The most pressing challenges of our time demand a deeper embrace of our unique identities & a principled rejection of shallow political thinking.

Rav Gavriel Reiss addresses the Valley Beit Midrash in Arizona & discusses the need to move away from the "two-state" paradigm in favor of an approach based more on the very real identities & realities on the ground.

Judging Esav's Mountain

What Our Historic Moment Requires

Is there a uniquely Jewish balance one can strike between tribal rootedness & universalism?

After hosting Rav Gavriel Reiss in Phoenix, Rav Shmuely Yanklowitz of the Valley Beit Midrash joins Rav Yehuda HaKohen for a follow up conversation on the need to create a critical mass of young Jewish organizers able to show up for other oppressed and marginalized groups as their full "Israelite" selves.

The two also discuss the importance of being rooted in one's identity and values while open to constant learning and growth.

The Next Stage

TNS 124: Jewish Tribal & Universal Commitments (with Rav Shmuely Yanklowitz)

Could students of postcolonial studies benefit from examining the Zionist movement as an example of both settler-colonialism & national liberation?

Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Professor Derek Penslar for a conversation about the unique relationship between Ashkenazi Jews, Orientalism, anti-Semitism, Zionism, colonialism & postcolonialism.

The two also discuss aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the distinction between the Zionist movement and the ancient Jewish concept of "Shivat Tzion" (the "Return to Zion") expressed through various liberation movements throughout the centuries.

TNS 125: The Jewish Relationship to Colonialism & Postcolonialism (with Derek Penslar)

What are the values pushing some Jewish students to call for an end to Israel's current war?

Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Columbia University student organizer Aharon Dardik, who spent his formative years in a Judean/West Bank Jewish community but now calls for a ceasefire as Israel fights on multiple fronts.

Jews for a Ceasefire

TNS 126: Jews For A Ceasefire (with Aharon Dardik)

While most Israelis now reject the notion of ceding land, our further advancement requires the construction of a new ideological paradigm.

Following nearly a year of war since the Hamas attacks on Simḥat Torah of last year, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Rav Gavriel Reiss to discuss how Israeli society has changed during the war and what limitation still block Israel's further development.

Rav Gavriel also shares some ideas on the deeper meaning of the simḥa we're meant to experience on the Sukkot festival.

TNS 127: A Year of War (with Rav Gavriel Reiss)

Could passing responsibility for peace to the Jews most deeply rooted in our collective story help Israel to create better relationships with our neighbors? 

Member of Knesset Ohad Tal (Religious Zionism) joins Yehuda HaKohen to discuss his efforts towards regional peace and how he represents Israel to the Islamic world. 

The two also discuss how the larger process of the Jewish return to the stage of history and its potential meaning for humanity.

TNS 128: Israel's New Diplomacy in the Semitic Region (with MK Ohad Tal)

What's it like to grow up as the son of a man who dedicates his entire being to his people and country?

Prime Minister Yitzḥak Shamir was a Jewish national hero. When the British ruled Palestine, he served as a leading figure in the anti-colonial struggle to free the country. After the State of Israel was established, he was recruited into the Mossad. Later he entered politics and became Israel's seventh prime minister - where he still saw himself as a fighter for Israel's freedom.

In anticipation of the new documentary, Shamir: War, Peace & [a] Dream, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by former Minister of Agriculture Yair Shamir to discuss his father's life and legacy, as well as his own experiences growing up as the son of a national hero.

TNS 129: Son of a National Hero (with Yair Shamir)

How did Israel education in the Jewish Diaspora fail as abysmally as it did? Can it still be corrected?

In a special double episode, Yehuda HaKohen is joined by Joe Schwartz to discuss the state of Israel education for Diaspora Jews and his work in the field through the Makom organization.

In the course of their rich conversation, the two also reminisce about life in late 20th Century New York City and discuss Jewish identity, the pros and cons of liberal ideology, how to relate to Diaspora-based Jewish religious denominations, and the tribal socio-political tensions currently dividing Israeli society.

TNS 130: Rethinking Israel Education for Diaspora Jews (with Joe Schwartz)

The Betar movement appears to have sprung back to life in recent months. But why is this so threatening to the official World Zionist Organization?

Yehuda HaKohen  is joined by Ronn Torossian - a key figure in reviving Z'ev Jabotinsky's Betar movement that appears to be experiencing a major come back as a result of the nationalist awakening that's taken place within Diaspora Jewish communities since the events of October 7, 2023.

The two discuss the merits of more aggressive Jewish activism, the distinctions between Revisionist Zionist and Sternist thought, and Betar's disqualification from the recent elections for the World Zionist Congress.

TNS 131: The Return of Betar (with Ronn Torossian)

Could direct US involvement in Israel's war against Iran change the historic significance of the conflict or prevent Jerusalem from taking a post-war leadership role in the Semitic region?

Yehuda HaKohen  is joined by Jacob Siegel of Tablet Magazine to discuss Israel's current war against Iran and its historic ramifications. 

The two also discuss how President Donald Trump's administration operates and the reasons for Israel to avoid the Abraham Accords.

New tracks tagged #vision movement