The Fifth Question

Daniel Levine
  • 5.0 (35)
  • Judaism
  • Updated 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. 2d ago

    Can Israel Overcome its Political Crisis? w/ Tomer Persico

    Is Israel facing its greatest internal crisis? Can liberal Zionism survive the pressures of both anti-Israel extremism and growing religious fundamentalism? And what does the Jewish idea that humanity is created in the image of God have to do with democracy, human rights, secularism, and the future of the liberal order?In this wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with renowned Israeli scholar, public intellectual, and author Tomer Persico to discuss the future of Israel, the challenge of Haredi integration, Jewish mysticism, the roots of Western liberalism, and the crisis facing democracies around the world.Persico also discusses his acclaimed book, In God's Image: How Western Civilization Was Shaped by a Revolutionary Idea, which traces how the biblical concept that human beings are created in the image of God transformed Western ideas of equality, freedom, dignity, and individual rights.📖 Get Tomer Persico's book: https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Image-Wes...In God's Image: How Western Civilization Was Shaped by a Revolutionary IdeaTopics include:The crisis of liberal ZionismIsrael after October 7Haredi society and the future of the Israeli social contractReligious fundamentalism and democracyThe origins of human rights and individual dignityJudaism, Christianity, and Western civilizationSlavery, freedom, and the image of GodJewish mysticism, Kabbalah, Hasidism, and MaimonidesWhy liberalism is struggling in the 21st centuryIdentity politics, populism, and the search for meaning#israel #zionisme #judaism #jewishhistory #TomerPersico #liberalism #JewishMysticism #kabbalah #humanrights #democracy #middleeast #politicalphilosophy #jewishthought #religion #podcast #hartman Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:43 The difficult position of liberal Zionists today02:47 Has the Iran war helped or hurt Israel strategically?03:20 Two ways of thinking about Israel: triumph and crisis05:08 Israel's coming election and political tensions06:05 The Haredi crisis and military service debate08:34 Why are Haredim often opposed to the Jewish state?10:10 Modernity and the transformation of Jewish identity12:31 Why Haredi separatism became entrenched in Israel14:15 Religious fundamentalism and cosmic narratives16:54 Finding hope amid Israel's challenges17:24 Persico's book: In God's Image18:27 How the image of God shaped Western civilization19:35 Human dignity, autonomy, and rights discourse20:46 The roots of modern liberalism21:50 Slavery, freedom, and human equality24:14 Gregory of Nyssa and the first rejection of slavery27:11 The Judeo-Christian tradition debate30:50 Jewish mysticism: outsider influence or native tradition?32:11 Mysticism from the Bible through Kabbalah35:13 Mysticism versus Jewish law37:02 Sabbateanism, Hasidism, and antinomianism38:55 The crisis of liberalism today40:07 Why liberalism is struggling because it succeeded41:24 People need stories, not just systems42:05 Populism, identity politics, and the search for meaning44:40 Can liberalism be repaired?45:28 Beyond radical individualism46:48 Final thoughtsThis interview explores some of the most pressing questions facing Israel, Judaism, and Western civilization today. Whether you're interested in political philosophy, Jewish thought, religion, democracy, or the future of the liberal order, this conversation offers a fascinating and nuanced perspective.

