Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas
By: Boundless Israel, Inc.
Language: en
Categories: News, Commentary, Religion, Spirituality, Judaism, Politics
When it comes to Israel, antisemitism, and American Jewry, the conversations are seemingly endless—there are so many perspectives and so many difficult questions that it can be hard to know where to start.That’s why we created Boundless Insights—to bring you thoughtful, in-depth, and engaging discussions to help make sense of the issues.Our goal is to become your trusted source for insights that are not just informative, but also empowering – giving you the confidence to start conversations of your own.
Episodes
The Middle East Entering 2026 – with Dr. Michael Oren
Jan 07, 2026We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas is joined by former Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren for a wide-angle look at the regional landscape heading into 2026. Together, they examine how recent diplomatic moves, shifting U.S.–Israel dynamics, internal pressure inside Iran, and Israel’s own political calendar fit into a broader picture of power, deterrence, and decision-making.
They look at how the balance of power may be shifting, where risks are accu...
Duration: 00:22:31That’s a Rapaport on 2025 – with Michael Rapaport
Dec 31, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Aviva closes out 2025 with actor, comedian, and podcaster Michael Rapaport for a funny and thoughtful look back. They reflect on how the last two years have reshaped Jewish life and identity, revisit the cultural and political moments that defined 2025, and talk about what they’re carrying into 2026 — including Michael’s upcoming documentary. Along the way: New Year’s resolutions, a mini therapy session, and “Mike’s Hot Takes” on everything from AI to tariffs to the pope, plus a h...
Duration: 00:32:51American Antizionism - with Shaul Kelner
Dec 29, 2025Sociologist and Jewish studies scholar Dr. Shaul Kelner joins Dr. Rachel Fish to examine the rise of antizionism as a distinctly American political and social movement. Kelner argues that contemporary antizionism is less an intellectual critique of Zionism than a political mass movement defined by praxis: the othering and exclusion of Jews through social and institutional action.
Their conversation explores why debates over whether antizionism equals antisemitism often obscure more than they clarify, the distinction between 'anti-Zionism' and 'antizionism', how ambiguity about end goals of the pro-Palestine movement enables broad coalition-building, why higher education became especially fertile g...
Duration: 00:40:44A Muslim Zionist’s Case for Peace – with Loay Alshareef
Dec 24, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Host Aviva Klompas speaks with Loay Alshareef, an Arab Muslim peace advocate whose personal journey challenges some of the most entrenched assumptions in the Middle East.
Raised in Saudi Arabia in an environment steeped in anti-Jewish narratives, Loay describes the beliefs he absorbed growing up and the profound turning point that reshaped his worldview after living with a Jewish family in France. That experience led him to reexamine what he had been taught about...
Duration: 00:20:56Terror in Australia
Dec 21, 2025Please donate to support and the families affected by the Bondi Beach terror attack: www.charidy.com/supportsydney
We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.
Aviva speaks with survivors of the terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach that left 15 people dead and dozens wounded. What began as a public gathering to mark the first night of the Jewish festival became one of the deadliest attacks on Jews in Australia’s history.
Sorella’s fund...
Duration: 00:25:56Hanukkah in the Shadow of the Australia Attack – with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis
Dec 16, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
In this episode, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis reflects on what Hanukkah asks of us this year, in the wake of the antisemitic attack on Jews in Australia. He explores how an ancient story of courage, conviction, and spiritual resilience speaks to a moment when Jewish communities are confronting rising antisemitism, deep communal strain, and the challenge of remaining visible in difficult and frightening times.
The Chief Rabbi discusses the enduring meaning of the...
Netanyahu Wants a Pardon – with Dr. Michael Oren
Dec 10, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Israel is facing a moment without precedent: a sitting prime minister on trial for corruption is now asking the president for a pardon.
Benjamin Netanyahu has spent years fighting charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting gifts from wealthy associates. The trial has dragged on through political crises, judicial reform battles, and two years of war. He insists he’s the target of a political conspiracy. Others say the case is a test of...
Duration: 00:22:58A New Vision for Israel – with Dr. Einat Wilf
Dec 03, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
In this episode of Boundless Insights, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Einat Wilf about her decision to launch a new political party in Israel and what she believes the country urgently needs right now. Wilf explains why she founded the Oz Party, arguing that Israel must move from what she calls “exile-consciousness” to true sovereign behavior — reclaiming clarity, responsibility, and strategic purpose in a time of political exhaustion.
Their conversation explores Wilf’s insisten...
Duration: 00:34:33The Price of Alliance – with Dr. Michael Oren
Nov 26, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org, or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.
Boundless relies on your support to produce courageous conversations and nuanced analysis at a time when clarity matters more than ever. If this episode – or any of our work – has helped you better understand the moment we’re living in, please consider making a contribution at boundlessisrael.org/donate.
Host Aviva Klompas sits down with Dr. Michael Oren to examine how the U.S.–Israel relationship has been reshaped over the course of the war — and...
Duration: 00:26:13Gaza and Israel After Phase One — with David Makovsky
Nov 24, 2025Middle East analyst David Makovsky joins Dr. Rachel Fish to unpack the “phase one to phase two” handoff in Gaza: what the Trump plan actually changed, why returning the remaining hostages bodies still matters, and why an international stabilization force is unlikely to disarm Hamas.
Makovsky outlines a de-Hamas future for Gaza built on a West-Berlin model that pairs PA-Israel security coordination with technocratic Palestinian governance, while Arab states provide funding and public cover. They also map the Saudi calculus on normalization, the risks of delay, and how Israel’s coming election could reshape U.S.–Israel ties, reg...
Duration: 00:45:15Settler Violence – with Dr. Michael Oren
Nov 21, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org, or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.
In this episode, Aviva sits down with Dr. Michael Oren to examine the troubling spike in settler violence in Judea and Samaria. In recent weeks, attacks on Palestinian communities and farmers have become more frequent and more brazen, raising alarms among Israel’s top political and military leaders.
Although the government maintains that only a small fringe is responsible, the surge has exposed deeper problems in enforcement, politics, and public trust. Aviva and Dr. Or...
Duration: 00:20:29What’s Happening in the Republican Party? – with Rep Randy Fine
Nov 19, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.
The Republican Party is in flux. Once unified around faith, freedom, and family, it now finds itself wrestling with internal divisions — between traditional conservatives, populists, and the MAGA movement — over what it means to be a Republican in America today.
In this episode, Florida Congressman Randy Fine joins host Aviva Klompas to talk about the battle for the soul of the GOP and the rise of antisemitism on the right.
This Giving Tues...
Duration: 00:20:23What’s Happening in the Democratic Party? – with Brianna Wu
Nov 12, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.
Zohran Mamdani’s election as mayor of New York City has stirred a deeper conversation about the Democratic Party’s identity. Once defined by pragmatism and broad coalitions, the party is now grappling with a rising current of ideological purity and moral outrage — one that increasingly casts Israel, and sometimes Jews, as symbols of injustice.
