Afleveringen
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In Part II of this podcast of my interview with Columbia University Professor Shai Davidai on April 5th, we discuss the similarities between the reluctance of German and Austrian Jews to see the looming crisis almost one hundred years ago and the same tendencies among American and Canadian Jews today. Davidai discusses the ongoing investigation into his conduct that has been launched by the Columbia University administration. He sees it as being little more than an effort to intimidate him into silence. Meanwhile, Columbia has literally become a battleground in recent days. The crisis shows no signs of subsiding. That Columbia leadership has taken such a daft and irresponsible approach to such extreme antisemitism is as disturbing as the Jew hatred itself. But – we do end on a somewhat positive note, with Davidai encouraging everyone to step up so we can save ourselves. “We invented Superman!” he exults. “We can save ourselves!”
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Shai Davidai is an Israeli Professor at Columbia Business School. He moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue a PhD in Social Psychology from Cornell University and has worked at Princeton University and The New School for Social Research. Ever since October 7, Shai has been devoting his time and energy to battle support for terrorism and the rise in antisemitism at Columbia University and colleges all across the country.
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On April 5th State of Tel Aviv spoke at length with Columbia University Professor Shai Davidai about his overnight evolution from low-key academic to high profile activist. The catalyst? The October 7th Hamas massacre in southern Israel which galvanized extreme Islamist sympathizers and hard left “progressives.” Literally overnight, Jews and Israel were vilified on campuses, in media, in massive street protests throughout North America and Europe. Davidai was horrified by what he saw happening on the Columbia University campus and began to speak out and speak up. In this episode we go back to October 7th and get into the university administration’s abdication of responsibility to its community and why and how Shai Davidai became the reluctant activist with a national profile. We also dive into the very dramatic events that have occurred on Columbia’s campus since October 7th, climaxing in anarchy this past week.
State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Shai Davidai is an Israeli Professor at Columbia Business School. He moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue a PhD in Social Psychology from Cornell University and has worked at Princeton University and The New School for Social Research. Ever since October 7, Shai has been devoting his time and energy to battle support for terrorism and the rise in antisemitism at Columbia University and colleges all across the country.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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“We face the abyss and we stand tall. I don’t know how I will sit at the Passover table this year.”
Sharone Lifschitz made those comments when we met last Friday at the Hostage Family Forum HQ in central Tel Aviv. Her 83-year old father, Oded, remains in Hamas captivity. His wife and Sharone’s mother, 85-year-old Yocheved, was released from a Hamas dungeon on Monday, October 23. Sharone talks about the horror she has inhabited since October 7th, when she learned of the Hamas attack while driving with her family in the UK, where she resides, to bring home a new puppy. In an instant she entered a life that no one can imagine and that continues to this day. We speak about her parents, the larger community, and what it means to be Israeli and Jewish in this moment. Throughout, we refer to this Passover week, when Jewish people traditionally gather to celebrate freedom. It is a time of joy, when we remember our historic roots as slaves in Egypt and the exhilaration of liberation. This year, of course, such matters are painfully poignant and all too real. Listen to Sharone. She will enlighten and enhance your perspective, whether or not you mark Passover. Whatever faith you follow. Atheist. This is about honoring life and decency.
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Believe me, our heads are spinning. Each week becomes more intense than the last. And there is a general feeling in Israel that rage is on a collision course with despair. Israel remains mired in conflict in Gaza with no apparent resolution in sight. Hostages remain in captivity six months on and the nation is absolutely dumbstruck. There is very little, if any, trust or confidence in the government or IDF leadership. We stand behind our soldiers and civil society leaders but those in positions of actual authority continue to amaze Israelis with their incompetence and arrogance. It seems that the counter-attack against Iran was well-considered and executed but we cannot say that about much, if anything else. Today, Ya’akov and I discuss all these issues and more. The hostage disaster. How many remain alive? And we try to place this very difficult time in the context of Jewish history, distant and recent past. How do we understand this moment, when we are meant to celebrate liberation and freedom? As one hostage family member said to me recently: “We stand and look into the abyss. But with our heads held high.” Not in my lifetime has there been a time when the existence and future of the Jewish democratic state has seemed and actually been so imperiled. How do we understand this and how do we fix it? You can hear the intensity in the pitch of our discussion this week. We’re a metaphor for the national mood.
