Shows / In These Times with Rabbi Ammi Hirsch
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi Hirsch
Every other week, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch hosts intellectually honest conversations unpacking current events through the lens of Jewish wisdom and values. Unbound by politics and untethered by party lines, Ammi and his distinguished guests discuss everything from foreign affairs and antisemitism to politics and pop culture. This show is recorded from New York’s Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, a historic Reform congregation deeply rooted in liberalism, support for Israel and social justice.
Episodes
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschThe Israeli Elections: David Horovitz
Israel’s Oct. 27 elections left no clear path to a governing majority. The Times of Israel's founding editor David Horovitz unpacks the results, outlines the…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschFollowing the Money: Charles Asher Small
The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy claims to have uncovered $100 billion in dark money that has flowed into U.S. universities over…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschLunch in Beirut: Hagar Chemali
Raised Christian in Connecticut after her family fled Lebanon’s civil war, Hagar Chemali learned as a teenager that her mother was Jewish. A former White House…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschFranklin Foer
The Atlantic's Franklin Foer traces how Jews moved from the margins to the heart of American life before the sun started to set on that "Golden Age."…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschRe-CHARGING Reform Judaism: Clarity, Courage, and Moral Leadership
In this special episode, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch delivers his keynote address from the third Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism conference, a gathering of more than 350…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschYardena Schwartz
In "Ghosts of a Holy War," award-winning journalist Yardena Schwartz traces the roots of today’s Israeli-Palestinian conflict back to the 1929 Hebron…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschAdam Louis-Klein
Writer and anthropologist Adam Louis-Klein argues that antizionism is not simply a continuation of the “classical” antisemitism of the past, but a new…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschZibby Owens
Author and podcaster Zibby Owens reflects on the world’s response to October 7th, the joy of reading, how authors are using AI, and the anxiety of prepping to…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschAhmed Fouad Alkhatib
October 7th was a massive miscalculation — one that decimated Gaza, dismantled Iran’s proxy network, and reshaped the Middle East in Israel’s favor. Ahmed…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschNadav Eyal
Award-winning journalist Nadav Eyal helps us understand why regimes like Iran's are so threatened by dissent and debate — the lifeblood of democracy — and how…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschLiz Hirsh Naftali
After Hamas terrorists murdered Abigail’s parents, they abducted the three-year-old and held her hostage in Gaza for 51 days. Her great-aunt, Liz Hirsh…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschGuy Vaknin
Chef Guy Vaknin is the culinary visionary behind a family of inventive vegan restaurants rooted in hospitality, artistry and feeding people well. Since October…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschJonah Platt
Since the October 7th attacks, Broadway-trained actor, singer and writer Jonah Platt has emerged as one of the Jewish people’s most compelling advocates. His…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschJonathan Greenblatt
Whether it's conspiracy theories about “space lasers” or the moral equivocation between Zionist Jews and the protestors screaming at them outside their…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschJonathan Freedland
On September 10, 1943, a group of anti-Nazi German aristocrats gathered for an afternoon tea party. Little did they know that one of them was about to betray…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschBarak Ravid
Axios global affairs analyst Barak Ravid unpacks the war that reoriented Israel's security, political, and moral posture — and explores the uneasy question of…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschSarah Hurwitz
While in her mid-30s, former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz discovered the wisdom of the Jewish tradition she'd written off. In her latest book, she…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschYaakov Katz
It's been two years since the Oct. 7 attacks, and — in the absence of an official state commission of inquiry — the best understanding we have of how Hamas was…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschCochav Elkayam-Levy
The founder of Israel's Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes Against Women and Children, Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy coined the novel term "kinocide" to…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschScott Stringer
As part of our NYC Mayoral Forum, Democratic candidate Scott Stringer joins Rabbi Ammi Hirsch to discuss his Jewish values and his commitment to Zionism and to…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschBrad Lander
As part of our NYC Mayoral Forum, Democratic candidate and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander joins our Rabbi Ammi Hirsch to discuss how his liberal Jewish values…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschBari Weiss and Nellie Bowles
The founders of The Free Press, Bari Weiss and Nellie Bowles sit down with Rabbi Ammi Hirsch to discuss their new media company, their Jewish journey, and…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschAndrew Cuomo
New York's former governor and the front runner in New York City's mayoral race, Andrew Cuomo speaks with Rabbi Ammi Hirsch about the state of the city, his…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschTessa Veksler
The student body president of UC Santa Barbara and a proud Zionist, Tessa Veksler faced a barrage of hate and narrowly survived an attempt to oust her from…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschDavid Horovitz
Israeli politics have become increasingly complicated and divisive. The Times of Israel's founding editor and returning guest David Horovitz helps us…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschReform Judaism in America
Rabbi Ammi Hirsch is the guest on this special episode hosted by David Harris, past CEO of the American Jewish Committee and Jewish Broadcasting Service TV's…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschDavid Baddiel
There's something so Jewish about using laughter to cope. British comedian, public thinker and author David Baddiel finds the humor in the world, discussing…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschJohn Spencer
The chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, retired U.S. Army Major John Spencer discusses the uniquely and unprecedentedly…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschJonathan Eig