Aviva Klompas speaks with political commentator and lifelong Democrat Brianna Wu about what’s driving this transformation, how the Democrat...
Duration: 00:19:53What the F! NYC – with Michael Rapaport
Nov 05, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.
The day after New York City elected its first openly anti-Israel mayor, many Jews in America’s largest Jewish community are asking the same question: what now?
In this episode, Michael Rapaport joins Aviva to talk about what Mamdani’s win reveals about the political and cultural shifts happening in New York — and what it means for Jews everywhere.
They trace Rapaport’s unexpected journey from actor and comedian to one of the most...
Duration: 00:25:19Freedom – with Eli Sharabi
Nov 03, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.
Eli Sharabi spent 491 days in Hamas captivity — hidden in homes, held in tunnels, and forced to survive the unthinkable. When he finally emerged, Israel rejoiced, but his freedom came with unbearable news: his wife and daughters were among the victims of October 7.
In this powerful conversation, Eli reflects on life before the massacre, the will to survive, and what it means to rebuild after loss. He also speaks about the moral clarity that came fr...
Duration: 00:22:53Rebuilding Gaza without Rebuilding Hamas - with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib
Oct 30, 2025Gazan-born analyst Ahmed Fouad AlKhatib joins Dr. Rachel Fish for a conversation about Gaza after the war’s “freeze.” He explains why the current deal hasn’t solved core problems, how Hamas is using the pause to re-entrench and terrorize rivals, and why outside power in the form of an international stabilization force with real teeth is the only path to disarmament, reconstruction, and a future for Palestinians that isn’t held hostage by Hamas. Rachel and Ahmed also dig into Qatar and Turkey’s roles, UNRWA’s entanglements, and what Western activists miss when “ending Israeli violence” becomes the only objective...
Duration: 00:52:35Winning the Peace – with John Spencer
Oct 27, 2025Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.
After two years of war, Israel now faces a new kind of battle — the challenge of winning the peace. President Trump’s Gaza plan calls for the demilitarization and deradicalization of Gaza: dismantling Hamas’s weapons and tunnels, building a new Palestinian police force, and bringing in an international coalition to oversee security and reconstruction.
But can Gaza truly be transformed into a terror-free zone? What will it take to keep Hamas and other armed groups from rebuilding? And how does I...
Duration: 00:27:14The Media’s War on Israel - with Matti Friedman
Oct 23, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Matti Friedman has spent more than a decade dissecting how Israel is covered in the press and what those stories reveal about the storytellers themselves. His 2014 Atlantic essay, What the Media Gets Wrong About Israel, remains one of the sharpest examinations of why global attention is fixated on Israel and why the coverage so often skews against it.
In this conversation, Matti reflects on whether the problems he identified then still hold true today i...
Duration: 00:33:54Phase Two: The Plan to Demilitarize Gaza – with Jonathan Conricus
Oct 20, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.
Phase Two of President Trump’s Gaza plan envisions a demilitarized, “terror-free zone.” The Strip would be cleared of weapons and tunnels, militants who renounce violence could receive amnesty or exile, and an international stabilization force — composed of U.S., Arab, and European personnel — would oversee security and help train a new Palestinian police force.
But how realistic is demilitarization? And can Gaza truly be de-radicalized? Jonathan Conricus joins host Aviva Klompas to unpack the securi...
Duration: 00:31:41From War to Peace (?) – with Dr. Einat Wilf
Oct 16, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.
After 738 days of war, Israel’s hostages are home and the country is beginning to exhale. But relief comes with hard questions about what happens next.
In this episode, Aviva speaks with Dr. Einat Wilf about what the end of the war reveals about Israel’s strength, its divisions, and the road ahead. They explore what it will take to keep Hamas disarmed, rebuild Gaza without empowering extremists, and whether peace and normalization with the...
Duration: 00:22:31From Captivity to Closure: The End of Israel's Longest War – with Dr. Michael Oren
Oct 13, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
After two years, the last hostages are finally returning home. This moment — long prayed for and nearly impossible to imagine — is one of relief, heartbreak, and reckoning.
Dr. Michael Oren joins host Aviva Klompas to reflect on what this moment means for Israel, the Jewish people, and the wider Middle East. Together they explore how a conflict that began in terror has brought about profound military, political, and moral challenges.
Mentioned in this...
Duration: 00:24:21The Beginning of the End of the War - with Avi Mayer
Oct 09, 2025After two years of war, Israel stands at the threshold of peace. The ceasefire agreement marks the end of a long and painful chapter — bringing relief, uncertainty, and deep emotion across the country.
In this episode, Avi Mayer joins from Jerusalem to reflect on what this moment feels like inside Israel. We discuss the mood on the streets, the cautious hope surrounding the hostages’ return, and the immense grief that still lingers beneath the relief.
Avi Mayer, founder of Jerusalem Journal and former Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post, shares his perspective on a historic and deep...
Duration: 00:19:40The End of the Gaza War – with Jonathan Conricus
Oct 09, 2025After two years of war, a breakthrough is within reach. Negotiators in Egypt have been working through President Trump’s 20-point plan — a framework that could end the fighting, free the remaining 48 Israeli hostages, and set the stage for rebuilding Gaza.
To break down the key points and what it would take for any agreement to lead to real and lasting peace, retired Lt. Colonel Jonathan Conricus shares his insight on Israel’s red lines, Hamas’s calculus, and the challenges that could determine whether this moment ends in peace or another cycle of conflict.
Guest Bio...
Duration: 00:27:03Surviving Captivity – with Keith Siegel
Oct 07, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
For nearly a year and a half, Keith Siegel lived through the unimaginable. An Israeli American originally from North Carolina, Keith and his wife, Aviva, were taken hostage from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7. Aviva was released during a ceasefire in November 2023, but Keith remained in Gaza for 484 days. He was shuttled between more than 30 hiding places — sometimes held with fellow captives, other times left for months entirely alone. In this episode, Keith op...
Duration: 00:21:57Marking Two Years Since October 7 – with Dr. Michael Oren
Oct 06, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Two years after the October 7 massacre - the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust -Israel is still at war and Jewish communities worldwide are still grappling with its aftershocks. In this episode, Aviva sits down with historian, diplomat, and former Israeli Ambassador to Washington Dr. Michael Oren to reflect on how that day changed Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish people.
As the second anniversary of October 7 arrives - and as we...
Duration: 00:19:12Trump’s Plan to End the War in Gaza – with Jonathan Schanzer
Sep 30, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
President Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza has stirred international attention — not only for its sweeping scope, but also for the unusual support it has drawn from key Arab states. The proposal promises an immediate ceasefire, the return of hostages, and the removal of Hamas from power, with Trump himself at the helm of a transitional authority overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction.
But the plan hinges on Hamas, the one actor yet to...