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Five for Fighting, the stage name of singer/singwriter John Ondrasik, has some crazy timing. He popped over to Israel for a five day immersion in the reality and the pain of our post-October 7th reality. And he was in Tel Aviv on the night that the Islamic Republic of Iran launched more than 300 attack drones and ballistic missiles at us. As we now know, 99% of the offensive weapons were intercepted. Beyond miraculously. But within minutes of Ondrasik performing his amazing new song – “OK” – about October 7th and this seriously messed up world we live in – the Home Front Command issued directives country-wide for everyone to seek shelter. Iran was attacking imminently. We were told 24-48 hours. It turned out to be much less. Ondrasik could have left that night – he was travelling with his young son. But he did not. He stayed. And that tells you everything you need to know about the man. Thank you, John. He performed on Saturday night at Hostage Square at the big weekly support rally for hostages and their families. Moments after he finished his set I went backstage to congratulate him on a magnificent and moving performance. Within minutes we were all hurrying home. I caught up with John on Saturday midday - as we were waiting to see what Iran would do - and we had a great talk about the moral cowardice in the west that is emboldening violent extremism. He understands that it's not just about Israel but that western democracy and freedoms are threatened by this surge of Marxist and extreme Islamist violence. Since the introduction to this podcast was recorded, the 7-year old Beduin girl who I mention having been critically injured, has died. Her tragic fatality is the only one. A number of people were injured by missile and drone debris and there was some damage to a major Israeli Air Force base. Ondrasik stayed on for the full five days. Five for Fighting. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing high alert regarding Iran and its proxies in the region, he was unable to visit the site of the Nova music festival. But I am confident that John Ondrasik will be back. Not only is his music beautiful but he is one of those rare artists who has a moral backbone and is speaking out, no matter the consequences. The world needs more John Ondrasiks. Five for Fighting. Go Leafs!
You really don’t want to miss this amazing discussion. Or the video for the song. “OK.”
Except. We are so not OK.
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In the two decades since Five for Fighting’s first major single, “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” hit the stratosphere, Five For Fighting (aka John Ondrasik), has released six studio LPs, including the platinum certified “America Town” and “The Battle for Everything;” and the top-10 charting “Two Lights,” along with an EP and live albums. A post 9-11 anthem, Ondrasik performed “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” at the 2001 Concert for New York, a benefit show at Madison Square Garden that honored first responders and the fallen about a month after the tragic September 11th attacks. Ondrasik has penned major hits, including the chart-topping “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “Chances,” “World,” and “Easy Tonight,” which have earned tens of millions of streams and placed him as a top-10 Hot Adult Contemporary artist for the 2000s. The reflective “100 Years” has joined “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” as part of the American Songbook and continues to stand the test of time. Five For Fighting’s music has also been featured in more than 350 films, television shows, and commercials, including the Oscar-winning “The Blind Side,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “The Sopranos,” and the CBS drama, “Code Black.”
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Saturday night and Sunday morning were harrowing. For almost two weeks Israelis have been waiting for Iran to attack. A few days ago, the Supreme Leader made clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran would attack Israel directly. Not through a proxy. And, seemingly, Iran would not target a Jewish or Israeli site abroad. For now. Dire warnings of an attack within 24-48 hours were issued on Friday night. Saturday passed. At 9pm Saturday night the Israeli Home Front Command issued directives to follow in light of an imminent attack. A short time later we watched on our TVs as an unprecedented coalition of middle eastern and western air forces collaborated to intercept 99% of more than 300 armed drones and missiles launched from Iran in at least two "waves" to attack Israel. Terrifying does not begin to describe it. Neither does surreal. Ya'akov and I get into the unprecedented security challenges facing Israel, the region and the west. And we do our best to understand what may transpire going forward. Today? We carry on. Somewhat stunned but still standing. Have a listen.
