In this episode, Israeli author Yossi Klein Halevi joins Ethan Katz (UC Berkeley) for an in-depth discussion on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, exploring the deep-rooted challenges and what it will take to move beyond the current stalemate. Together, they examine potential pathways to peace and the critical steps needed to overcome the enduring obstacles in this complex and long-standing conflict. This episode was recorded in April 2024.

Featuring:

Yossi Klein Halevi, Author; Senior Fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem

Ethan Katz, Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies; Faculty Director, Center for Jewish Studies, UC Berkeley

About the Helen Diller Institute:

The Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies provides a rich academic forum for our nation’s future leaders to explore the breadth and complexity of Israel and contemporary Jewish issues. At a time when polarization is more severe than ever, we bring integrity, excellence, and grit to fostering dynamic spaces where students and the wider community can thoughtfully exchange ideas. To learn more about our mission and work, please visit hdi.berkeley.edu.

Production by Yellow Armadillo Studios. Click here to view a transcript of this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content Warning: This episode features explicit description of sexual violence.

After October 7th, it quickly became clear that Hamas had committed acts of sexual violence during their attack on civilians in Israel. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Former Vice-Chair of the UN Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, soon found herself on the front lines of a campaign to communicate the severity and scope of these crimes to the United Nations. In this episode, she tells the story of what happened in the days following the attack, the evolution of international responses, advocacy for an international investigation, and the pursuit of justice against the perpetrators. This episode was recorded in April 2024.

Featuring:

Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Professor of Law, Founding Academic Director, Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women Bar-Ilan University Faculty of Law; Former Vice-Chair, UN Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Masua Sagiv (Moderator), 2021–2024 Koret Visiting Assistant Professor of Jewish and Israel Studies, UC Berkeley; Scholar-in-Residence, Shalom Hartman Institute

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual assault, rape, or domestic violence, it's crucial to know where to turn for help and support. Here are some resources available in the US and Israel that offer assistance to individuals in need:

In the US, individuals can reach out to the US Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or the US Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for support and assistance.

In Israel, the Women’s Hotline for Sexual Assault and Rape can be contacted at 1202, while the Men and Youth Hotline for Sexual Assault and Rape is reachable at 1203. Additionally, individuals experiencing domestic violence can call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-22-0000 for help and support.

About the Helen Diller Institute:

The Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies provides a rich academic forum for our nation’s future leaders to explore the breadth and complexity of Israel and contemporary Jewish issues. At a time when polarization is more severe than ever, we bring integrity, excellence, and grit to fostering dynamic spaces where students and the wider community can thoughtfully exchange ideas. To learn more about our mission and work, please visit hdi.berkeley.edu.

Production by Yellow Armadillo Studios. Click here to view a transcript of this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Israel-Hamas War has sparked serious questions about the rule of law in international relations and the effectiveness of international law in conflict situations. These issues are further complicated by the involvement of numerous international legal bodies, including the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and various UN human rights mechanisms. In this episode, Yuval Shany (Hebrew University) and Elena Chachko (Berkeley Law) will examine the scope and nature of these legal proceedings, highlighting the challenges and limitations they face.They discuss whether, and under what conditions, legal interventions can genuinely influence the conduct of wars to promote adherence to international law norms. This episode was recorded in April 2024.

Featuring:

Yuval Shany, Hersch Lauterpacht Chair in International Law, Former Dean, Law Faculty of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Former Member, Chair, UN Human Rights Committee

Elena Chachko (Moderator), Assistant Professor of Law, Berkeley Law

About the Helen Diller Institute:

The Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies provides a rich academic forum for our nation’s future leaders to explore the breadth and complexity of Israel and contemporary Jewish issues. At a time when polarization is more severe than ever, we bring integrity, excellence, and grit to fostering dynamic spaces where students and the wider community can thoughtfully exchange ideas. To learn more about our mission and work, please visit hdi.berkeley.edu.

Production by Yellow Armadillo Studios. Click here to view a transcript of this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

American Judaism stands at a critical juncture, balancing the successes of the past with the uncertainties of the future. The political, economic, and ideological conditions of postwar liberalism in the 20th century allowed many Jews to thrive in America, fostering a distinctive American Judaism that wove together American and Jewish values. However, today's rapidly changing world challenges this coherence, raising essential questions: Are liberalism, American Jewish values, and Zionism still compatible? How can American Judaism respond to the growing threats of polarization and hyper-partisanship? Can “the Jewish community” endure as a collective entity? In this episode, Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute, explores the factors that shaped the American Judaism we know today and offers a new framework for ensuring its continued vitality in the future. This episode was recorded in April 2024.

Featuring:

Yehuda Kurtzer, President, Shalom Hartman Institute

About the Helen Diller Institute:

The Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies provides a rich academic forum for our nation’s future leaders to explore the breadth and complexity of Israel and contemporary Jewish issues. At a time when polarization is more severe than ever, we bring integrity, excellence, and grit to fostering dynamic spaces where students and the wider community can thoughtfully exchange ideas. To learn more about our mission and work, please visit hdi.berkeley.edu.