Duration: 00:25:48Recognition Fever: The Push for Palestine – with Dr. Michael Oren
Sep 29, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
At this year’s UN General Assembly, a fresh wave of governments — including several G7 members and two permanent Security Council members — moved to recognize a Palestinian state. Supporters call it a step toward peace; critics say it rewards Hamas, undermines hostage diplomacy, and does nothing to change facts on the ground.
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with historian, diplomat, and former Israeli Ambassador to Washington Dr. Michael Oren about “recognition fever.” They trace...
Duration: 00:24:30Judaism Beyond Bagels and Seinfeld – with Sarah Hurwitz
Sep 25, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org.
Former presidential speechwriter and author Sarah Hurwitz joins Dr. Rachel Fish for an honest conversation about Jewish identity, Israel, and how to navigate a post–October 7 world without giving in to simplicity.
Drawing on her new book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us, Sarah explains why she avoided Israel in her first book, and why she brought it to the center this time. Together they explore how anti-Judaism’s ancient tropes seep...
Duration: 00:57:47Aviva’s Rosh Hashanah Message
Sep 22, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
In this special pre-Rosh Hashanah episode, Boundless Insights steps away from its usual format. Aviva offers a personal reflection on the past year, the challenges facing Jewish communities, and the values that hold us together. She considers the deeper questions of identity, resilience, and purpose and what they mean as we enter a new year.
Tune in for a thoughtful and heartfelt message about strength, renewal, and hope for the future.
Duration: 00:04:47Faith in a Time of Darkness – with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis
Sep 18, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
This year, Jews around the world enter the High Holiday season carrying an extraordinary weight. The tragedies of October 7, the ongoing war, and the alarming surge in antisemitism have left communities grieving, unsettled, and searching for strength.
In this episode, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis joins host Aviva Klompas for a conversation that goes to the heart of Jewish resilience. They reflect on how this moment fits within the larger sweep of Jewish history...
Duration: 00:22:43Striking Qatar – with Dr. Michael Oren
Sep 15, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders meeting in Doha has upended hostage negotiations, drawn public criticism from President Trump, and intensified scrutiny of Qatar’s dual role as both host to Hamas’s leadership and key partner of Washington.
In this episode, Dr. Michael Oren joins host Aviva Klompas to break down what we know about the strike, the message Israel intended to send, and what it means for the hostages and U.S.–Israel r...
Duration: 00:23:31The War of Ideas Behind the War in Gaza – with Dr. Einat Wilf
Sep 11, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
For two years, Israel has been fighting a war that plays out not only on the battlefield but also in the realm of ideas. Beneath the headlines lies a deeper struggle over identity, language, and legitimacy.
In global discourse, Palestinians are often treated as an unquestioned national people, while Jews — a community that has existed for millennia as both a faith and a nation — are too often reduced to “Zionists,” as if Jewish identity were not...
Duration: 00:29:15Why is Israel Losing the Narrative War? – with Dr. Michael Oren
Sep 08, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Israel may be holding its own on the battlefield, but it’s losing ground in the court of public opinion. False accusations, distorted statistics, and relentless condemnation in parliaments, human rights groups, the press, and international courts have created a storm that threatens Israel’s very legitimacy.
Why is this happening, and what does it mean for Israel’s future? Is the problem rooted in Israel’s own communication missteps—or in a deeper hostility...
Duration: 00:26:02The Israeli Organization Delivering Aid to Gaza – with Yotam Polizer
Sep 04, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
IsraAID — Israel’s leading humanitarian relief group — has quietly worked inside Gaza. What began as behind-the-scenes coordination with international NGOs has grown into direct aid: delivering medicine and medical equipment, running a logistics hub, and supporting water and healthcare projects for thousands of Palestinians.
Until recently, this work was kept secret, but as the humanitarian crisis deepens — and the debate over aid grows more toxic — IsraAID has decided to speak openly.
In this episo...
Duration: 00:27:50Do the Hostage Protests Help or Hurt Israel? – with Dr. Michael Oren
Sep 01, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
The protests for Israel’s hostages have become one of the largest grassroots movements in the country’s history. Highways are blocked, strikes are called, and ministers’ homes are surrounded by demonstrators demanding one thing: a deal to bring the hostages home.
Some see the protests as proof of Israel’s moral resolve. Others warn they hand Hamas leverage by exposing division and desperation. And the government now faces a wrenching dilemma: how to weigh pu...
Duration: 00:22:02My Husband is a Hostage in Gaza – with Rebecca Bohbot
Aug 28, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists stormed the Nova Music Festival in southern Israel. Among those kidnapped was Elkana Bohbot, who was working as a co-producer that morning. Before he was taken, Elkana called his wife, Rebecca, to tell her he was staying behind to help the wounded. He promised he would come home. That was their last conversation.
In this powerful conversation, Rebecca speaks about who Elkana is as a husband and father – a man of...
Duration: 00:19:12A Mother’s Fight for her Hostage Son – with Herut Nimrodi
Aug 25, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
On October 7, 2023, 21-year-old soldier Tamir Nimrodi was kidnapped from his base near the Gaza border. He was barefoot, in his pajamas, and unarmed when Hamas terrorists dragged him across the border. Since that day, his mother, Herut Nimrodi, has received no sign of life.
In this conversation, originally recorded in June, Herut speaks with host Aviva Klompas about who Tamir is, what she’s learned about his abduction, and what it’s like to live...
Duration: 00:21:41President Trump’s Crackdowns on Campus Antisemitism – with Alyza Lewin
Aug 21, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
As students head back to campus, universities are stepping into a storm of debates over antisemitism, safety, and free speech. The Trump administration has stepped up federal intervention — pulling funding, opening investigations, and demanding major policy changes at schools accused of failing to protect Jewish students.
But are these measures working? Are they creating a safer environment, or simply shifting the battleground to new fronts?
In this episode, Alyza Lewin, president of th...
Duration: 00:25:00The Gaza City Gamble – with Jonathan Schanzer
Aug 18, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Israel is preparing for one of the most consequential moves of the war: taking control of Gaza City. Supporters say it’s the only way to finish the fight against Hamas; critics warn it could endanger hostages, deepen the humanitarian crisis, and fracture Israel’s already fragile political landscape.
In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joins Aviva to explore the strategic aims, political risks, and inte...
Duration: 00:31:10The Israel–Diaspora Divide - with Yossi Klein Halevi
Aug 14, 2025Yossi Klein Halevi joins Dr. Rachel Fish for an honest and moving conversation about the State of Israel, Zionism, and the widening rift with the American Jewish community. From the trauma of October 7 to the breakdown of Israel’s political consensus, Yossi reflects on how Israelis are navigating war, grief, and internal division.
Together, they explore why American and Israeli Jews understand power, victimhood, and identity so differently, and what’s at stake if they continue to talk past one another. Along the way, Halevi shares what still gives him hope, and how a 12-year-old’s question in syna...
Duration: 00:35:20The Rules Only Israel Has to Follow – with John Spencer
Aug 11, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Israel is fighting two wars: one on the ground in Gaza—and another in the court of global opinion.
