As we continue to wrestle with the state of anxiety for what comes next at this troubling and traumatic time in Israel and around the Jewish world the Tradition Podcast checks in with our editor emeritus Rabbi Emanuel Feldman. In this episode Jeffrey Saks talks with his distinguished predecessor about the current Gaza War in light of his memories of the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War; the challenges to Zionism and religious Zionism going forward; and his cautious optimism for a renewed Jewish spirit when the fog clears and we emerge victorious.

Shalom Rosenberg z”l, in his essay “A Narrow Bridge: R Nahman of Breslov’s Faith in a World of Doubt” (TRADITION, Fall 2023), writes of finding faith in a world of confusion and at a time that many are plagued by doubt. Because Rosenberg’s essay presents itself to us with such unexpected timeliness, in these days of war and worry and doubt, we discuss it with Rabbi Dr. Zvi Leshem on the Tradition Podcast.

TRADITION’s recent issue features Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble essay, “Psalm 139: When God’s Presence Both Overwhelms and Eludes,” which explores the theological relevance in understanding this psalm as a form of emotional struggle with God. When the essay was written no one could have foreseen how its themes would become presciently relevant to our current moment—so we thought it would be appropriate to chat with the author about what she wrote in light of the events on Simhat Torah and the war.

TRADITION and the Rabbinical Council of America brought together authors from our recent issue on “The Yom Kippur War After 50 Years” as they discuss insights from their contributions to our pages and the sudden, tragic timeliness of that issue for events unfolding in Israel. Watch or listen to the recording.