Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations features interviews with thought-provoking rabbis, leaders and creators about the urgent issues faced by Jewish people today. As a part of Reconstructing Judaism’s multimedia Evolve project (http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/), this podcast models respectful, sacred conversations about challenging topics.
Episode 71: How Two American Jews Navigate Fundamental Disagreement about Israel with Love and Respect: A Conversation with Rabbi Sid Schwarz and Sam Sherman
Note: This podcast is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_J8I4ZB72bo (https://youtu.be/_J8I4ZB72bo)
This is the kind of conversation about Israel and Palestine you won't hear anywhere else. Rabbi Sid Schwarz, founding rabbi of Congregation Adat Shalom and longtime progressive Zionist, and Sam Sherman, a playwright, actor, and anti-Zionist activist who grew up in Schwarz's congregation, model how to engage in respectful dialogue across profound ideological differences about Israel and Palestine. Schwarz discusses his decades-long commitment to what he calls "spiritual Zionism"—affirming Israel's right to exist while vocally opposing policies that violate Jewish values. Sherman explains his anti-Zionist position rooted in concern for Palestinian dignity and opposition to what he sees as institutionalized Jewish supremacy. Despite their disagreements on the meaning of Zionism, the legitimacy of violence, and the future of the region, both speakers demonstrate deep respect, genuine curiosity, and a commitment to staying in relationship. As Sam prepares to return to the West Bank to work with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, this conversation offers a rare and moving example of how Jews across generational and ideological divides can engage with empathy, learn from each other, and remain part of the same Jewish community even when fundamental disagreements persist.
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 (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/miriammarglesandthehadarensemb)
Visit our home on the web — Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations: http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org (http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org)
Subscribe by Email at http://subscribebyemail.com/evolve.fireside.fm/rss (http://subscribebyemail.com/evolve.fireside.fm/rss)
Read these show notes on the web at https://evolve.fireside.fm/1 (https://evolve.fireside.fm/1)
This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org (https://ReconstructingJudaism.org).
Special Guests: Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Ph.D. and Sam Sherman.
Support Evolve (https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/evolve-donate)
Links:
Sign up for Evolve's free newsletter (http://eepurl.com/iih7IT)
Support Evolve with a donation to Reconstructing Judaism (https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/support/)
Read Sam Sherman's Evolve essay "Dying Before You Die: Writing the Play ‘kaddish (how to be a sanctuary)’ (https://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/dying-before-you-die-writing-the-play-kaddish-how-to-be-a-sanctuary/)
Learn about Sam Sherman's play "Kaddish (How to be a Sanctuary)" (https://www.kaddishtheplay.com/)
Listen to Rabbi Sid's last Evolve conversation with Bryan Schwartzman about World Jewry, Zionism and the State of Israel (https://evolve.fireside.fm/67)
28 Aug 2025
Episode 70: Board Covenants and the Fate of Democracy
In times of chaos and turmoil, how can we overcome our differences to tackle problems? How can we move from our own individual thinking into the thinking of what's the common good? Rabbi Joshua Lesser discusses the vital importance of nonprofit boards to Jewish and American life. By helping Jewish communities formulate and adopt board convenants, Lesser seeks to use Jewish wisdom to interject a bit of the sacred into the seemingly mundane business of running an organization. Healthy boards, he argues, are not just important for Jewish organizations. They are one of the arenas where people can participate in democracy on a micro level, and potentially reenergize democracy on a macro scale.
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 (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/miriammarglesandthehadarensemb)
Visit our home on the web — Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations: http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org (http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org)
Subscribe by Email at http://subscribebyemail.com/evolve.fireside.fm/rss (http://subscribebyemail.com/evolve.fireside.fm/rss)
Read these show notes on the web at https://evolve.fireside.fm/1 (https://evolve.fireside.fm/1)
This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org (https://ReconstructingJudaism.org).
Special Guest: Rabbi Joshua Lesser.
