Rabbi Ammi Hirsch
@ammihirsch.bsky.social
Senior Rabbi at NYC's Stephen Wise Free Synagogue | 'In These Times' Podcast Host | Champion of Reform Judaism, liberal values, Zionism & Jewish peoplehood
.@barakravid.bsky.social wears many media hats & has gleaned a ton from reporting for Israel's News 12, @axios.com & @cnn.com. Having covered Oct 7/post war, I asked him if he feels the media has covered #Israel appropriately. His answer might surprise you👇| Full episode: apple.co/47DHghx
November 6, 2025 at 4:53 PM
.@barakravid.bsky.social wears many media hats & has gleaned a ton from reporting for Israel's News 12, @axios.com & @cnn.com. Having covered Oct 7/post war, I asked him if he feels the media has covered #Israel appropriately. His answer might surprise you👇| Full episode: apple.co/47DHghx
Dear young people: You never before had to prove that you cared about Judaism. But if you want a Jewish future, you must embrace the truth that it is you who will forge the next phase of the Jewish saga...
October 2, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Dear young people: You never before had to prove that you cared about Judaism. But if you want a Jewish future, you must embrace the truth that it is you who will forge the next phase of the Jewish saga...
To all the young people this #YomKippur: It is harder now to be an American Jew. I hope that the challenges and anxieties of our times strengthen your commitment to our people — and create a fierceness of Jewish identity in you.
October 2, 2025 at 8:16 PM
To all the young people this #YomKippur: It is harder now to be an American Jew. I hope that the challenges and anxieties of our times strengthen your commitment to our people — and create a fierceness of Jewish identity in you.
Jewish history has proven conclusively that it is far better for Jews to have power and agonize over its moral use than to be powerless and at the mercy of the dark lords. Jewish vulnerability is the impetus to widespread Jew-hatred, not Jewish power.
September 24, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Jewish history has proven conclusively that it is far better for Jews to have power and agonize over its moral use than to be powerless and at the mercy of the dark lords. Jewish vulnerability is the impetus to widespread Jew-hatred, not Jewish power.
At best, there is an innocent naiveté in anti-Zionist Jews that may come from a good place but is unsophisticated in the ways of the real world. If your existence is not at stake, you see the world differently than those on the front lines... What kind of Jew are you?
September 23, 2025 at 9:50 PM
At best, there is an innocent naiveté in anti-Zionist Jews that may come from a good place but is unsophisticated in the ways of the real world. If your existence is not at stake, you see the world differently than those on the front lines... What kind of Jew are you?
I don’t remember a time when American Jews have been so fearful, particularly here in #NYC. From intellectual and job-related biases and so on. I asked mayoral hopeful
@bradlander.bsky.social what he would do as caretaker of our city to combat this👇
@bradlander.bsky.social what he would do as caretaker of our city to combat this👇
June 23, 2025 at 12:34 PM
I don’t remember a time when American Jews have been so fearful, particularly here in #NYC. From intellectual and job-related biases and so on. I asked mayoral hopeful
@bradlander.bsky.social what he would do as caretaker of our city to combat this👇
@bradlander.bsky.social what he would do as caretaker of our city to combat this👇
#NYC mayoral hopeful @scottstringernyc.bsky.social has been a strong and proud member of the #Jewish community. He gives me his take on some of the key issues affecting Jewish NYers today. "We have a job to do here to root out evil and hate,” he tells me 👇
June 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
#NYC mayoral hopeful @scottstringernyc.bsky.social has been a strong and proud member of the #Jewish community. He gives me his take on some of the key issues affecting Jewish NYers today. "We have a job to do here to root out evil and hate,” he tells me 👇
#NYC mayoral hopeful @scottstringernyc.bsky.social has been a strong and proud member of the #Jewish community. He gives me his take on some of the key issues affecting Jewish NYers today. "We have a job to do here to root out evil and hate,” he tells me 👇
June 20, 2025 at 7:24 PM
#NYC mayoral hopeful @scottstringernyc.bsky.social has been a strong and proud member of the #Jewish community. He gives me his take on some of the key issues affecting Jewish NYers today. "We have a job to do here to root out evil and hate,” he tells me 👇
@bradlander.bsky.social didn’t seem particularly surprised by progressive group responses in the wake of October 7th. “...there was always gonna be that kind of leftist anti-#Israel thing…” he tells me. Watch his reaction here 👇
June 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
@bradlander.bsky.social didn’t seem particularly surprised by progressive group responses in the wake of October 7th. “...there was always gonna be that kind of leftist anti-#Israel thing…” he tells me. Watch his reaction here 👇
There will come a time when the free nations of the world will thank Israel for defending Western civilization against nuclear blackmail.
June 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
There will come a time when the free nations of the world will thank Israel for defending Western civilization against nuclear blackmail.
The iron-clad lesson of Jewish history that we neglected on Oct. 6 is that when someone threatens to kill Jews, believe them. Judaism teaches: "If your enemy seeks your destruction, arise earlier to thwart him."
