The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History Partners with Tablet’s Unorthodox Podcast to Share Ideas from its 2023 Conference

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (February 27, 2024) – Today, Tablet’s Unorthodox podcast will launch a special six-part series, “Jewish Priorities: Life after 10/7,” in collaboration with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History (The Weitzman) in Philadelphia.

The Weitzman’s Jewish Priorities Conference, held mere weeks after the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists, sought to kick off a global conversation and bring together some of the most distinguished Jewish leaders and thinkers worldwide in the U.S. for meaningful conversations about the future of the Jewish people, religion, identity, American Jews, the Holocaust, Israel, and many more topics.

Now, Unorthodox will air six of the most compelling sessions in its special series.

“Bringing these voices together during the most challenging time in recent history for Jews worldwide was a natural extension of the Museum’s mission to unleash the power of education as an antidote to antisemitism,” said Dr. Misha Galperin, President and CEO of The Weitzman. “With this podcast series, these ideas will reach a wide audience and become part of the worldwide conversation on the Jewish people, antisemitism, and Israel.”

Episodes:

Episode 1: “Can We Even Sit On a Panel Together?”
This discussion focused on the charged rhetoric we’re seeing within the Jewish community during the war in Israel and features Rabbi Shlomo Elkan, Jodi Rudoren, and Rabbi David Wolpe, with moderators Stephanie Butnick and Liel Leibovitz of Unorthodox.

Episode 2: “Egypt: Are We Doing Exile Wrong?”
What does Am Yisrael Chai and Jewish peoplehood actually mean, and what role does the state of Israel play in this question? A conversation with Rabbi David Gedzelman, Ally Goldberg, and Dara Horn, with moderator Liel Leibovitz. 

Episode 3: “Wilderness: Hate, Alliances, Identity”
This conversation examined the liberal response to the war in Israel and the fear that a lot of Jews are feeling at this time, featuring David L. Bernstein, Rabbi Shais Rishon (MaNishtana), Hallel Silverman, and Izabella Tabarovsky, and moderator Stephanie Butnick. 

Episode 4: “Mount Sinai: Stories, Rituals, and the Jewish Spirit Theater”
A discussion on the importance of storytelling and narrative in understanding our Jewish history and future, featuring Rabbi Melanie Levav, Ruby Namdar, Laura Shaw Frank, and Scott A. Shay, and moderator Stephanie Butnick.

Episode 5: “Promised Land: Sovereignty, Democracy, and the Land of Israel”
A conversation focused on the Israeli government and Israeli-Palestinian relations, featuring panelists Sally Abrams, Rabbi Yishai Fleisher, Blake Flayton, Dahlia Scheindlin, and Bret Stephens, with moderator Liel Leibovitz. 

Episode 6: “We’re Just Getting Started”
The final episode turns toward hope: If it’s possible, and where we can find it. A conversation with Yosef Abramowitz, Roya Hakakian, Tal Keinan, and Andrés Spokoiny, with moderators Stephanie Butnick and Liel Leibovitz. 

The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, TabletMag.com, or wherever you get your podcasts.

“Jewish history, if you think about it, is really just a series of contentious revelatory and absolutely essential conversations,” said Tablet’s Liebovitz. “These conversations became even more prescient after October 7, 2023, and with Jewish Priorities we have the privilege of hearing from some of the most astute and insightful thinkers out there. They may not always agree and they may not always have the answers but they ask all the right questions.”

Unorthodox is the universe’s leading Jewish podcast. Each week, hosts Stephanie Butnick, Liel Leibovitz, and Joshua Malina discuss Jewish people, news, and ideas.

The conference and subsequent podcast were inspired by the fall 2023 release of “Jewish Priorities: Sixty-five Proposals for the Future of Our People,” (Wicked Son) an anthology edited by David Hazony.

Established in 1976, The Weitzman is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring, preserving, and interpreting the nearly four centuries of American Jewish history from the dawn of our nation to the present day. The Jewish Priorities Conference, held October 22, 2023, signified a pivotal moment for The Weitzman, as it embraces the role of a nationwide leader and convener of Jewish thought leadership.

The Museum is building upon this thought leadership work in 2024 with co-presented antisemitism lectures series with University of Pennsylvania and Gratz College, an upcoming conversation with New York Times best-selling author Yossi Klein Halevi, and the nationwide effort it leads for Jewish American Heritage Month.

Learn more.

Download High-Resolution Photos

Museum images; Jewish Priorities Conference images; credit lines enclosed

ABOUT THE WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
Established in 1976, and situated on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience. The Weitzman presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America. Standing as a joyful bulwark against antisemitism, bigotry, and hate, The Weitzman serves to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire. www.theweitzman.org 

ABOUT UNORTHODOX PODCAST
Unorthodox is the leading Jewish podcast, hosted by Stephanie Butnick, Liel Leibovitz, and Joshua Malina. Each week Unorthodox brings you News of the Jews, interesting guests—one Jewish and one gentile—and so much more. Unorthodox is a product of Tablet Magazine.