Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch joins Yaakov for a clear-eyed look at what Mamdani’s win signals for liberal Judaism, the surge of anti-Zionism on the left, and the urgent need for clear Jewish leadership.
Rabbi David Eliezrie joins Yaakov to discuss his new book on Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn — the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe — whose courage and leadership under Stalin’s persecution laid the foundation for Chabad’s global revival. Together, they explore how his defiance in Soviet Russia shaped the movement that would later transform world Jewry.
Yaakov speaks with Aaron Magid, author of The Most American King, about how King Abdullah balances cooperation with Israel and pressure from his own street. The real politics behind the cold peace.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel & Atlantic Council Fellow Dan Shapiro joins Yaakov to discuss the fragile Gaza ceasefire, what a real “phase two” could mean for Israel and the region, and whether the path to normalization - with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and others - can be revived.
Evangelical support for Israel is fading among younger generations. Yaakov Katz speaks with Bishop Robert Stearns about why it’s happening and how to rebuild this vital bond.
Peace activist and negotiator Gershon Baskin joins Yaakov to talk about the dramatic hostage release, the behind-the-scenes diplomacy that made it possible, and what comes next for Israel and Gaza.
When Israel’s north emptied after October 8, Nissan Zeevi of Kfar Giladi stayed behind. Now he’s leading a movement to bring families and life back to the border. A story of fear, resilience, and the fight to rebuild the Galilee.
Tomorrow, 20 hostages are set to return home – a moment that marks the end of the war and the start of a new chapter of uncertainty. Shmuel Rosner and Gil Troy talk about what comes next: the Egypt summit, Trump’s visit to Israel, the political fallout for Netanyahu, and Israel’s search for direction in the post-war reality.
This week Dennis Ross joins Yaakov Katz for all the latest developments coming out of Israel and Washington. We also break down the Trump proposal and whether or not it will be successful.
At a time when Israel is torn over Haredi draft exemptions, Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Naiman chose a different path: he enlisted in the IDF. He joins Yaakov to discuss faith, responsibility, and why serving is not just a duty but a statement about the future of Israeli society.
Jews in Israel face physical attack, Jews in the Diaspora face metaphysical attack – but it’s the same war. Yaakov speaks with Amb. Marina Rosenberg of ADL about a new survey showing most Jewish students hide their identity, and what Israel must do to support Jewish life worldwide, from Vienna to Chile.
In today’s episode, Yaakov Katz speaks with Col. (Ret.) David Hacham, a former IDF intelligence officer who spent years in Gaza and took part in the Oslo process. They discuss Hamas, Arafat, and how it all connects to Yaakov’s new book, While Israel Slept.
Yaakov and Shmuel Rosner unpack the latest turns in the war, weighing Netanyahu’s next move: will he strike a deal, or push to expand the fighting?
As Israel weighs its next moves, the battlefield is only part of the story. With talk of expanding the war, questions swirl over what Prime Minister Netanyahu is really aiming for – and whether his strategy can survive the growing diplomatic tsunami crashing over Jerusalem. Veteran analysts Shmuel Rosner and Gil Troy join Yaakov to unpack the military, political, and international dimensions of this pivotal moment – and what it all means for Israel’s future.
As Europe moves to recognize a Palestinian state, Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff joins Yaakov to unpack what it means for Israel’s global standing, the fallout with Germany, and the impact on efforts to contain Iran.
Rabbi David Stav, Chief Rabbi of Shoham and co-founder of Tzohar, joins us to reflect on Tisha B’Av. With Israel still at war and families grieving, how do we mark a day of mourning and unity? Rabbi Stav shares what this moment demands of us.
With mounting public pressure, fissures inside the war cabinet, a NYT report on Netanyahu dragging out the war, and growing tensions between the military and political leadership, we unpack what’s happening behind the scenes – and what it means for Israel’s future.
What is it like to spend hundreds of days inside Gaza since October 7? In this gripping episode, we speak with Dr. Tuvia Book—IDF reservist, educator, and author—who has served continuously on the front lines throughout Israel’s war with Hamas. From the chaos of combat to the quiet moments between missions, Book shares what daily life is really like for soldiers operating in Gaza amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations. This is a conversation about courage, sacrifice, innovation—and the future of...
What are Iranians saying about the recent war and what do Gazans think about the continued battle against Hamas? Michael Milshtein, a former IDF intelligence officer and one of Israel’s top scholars on Palestinian society, joins us to unpack the shifting public sentiment inside two of the region’s most volatile arenas.
Will the ceasefire hold? After nearly two weeks of intense fighting, tensions remain high between Israel and Iran. On this episode, we ask the big questions: Can the truce survive? Will Donald Trump continue to stand by Israel? Is regime change in Iran still a realistic objective? And perhaps most critically—does Netanyahu know how to navigate a volatile president who woke up this morning fuming that the ceasefire might already be unraveling?