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas is joined by urban warfare expert John Spencer to discuss the double standards Israel faces in its fight against Hamas. While other democracies conduct military campaigns with little scrutiny, Israel is seemingly expected to wage war without civilian casualties.
Aviva and John discuss the pressure on the ID...
Duration: 00:28:24The Rush to Recognize a Palestinian State Part 2 – with Dr. Michael Oren
Aug 07, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
In part two of their conversation, host Aviva Klompas and Dr. Michael Oren examine the deeper forces behind the global push to recognize a Palestinian state—and what this moment reveals about the West’s enduring relationship with the Jewish people.
As the Gaza narrative shifts from war to famine, Oren argues that charges of Israeli genocide are not rooted in policy, but in long-standing antisemitic tropes. He and Aviva explore how Western media shap...
Duration: 00:20:43The Rush to Recognize a Palestinian State Part 1 – with Dr. Michael Oren
Aug 04, 2025We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
France, the United Kingdom, and Canada have each announced they plan to recognize a Palestinian state this September at the United Nations General Assembly.
The move has been harshly criticized by Israeli and U.S. officials, who argue it rewards Hamas and risks further undermining hostage negotiations.
Host Aviva Klompas is joined by Dr. Michael Oren—former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., historian, and veteran strategic analyst—to discuss the implications. They...
Duration: 00:17:40Canada’s Antisemitism Crisis – with Melissa Lantsman
Jul 31, 2025Antisemitism in Canada has exploded in ways that few could have imagined. Attacks on synagogues, Jewish schools, and businesses have become frighteningly common.
How did it get this bad in a country that prides itself on tolerance and multiculturalism? Why have leaders at every level failed to protect their Jewish communities? And what does this say about Canada’s moral standing at home and on the global stage?
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas talks with Melissa Lantsman, Deputy Leader of Canada’s Conservative Party and a Member of Parliament from Thornhill, Ontario. They explore why a...
Duration: 00:21:06Unpublished Opinions: Why Hamas Abandoned Negotiations - with Aviva Klompas
Jul 30, 2025In this episode of Unpublished Opinions, Aviva Klompas shares a letter to the editor that never made it to print, unpacking why Hamas no longer feels the need to negotiate.
While the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is real and devastating, global outrage has been overwhelmingly directed at Israel—giving Hamas exactly what it wants: cover, leverage, and zero accountability.
Aviva explains how international institutions, campus protests, and media narratives have created a dynamic in which terrorists are rewarded and hostages are forgotten.
Got thoughts? We want to hear them. Email us at podcast@bou...
Duration: 00:02:21Gaza at a Boiling Point - with Jonathan Conricus
Jul 28, 2025Host Aviva Klompas is joined by Lt. Colonel (Res.) Jonathan Conricus to discuss the escalating pressure on Israel—from mounting international outrage over the humanitarian situation in Gaza to the breakdown of hostage negotiations.
As accusations of starvation and civilian suffering dominate global headlines, Israel faces growing condemnation from foreign governments, the UN, and aid organizations. Meanwhile, with 50 hostages still in Hamas captivity and no deal in sight, tensions are rising at home.
What’s Israel’s strategy now—militarily, diplomatically, and morally?
Have thoughts on the episode? Email us at podcast@boundlessisrael.org or m...
Duration: 00:28:46Unpublished Opinions: Mahmoud Khalil Visits Congress - with Aviva Klompas
Jul 25, 2025We’re trying something new on Boundless Insights. Welcome to Unpublished Opinions—a mini-series where Aviva Klompas shares letters to the editor that didn’t make it to print, but still make an argument worth hearing.
In this first episode, Aviva takes a closer look at Mahmoud Khalil—a leader of Columbia’s anti-Israel encampment who was recently released from federal detention. Homeland Security accused him of engaging in activity aligned with Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
Since his release, Khalil’s become a political and media darling—despite refusing to condemn the atrocities of O...
Duration: 00:02:42The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation & The Battle Over Aid in Gaza – with Rev. Johnnie Moore
Jul 24, 2025For years, UNRWA positioned itself as the primary source of humanitarian aid in Gaza. But after October 7, its deep entanglement with Hamas became undeniable. A dozen UNRWA employees participated in the massacre. Up to 10% of its Gaza staff are linked to terror groups. And aid meant for civilians has been diverted, looted, and weaponized to fund Hamas’s war machine.
So what’s the alternative?
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Rev. Johnnie Moore, Executive Chairman of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—a new initiative led by global leaders determined to deliver food and aid di...
Duration: 00:26:38Deadlock in Gaza – with Dr. Michael Oren
Jul 21, 2025Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent visit to Washington made headlines and raised expectations. He met twice with President Trump, and both leaders suggested that a deal to release hostages was within reach. But on the ground, little has changed.
The war in Gaza continues. IDF soldiers are still being killed. And 50 hostages remain in captivity. Despite talk of progress, the region remains stuck in a familiar deadlock.
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Michael Oren—former Israeli Ambassador to the United States, historian, and author—to take stock of where things stand.
T...
Duration: 00:26:15Israel and Syria: Is Peace Still on the Table? – with Dr. Michael Oren
Jul 17, 2025For more than seven decades, Israel and Syria have been in a formal state of war. Now, for the first time in years, there are murmurs of something different, but new tensions are threatening to unravel what little stability remains.
In recent days, violence has erupted in southern Syria. A bloody assault on the country’s Druze community has reignited fears that Syria’s fragile postwar order could collapse. The unrest has drawn in Israel and raised new questions about the region’s trajectory.
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Michael Oren—historia...
Duration: 00:20:08How Iran and Hamas Mainstreamed Anti-Zionism - with Jeffrey Herf
Jul 14, 2025In this episode, Dr. Rachel Fish talks with historian Dr. Jeffrey Herf, a leading expert on Nazism, the Holocaust, antisemitism, and the connections between Europe and the Middle East. Dr. Herf explains how antisemitism and anti-Zionism have become more accepted in universities and public debates, and why that’s so dangerous.
They discuss Iran’s state-sponsored antisemitism, Hamas’s genocidal ideology, and how these views are being normalized in higher education and social justice circles. Dr. Herf also talks about how Western foreign policy often downplays threats to Israel, and how parts of the academic left have morall...
Duration: 00:39:28My Husband is a Hostage in Gaza – with Rebecca Bohbot
Jul 10, 2025On October 7, Hamas terrorists stormed the Nova Music Festival in southern Israel. Among those taken hostage was Elkana Bohbot, who was working for the festival that morning. Before he was captured, Elkana called his wife Rebecca to tell her he was staying behind to help the wounded. He promised her he would come home. That was their last conversation.
In this episode, Rebecca shares who Elkana is as a husband and father – a man of joy, bravery, and kindness who never left anyone behind. She describes the pain of raising their son, who was just three years ol...