Production by Yellow Armadillo Studios. Click here to view a transcript of this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arab-Palestinians make up 21% of Israel’s population, and the events of October 7 and the Israel-Hamas War have uniquely impacted these communities, challenging the vision of a shared society. While Arab citizens have faced the same dangers as their Jewish counterparts, they have also encountered distinct forms of discrimination, with their loyalties questioned and basic rights denied by authorities and parts of the Israeli population. This two-part series delves into Arab-Palestinian experiences in wartime Israel from various perspectives—legal, social, political, and educational.

In this episode, education scholar Ayman Agbaria (University of Haifa) joins Masua Sagiv to discuss how the war has affected Arab communities in Israel. They explore the complex issues of citizenship, education, religion, and belonging, and consider what these mean for the future of a shared society. This episode was recorded in April 2024.

Featuring:

Ayman Agbaria, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Department of Leadership and Policy in Education, University of Haifa

Masua Sagiv, 2021–2024 Koret Visiting Assistant Professor of Jewish and Israel Studies, UC Berkeley; Scholar-in-Residence, Shalom Hartman Institute

About the Helen Diller Institute:

The Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies provides a rich academic forum for our nation’s future leaders to explore the breadth and complexity of Israel and contemporary Jewish issues. At a time when polarization is more severe than ever, we bring integrity, excellence, and grit to fostering dynamic spaces where students and the wider community can thoughtfully exchange ideas. To learn more about our mission and work, please visit hdi.berkeley.edu.

Production by Yellow Armadillo Studios. Click here to view a transcript of this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arab-Palestinians comprise 21% of Israel’s population, and the events of October 7 and the Israel-Hamas War have profoundly affected these communities, challenging the vision of a shared society. While Arab citizens have faced the same hardships as their Jewish counterparts, they have also been subjected to unique forms of discrimination, with their loyalties questioned and their rights under the law compromised by authorities and segments of the Israeli population. This two-part series explores Arab-Palestinian experiences in wartime Israel from various perspectives—legal, social, political, and educational.

In this episode, legal scholar Manal Totry-Jubran joins Masua Sagiv to discuss the legal challenges faced by Arab communities in Israel during the conflict. They examine issues of discrimination, the erosion of rights, and the potential remedies, considering what these mean for the future of a shared society. This episode was recorded in March 2024.

Featuring:

Manal Totry-Jubran, Associate Professor, Bar Ilan University Faculty of Law

Masua Sagiv, 2021–2024 Koret Visiting Assistant Professor of Jewish and Israel Studies, UC Berkeley; Scholar-in-Residence, Shalom Hartman Institute

About the Helen Diller Institute:

The Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies provides a rich academic forum for our nation’s future leaders to explore the breadth and complexity of Israel and contemporary Jewish issues. At a time when polarization is more severe than ever, we bring integrity, excellence, and grit to fostering dynamic spaces where students and the wider community can thoughtfully exchange ideas. To learn more about our mission and work, please visit hdi.berkeley.edu.

Production by Yellow Armadillo Studios. Click here to view a transcript of this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How should we understand Iran’s evolving relationship with Israel? Where do their interests diverge and where do they clash? In this episode, Professors Abbas Milani (Stanford University) and Ron Hassner (UC Berkeley) discuss Iran’s vision for the region; its influence on proxy forces such as Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis; and Israel's policy towards Iran. This episode was recorded in February 2024.

Featuring:

Abbas Milani, The Hamid and Christina Moghadam Director of Iranian Studies, Stanford University

Ron Hassner, Chancellor's Professor of Political Science and Helen Diller Family Chair in Israel Studies; Faculty Co-Director, Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies, UC Berkeley

About the Helen Diller Institute:

The Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies provides a rich academic forum for our nation’s future leaders to explore the breadth and complexity of Israel and contemporary Jewish issues. At a time when polarization is more severe than ever, we bring integrity, excellence, and grit to fostering dynamic spaces where students and the wider community can thoughtfully exchange ideas. To learn more about our mission and work, please visit hdi.berkeley.edu.

Production by Yellow Armadillo Studios. Click here to view a transcript of this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, recorded in February 2024, Haviv Rettig Gur and Professor Kenneth Bamberger discuss the state of the Israel–Hamas War during its fourth month.

Featuring:

Haviv Rettig Gur, Senior Analyst, Times of Israel

Kenneth Bamberger, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Professor of Law; Faculty Co-Director, Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies, UC Berkeley

About the Helen Diller Institute:

The Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies provides a rich academic forum for our nation’s future leaders to explore the breadth and complexity of Israel and contemporary Jewish issues. At a time when polarization is more severe than ever, we bring integrity, excellence, and grit to fostering dynamic spaces where students and the wider community can thoughtfully exchange ideas. To learn more about our mission and work, please visit hdi.berkeley.edu.

Production by Yellow Armadillo Studios. Click here to view a transcript of this episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.