Claim OwnershipThe Jewish People's Podcast
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© 2026 The Jewish People's Podcast
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The Jewish People's Podcast explores the most pressing issues facing the global Jewish community. Hosted by Yaakov Katz in conversation with leading experts, politicians and thought leaders, the podcast delves into topics such as Israel-Diaspora relations, religious and cultural identity, Israeli politics, and contemporary Jewish life. Each episode aims to inform and engage listeners through insightful discussions and in-depth analysis.
225 Episodes
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Gil Troy and Shmuel Rosner join Yaakov to discuss the latest developments in the war with Iran, the resilience of the Trump–Netanyahu relationship, and new polling on American Jewish support for the war - and what it could mean for Israel’s growing election debate.
Missiles are flying across the Middle East - and American defense systems are stopping many of them. But interceptors are limited. Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joins Yaakov to examine whether the U.S. and its allies have enough missile defense capabilities to sustain a long war with Iran.
Hezbollah has joined the war, firing rockets into Israel and widening the conflict with Iran. On day three of the campaign, what are the objectives, what has been achieved, and how deep is US–Israel coordination? LTC (Ret.) Or Horvitz, a former senior intelligence officer, joins Yaakov to break it down.
Elliott Abrams joins the podcast to discuss the joint Israeli-American operation aimed at weakening the Iranian regime, degrading its military capabilities, and creating an opening for the Iranian people to seize the reins of power and topple the ayatollahs.
As tensions with Iran rise and the region watches Donald Trump’s next move, Israel faces a parallel crisis at home. The Haredi draft battle and the near-lynching of two female soldiers in Bnei Brak highlight growing internal strains. Yaakov Katz speaks with Shmuel Rosner and Shuki Friedman about how Israel confronts mounting pressure from Tehran while grappling with deep divisions within its own society.
On October 7, Noam Tibon drove into the Gaza border communities to rescue his son and family as the state faltered. Now, the former major general has entered politics with Yair Lapid. We discuss leadership failure, accountability, and why he believes Israel must change course from within the system.
Since October 7, Israeli politics has entered uncharted territory. Public trust, electoral dynamics, the future of the war, and the state of Israeli democracy are all in flux. Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin - political strategist, public opinion expert, and author of The Crooked Timber of Democracy in Israel - joins the podcast to unpack what Israelis really think, where the data is pointing, and what it all means for Israel’s political future.
As the US and Iran explore renewed talks, questions about diplomacy, pressure, and the possibility of real change are back on the table. In this episode, Yaakov speaks with Marjan Keypour Greenblatt, founder and director of the Alliance for Rights of All Minorities, about what negotiations mean beyond nuclear headlines – for Iran’s minorities, civil society, and those still fighting for basic freedoms. Is engagement a path to change, or another missed opportunity?
With the return of Ran Gvili, Israel closes its longest and most painful hostage chapter. In this episode, Yaakov talks to Gil Troy and Sara Hirschhorn about what this means for Israeli society, the country’s core ethos of never leaving anyone behind, and how the end of the hostage crisis paves the way for Phase 2 of the Trump plan for Gaza.
In Zaidy’s Band, Aron Heller retraces his grandfather Mickey’s hidden wartime past, uncovering the forgotten story of a Jewish Canadian band of brothers who fought Nazism and helped shape Israel. It’s a personal journey that reveals heroism, loss, and enduring questions of faith, identity, and sacrifice that still resonate today.
Samer Sinjaliwi, a Palestinian activist and former Fatah member, joins Yaakov to talk about post-Gaza planning, the new technocratic government led by Ali Shaath, and what it will actually take for Israelis and Palestinians to believe that peace is possible.
Iran is boiling, Gaza is entering a new phase, and Syria is re-emerging as a hub for radical Islamist threats. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli joins Yaakov to explain how these fronts connect - and why uniting the world against radical Islam is critical to defeating antisemitism.
Iran is boiling, Maduro has fallen, and Washington suddenly looks willing to move decisively again. Elliott Abrams, who ran U.S. policy on both Iran and Venezuela in Trump’s first term, explains what’s happening behind the scenes, what Trump’s options really are, and how these crises could reshape the global order.
Three weeks after the Bondi Beach attack, Yaakov speaks with Arsen Ostrovsky - not as an analyst, but as a survivor. Shot during the attack, Arsen recounts the moments after he was hit and reflects on what Bondi means for Jewish security in the Diaspora, and for the failure of governments to confront antisemitism before it turns deadly. This is a conversation we cannot allow to be forgotten.
As the year ends, Israel remains caught between war and uncertainty. With fighting still ongoing and the return of living hostages only weeks behind us, Yaakov sits down with Prof. Yedidia Stern for a hard look at what was achieved, what remains unresolved, and what the coming year may hold – elections, continued conflict, or real change.
In this episode, Yaakov speaks with Mitchell A. Silk, the first Hasidic Jew to serve in a Senate-confirmed U.S. government role and a key architect of Trump-era global economic policy. They discuss his new book A Seat at the Table, his work on the U.S.–China trade deal, the $94B airline rescue during COVID, and how faith, diplomacy, and duty shaped his journey through some of the most consequential economic decisions of our time.
A terror attack at Bondi Beach shattered the belief that Australian Jews were safe. In this Hanukkah episode, Yaakov speaks with Yair Miller, CEO of Keren Hayesod-UIA Australia, about a government that ignored antisemitism, turned on Israel, and left its Jewish community exposed.
As President Herzog weighs whether to pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel stands at a juncture between justice and stability. Shmuel Rosner and Gil Troy join Yaakov to explore why the question matters to Washington, President Trump’s role in the debate, and what a pardon could mean for Israel’s democracy and political future.
A personal and unflinching conversation with Gaza-born analyst Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib on war, governance, disarmament, and whether a real path to peace still exists.
A year into the ceasefire on Israel’s northern border, tensions with Hezbollah have intensified. This week’s elimination of a top commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, marks a new and dangerous chapter. Former intelligence officer and Alma founder Sarit Zehavi joins Yaakov to break down the escalation and what might come next.
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