Duration: 00:19:21Rebuilding Tel Aviv after the Iranian Attack – with Asaf Zamir
Jul 07, 2025Tel Aviv – Israel’s cultural and commercial heart – was rocked by direct missile strikes from Iran. In this episode, Aviva sits down with Deputy Mayor Asaf Zamir to discuss how the city is recovering from the attacks.
They explore what it felt like on the ground during the missile strikes, the challenges of rebuilding homes and lives, and whether Tel Aviv’s trademark confidence has been shaken. Asaf reflects on the emotional toll on residents, the scale of destruction, and Tel Aviv’s unique place in Israeli society – both as a symbol of defiance and as a hub of solid...
Duration: 00:17:02Will NYC Elect an Antisemitic Mayor? – with Jonah Platt
Jul 03, 2025Aviva Klompas sits down with Jonah Platt to unpack what Zohran Mamdani’s rise means for New York and the broader Jewish community.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old socialist state legislator, is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for mayor. His positions on Israel, refusal to condemn extremist slogans, and calls to arrest Israeli leaders have sparked alarm among many Jews.
Jonah shares his reaction to Mamdani’s win, whether this signals a deeper shift within the Democratic Party, and what it says about the political climate in America’s largest Jewish city. They discuss how the Jewish commun...
Duration: 00:22:10My Son is a Hostage in Gaza – with Idit Ohel
Jun 30, 2025New research from Boundless shows that 40% of Americans don’t know that dozens of hostages are still being held by Hamas. And it’s clear from released hostages that those who remain are being starved, tortured, humiliated and denied medical care.
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Idit Ohel, whose son Alon was kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova music festival on October 7. Alon arrived just half an hour before the massacre.
Idit shares what life has been like since Alon’s abduction and how she is fighting to keep his name and humanit...
Duration: 00:18:00My Home Was Destroyed by an Iranian Missile – with Ethel Berdah
Jun 26, 2025Ethel Berdah’s apartment in Tel Aviv was destroyed by an Iranian missile less than two weeks ago. In this episode, Ethel joins Aviva Klompas to share what it’s like to lose everything in an instant and how she’s navigating life in the aftermath.
Originally from France, Ethel moved to Israel to build a life, never imagining she’d be caught in the crosshairs of a war between regional superpowers. Her story offers a rare, personal glimpse into the human cost of living under the threat of Iranian attack.
Guest Bio:
Eth...
Duration: 00:18:13America Bombed Iran – with Dr. Michael Oren
Jun 22, 2025On the night of June 21, the United States launched direct military strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure for the first time in history. Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—long considered untouchable—were hit with precision by American forces. President Trump called the strikes a “spectacular military success” and declared that Iran’s key nuclear sites had been “completely and totally obliterated.”
Host Aviva Klompas is joined by Dr. Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States and one of the leading voices on U.S.–Israel strategy. Together, they explore what finally pushed the U.S. to act, whether this...
Duration: 00:23:10Israel at War: The View from Washington – with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter
Jun 19, 2025As Israel engages in open warfare with Iran, Israel’s most senior envoy in Washington is in a different war zone—battling for U.S. support and moral clarity in the face of escalating threats.
Host Aviva Klompas sits down with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter to discuss the Iranian threat, the state of U.S. support, and what it will take to achieve victory. The conversation turns deeply personal as they discuss the recent murder of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., and the profound loss of Ambassador Leiter’s son, Major Moshe Leiter, during combat in Gaz...
Duration: 00:17:42Israel’s War for Survival – with Yair Lapid
Jun 17, 2025For years, the conflict between Israel and Iran played out in the shadows—through proxies, cyberattacks, and covert operations. Now it’s an open war. Iranian missiles have struck Israeli cities. Israel is hitting back deep inside Iranian territory.
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Yair Lapid, Israel’s former Prime Minister and current Leader of the Opposition, about the scale and significance of this war. They explore the military campaign, the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program, and whether Israel can achieve its stated goals without broader international support.
Lapid offers insight i...
Duration: 00:23:59Where Is America While Israel is at War? – with Mark Dubowitz
Jun 16, 2025Over the weekend, the war between Israel and Iran escalated dramatically. Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israeli cities, with some evading air defenses and striking residential buildings. Israel responded with force — launching a sustained air campaign deep into Iranian territory.
And yet, while Israel fights, the United States remains publicly absent. Officials insist the U.S. is not involved and that protecting American personnel is the top priority. But can the U.S. afford to sit this one out?
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Mark Dubowitz about what’s really happe...
Duration: 00:25:50Israel’s Breathtaking Operation – with Dr. Michael Oren
Jun 13, 2025Overnight, Israel launched a sweeping preemptive strike on Iran. The operation, named Strength of a Lion, targeted nuclear facilities, missile infrastructure, and top military leadership. Among the most critical targets: the Natanz uranium enrichment plant. Iranian state media confirms the deaths of senior Revolutionary Guard commanders and nuclear scientists.
Why now? What exactly was hit? How might Iran respond? And was the U.S. involved?
Dr. Michael Oren joins Aviva Klompas to break it all down.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Michael Oren is a historian, diplomat, and former Israeli ambassador t...
Duration: 00:20:15Israel Strikes Iran – with Jonathan Conricus
Jun 13, 2025Israel may be preparing to strike Iran’s nuclear program, with reports indicating a possible operation in the coming days. The IDF is on high alert, U.S. personnel are being repositioned, and regional powers are bracing for fallout.
Iran has pushed ahead with uranium enrichment, flouted international oversight, and continued its threats against Israel. As nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran resume, Israeli leaders appear increasingly convinced that diplomacy won’t stop Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
What exactly is Israel planning? Could a strike set off a broader war? And how would Iran r...
Duration: 00:31:36A Mother’s Fight for her Hostage Son – with Herut Nimrodi
Jun 12, 2025On October 7, 2023, Tamir Nimrodi was kidnapped from his army base near the Gaza border. He was barefoot, in his pajamas, and unarmed. Since that day, his mother, Herut Nimrodi, has received no sign of life.
Herut joins host Aviva Klompas to talk about who Tamir is, what she’s learned about his abduction, and what it’s like to live in a constant state of limbo.
Herut opens up about the emotional toll of political maneuvering and the painful uncertainty faced by every hostage family. She also speaks directly to what governments and individuals can do t...
Duration: 00:21:56Whose Side Is Turkey On? – with Jonathan Schanzer
Jun 09, 2025Turkey is a longtime NATO ally, yet it increasingly aligns itself with anti-Western forces—from cozying up to Iran to providing political support for Hamas. Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has become an unpredictable and assertive player in the Middle East, raising urgent questions about its strategic direction and alliances.
In this episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, a leading expert on Turkey, political Islam, and regional geopolitics. Together, they explore Erdogan’s ambitions, the evolving U.S.-Turkey relationship, Ankara’s ties with Hamas and Tehran, and what all of this means for Israel...
Duration: 00:24:28Debunking the Gaza Accusations – with John Spencer
Jun 05, 2025As Israel faces mounting international accusations — genocide, ethnic cleansing, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war — we turn to one of the world’s leading experts in urban combat to break down what’s actually happening on the battlefield, and what international law really says.
