The Fight Over Liberal Zionism with J Street's Nadav Tamir

In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and Orly Erez-Likhovski speak with Nadav Tamir, Executive Director of J Street Israel, former Israeli diplomat, and former senior adviser to President Shimon Peres.This is a conversation about J Street — but it is also about something larger: how Jews who care deeply about Israel argue about its future without turning disagreement into demonization.At a time of war, trauma, rising antisemitism, devastation in Gaza, and deepening divisions between Israel and Diaspora communities, questions about liberal Zionism, U.S. military aid, democracy, security, and Palestinian statehood have become more urgent — and more painful.Nadav shares how he understands his work with J Street as part of a lifelong commitment to Israel, including his years in the Foreign Ministry, at Israel’s Embassy in Washington, as Consul General in Boston, and as an adviser to President Shimon Peres. He also speaks about the complexity of advocating for American Jewish engagement with Israel while his own son is serving in the IDF.The conversation does not erase disagreement. It makes room for it.Together, Josh, Orly, and Nadav discuss:* Why Nadav chose to join J Street in service of Israel's Future* The growing gap between Israeli and American Jewish conversations about Israel* Liberal Zionism after October 7- Democracy, occupation, security, and Jewish peoplehood* The debate over U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel* How to criticize Israeli policy without giving up on Israel’s futureIf liberal Zionists cannot argue seriously with one another about Israel’s security, democracy, military power, diplomacy, and moral future, then the space for honest Zionist conversation becomes smaller and smaller.Criticism is legitimate and disagreement is part of democratic life.Demonization is not the answer.Watch the full conversation and join us in asking what responsible disagreement about Israel can look like today.