Support Evolve (https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/evolve-donate)
Links:
Sign up for Evolve's free newsletter (http://eepurl.com/iih7IT)
Read Rabbi Joshua Lesser's Evolve Essay, "From Passion to Purpose: How a Board Covenant Transforms Jewish Leadership" (https://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/from-passion-to-purpose-how-a-board-covenant-transforms-jewish-leadership/)
Support Reconstructing Judaism's End of Year Campaign (https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/support/)
24 Jul 2025
Episode 69: I’m Right, You’re Wrong: What Data Reveals About North American Jewish Opinion on Israel, Zionism and Anti-Zionism
What do North American Jews think and feel about Israel and why do they feel it? As researcher Matthew Boxer explains, we have, at best, an incomplete understanding of opinion. That's had a harmful impact on discourse and planning. So to find out, Boxer surveyed some 1,800 North American Jews. In this episode, he shares his findings and what he believes they mean. Among his major takeaways: he disproves the-oft sited statistic that 95 percent of American Jews identify as Zionist, even though most American Jews have attitudes that one would associate with Zionism. Many on the left and right feel that their interpretations are obvious and clear and think that opposing views are dangerous and outside the pale. Also, many American Jews feel strong emotional attachment to Israel, but that emotional attachment doesn't correlate to particular or obvious opinions about the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians. Boxer shares how he thinks future researchers can learn from his work. And, he makes a case that particular perspectives on Israel should not be a condition for inclusion in Jewish life and community.
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 (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/miriammarglesandthehadarensemb)
Visit our home on the web — Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations: http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org (http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org)
Subscribe by Email at http://subscribebyemail.com/evolve.fireside.fm/rss (http://subscribebyemail.com/evolve.fireside.fm/rss)
Read these show notes on the web at https://evolve.fireside.fm/1 (https://evolve.fireside.fm/1)
This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org (https://ReconstructingJudaism.org).
Special Guest: Dr. Matthew Boxer.
Support Evolve (https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/evolve-donate)
Links:
Sign up for Evolve's free newsletter (http://eepurl.com/iih7IT)
Register for the 8/25 Evolve Web Conversation with Rabbi Jacob Staub and Rabbi Megan Doherty (https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/event/creating-sacred-community-leadership-and-connection-with-rabbi-megan-doherty/?_gl=1*1d2s093*_gcl_au*MTQxOTI0MjUyLjE3NTA2ODM4OTk.*_ga*MTc4OTc0MTQ1OS4xNjkzOTI2NDU5*_ga_WRW9SLZZ22*czE3NTI3NjU0MjgkbzQ4JGcxJHQxNzUyNzY1NzMxJGo2MCRsMCRoMA..) — "Creating Sacred Community: Leadership and Connection with Rabbi Megan Doherty"
Read Matthew Boxer's Evolve essay, "How We Talk About Jewish Young Adults’ Connection to Israel: The Evidence or Lack Thereof" (https://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/how-we-talk-about-jewish-young-adults-connection-to-israel-the-evidence-or-lack-thereof/)
Read Matthew Boxer's Evolve essay, "What is Zionism? It Depends on Who You Ask" (https://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/what-is-zionism-it-depends-on-who-you-ask/)
Dig Into Matthew Boxer's Survey Results: "What is Zionism? Assessing the Diversity of Discourse in a Charged Environment" (https://scholarworks.brandeis.edu/esploro/outputs/report/What-is-Zionism-Assessing-the-Diversity/9924331186501921?institution=01BRAND_INST) — See Dr. Boxer's PowerPoint, read about his methodology, and explore his dataset
Explore Local Jewish Community Population Studies and more at the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (https://www.brandeis.edu/cmjs/community-studies/index.html)
"What Is Zionism?" Matthew Boxer presents his research findings in this video presentation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8OGN3kskD0&t=2609s)
Who has been a guest on Evolve
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Ali Michael PhD
Rabbi Sid Schwarz
Roan Boucher
Rabbi James Greene
Rabbi David Jaffe
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
8,417,801
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
49 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 75 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
77
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
90
Contact Evolve
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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Bryan host the show. Published by Reconstructing Judaism.
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Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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