Episode 52: A Supersized Passover Episode: Rabbi Nathan Kamesar on the Israel-Hamas War; Rabbi Maurice Harris on his starring role in the new Netflix series Testament: The Story of Moses

Evolve

It’s a supersized Passover edition of Evolve! First, Rabbi Nathan Kamesar drops by to discuss his recent essay, "The Legitimacy of the State of Israel: Surviving in a Hostile Region." Bryan and Nathan reflect on their respective relationships with Israel and Israeli politics. Nathan opens up about what it’s like being a pulpit rabbi and spiritual leader during wartime and how he’s been approaching his job the last few months (5:00). Nathan and Bryan offer some of their personal opinions about the Israel-Hamas war and war in general. Nathan shares which of the many unknowns he would most like to know in order to make sense of things. Bryan asks Nathan about his response to the recent Atlantic Magazine cover story “The Golden Age of American Jews is Ending” (31:05). Nathan reflects on how he’s thinking about Passover this year, how he’s trying to center empathy and why it’s impossible to avoid politics at the seder table (42:30). Then, for a special bonus interview, Reconstructing Judaism’s own Rabbi Maurice Harris stops by for a conversation with Sam Wachs about all things Moses, including his starring role in the new Netflix Docudrama Testament: The Story of Moses (54:30).

Theme song, “Ilu Finu” by Rabbi Miriam Margles. Her album This is the Day is available for purchase at CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/miriammarglesandthehadarensemb

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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.

Special Guests: Rabbi Maurice Harris and Rabbi Nathan Kamesar.

Support Evolve

Links:

• Sign up for Evolve's free newsletter to stay up to date on the latest essays, videos and podcasts
• Read Rabbi Nathan Kamesar's Evolve Essay, "The Legitimacy of the State of Israel: Surviving in a Hostile Region"
• Also from Rabbi Nathan, "Building Community is Most Essential"
• From The Atlantic, "The Golden Age of American Jews is Ending"
• Buy Rabbi Maurice Harris' book, "Moses: A Stranger Among Us"
• Read Rabbi Maurice Harris' Evolve essays
• Read Bryan's behind-the-scenes story about how Rabbi Maurice Harris was cast in a hit Netflix show
• Watch "Testament: The Story of Moses" on Netflix