“We Were Betrayed” — Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch on the Crisis of Liberal Judaism

The Western Spirit - With Ariel Whitman · Jan 4, 2026 · 46m

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, Senior Rabbi of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York, reflects on the shock many American Jews experienced after October 7 — and why so many felt abandoned by the very liberal institutions they helped build.Rabbi Hirsch argues that October 7 did not create antisemitism — it revealed attitudes that were already there. He describes the sense of betrayal Jewish communities felt as universities, activist movements, and cultural elites refused to stand with Jews after the massacre — even when they had done so in the past.In this conversation, we discuss:• Why October 7…