Haaretz Podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer welcomes Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, to discuss the challenges of leading progressive American Jews during Israel's Gaza war and ahead of a second Trump presidency. Rabbi Jacobs opens up about generational divides, love for Israel despite government policies, and the urgency of Jewish unity in the face of rising antisemitism. From engaging young members of the community to addressing political polarization, this candid conversation explores how Jewish values endure in complex times.

Haaretz Podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer welcomes Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, to discuss the challenges of leading progressive American Jews during Israel's Gaza war and ahead of a second Trump presidency. Rabbi Jacobs opens up about generational divides, love for Israel despite government policies, and the urgency of Jewish unity in the face of rising antisemitism. From engaging young members of the community to addressing political polarization, this candid conversation explores how Jewish values endure in complex times.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Your audio guide to Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

Haaretz Podcast

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer. 

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

'We show up in places that some of the Jewish community has abandoned'

Recalling the first day of the war with Iran is still traumatic for journalist and activist Anat Saragusti, whose apartment building in central Tel Aviv began to shake as she ran to seek shelter from Iranian missiles targeting the city following the U.S.-Israel attack that morning. 

"I didn't believe my eyes," she says of what awaited her when she returned. "The whole living room was covered with broken glass - the carpets, the sofa, the chairs - all over. It was really so scary."

Matching the shattering of the glass in her home, said Saragusti, who monitors press freedom at the Union of Journalists in Israel, is the ongoing shattering of her trust in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as the war continues, and her dissatisfaction with what she views as an overly-compliant media. 

Most Israelis, Saragusti said on the Haaretz Podcast, are "glued to television screens" where retired IDF generals spout military facts and statistics. "There is no room for alternative voices, questions or doubts" regarding the war and "what the end game will be."

"They promised us in the last war in Iran in June that we destroyed the majority of the infrastructure for the ballistic missiles and the nuclear plan of Iran. Then in nine months, [Iran rebuilt] everything from scratch? I don't understand that. I feel that they are lying to us."

Read more:

Op-ed by Anat Sargusti: Israeli Broadcasters Don Uniforms as the Media Becomes an Arm of the Military

Follow the latest updates from Haaretz on the U.S.-Israel war on Iran

One Killed, Two Wounded in Central Israel Following Iranian Missile Barrage, Emergency Services Say

'You Can't Live by the Sword': Israeli TV's Tel Aviv Street Interview Backfires

Iran's Cluster Missiles: What You Need to Know About the Controversial Weapon Targeting Israel

Recalling the first day of the war with Iran is still traumatic for journalist and activist&nbsp;Anat Saragusti, whose apartment building in central Tel Aviv began to shake as she ran to seek shelter from Iranian missiles targeting the city following the U.S.-Israel attack that morning.&nbsp;
"I didn't believe my eyes," she says of what awaited her when she returned. "The whole living room was covered with broken glass - the carpets, the sofa, the chairs - all over. It was really so scary."
Matching the shattering of the glass in her home, said Saragusti, who monitors press freedom at the Union of Journalists in Israel, is the ongoing shattering of her trust in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as the war continues, and her dissatisfaction with what she views as an overly-compliant media.&nbsp;
Most Israelis, Saragusti said on the Haaretz Podcast, are "glued to television screens" where retired IDF generals spout military facts and statistics. "There is no room for alternative voices, questions or doubts" regarding the war and "what the end game will be."
"They promised us in the last war in Iran in June that we destroyed the majority of the infrastructure for the ballistic missiles and the nuclear plan of Iran. Then in nine months, [Iran rebuilt] everything from scratch? I don't understand that. I feel that they are lying to us."
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026-03-09/ty-article/.premium/news-studios-have-become-a-war-room-and-its-broadcasters-don-uniforms/0000019c-cece-d8f8-a9de-ffdf66460000">Op-ed by Anat Sargusti: Israeli Broadcasters Don Uniforms as the Media Becomes an Arm of the Military</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/ty-tag/2026-israel-iran-war-0000019c-a52b-d3e2-af9f-efbbc44f0000">Follow the latest updates from Haaretz on the U.S.-Israel war on Iran</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-03-09/ty-article/.premium/one-killed-two-wounded-in-central-israel-following-iranian-missile-barrage/0000019c-d23e-d3f0-afbc-de7fba840000">One Killed, Two Wounded in Central Israel Following Iranian Missile Barrage, Emergency Services Say</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/leisure/2026-03-09/ty-article/.premium/you-cant-live-by-the-sword-israeli-tvs-tel-aviv-street-interview-backfires/0000019c-cc88-dbba-ad9c-cdfa92190000">'You Can't Live by the Sword': Israeli TV's Tel Aviv Street Interview Backfires</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/haaretz-explains/2026-03-03/ty-article-magazine/.premium/what-are-cluster-missiles-irans-controversial-weapon-in-war-with-israel/0000019c-b409-db60-a7dd-f6399a620000">Iran's Cluster Missiles:&nbsp;What You Need to Know About the Controversial Weapon Targeting Israel</a>

'They're lying to us': Why Israel's media isn't challenging Netanyahu’s narrative on the Iran war

While the Iranian regime “by and large, needed to be punished” and “did not deserve any mercy,” according to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, it is possible that “a little bit more flexibility” in the negotiations for a nuclear agreement leading up to the U.S.-Israel assault might have meant they “would have resulted in a different way.” 

