Should Jews Proselytize? & Dueling Rabbis PART 2 with Sharon Brous & David Ingber
Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
Jonah Platt
4.9 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 14 April 2026
⏱️ 78 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Host Jonah Platt moderates part two of a spirited conversation between Rabbi Sharon Brous (IKAR, Los Angeles) and Rabbi David Ingber (Romemu, New York) about how Jewish leaders should balance moral self-critique of Israel with addressing antisemitism, especially after October 7. Ingber argues progressive Jews and rabbis overemphasize public Jewish self-criticism, undercall out antisemitism and extremism from allies, and should name today’s anti-Zionism as an ever-evolving hate movement that erases Jewish self-determination. Brous defends the Jewish tradition of teshuvah and accountability, urges speaking against West Bank settler violence and occupation, and warns that labeling all criticism or Palestinian solidarity as antisemitic blunts the response to real threats. They also debate U.S. politics, liberal democracy’s role in Jewish safety, Jewish political “homelessness,” and the inclusion of anti-Zionist Jews.
Ultimately, the conversation models a deeply Jewish tradition of debate, machloket l’shem shamayim, while emphasizing unity, responsibility, and the need to continue investing in community and the next generation.
Topics Include:
- Trading ideas on whether anti-Zionism is a form of modern antisemitism
- The responsibility of rabbis to address West Bank settler violence and Jewish extremism
- References to Baruch Goldstein and the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre as a moral comparison
- The role of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran in shaping Jewish security concerns
- The influence of social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X on Israel narratives
- Criticism of language like “apartheid” in discussions about Israel and Palestine
- The symbolism of the watermelon flag in pro-Palestinian activism
- Gavin Newsom and his appearance on Pod Save America
- The importance of protecting liberal democracy for Jewish safety in America
- Failures in Jewish education, including overreliance on programs like Birthright Israel
- The role of JCCs (Jewish Community Centers) and synagogues in strengthening Jewish life
- The need for machloket l’shem shamayim (debate for the sake of heaven) in shaping the Jewish future
A special thanks to our partners on this episode:
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Crown Family Philanthropies
https://crownfamilyphilanthropies.org/
Jim Joseph Foundation
https://jimjosephfoundation.org/
Mentioned In The Episode:
The Converso: Jews converting to Christianity in Spain and Portugal in the 1300s
Ruth: The First Jewish Convert
How Many Jews Are In The World?
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (U.S. Public Health Service)
American’s Religious Engagement Stays Low
Global “Wellness” Business Grows to $6.8 Trillion
Jewish Prayers and Their Meanings
Surveillance soldiers charge sexism a factor in their Oct. 7 warnings being ignored
Who was Baruch Goldstein? Massacre in Hebron
Silence is not solidarity: Diaspora Jews must speak when Israel strays
Wave of settler attacks against Palestinian herders reported in central West Bank
Fourth suspect arrested over Jewish charity ambulance arson attack
The Importance of Tochachah-Rebuke
Anti-Trump rallies hit thousands of US cities for 'No Kings' protest
As A Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us
Newsom ramps up his criticism of Israel, accuses Netanyahu of leading Trump into war with Iran
Horseshoe Theory in American Politics
The Z Word: Reclaiming Zionism
Protocols of the Elders of Zion
Venezuelan VP: US attack capturing Maduro has 'Zionist undertones'
Renee Good was shot in the head, autopsy commissioned by her family finds
Why watermelons are a symbol of Palestinian solidarity
Israeli opposition members shout at Netanyahu as he tries to address parliament
The Valley of Dry Bones and the Resurrection of the Dead
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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Anytime you're dealing with an institution, and I don't just mean a literal one, I mean anything that's been around for a minute, like, say, the Jews, you face the likelihood of getting stuck in behaviors that are no longer relevant nor useful to your purpose. |
| 0:14.8 | When the prevailing wisdom is, that's just how we do it, you're not going to see a whole lot of real-time matching of solutions to current needs. |
| 0:21.9 | Instead of innovation and evolution, you're going to see obsolete practices and ideas that fail to meet the current moment. |
| 0:28.1 | The only way to break out of these patterns is to constantly challenge our assumptions. |
| 0:32.9 | As Jews, our forebears did this again and again in every age, a critical aspect of how our tribe outwitted, |
| 0:39.9 | outplayed, and outlasted through the centuries. And in this generational moment we face today, |
| 0:45.5 | it is absolutely negligent, bordering on arrogant to not be challenging each and every assumption |
| 0:51.4 | we have about the way we approach the survival and thrival of our people. |
| 0:56.0 | One of the most insurmountable obstacles the Jewish community faces is our size, or lack thereof. |
| 1:02.0 | No matter how loud we are, or how much money we raise, or how many friends we have, |
| 1:06.0 | we will never be more than a drop in the bucket of Earth's population. |
| 1:10.0 | We are microscopic, and this literal |
| 1:12.7 | lack of visibility hamstrings us in everything we try to do. Sustained, flourishing Jewish communities, |
| 1:18.4 | influence public opinion and policy, normalize our way of life for the general population. |
| 1:23.6 | If we were somehow able to affect change in that one regard, our size, it would be a huge, |
| 1:29.4 | pun intended, boon towards solving a lot of our problems, which brings me to the assumption I want to |
| 1:34.8 | challenge today. Jews do not proselytize. Why not? Seriously, think about it. Why not? We need numbers, but we do almost nothing to grow them and in fact arguably spend more energy |
| 1:49.0 | keeping people out than pulling people in. |
| 1:51.0 | So my question is, why? |
| 1:53.0 | I mean, there's got to be a really good reason, right? |
| 1:56.0 | Do you know what it is? |
| 1:57.0 | I feel pretty confident that most of you do not. |
... |
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