    47 min

  2. Jul 2

    How Oct 7 Changed a Leading Reform Rabbi w/ Rick Steinberg

    Rabbi Rick Steinberg joins Rabbi Daniel Levine for a wide-ranging conversation on Zionism, Reform Judaism, antisemitism after October 7th, interfaith relations, campus activism, free speech, Jewish identity, and the future of the American Jewish community.Drawing on decades of leadership in Orange County and the Reform movement, Rabbi Steinberg reflects on how October 7 changed his worldview, why he believes Zionism must remain central to Jewish life, the challenges facing Jewish institutions, and what comes next for American Judaism.Topics include Hebrew Union College, rabbinical education, anti-Zionism, antisemitism on campus, free speech debates, Jewish communal strategy, Reform Judaism, Jewish demographics, Orange County Jewish life, and the future relationship between liberal and traditional Judaism.Whether you're interested in Israel, Jewish identity, campus issues, religion, politics, or the future of the Jewish community, this conversation offers a thoughtful and nuanced perspective.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – How October 7 Changed Everything00:46 – Introduction: Rabbi Rick Steinberg01:42 – Zionism and the Reform Movement04:06 – Anti-Zionist Jews and Jewish Identity05:49 – Should Rabbinical Schools Have Ideological Litmus Tests?08:00 – Teaching at Hebrew Union College09:11 – October 7 and an Interfaith Crisis of Faith10:49 – Do We Need More Zionist Rabbis?12:15 – Young Jews After October 714:22 – Universalism vs Particularism in Jewish Life15:34 – Progressive Coalitions and Anti-Zionism17:54 – Behind-the-Scenes Jewish Leadership Conversations18:34 – Jews, Social Justice Movements, and Disillusionment19:38 – Antisemitism in Academia, Medicine, and Professional Life21:49 – Where Does Antisemitism Come From?22:32 – Social Media and the Mainstreaming of Hate23:20 – Why Antisemitism Is Often Treated Differently25:03 – Jews, Whiteness, and Historical Memory26:03 – Free Speech, Universities, and Double Standards27:39 – What Are the Limits of Free Speech?28:32 – Productive Dialogue vs Anti-Normalization30:01 – Campus Encampments and Student Activism32:09 – The Future of Jewish Denominations33:47 – Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Judaism35:28 – Why Collaboration Matters More Than Labels37:24 – Torah, God, and Israel as Shared Foundations38:43 – The Orange County Jewish Demographic Study40:48 – What Makes Orange County's Jewish Community Unique?42:27 – Reaching Unaffiliated Jews43:54 – Closing Reflections#judaism #israel #zionisme #Antisemitism #jewishcommunity #reformjudaism #jewishhistory #CampusAntisemitism #october7th #jewishidentity #RabbiRickSteinberg #RabbiDanielLevine #jewishpodcast #middleeast #HigherEducation #JewishLife #orangecounty #jewishthought #HebrewUnionCollege #JewishLeadership

    45 min

  3. Jun 30

    From Jihadist to Pro-Israel

    Former jihadist turned counterterrorism expert Mubin Shaikh shares his journey from radicalization after 9/11 to infiltrating terrorist networks, helping stop the Toronto 18 plot, and confronting extremism from within. We discuss Islam, jihad, Israel, Zionism, antisemitism, Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, radicalization, de-radicalization, and the future of Jewish-Muslim relations. A candid conversation on faith, terrorism, and the search for peace. #israel #islam #Antisemitism #jihad #hamas #counterterrorism #middleeast

    1h 4m

  4. Jun 25

    Where to Find Truth on Israel/Palestine with Alon Burstein

    How should we think about truth, misinformation, Israel, Zionism, antisemitism, academia, and social media in 2026?In this wide-ranging conversation, Rabbi Daniel Levine (The Fifth Question Podcast) sits down with Alon Burstein (‪@Israel-Palestine-Report‬) to discuss how educators, academics, journalists, and content creators navigate one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in the world: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.To listen to our conversation about the Temple Mount see here:    • Everything You Need to Know about the Temp...  We explore:✅ The rise of misinformation after October 7✅ How social media changed public understanding of Israel and Gaza✅ Academia vs public education✅ The role of YouTube in combating misinformation✅ Facts vs interpretation in political discourse✅ Antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and historical context✅ Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and media narratives✅ The challenge of objective reporting in wartime✅ Why people consume information through ideology✅ Jewish perspectives on Israel and Zionism✅ The future of Israeli democracy✅ Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) politics, military service, and Israeli elections✅ The Temple Mount, religion, and Middle East conflict✅ Free speech, education, and intellectual honestyWhether you're interested in Israel, Palestine, Jewish history, Zionism, antisemitism, religion, politics, media bias, or the future of public discourse, this conversation offers a thoughtful and nuanced perspective from two educators who spend their lives engaging difficult questions.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:00 Why Start a YouTube Channel?03:00 October 7 and the Misinformation Crisis04:00 Academia and Public Education07:00 The Internet, Information, and Truth08:30 The Purpose of The Fifth Question Podcast15:30 What Counts as Misinformation?19:30 Facts vs Interpretation21:30 Ideology and Political Thinking27:00 Media Bias and Selective Reporting32:00 Antisemitism and Historical Context35:00 Facts, War Crimes, and Public Understanding39:00 Israel's Future and Internal Challenges42:00 Haredi Politics and Military Service47:00 The Future of Israeli Elections48:00 Final ThoughtsKeywordsIsrael Palestine conflict, Israel Hamas war, Israel Iran conflict, Zionism explained, antisemitism, anti Zionism, Jewish history, Daniel Levine, Alon Buren, Israel Palestine Report, The Fifth Question, Middle East politics, Gaza war, October 7, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Israeli politics, Jewish identity, Judaism, Israel news, Middle East news, media bias, misinformation, academia, free speech, Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Israeli elections, Haredi draft, Israeli democracy, Jewish podcast, political philosophy, religion and politics, university education, UCI, Israel analysis, current events, geopoliticsHashtags#israel #palestine #zionisme #Antisemitism #middleeast #israelhamaswar #judaism #politics #geopoliticsofresources #israelnews #gaza #iran #jewishhistory #podcast #currentevents

