Living Between Worlds: Identity, Conflict, and Hope with Jared Goldfarb

In this wide-ranging and deeply human conversation, Stephen Bauman welcomes educator, peace-builder, and longtime Jerusalem resident Jared Goldfarb to explore what it truly means to live “in the meantime” in Israel-Palestine today.Jared shares the story of his unlikely journey from New Hampshire to Jerusalem, where a search for Jewish identity turned into a 30-year life shaped by study, faith, and profound interfaith relationships. Together, he and Stephen dig into the layered realities of Israeli and Palestinian life—religion, nationalism, identity, military service, trauma, resilience, and the daily struggle to hold onto hope amid conflict.Jared speaks candidly about October 7th and the two years that followed: the shock and fear within Israeli society, his simultaneous concern for Palestinian friends, the collapse of his work, and the unexpected path that led him into deeper peace activism. He outlines the extraordinary grassroots work happening behind the headlines—environmental partnerships, human-rights advocacy, and interfaith encounters—and why he remains hopeful despite everything.An honest, nuanced, and grounded glimpse into life on both sides of one of the world’s most complicated places, this episode invites listeners to consider what it means to pursue peace, humility, and courage in the face of seemingly impossible odds.Chapters00:00:00 — Welcome & introduction: Stephen meets Jared00:01:10 — Who is Jared? From New Hampshire to Jerusalem00:02:20 — A search for Jewish identity becomes a lifelong home00:04:30 — Learning the land: history, religion, neighbors00:05:55 — Seeing Israel-Palestine as shared space00:07:10 — Jewish learning, teaching, and interfaith encounters00:08:35 — Raising a family in Jerusalem00:09:50 — Military service, choice, and identity00:12:00 — The ethics and tensions of mandatory service00:15:20 — Judaism, peace, and challenging the tradition00:17:10 — Constructive disagreement (Machloket)00:20:15 — What “religious” means in Israel00:21:50 — October 7th: trauma, shock, and national grief00:23:45 — Holding both Israeli and Palestinian suffering00:25:50 — Work shuts down; volunteering begins00:28:00 — Teaching abroad and finding purpose00:29:30 — Why education and activism matter more than ever00:32:20 — Being an outlier in Israeli society00:34:00 — Raising children toward peace00:36:00 — Faith, identity, and generational shifts00:37:20 — The current reality in the West Bank00:39:40 — Restrictions, fear, and rising violence00:41:10 — “Are you hopeful?” — Jared’s answer00:44:15 — Resilience, community, and sacred texts00:47:20 — Teaching in the U.S. and returning home00:50:00 — Organizations doing real peace-building work00:55:20 — Closing reflections: gratitude & the season of light00:57:10 — Farewell and next steps Get full access to Living in the Meantime at livinginthemeantime.substack.com/subscribe