SAPIR with David Wolpe

SAPIR: Ideas for a Thriving Jewish Future

Hosted by David Wolpe, the SAPIR podcast is a home for thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations that matter. Drawing on the latest issue of SAPIR, this season explores the theme of influence through culture, politics, technology, and education. Learn more about SAPIR and subscribe to the print journal at www.sapirjournal.org.

Play

Open in

26 episodes
Avg 48 min
English

Episodes 26

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Thursday · 35 min
Dignity and Democracy with Danielle Allen
Harvard political philosopher Danielle Allen joins David Wolpe to discuss how ideas shape influence, from Plato to the American founding and today’s age of AI. Allen explains how an 18th-century British aristocrat—the subject of her latest book Radical Duke—helped her truly understand Lincoln’s idea of government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” She also shares the reforms she’d make for America’s 250th birthday, and the value she thinks is most missing from our discourse today. Links from the episode: Danielle Allen: danielleallen.scholars.harvard.edu Radical Duke: How One Aristocrat—and the American Revolution—Transformed Britain: wwnorton.com/books/9781631497551 Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School: ash.harvard.edu/programs/allen-lab-for-democracy-renovation/ About SAPIR SAPIR Journal: sapirjournal.org Subscribe: ezsubscription.com/sap/subscribe?type=qualify SAPIR events: sapirjournal.org/events SAPIR event recordings on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCBZtgeiwIB1PrYK1A-Kh1GQ SAPIR on X: x.com/SapirJournal SAPIR on Facebook: facebook.com/SapirJournal2021/ Get in touch at info@sapirjournal.org Subscribe to the SAPIR Podcast Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sapir-with-david-wolpe/id1583771945 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7JcLb3jkh60ybrtX7Awp0m Wherever you listen: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sapirpodcast/ Theme music: “Kid Kodi” by Blue Dot Sessions: sessions.blue
October 29 · 1 hr 14 min
Free Speech and Antisemitism: SAPIR Debate Live at The Weitzman in Philadelphia
Does the fight against antisemitism require new limits on free speech? Two leading thinkers tackle that question in the latest SAPIR debate, produced with and recorded live at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, steps from the Liberty Bell and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Claire Finkelstein, professor of law and philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School, argues yes. Nadine Strossen, former president of the ACLU and a fellow at FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, argues no. The debate is moderated by Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America. This event was part of SAPIR’s Fixing America issue, marking the country’s 250th birthday. The SAPIR podcast, hosted by Rabbi David Wolpe, is a home for thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations that matter. Drawing on the latest issue of SAPIR, this season explores the theme of influence through culture, politics, technology, and education. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen, then email a screenshot and your mailing address to info@sapirjournal.org to get a free set of SAPIR conversation cards, while supplies last. Links from the episode Claire Finkelstein: law.upenn.edu/faculty/cfinkels Nadine Strossen: fire.org/about-us/our-team/nadine-strossen Eric Fingerhut: jewishfederations.org/about-us/our-leadership SAPIR’s Fixing America issue: sapirjournal.org/issues/fixing-america/ Learn more about The Weitzman: theweitzman.org Follow @weitzmanmuseum on Instagram: www.instagram.com/weitzmanmuseum, X: x.com/weitzmanmuseum, Facebook: www.facebook.com/weitzmanmuseum/, and YouTube: www.youtube.com/@weitzmanmuseum About SAPIR SAPIR Journal: sapirjournal.org Subscribe: ezsubscription.com/sap/subscribe?type=qualify SAPIR events: sapirjournal.org/events SAPIR event recordings on YouTube: /www.youtube.com/channel/UCBZtgeiwIB1PrYK1A-Kh1GQ SAPIR on X: x.com/SapirJournal SAPIR on Facebook: facebook.com/SapirJournal2021/ Get in touch at info@sapirjournal.org Subscribe to the SAPIR Podcast Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sapir-with-david-wolpe/id1583771945 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7JcLb3jkh60ybrtX7Awp0m Wherever you listen: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sapirpodcast/ Theme music: “Kid Kodi” by Blue Dot Sessions: sessions.blue
