power of a sovereign state? In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski speak with Rabbi Professor Michael Marmur, theologian, educator, activist, former provost of Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, and former chair of Rabbis for Human Rights. Together, they explore what Jewish mourning means in an age of sovereignty. If Jerusalem has been rebuilt and Israel represents a renewed Jewish national home, what remains broken—and what would a truly rebuilt Jerusalem look like? The conversation examines sinat chinam, religious and nationalist zealotry, and the dangers of calls for unity that obscure racism, violence, and attacks on democracy. It also confronts one of the most difficult questions facing Jews today: how to grieve Jewish trauma and suffering without becoming blind to the devastation of Palestinian lives, homes, and communities in Gaza and the West Bank. Drawing on the Book of Lamentations, Rabbi Marmur reflects on the line, “Is there any pain like my pain?” and challenges us to recognize that there is pain like our pain. Jewish grief and Palestinian grief are not in competition, and acknowledging one does not diminish the other. The episode concludes with a demanding alternative to easy hope: even when hope feels distant, we still possess responsibility and agency. Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish life, religious freedom, and pluralism. If this conversation matters to you, please consider supporting IRAC’s work to defend democracy, equality, religious freedom, and pluralism in Israel.

  4. Jul 16

    Walking the Tightrope of Liberal Zionism with IPF’s Shanie Reichman

    Liberal Zionists can either remain isolated and anxious about Israel’s direction—or organize to help shape its future. In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski speak with Shanie Reichman, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Director of IPF Atid at Israel Policy Forum, about young liberal Jews’ relationship with Israel, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Diaspora engagement, and the institutions and political power needed to advance a different vision for Israel. Learn more about IPF Atid: https://israelpolicyforum.org/atid/ Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for more conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish life, religious freedom, and pluralism. If this conversation matters to you, please consider supporting IRAC’s work to defend democracy, equality, religious freedom, and pluralism in Israel: https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM Many young liberal Jews remain deeply connected to Israel while feeling profoundly troubled by its government and uncertain about how their involvement can make a difference. Shanie challenges the idea that they have simply stopped caring. Many are instead watching from a distance, discussing Israel only with trusted friends, and becoming increasingly isolated. This conversation asks how they can move from concern and “quiet doomscrolling” to meaningful partnership with Israelis working for democracy, equality, religious pluralism, peace, and human rights. It also explores what liberal Zionists can learn from movements that have invested patiently in education, leadership, funding, institutions, and political action. Safeguarding the future of both Israel and American Judaism will require a deeper partnership between liberal Jews in Israel and the Diaspora—and a shared ability to help shape Israel’s future. This is a conversation about liberal Zionism, Israel-Diaspora relations, young Jewish leaders, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, democracy, civil society, institution-building, political power, and the future of Israel.

  5. Jul 2

    On Independence Day: Religion, Democracy, and the Promise of America at 250 -Rabbi Michael Holzman

    Religious communities can either deepen division — or help repair democracy. In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski speak with Rabbi Michael Holzman, rabbi of Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation and founder of Faith 250, about America’s 250th birthday, democracy, religious nationalism, and how communities can practice the habits liberal democracy needs. Learn more about Faith 250: https://faith250.org/ Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for more conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish life, religious freedom, and pluralism. If this conversation matters to you, please consider supporting IRAC’s work to defend democracy, equality, religious freedom, and pluralism in Israel: https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM As America approaches its 250th birthday, this conversation asks how we celebrate an imperfect democracy without denial or despair. Rabbi Holzman helps us think about houses of worship as “little democracies” — places where people can practice listening, disagreement, responsibility, and care for the vulnerable. This is a conversation about religion, democracy, America at 250, Israel, religious nationalism, interfaith work, civic responsibility, and hope.