Olmert made his remarks in a dialogue with Haaretz Global Editor Noa Landau, featured in a plenary at the J Street Convention in Washington D.C. – and coinciding with the initial days of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. 

Olmert expressed satisfaction that U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back on remarks from prominent Republicans that Israel pushed the US into the war and “did not pretend to say that he was fighting for us. He said in the most explicit manner: ‘They are American enemies. This is an American war. I'm fighting for America, and I had to do it for America.’ No one saved Israel, or no one got mixed up in a war in order to save Israel.”

In his dialogue with Landau, Olmert also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative he is pursuing with former Palestinian Authority foreign minister Dr. Nasser al-Kidwa to “move forward into entirely new realities on the basis of cooperation and mutual respect and compromise and compassion.” He harshly condemned the ongoing and record-setting settler violence in the West Bank as “obnoxious” and “heartbreaking.” 

Speaking out against such actions, he added, "is essential if you want, as a Jew, not to be linked to these actions. You have to speak up.”

Read more:

'I Might Have Forced Israel's Hand': Trump Denies Israel Dragged U.S. Into Iran War After Rubio Comments Draw Ire

As Israeli Defense Officials Push for a Long Offensive, Trump Still Has Doubts

'Both Sides Are Tired of War': Former PM Ehud Olmert Makes Two-state Proposal With Former Palestinian Minister

Police Report Average of Four Daily Incidents of West Bank Settler Violence in Early 2026

The latest reporting on West Bank settler violence

While the Iranian regime &ldquo;by and large, needed to be punished&rdquo; and &ldquo;did not deserve any mercy,&rdquo; according to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, it is possible that &ldquo;a little bit more flexibility&rdquo; in the negotiations for a nuclear agreement leading up to the U.S.-Israel assault might have meant they &ldquo;would have resulted in a different way.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Olmert made his remarks in a dialogue with Haaretz Global Editor Noa Landau, featured in a plenary at the J Street Convention in Washington D.C. &ndash; and coinciding with the initial days of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.&nbsp;
Olmert expressed satisfaction that U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back on remarks from prominent Republicans that Israel pushed the US into the war and &ldquo;did not pretend to say that he was fighting for us. He said in the most explicit manner: &lsquo;They are American enemies. This is an American war. I'm fighting for America, and I had to do it for America.&rsquo; No one saved Israel, or no one got mixed up in a war in order to save Israel.&rdquo;
In his dialogue with Landau, Olmert also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative he is pursuing with former Palestinian Authority foreign minister Dr. Nasser al-Kidwa to &ldquo;move forward into entirely new realities on the basis of cooperation and mutual respect and compromise and compassion.&rdquo; He harshly condemned the ongoing and record-setting settler violence in the West Bank as &ldquo;obnoxious&rdquo; and &ldquo;heartbreaking.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Speaking out against such actions, he added, "is essential if you want, as a Jew, not to be linked to these actions. You have to speak up.&rdquo;
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-03-03/ty-article/.premium/trump-denies-israel-forced-u-s-into-iran-war-after-rubio-comments-draw-ire/0000019c-b4b3-db60-a7dd-f6b3f7fc0000">'I Might Have Forced Israel's Hand':&nbsp;Trump Denies Israel Dragged U.S. Into Iran War After Rubio Comments Draw Ire</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-03-03/ty-article/.premium/as-israeli-defense-officials-push-for-a-long-offensive-trump-still-has-doubts/0000019c-b066-df64-a59c-fa76f1da0000">As Israeli Defense Officials Push for a Long Offensive, Trump Still Has Doubts</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-09-09/ty-article/.premium/both-sides-are-tired-of-war-ex-pm-olmert-makes-two-state-proposal-with-ex-pa-minister/00000191-d7ae-d233-a5d3-ffbf31530000">'Both Sides Are Tired of War': Former PM Ehud Olmert Makes Two-state Proposal With Former Palestinian Minister</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-02-04/ty-article/.premium/west-bank-settler-violence-averaged-four-incidents-daily-in-early-2026-police-say/0000019c-2926-d663-a39c-3daecf1c0000">Police Report Average of Four Daily Incidents of West Bank Settler Violence in Early 2026</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/west-bank">The latest reporting on West Bank settler violence</a>

'This is an American war. No one went to war to save Israel': Former PM Ehud Olmert on 'punishing Iran' and Trump's hazy end-game

“It is a time of fear and worry, but also a time of hope” in Iran after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the early days of the U.S.-Israel assault on the regime in Tehran, said Iranian-American scholar and journalist Arash Azizi.