John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point, joins Aviva Klompas to explain the military and legal obligations of armies fighting in densely populated areas. He walks us through how terror groups like Hamas exploit civilian infrastructure and addresses the biggest public misconceptions about modern warfare.
If you...
Duration: 00:21:59The Antisemitic Rot at Harvard – with Rabbi David Wolpe
Jun 02, 2025In this episode of Boundless Insights, Dr. Rachel Fish is joined by Rabbi David Wolpe, Rabbi Emeritus of Sinai Temple and former visiting professor at Harvard Divinity School. Rabbi Wolpe shares his firsthand experiences with antisemitism on Harvard’s campus, his involvement and subsequent resignation from an advisory group tasked with addressing antisemitism, and his broader reflections on the challenges facing American higher education. They discuss the underlying ideological challenges at Harvard and other elite institutions and the urgent need for genuine viewpoint diversity and courageous moral leadership in academia. Rabbi Wolpe also reflects on the internal dynamics of th...
Duration: 00:38:40A Divided Nation That Dwells Alone – with Dr. Michael Oren
May 29, 2025Host Aviva Klompas is joined by historian and former Israeli ambassador to the United States, Dr. Michael Oren, to mark the 600th day since the October 7 attacks. They delve into the profound challenges Israel faces both internationally and domestically.
Internationally, Israel finds itself increasingly isolated, with strained relations even with its closest ally, the United States. Domestically, the nation grapples with political dysfunction, social divisions, economic strain, and a growing crisis of faith in its institutions.
Dr. Oren offers a unique perspective, combining historical context with political analysis and personal insight, to assess whether this...
Duration: 00:19:22What the Progressive Movement Gets Wrong About Israel – with Brianna Wu
May 26, 2025Host Aviva Klompas sits down with Brianna Wu—a progressive activist and tech trailblazer who’s made a name for herself by standing up to harassment and extremism in every form. Today, that includes speaking out for Israel.
Brianna is part of a small group of progressive voices willing to challenge the dominant narrative on Israel. While many on the left rush to condemn Israel and remain silent about Hamas and Hezbollah, Brianna has chosen a different path—one rooted in moral clarity, courage, and principle.
Aviva and Brianna dive into why the progressive movement is get...
The Murder of Israeli Embassy Staff in D.C. - with Ted Deutch
May 24, 2025Two young Israeli embassy staffers - Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim - were murdered outside an AJC event in Washington, D.C. Their alleged killer reportedly declared, “I did it for Gaza.” This was not senseless violence - it was targeted, ideological, and part of a rising tide of antisemitism in America.
Aviva Klompas speaks with Ted Deutch, CEO of AJC, about who Yaron and Sarah were, how this attack reflects the normalization of Jew-hatred from both the far right and far left, and what must happen next—from political leadership to policy reform.
This is a s...
Duration: 00:17:48The Iranian Showdown – with Jonathan Conricus
May 22, 2025Power dynamics in the Middle East are shifting fast. From renewed nuclear diplomacy with Iran to a possible expansion of the Abraham Accords, the Trump administration seems to be betting on a strategy of regional realignment. But are we witnessing real strategic transformation, or just another cycle of regional maneuvering?
In this episode, host Aviva Klompas is joined by Lt. Col. (Res.) Jonathan Conricus – former IDF spokesperson and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies - to break down what’s really happening behind the headlines.
Don’t miss future episodes of Boundless Insigh...
Will Israel Occupy Gaza? – with Jonathan Conricus
May 19, 2025In early May, Israel approved a sweeping new operational plan known as “Gideon’s Chariots.” The IDF has been given the green light for a major campaign in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas once and for all.
The plan outlines a full-scale incursion, the establishment of a humanitarian zone under Israeli control, and the controversial proposal to encourage voluntary emigration for Palestinians who wish to leave the Strip.
At the same time, the UN, international media, and even some governments are accusing Israel of orchestrating a famine in Gaza. So what’s actually happening on the grou...
Is Israel Being Sidelined? – with Dr. Michael Oren
May 15, 2025In recent weeks, U.S. foreign policy decisions have raised alarms in Israel. A ceasefire with the Houthis came with no demand they stop attacking Israel. Four rounds of nuclear talks with Iran have excluded Jerusalem entirely. The release of Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage, caught even his family off guard. And now, the U.S. has dropped its demand that Saudi Arabia normalize ties with Israel as part of a nuclear deal.
Each move on its own might be explained. But taken together, they paint a troubling picture—one that suggests Israel is being bypassed, sidelined, or...
Foreign Influence on American Campuses - with Izabella Tabarovsky
May 12, 2025Host Aviva Klompas sits down with Izabella Tabarovsky to unpack how foreign funding and Soviet-era propaganda have shaped the crisis unfolding on American campuses.
Universities once seen as bastions of free thought are now flooded with billions of dollars from authoritarian regimes like Qatar and China — and the effects are plain to see. Students rally in support of terrorist groups. Jewish students are harassed without consequence.
Izabella explains how Soviet disinformation campaigns against Zionism laid the ideological groundwork for today’s anti-Israel narratives, why Jewish identity has been systematically distorted in academic discourse, and how fore...
Reclaiming Core Values in Higher Education - with Drs. Jessica and Ron Liebowitz
May 08, 2025Dr. Rachel Fish sits down with two leading voices in higher education - Dr. Jessica Liebowitz and Dr. Ron Liebowitz - to discuss the big questions facing the academy today.
How can universities reclaim their commitment to truth-seeking, intellectual integrity, and academic rigor—especially in a time of rising antisemitism and growing public distrust?
Jessica introduces an innovative AI-driven project designed to evaluate the quality of peer-reviewed scholarship in highly politicized fields, helping distinguish serious research from ideological activism.
Ron takes a broader view, examining the headwinds facing higher ed: declining enrollment, politicized cl...
The Double-Edged Sword: U.S. Aid to Israel – with Dr. Michael Oren
May 05, 2025We’re diving into an issue that sits at the core of Israel’s security and its enduring relationship with the United States: foreign aid.
U.S. assistance has been a critical force in strengthening Israel’s defense capabilities. But as Dr. Michael Oren explains, it hasn’t come without costs. While aid has helped build Israel’s military strength, it has also created strategic dependencies and, at times, limited Israel’s autonomy on the global stage.
In this conversation, we explore how U.S. aid to Israel evolved from early economic assistance into today’s substantial...
Israel Turns 77 – with Dr. Michael Oren
May 01, 2025As Israel marks its 77th Independence Day, we step back from the headlines to reflect on the extraordinary, improbable story of its survival and triumph.
Aviva Klompas opens with a moment from November 1947: just hours after the UN vote to establish a Jewish state, Golda Meir warned a jubilant crowd that the dream would not come easily. It would have to be fought for—and it would come at a cost.
Israel’s early years were defined by war, scarcity, and isolation. But against overwhelming odds, the state didn’t just survive—it reinvented itself, again an...
