My thoughts on Mayor @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social hosting Mahmoud Khalil:

The assault on Temple Israel was not a natural disaster, tsunami, hurricane or tornado that struck without warning. Hateful deeds are the end-result of hateful thoughts & hateful words-ignored, indulged, coddled, appeased or encouraged by moral, political, legal & civic authorities: swfs.org/carnage

This episode is especially important to me. The #Jewish community does not normally hear directly from Palestinians. On “In These Times” our goal is to platform voices like @afalkhatib.bsky.social that are not often given enough consideration in mainstream circles: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

It is not enough to highlight the risks of action. We must also address the risks of inaction. There is no moral obligation to wait until the oppressor gets stronger. My latest sermon addresses the morality surrounding the US #Iran #Israel war —> youtu.be/sN_ruAsKelI

In my latest sermon at The Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, I shared my sentiments after the 1st week of the #Iran war, including a not-so-surprising gross accusation that #Israel dragged the US into it — an accusation of which should concern us deeply. Watch my full sermon here —> youtu.be/sN_ruAsKelI

As the dynamic on the ground in #Israel is ever-changing, it is critical that we listen to Israeli experts who are able to unpack context we may not come across in mainstream media. Nadav Eyal joins me to help understand the major issues shaping the #Jewish state: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

What starts with the Jews never ends with the Jews. Sderot will come to Sydney. Be’eri will come to Brooklyn. Nir Oz will come to Notting Hill. First the Jews, then the Jews of the West, then the West itself...

Hollywood was built by Jews — but for decades, #Jewish identity has been something to downplay. Jonah Platt reflects on how fear and self-censorship have shaped Jewish representation, and why October 7th was a wake-up call. Our full convo --> youtu.be/dP87wcbPl7g

“Globalize the Intifada” means #BondiBeach. There is a direct connection between hateful words and hateful deeds. And there is a direct connection between hatred of #Israel and hatred of Jews.

It's easy for us to recognize "classic" #antisemitism, but Jonah Platt explains why it can be harder — especially for young Jews — to recognize #antizionism that goes beyond legitimate political critique as modern antisemitic libel. Our full convo --> youtu.be/dP87wcbPl7g

I was part of a group of rabbis who met again with @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. While we were pleased to be able to discuss our concerns with the mayor-elect, those concerns remain. We've never before had a mayor who has expressed this kind of ideological hostility to the very existence of #Israel..

It is incumbent upon responsible Western leaders to push hard against the normalization of #antisemitism & #antiZionism. My primary concern since Oct. 7 has been the danger anti-Zionism poses. We mourn today with #Australia’s #Jewish community. Thoughts via @jonesieman.bsky.social @nytimes.com:

This is precisely what I feared: the effort to separate the Jewish people’s yearning for self-determination from Judaism itself.

Last Friday night at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, I addressed the election of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. Here is my full sermon —> youtu.be/kFkmR7AW-HU

[email protected] wears many media hats & has gleaned a ton from reporting for Israel's News 12, @axios.com & @cnn.com. Having covered Oct 7/post war, I asked him if he feels the media has covered #Israel appropriately. His answer might surprise you👇| Full episode: apple.co/47DHghx

I congratulate @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social on his election as #NYC mayor and applaud the democratic process. The peaceful transfer of power is the bedrock of our republic — a sacred pillar of American democracy that must never be taken for granted...

I connected w/ @jewishinsider.com's Haley Cohen & reiterated: I am not prepared to overlook mayoral hopefuls who express #antiZionism. A line needs to be drawn. It disenfranchises & delegitimizes #Judaism itself. It leads to an intensification of #antisemitism: jewishinsider.com/2025/10/rabb...

@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social NY's Jewish community is increasingly concerned by your statements about Israel and the Jewish people. I urge you to reconsider your long-held rejection of Israel’s right to exist. Be a uniter and a peacemaker.

Dear young people: You never before had to prove that you cared about Judaism. But if you want a Jewish future, you must embrace the truth that it is you who will forge the next phase of the Jewish saga...

To all the young people this #YomKippur: It is harder now to be an American Jew. I hope that the challenges and anxieties of our times strengthen your commitment to our people — and create a fierceness of Jewish identity in you.

Jewish history has proven conclusively that it is far better for Jews to have power and agonize over its moral use than to be powerless and at the mercy of the dark lords. Jewish vulnerability is the impetus to widespread Jew-hatred, not Jewish power.

At best, there is an innocent naiveté in anti-Zionist Jews that may come from a good place but is unsophisticated in the ways of the real world. If your existence is not at stake, you see the world differently than those on the front lines... What kind of Jew are you?

