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Identity/Crisis

Identity/Crisis

By: Shalom Hartman Institute
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In a frenzied media cycle, Identity/Crisis creates better conversations about the issues facing contemporary Jewish life. Host Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, talks with leading thinkers to unpack current events affecting Jewish communities in North America, Israel, and around the world, revealing the core Jewish values underlying the issues that matter most to you. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS Judaism Politics & Government Spirituality
Episodes
  • Beyond the Myth of Jewish Wealth – with Ilana Horwitz

    Beyond the Myth of Jewish Wealth – with Ilana Horwitz
    Jun 30 2026
    Money shapes who can access Jewish life—and who gets left out. In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer speaks with sociologist Ilana Horwitz about the overlooked reality of a quarter of American Jews living in economic vulnerability, challenging the persistent myth of universal Jewish affluence. Drawing on Horwitz’s research, they explore how class and financial instability intersect with Jewish education, communal participation, and belonging. This episode is sponsored in honor of Robert Kogod’s 95th birthday by his loving family. Read Ilana Horwitz’s article on affordability and Jewish education in Sources. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS Here’s more from the Shalom Hartman Institute this week: Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive alerts about special livestreamed programming from Jerusalem.
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    49 mins
  • Teaching Jewish History in America — with Natalia Mehlman Petrzela (Re-run)

    Teaching Jewish History in America — with Natalia Mehlman Petrzela (Re-run)
    Jun 23 2026
    This episode of Identity/Crisis was originally released on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 What does it mean to tell Jewish stories in a moment of political polarization and distortion? On this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer is joined by historian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela to examine the role of the historian in public life: not to offer talking points or easy analogies, but to deepen public understanding in a time of simplification and certainty. Through a conversation about education, Jewish identity, and the place of Jews in American history, they consider why richer storytelling matters—and what it can offer to students, Jews, and the broader public. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
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    53 mins
  • Strong Beliefs and Open Minds: A Graduation Challenge — with Jonathan Kroll

    Strong Beliefs and Open Minds: A Graduation Challenge — with Jonathan Kroll
    Jun 16 2026
    In a polarized age, how do we raise young Jews who can think deeply—and listen across disagreement? In this episode of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer talks with principal of SAR High School Jonathan Kroll about his recent commencement address to SAR’s graduating class of 2026, where he challenged students to embrace a “revolution of moderation,” and integrate conviction with openness. Together, they explore pluralism in Orthodox education, the formation of Jewish identity, and what it means to prepare the next generation for a divided world—without sacrificing commitment or clarity. You can now sponsor an episode of Identity/Crisis. Click HERE to learn more. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS
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    44 mins
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