The Shin Bet vs. the Prime Minister – with Dr. Michael Oren
Apr 28, 2025Israel is facing a domestic crisis with sweeping implications for its democracy, national security, and political leadership.
In a sworn affidavit to Israel’s Supreme Court, Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of demanding personal loyalty above the rule of law. Among the explosive allegations: that Netanyahu urged him to spy on Israeli citizens, interfere with the premier’s corruption trial, and defy Supreme Court rulings in the event of a constitutional crisis.
Bar says he was fired not for any professional failings—but for refusing to turn the Shin Bet into a poli...
Trump vs. the Ivy League – with Alyza Lewin
Apr 24, 2025Since October 7, antisemitism has surged across American college campuses—setting off one of the fiercest debates in higher education today. In response, the Trump administration has launched an aggressive crackdown: threatening to pull federal funding, investigating elite universities, and detaining foreign students accused of supporting terror groups. Supporters see this as long-overdue protection for Jewish students. Critics call it a dangerous overreach aimed at silencing dissent and reshaping academia.
Host Aviva Klompas sits down with Alyza Lewin, President of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and a leading legal voice in the fight ag...
Caught Between Trump and Tehran – with Dr. Michael Oren
Apr 21, 2025As nuclear talks between the United States and Iran get underway, Israel is watching with unease. What’s being billed as technical negotiations over uranium levels and verification protocols is, in truth, a high-stakes diplomatic gamble with enormous implications for the Middle East.
Iran is dragging its feet, playing for time. Former President Donald Trump, eager for a foreign policy win ahead of the election, wants a deal sealed fast. And Israel is stuck in the middle—between a regime that seeks its destruction and an ally willing to look the other way to score political points.
...
Inside One of the Most Complex War Zones on Earth - with John Spencer
Apr 17, 2025Since October 7, Israel has been fighting a war unlike any in modern history — against a terror group that hides in hospitals, stores weapons in schools, and holds hostages underground. The IDF is operating under intense pressure, with international demands for zero civilian casualties, blocked operations in key Hamas strongholds, and constant pauses driven more by perception than fact.
Urban warfare expert John Spencer joins Aviva Klompas to explain what’s really happening on the ground in Gaza. He’s been inside Hamas’s tunnels, studied the world’s most complex battlefields, and advised top U.S. generals. Together...
Is It Time for an Israeli Constitution? – with Dr. Michael Oren
Apr 14, 2025Why doesn’t Israel have a constitution and what would it mean to finally write one
Aviva Klompas sits down with Dr. Michael Oren to discuss one of the most foundational—and contentious—questions about Israeli democracy: the absence of a formal constitution.
Despite a promise made at the country’s founding in 1948, Israel continues to operate under a framework of Basic Laws and judicial precedents, with no singular document that defines the principles, powers, and limits of governance.
As Israel faces political upheaval, protests, war on multiple fronts, and a deepening struggle over the...
Netanyahu Goes to Washington & Comes Up Short – with Dr. Michael Oren
Apr 10, 2025Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unplanned stop at the White House after a visit to Hungary, aiming to persuade Donald Trump to reverse a looming 17% tariff on Israeli goods. But the real story was playing out just beneath the surface.
Trump dropped a surprise announcement: senior U.S. officials would be holding direct talks with Iran — a shift that appeared to blindside the Israeli leader. Netanyahu stuck to his hard line on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, while Trump emphasized diplomacy and pointedly reminded everyone of the billions in U.S. aid to Israel.
Was this...
The Hijacking of Human Rights - with Michal Cotler-Wunsh
Apr 07, 2025In this longform edition of Boundless Insights, Dr. Rachel Fish sits down with Michal Cotler-Wunsh — Israel’s Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism and a former Member of Knesset — for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of antisemitism, the weaponization of international law, and the global implications of October 7.
Michal argues that the misuse of human rights language, including terms like "genocide" and "apartheid," has served to delegitimize Israel, and she calls urgently for moral clarity and consistency in applying human rights principles globally.
Drawing from her own personal journey — from early childhood in Jerusalem’s Knesset co...
Trump vs The Houthis – with Michael Doran
Apr 03, 2025As the Houthis escalate their attacks on international shipping and threaten both Israeli and Western vessels, the Trump administration has responded with a sweeping military campaign against the Iran-backed group in Yemen. With Red Sea shipping traffic plummeting and global trade at risk, the U.S. is signaling that enough is enough.
So what’s different this time? Can the Houthis actually be stopped? And how will Iran, global powers, and U.S. allies respond?
Aviva Klompas is joined by Michael Doran, senior fellow and director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Mi...
The Anti-Hamas Protests in Gaza – with Dr. Michael Oren
Mar 31, 2025Videos have surfaced showing Palestinians in Gaza rising up against Hamas. How significant are these protests? Do they mark a genuine turning point in public sentiment, or are they a fleeting moment of frustration? And what would it take for this unrest to evolve into a broader political shift or a change in leadership?
A recent Gallup poll found that more than half of Gazans would leave if given the chance. Meanwhile, Israel’s message to civilians has been stark: “The solution is in your hands. Hamas is insisting on taking you to hell.”
For the pa...
The War in Gaza Reignites – with Dr. Michael Oren
Mar 27, 2025Nearly 18 months after Hamas’s October 7 massacre, the war in Gaza has reignited. Israeli airstrikes are once again targeting senior Hamas leaders, and IDF troops have taken up new positions inside the Strip. Predictably, international condemnation has resumed, calling Israel’s actions a “step backward,” while rocket fire from Gaza and the Houthis intensifies.
But this time, one thing is different: the Trump administration has signaled a sharp shift in U.S. policy, giving Israel far more operational leeway than under the previous administration and expanding America’s own military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen.
Host A...
Qatargate - with Dr. Michael Oren
Mar 24, 2025Israel’s security leadership is in turmoil. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has moved to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, citing a breakdown of trust after the October 7 Hamas massacre. But Bar is pushing back—warning that his removal is tied to what’s being called Qatargate. He claims the government is trying to obstruct an ongoing investigation into Qatar’s covert influence at the highest levels of Israeli leadership.
Israeli police have already arrested two suspects amid explosive allegations that senior aides to Netanyahu were on Qatar’s payroll. This is the same regime that funds Hamas, fue...
Israel’s Broken Promise: Reckoning with October 7 – with Dr. Michael Oren
Mar 20, 2025Israel was founded on a promise—to be the defender of the Jewish people. On October 7, that promise was broken. In the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust, Israel’s security, deterrence, and very raison d’être were shaken to the core.
What went wrong? How does Israel begin the process of reckoning with its failures—not just to return the hostages, but to rebuild trust, restore deterrence, and reclaim its sovereignty?
In this episode, historian, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., and author Michael Oren breaks down the hard truths about what happened...
