Ep 56 Wolff Peace - Felix Frankfurter & Sari Nusseibeh: Dissent, Devotion, and the Right to Refuse

In this episode of the Wolff Peace series, host Avis Kalfsbeek examines the tension between obedience and conscience by pairing Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter with Palestinian philosopher and peacebuilder Sari Nusseibeh. Frankfurter’s ruling in Minersville v. Gobitis prioritized national unity over religious freedom, sparking backlash and violence. In contrast, Nusseibeh’s life work offers a model of nonviolent dignity and resistance under the weight of systemic oppression. Together, their voices challenge us to rethink how peace interacts with the right to dissent. In this episode: The logic and consequences of Minersville v. Gobitis The lived peace philosophy of Sari Nusseibeh Two reflection questions for your head and heart Visit aviskalfsbeek.com to learn more about the podcast and books. Music: “Dalai Llama Rides a Bike” by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez Bandcamp | Spotify Try my voice clone “Amaya Calm” on Eleven Labs for your audio book or other creative project: https://try.elevenlabs.io/peace Robert Paul Wolff’s Political Man and Social Man: Amazon link