We should not be supporting any institution or political candidate who does not support us. Otherwise, we will lose the traditional bipartisan support of #Israel that has been so instrumental for its survival & wellbeing. We have already lost enormous ground in academia…

For the #Jewish people, the lesson of the Holocaust — fortified by the bitter failure of October 7 — is that there is no moral requirement to wait until the plans to exterminate #Israel are completed (or near completion). A justified war of no choice. #Iran

I don’t remember a time when American Jews have been so fearful, particularly here in #NYC. From intellectual and job-related biases and so on. I asked mayoral hopeful @bradlander.bsky.social what he would do as caretaker of our city to combat this👇

#NYC mayoral hopeful @scottstringernyc.bsky.social has been a strong and proud member of the #Jewish community. He gives me his take on some of the key issues affecting Jewish NYers today. "We have a job to do here to root out evil and hate,” he tells me 👇

#NYC mayoral hopeful @scottstringernyc.bsky.social has been a strong and proud member of the #Jewish community. He gives me his take on some of the key issues affecting Jewish NYers today. "We have a job to do here to root out evil and hate,” he tells me 👇

@bradlander.bsky.social didn’t seem particularly surprised by progressive group responses in the wake of October 7th. “...there was always gonna be that kind of leftist anti-#Israel thing…” he tells me. Watch his reaction here 👇

@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social knows — or should know — the difference. “Free, Free Palestine” means destruction of Israel. “Globalize the Intifada” is about murdering Israeli diplomats worldwide, and attacking Jews and Jewish institutions.

There will come a time when the free nations of the world will thank Israel for defending Western civilization against nuclear blackmail.

The iron-clad lesson of Jewish history that we neglected on Oct. 6 is that when someone threatens to kill Jews, believe them. Judaism teaches: "If your enemy seeks your destruction, arise earlier to thwart him."

@thefp.com founders Bari Weiss & Nellie Bowles have made prodigious contributions to #journalism & to an open exchange. At The Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, we honored them w/ our “Light of Freedom Award” & discussed their journey & challenges facing American Jews👇 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

We must understand a basic truth: The nature of #Judaism is a critique of common norms. And the ultimate question is: What does the repeated threat to destroy the place where half of the Jews of the world live say about your views on Judaism & the Jewish people?

Former NY governor and #NYC mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo & I discussed where the #Jewish community stands in support of the Democratic Party. Is it the same party? Watch his response👇 or listen to our full conversation: apple.co/4mJTAnt

I welcome hearing from all the #NYC mayoral hopefuls. These are opportunities to dwell on issues important to the #Jewish community. #Antisemitism & #anti-#Israel hostility top that list. See what former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo told me 👇 or listen to our full convo: apple.co/4mJTAnt

I deeply mourn the murder of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. It is another wake-up call for Americans and American Jews. This is what so many mean when they cry "Free Free Palestine," and "globalize the intifada."

I think that children of immigrants — particularly those who fled #antisemitism — are more sensitive to manifestations of hatred vs. American Jews who've never experienced what we’re seeing post Oct 7. Perhaps it’s a sign of privilege to not be sensitive to the nature of anti-#Zionism...

I was struck by Tessa Veksler’s description of her “very isolating” experience with anti-#Israel hostility and #antisemitism on campus. Full episode —> apple.co/4dbjufi

Tessa Veksler ran for @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social student president and did her best to avoid her campaign becoming a referendum on #Israel. And she won. But after Oct. 8, the hate started pouring in. Here’s part of her story — and her thoughts on why she was targeted. Full podcast: apple.co/4dbjufi

I try not to throw around the word “hero” loosely, but when I learned about Tessa Veksler, I’ll say unequivocally that she’s one of mine… On my “In These Times” podcast, Tessa gives us a vivid sense of what our #Jewish youth are up against 📻 apple.co/4dbjufi

Amazing to spend Shabbat in Israel with my good friend Itzhik Simon. We served together in the same tank from 1977–1980... Our hearts are with all the reservists who are spending yet another Shabbat away from their families. I pray for their safe return — and an end to this war.

The ways mainstream media has covered #Israel post-October 7 has certainly shifted. I discussed this w/ @timesofisrael.com's founding editor, David Horovitz, who claims there is a “very well-orchestrated effort” to delegitimize the Jewish state. Watch his take below | Full episode: apple.co/4jFfPbI

For the first time since we started the “In These Times” podcast, we have a returning guest — @timesofisrael.com’s David Horovitz. He’s the first I’ve asked back. There’s no one better to unpack #Israel to the diaspora than David: apple.co/4jFfPbI

This is a undoubtedly a politically supercharged story. I connected w/ @luketress.bsky.social to discuss the simultaneous notion: We need to keep #antisemitism top of mind — and adhere to foundational American principles. My full thoughts in @timesofisrael.com: www.timesofisrael.com/us-jewish-hi...

I'm convinced that part of our problem as individuals and as a global community is that we don't laugh enough. If we were not so humorless, our personal lives and our world would look a lot better…

October 7th changed everything. It revealed three basic things: (1) the existential threat that still exists to Israel and Jews; (2) that our assumptions about America's acceptance of Jews were wrong; and (3) our partners on so many liberal causes weren't actually there for us...

An "anti-Zionist" Jew is a contradiction in terms. I'm not even sure what it means... But I am certain that our Zionist Reform institutions should not be ordaining anti-Zionist rabbis.

@realbaddiel.bsky.social does jokes about rabbis, too. Our full convo: apple.co/4bF70fe

Has comedy changed in the 40 years since @realbaddiel.bsky.social has been on stage? Yes. But — he says — no topic is off-limits. Not even the Holocaust... Our full convo: apple.co/4bF70fe

There’s something very #Jewish about comedy and I believe our world would be a better place with more of it. #Comedian @realbaddiel.bsky.social joins me on Stephen Wise Free Synagogue’s latest “In These Times” podcast where we share plenty of laughs. Tune in 👇📻 apple.co/4bF70fe