“The first thing [my family in Iran] told me was that they called me to say they were alive after Tehran was hit, and there are hundreds of civilian casualties,” said Azizi, speaking on a wartime edition of the Haaretz Podcast. Of Khamenei, he said “most Iranians are happy to see him gone.” 

Azizi was sharply critical of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s calls for Iranian civilians to rise up and overthrow their regime. 

“It's absolutely bonkers,” he said. “If you had a population that had organized networks ready to take over, you could imagine perhaps something like that happening. But we don’t. So both Trump and Netanyahu keep saying this, and it makes me wonder, do they really believe it?”

He also had harsh words for Iranian exiles like himself, who he said were unprepared for this moment. “We have not done the work, we have not built organizations, we did not get our act together in a way that would be ready to make a successful transition to democracy.” 

Also on the podcast: Gregg Carlstrom, The Economist’s Dubai-based Middle East correspondent, reports on the growing anger in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates sparked by the intensity of the Iranian assault that could fuel support among everyday people to pick sides in this conflict.  

“The question is, what does that mean? Is it allowing America to use bases and Gulf countries to carry out attacks against Iran, or is it going a step further and militarily getting involved with their own warplanes and troops? I think it's more likely that they're willing to do the former than the latter.”

Read more:

Trump: U.S. Ahead of Schedule in Iran but Can Extend Fighting Beyond Projected 4-5 Weeks

Three Israeli Teenage Siblings Among Nine Killed in Iranian Missile Strike on Bomb Shelter

Analysis by Amos Harel | As Israeli Defense Officials Push for a Long Offensive, Trump Still Has Doubts

Analysis by Zvi Bar'el | Khamenei's Chosen Successor Could Offer Trump a 'Dream Deal' to End the Iran War

'Fire-Starter' or 'Historical Justice'? How Middle Eastern Media Frames the Iran War

&ldquo;It is a time of fear and worry, but also a time of hope&rdquo; in Iran after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the early days of the U.S.-Israel assault on the regime in Tehran, said Iranian-American scholar and journalist Arash Azizi.
&ldquo;The first thing [my family in Iran] told me was that they called me to say they were alive after Tehran was hit, and there are hundreds of civilian casualties,&rdquo; said Azizi, speaking on a wartime edition of the Haaretz Podcast. Of Khamenei, he said &ldquo;most Iranians are happy to see him gone.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Azizi was sharply critical of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&rsquo;s calls for Iranian civilians to rise up and overthrow their regime.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It's absolutely bonkers,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If you had a population that had organized networks ready to take over, you could imagine perhaps something like that happening. But we don&rsquo;t. So both Trump and Netanyahu keep saying this, and it makes me wonder, do they really believe it?&rdquo;
He also had harsh words for Iranian exiles like himself, who he said were unprepared for this moment. &ldquo;We have not done the work, we have not built organizations, we did not get our act together in a way that would be ready to make a successful transition to democracy.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Also on the podcast: Gregg Carlstrom, The Economist&rsquo;s Dubai-based Middle East correspondent, reports on the growing anger in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates sparked by the intensity of the Iranian assault that could fuel support among everyday people to pick sides in this conflict.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;The question is, what does that mean? Is it allowing America to use bases and Gulf countries to carry out attacks against Iran, or is it going a step further and militarily getting involved with their own warplanes and troops? I think it's more likely that they're willing to do the former than the latter.&rdquo;
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-03-02/ty-article/.premium/trump-main-wave-of-joint-u-s-israeli-strikes-on-iran-yet-to-come-report-says/0000019c-aef1-d284-addf-bef9fcf80000">Trump: U.S. Ahead of Schedule in Iran but Can Extend Fighting Beyond Projected 4-5 Weeks</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-03-02/ty-article/.premium/three-teenage-siblings-among-nine-killed-in-iranian-missile-hit-on-bomb-shelter/0000019c-aeef-d0a6-a5ff-bfefa3120000">Three Israeli Teenage Siblings Among Nine Killed in Iranian Missile Strike on Bomb Shelter</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-03-03/ty-article/.premium/as-israeli-defense-officials-push-for-a-long-offensive-trump-still-has-doubts/0000019c-b066-df64-a59c-fa76f1da0000">Analysis by Amos Harel | As Israeli Defense Officials Push for a Long Offensive, Trump Still Has Doubts</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-03-02/ty-article/.premium/khameneis-chosen-successor-could-offer-trump-a-dream-deal-to-end-the-iran-war/0000019c-ae37-d0a6-a5ff-bff767110000">Analysis by Zvi Bar'el |&nbsp;Khamenei's Chosen Successor Could Offer Trump a 'Dream Deal' to End the Iran War</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/2026-03-02/ty-article-magazine/how-middle-eastern-media-frames-the-iran-war/0000019c-aa29-d00f-a9bc-effbaf8c0000">'Fire-Starter' or 'Historical Justice'? How Middle Eastern Media Frames the Iran War</a>

'We show up in places that some of the Jewish community has abandoned'

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