October 22 · 33 min
AI and Religion with Tyler Cowen
Economist Tyler Cowen joins David Wolpe for a conversation about AI, religion, and what makes us human. Tyler makes the case that AI’s biggest impact may be on status: who gains it, who loses it, and what happens to experts like rabbis when anyone can ask ChatGPT all their questions. He also suggests that losing our monopoly on intelligence may make us feel more unique as humans, rather than less. Links from the episode: Tyler Cowen: tylercowen.com Marginal Revolution: marginalrevolution.com David Wolpe’s interview on Tyler’s podcast: conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/rabbi-david-wolpe/ Jared Diamond’s interview on Tyler’s podcast: conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/jared-diamond/ Ezra Klein on recursive AI models: nytimes.com/2026/09/20/opinion/ai-ban-self-improvement-recursive-models.html Emergent Ventures, Tyler’s grant program: mercatus.org/emergentventures Maimonides Jewish Leadership Initiative: mjlinstitute.org/ The SAPIR podcast is a home for thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations that matter. Drawing on the latest issue of SAPIR, this season explores the theme of influence through culture, politics, technology, and education. Subscribe to the SAPIR quarterly journal at sapirjournal.org On Tuesday, October 27, at 12 p.m. ET, historian Jenna Weissman Joselit joins SAPIR editor-in-chief Bret Stephens for “Judaism as a Civilization,” a virtual conversation about Mordecai Kaplan’s landmark 1934 book. Register and find out about all the upcoming SAPIR events ⁠sapirjournal.org/events⁠. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Email a screenshot of your review and your mailing address to info@sapirjournal.org to get a free set of SAPIR conversation cards, while supplies last. Subscribe to the SAPIR Podcast: Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sapir-with-david-wolpe/id1583771945 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7JcLb3jkh60ybrtX7Awp0m Wherever you listen: /creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sapirpodcast/ Theme music: “Kid Kodi” by Blue Dot Sessions: ⁠http://www.sessions.blue/⁠
October 15 · 34 min
Power vs. Influence with Bret Stephens
Bret Stephens, SAPIR editor-in-chief, joins David Wolpe for a conversation about why having power doesn’t always mean you have influence. Bret makes the case that American Jews face a striking paradox: more power but less influence than at any point in his lifetime. They explore how that happened, and the lessons for anyone trying to change minds in a polarized era. They also discuss promising new ventures in media and publishing, as well as how to equip the next generation of Jewish leaders to thrive. You can read Bret Stephens' editor’s note, The Anxiety of (Waning) Jewish Influence, at https://sapirjournal.org/influence/2026/the-anxiety-of-waning-jewish-influence/ The IHRA definition of antisemitism, which was referenced in their conversation, can be found at https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism. Learn more about SAPIR and subscribe to the print journal at http://⁠www.sapirjournal.org⁠. Subscribe to the SAPIR Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sapir-with-david-wolpe/id1583771945 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JcLb3jkh60ybrtX7Awp0m Or wherever you get your podcasts: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sapirpodcast/ Comments or questions? Get in touch at info@sapirjournal.org Theme music by Blue Dot Sessions: ⁠http://www.sessions.blue/⁠
October 14 · 40 sec
Coming Soon: A New Season of SAPIR
Host David Wolpe is joined by guests like Tyler Cowen, Bret Stephens, and Danielle Allen to explore the theme of influence across culture, politics, technology, education, and beyond. This season is inspired by the latest issue of SAPIR, the quarterly journal of ideas for a thriving Jewish future. Learn more about SAPIR and subscribe to the print journal at ⁠https://sapirjournal.org/. Subscribe to the SAPIR Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sapir-with-david-wolpe/id1583771945 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JcLb3jkh60ybrtX7Awp0m Or wherever you get your podcasts: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sapirpodcast/ Comments or questions? Get in touch at info@sapirjournal.org Theme music by Blue Dot Sessions: www.sessions.blue
August 13 · 1 hr
The SAPIR Debates: Is the Administration's Campus Crackdown Good for America?
