Art and Motherhood
Art that explores the raw, unfiltered realities of motherhood—beyond the idealised Madonna and Child archetype—has been rare, long considered taboo. But now, it’s the focus of urgent discussion. Coinciding with her nationally acclaimed exhibition Acts of Creation, curator Hettie Judah delves into the myths, mess, and mishaps of motherhood through 150 thought-provoking artworks. Returning to […]
War & Morality
What does it mean to fight an ethical war? Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody explores this essential question as Israel defends itself on the battlefield and in the court of public opinion. In Ethics of our Fighters he presents, for the first time, a holistic Jewish perspective on military ethics. What does Judaism say about the […]
Iran in Focus: Proxies, Power, and Nuclear Ambitions
Iran expert Sharan Tabari joins the Economist’s Anshel Pfeffer and Jonathan Rosenthal to discuss the country’s proxies, nuclear ambitions, and regional power dynamics. Since its 1979 revolution, Iran has destabilised the region and alarmed the West. Its leadership calls for Israel’s destruction, seizes Western visitors as bargaining chips, and fuels militant groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, proxies […]
Across Cultures, Across Continents: Jewish Poetry & Music
Journey from Odesa to America and Britain, from biblical times to what it means to be Jewish today, in the company of leading poets. Transatlantic poet and academic Eve Grubin is joined by Ukrainian-American writer Ilya Kaminsky, recently selected by the BBC as ‘one of 12 artists that changed the world’; award-winning poet and playwright Jacqueline Saphra and Jessica Jacobs author […]
Bearing Witness: Documenting 7 October & its Aftermath
The National Library of Israel’s Bearing Witness Archive is an ambitious initiative documenting the events of 7 October, 2023, and the war that followed, capturing the unprecedented scale of instant messaging, online coverage, vigils, rallies, and memorials. In conversation with Raquel Ukeles, NLI Head of Collections, renowned historian Ilan Troen explores the challenges and ethical considerations of building […]
After Winter: A Song for Marj
After Winter is a programme devised by Mark Glanville as a homage to his partner, Marjorie Morrison, and to music, the art form that enabled him to cope with her passing. A celebration of life as much as a response to loss, the programme unites songs from a variety of musical traditions, including Yiddish, Celtic […]
The Z Word: Reclaiming Zionism
In the aftermath of October 7, Zionism has increasingly been used by critics of Israel as a term of derision. From university campuses to TikTok and Twitter/X, the term is employed as a self-evident slur that presumes that Zionists are racist and supremacist. Yet, as Adam Kirsch writes, the challenge for Jews today is not […]
Uncovered: Women’s Sexuality & Jewish Law
Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash joins Under My Hat author Sally Berkovic to discuss her clear and nuanced perspective on the issues that have shaped women’s roles, religious identity and ritual obligations across millennia. A teacher of contemporary halakhah and Talmud at Matan, Midreshet Torah V’Avodah and the Pardes Institute, Goldman Barash guides us through the […]
The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic
Women in the Talmud are usually marginal and almost always anonymous. Gila Fine – called “one of the great Talmud teachers of our time” by Lord Sacks – explores the six exceptions: Yalta (the shrew), Homa (the femme fatale), Marta (the prima donna), Heruta (the madonna/whore), Beruria (the over-reacher), and Ima Shalom (the angel in […]
The Home of the Book for the People of the Book
In 2014, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks set out his vision for the renewed National Library of Israel, expressing the exceptional connection of the Jewish people to the written word; their contribution to civilisation. Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Daniel Taub chairs a discussion on how this continues to resonate throughout the world of scholarship and education, […]
Elliot Cosgrove: Being Jewish Today
Since 2008, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue has been one of the most influential voices in American Jewry. In a rare UK appearance, he discusses his thought-provoking book, For Such a Time as This: On Being Jewish Today. Reflecting on the dark aftermath of 7 October, Cosgrove contends that even in the face […]
Hannah Arendt’s Lessons
Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize, We Are Free to Change The World: Hannah Arendt’s Lessons in Love and Disobedience offers a bold exploration of the life and work of one of the world’s most influential—and controversial—thinkers. Lyndsey Stonebridge brings Arendt’s ideas into urgent conversation with our turbulent present. Writing unflinchingly about power, terror, exile, and […]