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

Orly Erez-Likhovski

The Podcast That Explains Religion and State in Israel - Hosted by IRAC's Executive Director Attorney Orly Erez-Likhovski Ever wonder what’s really behind the headlines about religion and state in Israel? You’re not alone — and now, there’s a podcast that dives deep into the topic we all keep talking about. Join Orly, as she sits down with fascinating guests to unpack the complex, controversial, and often surprising realities of religion and state in Israel. This series cuts through the noise and brings clarity to one of Israel’s most complicated issues.

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    Introducing the Pluralist Podcast from Both Sides of the Ocean

    What does it mean to be a Jewish pluralist in Israel—and why does it matter right now? In the launch episode of The Pluralist Podcast: From Both Sides of the Ocean, Orly Erez-Likhovski, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), and Rabbi Josh Weinberg, Executive Director of ARZA and URJ Vice President for Israel & Reform Zionism, sit down in New York for an honest, thoughtful conversation about Israel, Jewish identity, and the future of pluralism. Together, they ask a deceptively simple question:What does Jewish pluralism look like in Israel today—and why is it so contested? Support IRAC’s work in Israel:👉 https://apzprxtx.donorsupport.co/page/PluralistPodcast Sign up for Orly’s weekly updates:👉 https://www.irac.org/sign-up Sign up for Josh’s weekly updates:👉 https://cloud.email.rj.org/blankSubCenter?formid=701UG00000Is8uHYAR In this conversation, Orly and Josh explore: Why there isn’t really a Hebrew word for pluralism—and what that reveals about Israeli societyThe current status of Reform Judaism in Israel and how it is perceived by Israeli JewsShared struggles around women’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and confronting racism in Israel and North AmericaThe evolving relationship between Israel and the Diaspora at a critical moment for Israel’s democratic futureThey also reflect on their personal Zionist journeys: Orly’s story—from a secular Israeli upbringing to discovering Reform Judaism through a preschool in Mevasseret Zion, and finding her life’s work at IRAC defending democracy and challenging religious extremism through lawJosh’s story—from a Chicago youth movement kid to rabbi and Zionist leader, shaped by the Oslo years, the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, and years of living and teaching in IsraelThis episode sets the tone for the entire season of The Pluralist Podcast:honest, nuanced, deeply rooted in love for Israel, and committed to liberal Jewish values—on both sides of the ocean.

    37 min
  2. *TRAILER* Defending Israeli Democracy in the name of Judaism: Rabbi Talia Avnon-Benveniste

    SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    *TRAILER* Defending Israeli Democracy in the name of Judaism: Rabbi Talia Avnon-Benveniste

    Coming Soon: In this powerful opening episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Orly Erez-Likhovski, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center, sits down with Rabbi Talia Avnon-Benveniste, head of the Reform Rabbinical Seminary at Hebrew Union College, to explore the deep connection between Judaism and democracy — and why both are under threat in today’s Israel. Together, they reflect on how the current government, dominated by religious extremists, is weaponizing Judaism to justify anti-democratic policies, including attacks on the judiciary and the abandonment of core Jewish values like human dignity and the sanctity of life. But the conversation is also one of hope: Talia and Orly speak about the unprecedented awakening of Israel’s liberal public, the growing demand for spiritual meaning, and how Reform Judaism is offering an inclusive, egalitarian alternative rooted in tradition. From Talia’s personal journey from a secular kibbutz to becoming a Reform rabbi, to the responsibility we all share in reclaiming Jewish texts and values from the margins, this episode is both a call to action and a vision for a more pluralistic, democratic future — in Israel and beyond. Want to stay in touch? Sign up for The Pluralist - IRAC's weekly newsletter Contact us about arranging a visit in Israel, North America, or a webinarSupport IRAC's work with a monthly or one-time donationVote4Reform in the World Zionist Congress

    2 min

Trailer

About

The Podcast That Explains Religion and State in Israel - Hosted by IRAC's Executive Director Attorney Orly Erez-Likhovski Ever wonder what’s really behind the headlines about religion and state in Israel? You’re not alone — and now, there’s a podcast that dives deep into the topic we all keep talking about. Join Orly, as she sits down with fascinating guests to unpack the complex, controversial, and often surprising realities of religion and state in Israel. This series cuts through the noise and brings clarity to one of Israel’s most complicated issues.