For many Jewish and Zionist students, faculty, and administrators, the tumultuous year following October 7 meant navigating campus life amid protests, encampments, lockdowns, and boycotts. What was once a familiar academic environment had become a place of sustained tension and, at times, outright hostility. Over the last 20 months, federal authorities have taken increasingly assertive action to address this collegiate climate, citing concerns about a rise in campus antisemitism. Lawsuits, congressional subpoenas, threats of funding cuts, and the detention of foreign students have been welcomed by some in the Jewish community as long overdue demonstrations of resolve. Others, however, warn that these measures risk undermining the pluralistic norms that have long sustained Jewish life in higher education – and, worse, might even breed resentment against Jews in the long-term. American Jews and friends of the community face a consequential question: do government crackdowns ultimately safeguard, or undermine, the interests of Jewish and Zionist students, faculty, and the broader academic community? This SAPIR Debate took place live at the Israel on Campus Coalition National Leadership Summit on August 4, 2026 in Washington D.C. It featured Noah Pollak and Jonathan Rauch, and was moderated by Aviva Klompas.
July 30 · 54 min
Censorship Won't Help the Jews with Yascha Mounk
Johns Hopkins political scientist Yascha Mounk joined Bret Stephens to discuss his new essay, “Censorship Won't Help the Jews,” in the (Fixing) America issue of SAPIR. Read Yascha’s essay here: https://sapirjournal.org/fixing-america/2026/censorship-wont-help-the-jews/ Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠info@sapirjournal.org⁠ Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
July 22 · 43 min
The State of Jewish Books with Ruth Wisse and Adam Bellow
Literary scholar Ruth Wisse and publisher Adam Bellow join Rabbi David Wolpe for a lively discussion on American Jewish literature, 50 years on from the year Saul Bellow was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠info@sapirjournal.org⁠ Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
July 14 · 58 min
Islam in America with Reihan Salam
Manhattan Institute president Reihan Salam joined Bret Stephens to discuss his new essay, “Islam in America,” in the (Fixing) America issue of SAPIR. Read Reihan’s essay here: https://sapirjournal.org/fixing-america/2026/islam-in-america/ Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠info@sapirjournal.org⁠ Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
June 30 · 52 min
“The Jewish Case for Public Service” with Anne Neuberger
Anne Neuberger joined Bret Stephens to discuss her new essay, “The Jewish Case for Public Service,” in the (Fixing) America issue of SAPIR.Read Neuberger’s essay here: https://sapirjournal.org/fixing-america/2026/the-jewish-case-for-public-service/ Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠info@sapirjournal.org⁠ Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
June 9 · 32 min
Sneak Peek of the (Fixing) America Issue – with Bret Stephens and Rabbi David Wolpe
Tomorrow, June 10, SAPIR launches its latest issue, on (Fixing) America. An exciting set of contributors including political scientist Yascha Mounk, former deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger, Brandeis historian Jonathan Sarna, and many others explore this era in American Jewish life, on the eve of the nation's Semiquincentennial. Is America in decline? Can America become a resilient country like Israel? What does it mean to be living through the end of the postwar era? In the latest episode of SAPIR Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens joins Rabbi David Wolpe to preview the upcoming issue. Read SAPIR: sapirjournal.org Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
May 20 · 39 min
“The Future is Sephardic” with Mijal Bitton
Are we are venturing into the twilight of an American Jewish era? In a recent SAPIR essay, Dr. Mijal Bitton makes the case that it’s time to reimagine Jewish flourishing for a new age -- one based on a Sephardic model of preservation rather than the liberal Ashkenazi dream of social acceptance, which defined the previous century. In a wide-ranging conversation, host Rabbi David Wolpe joins Bitton to explore whether the next century will be as welcoming to our descendants as it was to our ancestors. And how to create a more resilient Jewish future in America. Read Mijal’s essay in SAPIR, The Future is Sephardic: https://sapirjournal.org/aspiration-ii/2026/the-future-is-sephardic/ Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠info@sapirjournal.org⁠ Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
April 24 · 50 min
Boyz II Mensches with Adam Teitelbaum