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It was great to have Ya’akov Katz back for our regular Sunday riff and we had a lot on our plates today. We spoke about how Israel seemed stuck in Gaza, not really doing anything dramatic and finding itself in quicksand. But last week the main action was elsewhere: Damascus, DC, Doha. Israel bombed a residence in Damascus that served as a base for IRGC officials when in town and a top General was killed as well as numerous other high ranking military officials. This was followed by the tragic attack on a World Central Kitchen convoy in which seven humanitarian aid workers were killed. Israel took responsibility for the incident but President Biden was furious. He has felt for some time that Israel is taking too long and that the civilian toll in Gaza is unconscionable. Tensions and tempers were high. And then today, a few hours after Ya’akov and I had finished recording, the news came out that Israel was partially withdrawing from the Gaza Strip. Fair to say that pretty much everyone was surprised. PM Netanyahu, it seems, was forced to relent and bow to American pressure. We get into the various events that led to this dramatic development and discuss where it may all lead. Hopefully, we will see the release of all the hostages very soon. Amen.
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Late-breaking circumstances made it impossible for Ya’akov to do his weekly gig with State of Tel Aviv today but we were fortunate to find the amazing Lt. Col. (res) Jonathan Conricus in Israel and available. Conricus is just back from yet another whirlwind speaking tour in the U.S. and his commentary is always appreciated by our listeners – and major media around the world. Always clear, measured and articulate, he has a way of stripping the most complicated issues down to their essence. Today, we discuss the ongoing war in Gaza, the ongoing captivity of the hostages, and the building tension in the country that really cannot be contained any longer. The good news is that Conricus is a realist but unyielding optimist. He is determined and certain that we will find our way through this period of constant crisis.
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One of the most interesting thinkers and writers out there, Batya Ungar-Sargon gets into the moral fecklessness of the “progressive” woke left. What’s so interesting is that Batya was once one of them… and her personal intellectual journey and unfettered candor make for a fascinating discussion. “I’m a leftist” she says. But she rejects the toxic antisemitism that seems to permeate the Left in the U.S. and elsewhere these days. I had thought and intended that we would discuss the growing chorus of October 7th denialism out there… and we did… but we meandered a bit before arriving at that destination. Because I went where she led me. Thanks, Batya, for a fascinating conversation. Shabbat shalom to all.
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It’s a pretty gloomy Purim in Israel; a holiday usually all buzzy and fun. On Purim we celebrate yet another close call with annihilation, which invites yet another miracle that saves us in the nick of time, followed by food, festivities and happy stuff. But not this year. Ya’akov and I get into the details of the top stories and issues preoccupying Israelis: the never-ending crisis with the hostages, Rafah and whether or not an assault on the city is necessary and imminent, allegations by the UN and various countries of Israeli interference with the provision of humanitarian aid, Shifa Hospital, and the descent of the Gaza Strip into even more extreme lawlessness and chaos. We close out with a short discussion of the ongoing refusal of the ultra-orthodox coalition partners in this government to accept any legislative requirement that haredi men be required to serve in the military at age 18. This could well be the issue that brings this government down. And, yes. As crazy as it may sound, the majority of Israelis want elections. The polls have been consistent in that regard for months now. Buckle up. It’s quite a ride today.
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Everyone’s hopping mad today, including Ya’akov Katz. He can be excitable but today he was downright livid about the irresponsible comments of Senator Chuck Schumer late last week, backed up by President Biden. Schumer – the most senior Democratic US Senator – basically said that it’s time for Israel to have elections so that PM Netanyahu will be thrown out of the top job. It was disrespectful. Stupid. And put Israel in heightened danger vis a vis its enemies in the region by broadcasting that the critical alliance between America and Israel is imperiled. Whatever he thought he was accomplishing remains a mystery. In doing so Schumer also made the already desperate situation of the Israeli hostages being held by Hamas even worse. And he only stiffened Netanyahu’s resolve to push on with the job that he feels must be done; to degrade Hamas’ military might and capability with a final military push on Rafah. We finish up with a brief discussion of gutter domestic politics in Israel which, if nothing else, offers a bit of levity and release of some tension. Another week in Israel. Month 6 of the War on Gaza and Hamas.