    49 min

  5. Jun 19

    Fighting Antisemitism One Lawsuit at a Time: Brandeis Center CEO Speaks Out

    Kenneth Marcus, Brandeis Center CEO, joins The Fifth Question for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of the fight against antisemitism in America. From campus protests and K-12 education to teachers unions, civil rights law, DEI, Zionism, and the changing political landscape, Marcus explains why he believes American Jews need a “Third Emancipation” and how legal action is reshaping the response to anti-Jewish discrimination.In this episode, we discuss:✅ The rise of antisemitism after October 7✅ Why Kenneth Marcus believes America needs a new Jewish civil rights movement✅ The Brandeis Center's lawsuits against universities, school districts, and teachers unions✅ Anti-Zionism vs. antisemitism: where do they overlap?✅ K-12 antisemitism and the battle over education policy✅ DEI, identity politics, and the future of equal protection✅ The role of the Trump administration, Congress, and federal investigations✅ Whether Jews should look to the political left, right, or neither✅ Why legal action has become one of the most effective tools in combating antisemitism✅ The future of Jewish life, civil rights, and American democracyKenneth Marcus is the founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center, former Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education for Civil Rights, and one of the leading legal advocates fighting antisemitism in higher education, K-12 schools, workplaces, and public institutions across the United States.If you care about Jewish civil rights, campus antisemitism, Israel, free speech, education policy, or the future of American Jewish life, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.👍 Like, subscribe, and share to support thoughtful conversations on Jewish life, Israel, politics, religion, and culture.#KennethMarcus #Antisemitism #BrandeisCenter #JewishCivilRights #CampusAntisemitism #israel #zionisme #jewishhistory #highereducation #dei #civilrightsact #jewishcommunity #october7th #jewishpodcast #freespeech #education #ucirvine #jewishlife #politics

    43 min

  6. Jun 12

    Woke Antisemitism w/ David Bernstein

    What happens when liberalism, identity politics, antisemitism, and Zionism collide in 21st-century America?In this episode of the Fifth Question with Daniel, Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with author and public intellectual David Bernstein to discuss the rise of woke antisemitism, the transformation of American universities, the future of liberal democracy, and the growing challenges facing both American Jewry and Israel.Bernstein explains how intersectionality, critical social theories, and oppressed-oppressor frameworks reshaped campus culture long before October 7, 2023. Together, they explore the relationship between antisemitism on the left and right, the role of higher education, the crisis facing Jewish institutions, and why liberal values remain essential for the future of both America and Israel.Topics include:Woke antisemitism and anti-ZionismOctober 7 and its impact on American JewsIntersectionality and campus activismUniversities, DEI, and ideological captureLiberalism vs. progressivismZionism and Jewish political thoughtIsrael's democratic challengesJewish organizations and advocacyThe future of American democracyAntisemitism in higher educationIf you care about Jewish life, Israel, free speech, higher education, democracy, and the future of liberal values, this conversation is essential listening.#DavidBernstein #WokeAntisemitism #israel #zionisme #Antisemitism #jewishhistory #jewishthought #CampusAntisemitism #highereducation #freespeech #liberalism #october7th #jewishpodcast #middleeast #democracy #jewishcommunity #Intersectionality #dei #Politics