Men are drifting, disconnected, and increasingly absent from communal life, argues longtime Jewish communal professional Adam Teitelbaum in his new essay, Boyz II Mensches. What does this mean for Jewish life, starting with the bar mitzvah? On April 16, Rabbi David Wolpe sat down with Adam for a live virtual conversation where they explored how the bar mitzvah lost its power as a profound rite of passage, how to reclaim this foundational period in a boy’s life, and how to help Jewish boys eventually become Jewish men. Read Adam’s essay in SAPIR, Boyz II Mensches: https://sapirjournal.org/aspiration-ii/2026/boyz-ii-mensches/ Watch the interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXczsCczOGg Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠info@sapirjournal.org⁠ Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
April 6 · 55 min
Queers for Zion with Eve Barlow
Hatred of Israel has become a symptom of what plagues LGBTQ politics today, argues Eve Barlow in her SAPIR essay, Queers for Zion. What happens when a liberation movement loses sight of its original cause? And how can LGBTQ Jews fight back? On March 19, Eve Barlow joined SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens for a live virtual discussion about Israel, LGBTQ activism, the confounding emergence of the “Queers for Palestine” movement – and the profound contractions it exposes. Read Eve’s essay in SAPIR, Queers for Zion: https://sapirjournal.org/aspiration-ii/2026/queers-for-zion/ Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠info@sapirjournal.org⁠ Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
March 26 · 40 min
What Makes the Exodus True with Joshua Berman
Should it matter whether Yetziat Mitzrayim — the exodus of Israelites from Egypt, the defining story of the Passover seder that Jews around the world have retold for centuries — actually happened in the way the Torah describes? Twenty-five years ago, Rabbi David Wolpe posed this very question to his congregants — and it caused quite a stir. Now, a quarter century later, he sat down with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman of Bar Ilan University, one of today’s leading biblical scholars, to talk about the deeper truths behind the Exodus. Together, they probe the historicity of the biblical account, the enduring meaning of the story, and the timeless legacy of a narrative that is, ultimately, the closest approximation to a Jewish language of Aspiration. In that spirit, we hope this wide-ranging SAPIR Conversation enriches your Pesach Seder. From the SAPIR family to yours, wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Passover and Chag Sameach! Read the latest issue of SAPIR on ASPIRATION: sapirjournal.org Read Dara Horn's essay, "How To Teach the Jewish Story": How to Teach the Jewish Story – SAPIR Journal Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
March 18 · 1 hr 31 min
The SAPIR Debates: Is Fighting Antisemitism a Losing Battle?
The oldest hatred – an honorific given to anti-Jewish prejudice – never tires. If anything, it gathers force. According to many surveys, animus towards Jews is increasing in the United States and worldwide. What should American Jewry do about it? Some believe that we should expend our capital, energy, and creativity to change hearts and minds, especially of those still reachable. That means raising awareness of this scourge through high visibility campaigns, social media engagement, support for Holocaust education, and renewed allyship with other ethnic and religious communities. Others insist that efforts to fight a conspiracy are futile, likely ineffective, and possibly even counterproductive. Decades of teaching “never again” has not stemmed the tide of hate. Rather, our limited resources are better spent by doubling down on creating proud Jews, strengthening Jewish education, and creating a more informed citizenry about Jewish civilization. Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens, this SAPIR Debate featured two illustrious voices: Arguing NO: Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism at the Department of State and award-winning author, historian, and professor. Arguing YES: Dara Horn, three-time National Jewish Book Award-winning author of People Love Dead Jews, and founder and president of The Tell Institute, which is devoted to educating the public about Jewish civilization, including in K-12 schools and other channels. The SAPIR Debates is a new series that features a spirited and civil exchange of views on the most consequential issues facing the American Jewish community. This event was recorded live on March 1, 2026 at The 92nd Street Y, New York. To watch the recording on our YouTube channel, click here: https://youtu.be/QcMyvQ-2l6c Read the SAPIR essays and op-eds referenced in this SAPIR Conversation and reach out to us at ⁠info@sapirjournal.org⁠: Andres Spokoiny's SAPIR essay on Jewish Communal Funding and Antisemitism: https://sapirjournal.org/money/2025/money-cant-buy-you-love/ Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
March 10 · 42 min
The Silicon Dome with Yonatan Adiri