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One year ago, Simcha Rothman was a household name in Israel and beyond. As Chair of the Knesset Committee on Constitutional, Law and Justice Issues, Rothman was the man in a scorching hot seat, taking the lead in shepherding through the legislature the controversial judicial reform package. Working closely with Minister of Justice, Yariv levin, Rothman bore the brunt of public anger and became a convenient target for political mudslinging. For much of 2023 Israel was roiled by unprecedent civil disobedience and dissent set off by the judicial reform legislative package. And then, October 7th happened. Since then Rothman has largely been out of the public eye but still very active in dealing with the unprecedented legal challenges posed by the horrors of that day and the challenges with respect to how Israel will manage various legal issues going forward. We discuss the new world in which we all find ourselves and we also manage to squeeze in a few minutes of discussion of the judicial reform moment. That issue will surely resurface and I, for one, expect Simcha Rothman to be front and center, yet again. Rothman and I don’t exactly see eye to eye on many issues but – as I have always said – State of Tel Aviv aspires to be a platform where respectful discussion and debate are facilitated. And I am grateful to Simcha Rothman for being game. Many other politicians and officials are not prepared to discuss and that is the real threat to democracy – when we lose the ability to speak to one another.
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Following his State of the Union address on Thursday night, President Biden was caught on a hot mike saying that he’s due for a “come to Jesus” meeting with PM Netanyahu, expressing his exasperation with the man. Both men are trying to find a way through this war and their impossible political conundrums but the status quo is not going to hold much longer. Biden feels enormous pressure to expand the humanitarian aid corridor and flow of supplies to the Gaza Strip. He also makes it clear to Bibi that an assault on Rafah, which would result in further civilian casualties, is a non-starter. Netanyahu, of course, intends to show Biden who is boss and will not be pushed around by his American benefactor. All of which makes for a tense standoff that may prompt the President to pop over to see the Prime Minister in the coming days. Meanwhile, Qatar threatens to throw out the Hamas leaders it hosts in Doha if they do not manage to negotiate a deal to release the Israeli hostages, now in captivity for 156 days. It is believed that many of the 134 remaining hostages are no longer alive but Hamas refuses to confirm, deny or provide signs of life. There is also clearly friction between Hamas leaders, with Gaza-based October 7th mastermind, Yahya Sinwar, entrenched in the tunnels and determined to go it alone and buck the pressure. He wants to bring the mighty IDF to its knees. Have a listen.
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For five months, Michael Levy has inhabited a life that still feels foreign, but he is possessed by a mission to bring home his younger brother, Or, taken hostage by Hamas monsters, as he calls them, on October 7th. The youngest of three brothers, Or left for the Nova Music Festival early on the morning of October 7th with his wife, Eynav, to enjoy a carefree day in the sun. Their two-year-old son, Almog, was asleep. When the extended family awoke that day they entered a surreal Hell that never ends. Eynav was murdered and Or taken hostage. Almog cries every time they are mentioned and asks for them every day. The family does its best without really knowing how to navigate such an impossible situation. Michael speaks to us about the reality of a family living this nightmare and his hope for a happy ending, with Or coming home. He, like all of us, is painfully aware of the fact that we are out of time. We must bring them home. Now. Michael’s intelligence, candor and emotional awareness infuse his telling with so much…..power. Please listen.
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This week Ya’akov and I delve into two issues. First, we discuss the tragedy that resulted in the deaths of approximately 100 Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday as civilians desperate for food and provisions swarmed an aid convoy. Israel says that the chaos resulted from panic and, quite possibly, Hamas fire in addition to IDF shots. Fact is, what this disaster made clear is that Israel really has to work out a more secure way to get aid into the Gaza Strip. And we also need to find a way to get our hostages out. It is almost 150 days that 134 hostages have been held hostage by Hamas and this issue, more than anything, is gutting the soul and spirit of the nation, something that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar understands well. We close out by discussing the issue we expect will dominate the coming week. Which means……you’ll have to listen to the end. Thanks for tuning in.