    43 min

  7. Jun 9

    A New Method of Israel Engagement

    Israel engagement is changing—and perhaps the old playbook no longer works.In this episode of the Fifth Question Podcast, Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with Yoni Heilman, CEO of TAMID Group, to discuss a new model for connecting young people to Israel through entrepreneurship, business, innovation, and real-world relationships rather than traditional advocacy.They explore why many college students are disengaging from conventional Israel education, how TAMID has built one of the most successful Israel engagement movements on North American campuses, and what lessons the Jewish community can learn from shifting generational attitudes toward identity, politics, and affiliation.The conversation then turns to Yoni’s personal experience as an Israeli reservist following October 7, serving months in and around Gaza and later in Lebanon. Together they discuss the growing divide between American and Israeli Jewish experiences, the psychological impact of war, antisemitism in the United States, the meaning of Jewish agency, and the ongoing debate surrounding Haredi military service in Israel.Topics include:• Israel engagement and Jewish identity• TAMID Group and Israel’s startup ecosystem• College campuses after October 7• Jewish students and Israel education• BDS and anti-Israel activism• The Abraham Accords• Israel-Diaspora relations• Life as an Israeli reservist• Gaza War and Lebanon front• Antisemitism in America• American vs Israeli Jewish perspectives• Haredi draft controversy• Israeli politics and social cohesion• Zionism, Jewish peoplehood, and the future of IsraelIf you enjoyed this conversation, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to support more long-form discussions on Israel, Jewish history, antisemitism, politics, religion, and contemporary issues facing the Jewish world.#israel #zionisme #jewishhistory #jewishidentity #IsraelEngagement #TAMID #collegecampus #Antisemitism #October7 #IsraelPolitics #MiddleEast #DiasporaJews #jewishpodcast #RabbiDanielLevine #YoniHeilman #idf #IsraelEducation #abrahamaccords #jewishcommunity #jewishthought

    45 min

  8. Jun 5

    Jewish Absurdism w/ Josh Bolton

    What happens when Judaism meets absurdism, poetry, pluralism, and the crisis of modern identity?In this fascinating conversation, Rabbi Daniel Levine sits down with Rabbi Joshua Bolton—author of Jewish Futurisms, poet, educator, and Executive Director of Brown RISD Hillel—to explore some of the biggest questions facing Jewish life today.From humor in the Talmud to the limits of pluralism, from Jewish spirituality after modernity to the challenges of campus leadership in the post–October 7 world, this discussion dives deep into the tension between certainty and ambiguity, conviction and openness, tradition and creativity.Rabbi Bolton reflects on why he wrote Jewish Futurisms, a genre-defying collection of Jewish poetry, lists, satire, and cultural commentary, and explains how absurdism can become a pathway to spirituality. Together, Daniel and Josh discuss Jewish identity, Reconstructionist Judaism, campus activism, Israel, American Jewish culture, social media polarization, and the future of Jewish thought. Topics include:• Jewish Futurisms and Jewish absurdism• Humor, satire, and spirituality in Judaism• The role of pluralism in Jewish communities• Campus Jewish life after October 7• Brown University and contemporary Jewish leadership• The limits of ideology and political certainty• American Judaism vs. Israeli Judaism• Jewish identity in a secular age• Reconstructionist Judaism and Mordecai Kaplan• The future of Jewish culture and communityWhether you're interested in Jewish philosophy, Israel, Jewish history, religion, politics, campus life, or contemporary culture, this conversation offers a thoughtful and provocative exploration of what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century.Subscribe for more conversations on Jewish history, Zionism, Israel, religion, philosophy, antisemitism, higher education, and contemporary Jewish life.#israel #Judaism #rabbi #jewishhistory #zionism #jewishidentity #RabbiJoshuaBolton #JewishFuturisms #pluralism #jewishphilosophy #CampusAntisemitism #brownuniversity #jewishculture #religion #jewishthought#pluralism

    49 min
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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
    188
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Daniel Levine
  • Show Website
    The Fifth Question

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