In an age of geopolitical fragmentation, a nation’s strength is often defined by its technological indispensability. Israel’s success, argue Yonatan Adiri and Shachar Lotan in a new SAPIR essay, hinges on embracing a new technological strategy called The Silicon Dome. On March 4th, SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens and Israeli entrepreneur and former chief technology officer to Shimon Peres, Yonatan Adiri joined for a live virtual conversation where they unpacked what a Silicon Dome is, how it might operate, and why it is a necessity for the Jewish state. A note to listeners: only moments before the SAPIR virtual event was scheduled to begin, the production team received a message from Adiri that he and his family were notified of an incoming missile to their area, and would need to take shelter imminently. After an “all-clear”, Adiri joined for us for the conversation. Questions or comments? Reach out to us at ⁠info@sapirjournal.org⁠. Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
February 24 · 25 min
Sneak Peak of the “Aspiration” Issue – with Bret Stephens and Rabbi David Wolpe
Tomorrow, we launch our second issue on Aspiration—devoted to audacious ideas for a thriving Jewish future. Four years ago, when we published our first issue, the world was a very different place. In his editor’s note, Bret Stephens writes: “Jewish aspiration after October 7 is a different story. Paradoxically, it requires more realism and more ambition.” So here we are, returning with new questions: Is the Jewish world taking enough risks? Has American Jewish life become too convenient? Should we, indeed, stop fighting antisemitism and instead fight Jewish complacency? And did Bret go too far when he called for the dismantling of the ADL?Join Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens and Rabbi David Wolpe for a wide-ranging SAPIR Conversation on these questions and more. Read SAPIR: www.sapirjournal.org Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
February 4 · 48 min
KIND Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky
When KIND Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky looks at a glass of water, he doesn’t see it as half empty or half full. He sees an opportunity to fill up the cup. In this SAPIR Conversation with Rabbi David Wolpe, Lubetzky explains how this mindset shaped his journey from arriving in the United States as a 16-year-old immigrant to becoming a multi-billion-dollar entrepreneur who founded one of the most recognizable health food brands in the country. This success propelled him onto the hit TV series Shark Tank as one of the “sharks” and into a life as a social entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, author, and civic leader. Above all, Lubetzky is a builder. As the son of the Holocaust survivor, he views it as his mission to build bridges across seemingly impossible divides – and encourages us all to use our power to do the same. Read the SAPIR essays and op-eds referenced in this SAPIR Conversation and reach out to us at info@sapirjournal.org: Ilana Horwitz’s SAPIR essay on Poverty and Jewish Community: https://sapirjournal.org/money/2025/poverty-and-jewish-community/ Daniel Lubetzky’s Washington Post op-ed, The lessons I carry from my Jewish grandfather: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/11/28/antisemitism-jewish-penny-portnoy-entrepreneur/ Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove
January 21 · 46 min
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew
Jack Lew was drawn to a mission of service well before becoming the 76th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. As a kid in Forest Hills, Queens, he stepped up as his high school’s inaugural Earth Day coordinator. Inspired by a local rabbi, he supported low-income housing in his hometown. Raised in a home committed to Jewish life and Zionism but also social justice and the community around him, Lew never wavered from an equal sense of responsibility to both worlds. In fact, it’s that very outlook that led him to a storied career in public service without ever sacrificing his Jewish faith and practice. On January 13th, Rabbi David Wolpe sat down with Secretary Lew for an in-depth SAPIR Conversation. Together, they reflected on moments both personal and historic: the time President Clinton left Lew a voicemail on Shabbat; the pivotal conversation he had with President Obama before accepting the position of White House Chief of Staff; the experience of serving as U.S. Ambassador to Israel weeks after October 7th. They also discussed the future of U.S. military assistance to Israel, the fate of American Jewry, and – this being a SAPIR issue on Money – his understanding of the ideal form of Tzedaka, or charity. Read the SAPIR essays referenced in this SAPIR Conversation, including: Ilana Horwitz’s essay on Poverty and Jewish Community: https://sapirjournal.org/money/2025/poverty-and-jewish-community/ Jordan Chandler Hirsch’s essay on The Need for a Jewish Sovereign Wealth Fund: https://sapirjournal.org/money/2025/the-need-for-a-jewish-sovereign-wealth-fund/ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Showing 1–20 of 26 episodes