American Judaism Disrupted! Israel, Power, and the Politics of Legitimacy

In this episode of WMD, Dr. Tamara Schwartz welcomes Professor of Judaic Studies, Dr. Stephen Stern for a thought-provoking conversation about Israel, anti-Zionism, antisemitism, and the deeper question of power itself. Together, they explore why Israel occupies such a uniquely symbolic role in modern political consciousness and how debates about the Jewish state have become intertwined with broader questions of morality, legitimacy, victimhood, nationalism, and identity. In an era of information warfare and competing realities, this episode challenges listeners to think critically about the stories societies tell about power, history, and legitimacy—and what those stories reveal about the modern world.