  6. Jun 25

    An Insider’s View of the Haredi World with Dr. Yakir Englander

    Israel’s Haredi crisis is about more than IDF enlistment. In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski speak with Dr. Yakir Englander — a scholar, educator, and community bridge-builder who grew up inside Israel’s Haredi community, later left it, served in the IDF, and has spent much of his life working across Jewish, Israeli, and interfaith communities. To learn more about Yakir’s work or to connect with him directly, visit: https://yakirenglander.com/about/ Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for more conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish life, and religious freedom. If this conversation matters to you, please consider supporting IRAC’s work to defend democracy, equality, religious freedom, and pluralism in Israel: https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/FUNKCDJMHLM As Israel approaches elections, the place of Haredi society has reached a boiling point. Mass protests over army service are disrupting daily life, while the political system continues to avoid a real solution. At the same time, the debate over Haredi integration touches some of the deepest questions facing Israel: shared civic responsibility, women’s rights, equality, education, religious freedom, and the rule of law. Yakir helps us understand Haredi society from the inside — not as a slogan, demographic threat, or political bloc, but as a complex community with different leaders, different fears, different relationships to the state, and growing numbers of Haredim seeking a more modern path. For Orly and IRAC, the question is not only whether Haredim can become more integrated into Israeli society. It is whether Israel can make that integration possible without sacrificing the liberal democratic values that protect us all. If integrating Haredi men into the army requires pushing women out of sight, what happens to female soldiers? If opening academia to Haredi students requires gender-segregated programs, what happens to female lecturers? And if public funding continues to support schools that refuse to teach core subjects, what kind of future are we building — for Haredi children, and for Israel as a whole? This is a conversation about Haredim, democracy, responsibility, fear, power, and the possibility of a shared future.

  7. Jun 18

    Power in Partnership: Organizing for Impact in Israel and the U.S. with RAC

    In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski share a conversation from Israel in Depth with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Rabbi Lindsey Danziger, and Blake Ziegler of the Religious Action Center. Together, they discuss the partnership between RAC and IRAC, the threats facing democracy and religious pluralism in Israel and the United States, and the ways organizing can turn fear and helplessness into agency. The conversation touches on the Kotel bill, attacks on Reform Judaism, public pressure, elections in both countries, antisemitism, religious extremism, and the evolving work of IRAC — from litigation to advocacy, media, community organizing, and local power. At a time when democratic values are being tested across the world, this episode asks what Reform Jews in Israel and North America can learn from each other, how we can act together, and why partnership matters now more than ever. Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast for honest conversations from both sides of the ocean about Israel, democracy, Jewish pluralism, and the future of liberal Judaism. To access all On Demand videos from Israel in Depth, register at this link

  8. Jun 11

    Pride... and Prejudice in the Holy Land: Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie

    What does it mean to be proudly queer, deeply Jewish, and connected to Israel in a time of growing polarization? In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg speak with Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie—an Israeli-born rabbi, storyteller, queer Jewish leader, and co-founding spiritual leader of Lab/Shul in New York. Raised in one of Israel’s most prominent Orthodox rabbinic families, Amichai became the first openly queer rabbi in 39 generations of his family. His remarkable journey is also at the center of the award-winning documentary Sabbath Queen. Together, they discuss: Growing up queer in a prominent Orthodox rabbinic family and the journey to Progressive Judaism in New YorkThe connection between LGBTQ+ equality, democracy, and human rightsThe progress and remaining prejudice facing LGBTQ+ people in IsraelWhether Judaism can become not only more accepting, but a place where LGBTQ+ Jews can fully belong and thriveRabbi Benny Lau’s outspoken support for LGBTQ+ and the critical importance of family support and allyship in helping LGBTQ+ people live openly, authentically, and safelyThe role of religious leaders, legal advocacy, and community partnerships in creating changeThe challenge of being queer, Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist in progressive spaces after October 7This is a conversation about Pride and prejudice, progress and backlash, and the kind of Judaism—and Israel—we still have the power to build. Subscribe to The Pluralist Podcast and share this episode to help amplify liberal Jewish values, equality, religious freedom, and democracy in Israel and beyond.

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Where Israel’s hardest questions meet Jewish values. This podcast brings Israeli lived reality and Diaspora perspective into honest conversation about religion and state, democracy, pluralism, and Jewish responsibility. Hosted by IRAC Executive Director and attorney Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg, Vice President for Israel and Reform Zionism at the Union for Reform Judaism, each episode creates space for thoughtful dialogue — without slogans, and without simplifications.

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