Netanyahu, Zelensky, and Superpower Politics – with Dr. Michael Oren
Mar 17, 2025Last month, Israel made a surprising diplomatic move, voting alongside the United States and Russia against a United Nations resolution reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity. It was the first time Israel had taken such a stance since the war began—raising questions about the pressure Jerusalem faces as President Trump reshapes U.S. foreign policy.
Since taking office in January, Trump has distanced himself from Biden’s strong backing of Ukraine, labeling President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and urging him to agree to a ceasefire with Moscow. Tensions boiled over in a high-stakes White House meeting where Zelensky c...
Talking to Terrorists: US-Hamas Hostage Talks - with Dr. Michael Oren
Mar 13, 2025The U.S. has been in direct talks with Hamas, aiming to negotiate the release of hostages still held in Gaza. Leading the discussions is Adam Boehler, the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, who recently met with Hamas officials in Doha. He described the talks as “very productive,” indicating they extend beyond hostage negotiations to broader discussions about a long-term ceasefire.
Boehler has suggested that Hamas may be willing to disarm and relinquish control of Gaza—but not without significant concessions. For its part, Israel is increasing pressure, cutting off electricity and halting aid deliveries to Gaz...
A Palestinian Perspective on Palestinian National Identity - with Ghaith al-Omari
Mar 10, 2025In this episode of Boundless Insights, Dr. Rachel Fish sits down with former Palestinian negotiator Ghaith al-Omari to examine the shifting landscape of Palestinian leadership and the viability of a two-state solution.
They discuss the historical evolution of Palestinian nationalism, the deep legitimacy crisis facing the Palestinian Authority, and the role of Arab nations in rebuilding Gaza and advancing a diplomatic resolution.
Ghaith also weighs in on the impact of U.S. leadership in driving Palestinian political reform, the generational shifts shaping Israeli and Palestinian perspectives, and how identity factors into the peace process. Throughout...
From Gaza to Jenin – with Jonathan Conricus
Mar 06, 2025While much of the world’s attention remains fixed on Gaza, the security situation in Judea and Samaria / the West Bank is escalating. In January, the IDF launched Operation Iron Wall, a major campaign aimed at dismantling terror networks. The operation began in Jenin—a long-standing hub for terrorist activity – and has since expanded into nearby towns.
To understand what’s happening on the ground, Aviva Klompas speaks with retired Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, one of the most respected voices on Middle East security.
Subscribe and stay connected: Don’t miss future episodes of Boundless Insights...
The Arab Plan for Gaza – with Dr. Michael Oren
Mar 03, 2025For months, world leaders have been asking: What comes next for Gaza once the war ends?
President Trump stirred controversy by suggesting an unconventional approach—relocating Palestinians from Gaza to other countries while the Strip undergoes reconstruction. The backlash was swift.
Now, Arab states are rallying around a counterproposal. Leading the charge is Egypt, which is promoting a plan to rebuild Gaza without relocating its residents and to establish a new governing authority.
Can this new plan succeed where so many others have failed? Host Aviva Klompas sits down with Dr. Michael Oren—form...
Saying Goodbye to Oded, Shiri, Ariel & Kfir - with Dr. Michael Oren
Feb 27, 2025This week, Israel laid to rest four murdered hostages—Oded Lifshitz, Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas—all from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Their names are now etched into the heart of a grieving nation.
Oded Lifshitz was an 83-year-old peace activist, a man who dedicated his life to coexistence. On October 7, he was shot in the hand, dragged into Gaza, and murdered in captivity. At his funeral, his wife spoke of the deep betrayal she felt—how after years of championing peace with Palestinians, they were attacked by the very people they had tried to help.
The Bi...
Coming Home in Coffins – with Dr. Michael Oren
Feb 24, 2025Since October 7, it has felt like we’ve been trapped in an unending nightmare. That horror deepened when Hamas staged a grotesque spectacle in Gaza, parading the coffins of hostages through the streets.
The scene was chilling: a stage draped with propaganda banners, celebratory music blaring, and crowds—including Palestinian children—cheering as the coffins were handed over to the Red Cross. Even the UN, an organization rarely sympathetic to Israel, condemned the display as "cruel and degrading."
To unpack the significance of these events, Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the...
What Happened to Moral Courage? – with Bret Stephens
Feb 20, 2025Since the horrific attacks of October 7, the absence of moral courage has been glaring. In a time when speaking the truth comes with real consequences—risking careers, reputations, and even personal safety—many have chosen silence over principle. But what does it truly mean to stand up for what’s right? Why do some rise to the occasion while others retreat into the background? And how can we cultivate the strength to act, even when the cost is high?
In this episode, Aviva Klompas is joined by Bret Stephens, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist known for his intellectual clarit...
Beyond the Holocaust: Rethinking How to Teach about Jews - with Rachel Fish & Dara Horn
Feb 17, 2025In this special episode of Boundless Insights, guest host Dr. Rachel Fish speaks with award-winning author and scholar Dr. Dara Horn about the shortcomings of Holocaust education. Too often, it emphasizes universal moral lessons while overlooking Jews themselves and disregarding Jewish life before and after the Holocaust. They explore the concept of the “null curriculum”—the lessons schools leave out—and reveal how a narrow focus on the Holocaust can mislead students into seeing Jews solely as historical or symbolic victims rather than as a thriving, evolving people. Dara also unpacks the “big lie,” the false accusation that portrays Jews as a co...
Duration: 00:35:41The Haredi Draft Debate: Faith, Duty, and Israel’s Future – with Eli Paley
Feb 13, 2025We’re diving into one of the most contentious and emotional debates in Israeli society: Haredim and military service.
For decades, ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students have been exempt from Israel’s mandatory draft to focus on Torah study. But with Israel’s security stretched thin after October 7, the debate over Haredi participation in the military has taken on new urgency.
Host Aviva Klompas is joined by Eli Paley, a leading voice in the Haredi world, to explore this issue from a deeply informed perspective. We discuss how the Haredi community views military service and why full-time Torah...
Trump’s Middle East Gamble – with Dr. Michael Oren
Feb 10, 2025Donald Trump has upended global politics with a radical new proposal. He’s floated the idea of the U.S. taking control of Gaza and relocating the Palestinian population, calling it an opportunity to build a “Riviera of the Middle East.”
His proposal marks a dramatic shift from decades of U.S. foreign policy and the longstanding belief that a Palestinian state is essential for regional peace. But is Trump serious? Is this even remotely feasible?
To break it all down, I’m joined by Dr. Michael Oren, historian, diplomat, and former Israeli ambassador to the Unit...
Trump's Plan to Take Over Gaza – with Jonathan Schanzer
Feb 06, 2025President Donald Trump stunned the world when he announced that the United States should take over Gaza, clear the rubble, rebuild it into “the Riviera of the Middle East,” and relocate its population to other countries. Is this a serious policy proposal, a negotiation tactic, or something else entirely? And what does it mean for Israel, the hostages, and the broader Middle East?
I’m joined by Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to break down Trump’s stunning announcement and its far-reaching implications. Is Trump’s plan bold or reckless? Could it c...