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On Friday, as I planned ahead to record with Ya’akov on Sunday (today), I was certain that we would discuss “the day after”, which was much talked about last week, internationally. But, this being Israel, that issue was overtaken by events on Saturday: reports of a breakthrough in talks in Paris to bring home some (sadly, not all) of the hostages and a demonstration in Tel Aviv on Saturday night that turned violent very quickly. A group of several thousand gathered in front of IDF Headquarters and called for everything possible: elections, hostage release, ultra-orthodox draft, you name it. It’s been five months since civil protests like this have occurred in Israel and it will definitely not be the last. The societal divisions that shook Israel throughout 2023 were put on hold on October 7th but the problems have not dissipated. If anything they are more pronounced. And another imminent crisis? The exemption of ultra-orthodox men from military service, while compulsory and reserve service times will be increased for those who do step up. It’s all just too much. And we get into it all.
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Incredibly, superstar spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel, Eylon Levy, actually has a life off-air. Speaking with State of Tel Aviv earlier this week, Eylon shared a bittersweet vignette from a friend's wedding he attended recently. Turns out all the guys doing shots at the bar were on the team that rescued two Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity recently in an insanely daring commando operation. We talk about UNRWA, antisemitism globally, and how he keeps his cool in what may be the toughest job in crisis communications in the world at the moment. This guy doesn't skip a beat and he's just warming up. A great opportunity to hear a true master, unwound and unvarnished.
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Just back from a quick trip to Canada and the U.S., Ya’akov tells us he was struck by the insecurity and anxiety he encountered among Jewish groups he met with in Toronto, Detroit, New York, Chicago and Florida. (He sure covers a lot of ground in less than a week.) Their concerns are not much different from those that preoccupy Israelis: Hostages. Civilian casualties and humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s disunity, which is becoming more apparent as the immediate shock factor of October 7th recedes. And the escalating tension in Israel over the continuing exemption for ultra-orthodox men from serving in the army. There has been much talk in Israel in recent weeks and it is becoming louder. As Israeli war casualties mount there are growing cries of “Enough”! We get into all that and more. Have a listen.
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Ya’akov Katz is in Detroit today so we recorded a little later than usual, meaning we drop later. But. You’re probably distracted by the Super Bowl and all that goes with it. Among the ads running on TV is one sponsored by the government of Israel and it’s brilliant. Reminding all those dads watching the game of the Israeli fathers held hostage for almost 130 days. As always, we discuss the hostages, the snowballing UNRWA fiasco, heightened by Israel’s disclosure Saturday night of its recent discovery of a massive Hamas server farm located right underneath the UNRWA HQ in Rafah. And even still, UNRWA pretends that it had no idea. Whether this outrage finally causes the west to agree to bury UNRWA and start anew will likely play out in the coming weeks. As will the final Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, on Rafah, where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is holed up with many of the hostages. Will he take the coward’s way out and flee to Yemen, as he is rumored to be interested in doing, or will he go down fighting? To the end?
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In our weekly chat Ya’akov and I get into the hostage dilemma that continues to tear apart the nation. It corrodes everything and Hamas understands this fully and leverages Israel’s psychic suffering brilliantly. But it feels like we are getting to a point where no victory is more important than bringing them home. Now. We then look at the spectacle of UNRWA imploding. Multiple exposures of UNRWA employees taking active roles in the murder and violence of October 7th and celebrating it since, have been made public and sparked outrage among many large donor countries. The weird part is – there is nothing new here. We’ve seen variations on this level of Hamas-UNRWA comingling for years, and no one really seemed terribly fussed by any of it. It’s hard to know what caused this mass response this time. But the end of UNRWA could be a very positive development, if tied to deradicalization of the population and reconstruction of the Strip.
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe - Laat meer zien