Martin Luther King Jr.'s biographer felt like people were yearning to strip away the mythology surrounding the civil rights leader and reconnect with his…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschWalter Russell Mead
An expert on foreign affairs, Prof. Walter Russel Mead thinks we're heading into uniquely unstable times. He offers a historical analysis of America's…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschLihi Lapid
An exceptionally talented novelist, journalist and activist, Lihi Lapid is also the wife of Israel's opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschJonathan Spyer
The lighting rebel advance that toppled Syria's Assad regime came seemingly out of left field. Dr. Jonathan Spyer, one of the world's foremost experts on the…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschNatasha Hausdorff
Israel is fighting a war not only on the battlefield but also in the courtroom, where the Jewish state has been misrepresented, maligned and accused of…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschMatt Brooks and Mark Mellman
Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks and Democratic Majority for Israel President Mark Mellman unpack the results of the 2024 presidential election and…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschEylon Levy
Watching Israel's war with Hamas unfold, Eylon Levy was surprised by the government's ineptitude in the media and decided to volunteer interviews from his…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschRudy Rochman
Rudy Rochman visits campuses and other hotbeds of anti-Israel activity and engages the other side with incredible equanimity — even in the face of the seething…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschBernard-Henri Levy
Israel is finding itself increasingly alone as it fights for the future of the free world. French Jewish philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy accuses the West of…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschHaviv Rettig Gur
Israeli journalist Haviv Rettig Gur discusses the need for deeper engagement in the Jewish community, our historical resilience, and the impact of October 7th…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschColumbia University
Embattled Columbia Business School Prof. Shai Davidai and newly minted Barnard graduate Noa Fay discuss the crisis that has been unfolding on their campus.
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschAmos Yadlin
Former Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin contextualizes the ongoing war with Hamas, evaluates Israel's strategic goals, and helps us…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschThe Counterfeit Countess
Nazi hunter Dr. Elizabeth "Barry" White and Polish historian Dr. Joanna Sliwa set out to verify Jewish Polish mathematician Janina Mehlberg’s…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschBret Stephens
Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Bret Stephens helps us understand the White House's attitude toward Israel, the major political currents in…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschYasmine Mohammed
Forced to marry a man whom she later discovered was a member of Al Qaeda, Yasmine Mohammed eventually found the strength to break away from radical Islam and…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschRitchie Torres
A true friend of both the Jewish community and the Jewish state, there's nothing in Congressman Ritchie Torres' background that would have predicted the…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschDalia Ziada
One of the central players in Egypt's 2011 revolution, Dalia Ziada was forced to flee her homeland after voicing support for Israel in the wake of October 7th…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschOra Hirsch Pescovitz
Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz is the president of Oakland University and was among the first to issue a statement condemning the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschLiel Leibovitz
One of the Jewish world's great thinkers, writers and podcasters, Liel Leibovitz discusses his ideological homelessness, Judaism’s life-changing potential, and…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschKai Bird
Celebrated biographer of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Kai Bird discusses the brilliant physicist's triumph, tragedy and legacy.
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschAri Shavit
The massacre on October 7th was a turning point in history. Political analyst Ari Shavit discusses the immeasurable and long-lasting consequences this war will…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschAdam Nagourney
New York Times national political reporter Adam Adam Nagourney discusses his new unauthorized history of The Grey Lady over the past four decades and the…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschEinat Wilf and David Hazony
Alongside the shock, mourning, grief, and mobilization of war, there is also revelation. Returning guest Dr. Einat Wilf and author and editor David Hazony…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschDara Horn
Acclaimed author Dara Horn explores the reasons “people love dead Jews” — and why the idea of Jewish power makes non-Jewish society so uncomfortable.
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschYaakov Katz
The Jerusalem Post's military correspondent for nearly a decade and its editor-in-chief for seven years, Yaakov Katz helps us understand how Israel ended up in…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschIsrael at War
With Israel at war, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch delivers a blunt yet uplifting message answering the question on all our minds: "What can we do?"
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschDaniel Gordis
The civil unrest in Israel — centering around the judicial overhaul — is an unprecedented existential crisis that threatens to tear the country apart. Daniel…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschRe-CHARGING Reform Judaism
In this special episode, we air Rabbi Ammi Hirsch's keynote speech from Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism, a historic grassroots gathering of some 300 Reform leaders…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschWesley K. Clark
Retired General Wesley K. Clark is a warrior and a scholar. Amid a rising tide of authoritarianism washing across the globe, the former NATO supreme allied…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschAlana Newhouse
Tablet Magazine Editor-in-Chief Alana Newhouse believes the real debate today is not between the left and the right, but rather between those who think there's…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschJason D. Greenblatt
One of the main architects of the Abraham Accords, Jason D. Greenblatt discusses his appointment by President Trump as special envoy for the Middle East and…
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi HirschTed Deutch
During his six terms in Congress, Ted Deutch saw so much effort being poured into performative and pugnacious politics at the expense of the greater good. Now…