June 15, 2025 at 3:11 AM
The iron-clad lesson of Jewish history that we neglected on Oct. 6 is that when someone threatens to kill Jews, believe them. Judaism teaches: "If your enemy seeks your destruction, arise earlier to thwart him."
We must understand a basic truth: The nature of #Judaism is a critique of common norms. And the ultimate question is: What does the repeated threat to destroy the place where half of the Jews of the world live say about your views on Judaism & the Jewish people?
June 3, 2025 at 9:05 PM
We must understand a basic truth: The nature of #Judaism is a critique of common norms. And the ultimate question is: What does the repeated threat to destroy the place where half of the Jews of the world live say about your views on Judaism & the Jewish people?
Former NY governor and #NYC mayoral hopeful
Andrew Cuomo & I discussed where the #Jewish community stands in support of the Democratic Party. Is it the same party? Watch his response👇 or listen to our full conversation: apple.co/4mJTAnt
Andrew Cuomo & I discussed where the #Jewish community stands in support of the Democratic Party. Is it the same party? Watch his response👇 or listen to our full conversation: apple.co/4mJTAnt
May 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Former NY governor and #NYC mayoral hopeful
Andrew Cuomo & I discussed where the #Jewish community stands in support of the Democratic Party. Is it the same party? Watch his response👇 or listen to our full conversation: apple.co/4mJTAnt
Andrew Cuomo & I discussed where the #Jewish community stands in support of the Democratic Party. Is it the same party? Watch his response👇 or listen to our full conversation: apple.co/4mJTAnt
I welcome hearing from all the #NYC mayoral hopefuls. These are opportunities to dwell on issues important to the #Jewish community. #Antisemitism & #anti-#Israel hostility top that list. See what former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo told me 👇 or listen to our full convo: apple.co/4mJTAnt
May 22, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I welcome hearing from all the #NYC mayoral hopefuls. These are opportunities to dwell on issues important to the #Jewish community. #Antisemitism & #anti-#Israel hostility top that list. See what former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo told me 👇 or listen to our full convo: apple.co/4mJTAnt
I think that children of immigrants — particularly those who fled #antisemitism — are more sensitive to manifestations of hatred vs. American Jews who've never experienced what we’re seeing post Oct 7. Perhaps it’s a sign of privilege to not be sensitive to the nature of anti-#Zionism...
May 16, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I think that children of immigrants — particularly those who fled #antisemitism — are more sensitive to manifestations of hatred vs. American Jews who've never experienced what we’re seeing post Oct 7. Perhaps it’s a sign of privilege to not be sensitive to the nature of anti-#Zionism...
I was struck by Tessa Veksler’s description of her “very isolating” experience with anti-#Israel hostility and #antisemitism on campus. Full episode —> apple.co/4dbjufi
May 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I was struck by Tessa Veksler’s description of her “very isolating” experience with anti-#Israel hostility and #antisemitism on campus. Full episode —> apple.co/4dbjufi
Tessa Veksler ran for @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social student president and did her best to avoid her campaign becoming a referendum on #Israel. And she won. But after Oct. 8, the hate started pouring in. Here’s part of her story — and her thoughts on why she was targeted. Full podcast: apple.co/4dbjufi
May 12, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Tessa Veksler ran for @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social student president and did her best to avoid her campaign becoming a referendum on #Israel. And she won. But after Oct. 8, the hate started pouring in. Here’s part of her story — and her thoughts on why she was targeted. Full podcast: apple.co/4dbjufi
Amazing to spend Shabbat in Israel with my good friend Itzhik Simon. We served together in the same tank from 1977–1980... Our hearts are with all the reservists who are spending yet another Shabbat away from their families. I pray for their safe return — and an end to this war.
May 2, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Amazing to spend Shabbat in Israel with my good friend Itzhik Simon. We served together in the same tank from 1977–1980... Our hearts are with all the reservists who are spending yet another Shabbat away from their families. I pray for their safe return — and an end to this war.
The ways mainstream media has covered #Israel post-October 7 has certainly shifted. I discussed this w/ @timesofisrael.com's founding editor, David Horovitz, who claims there is a “very well-orchestrated effort” to delegitimize the Jewish state. Watch his take below | Full episode: apple.co/4jFfPbI
April 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The ways mainstream media has covered #Israel post-October 7 has certainly shifted. I discussed this w/ @timesofisrael.com's founding editor, David Horovitz, who claims there is a “very well-orchestrated effort” to delegitimize the Jewish state. Watch his take below | Full episode: apple.co/4jFfPbI
October 7th changed everything. It revealed three basic things: (1) the existential threat that still exists to Israel and Jews; (2) that our assumptions about America's acceptance of Jews were wrong; and (3) our partners on so many liberal causes weren't actually there for us...
March 28, 2025 at 2:56 PM
October 7th changed everything. It revealed three basic things: (1) the existential threat that still exists to Israel and Jews; (2) that our assumptions about America's acceptance of Jews were wrong; and (3) our partners on so many liberal causes weren't actually there for us...
An "anti-Zionist" Jew is a contradiction in terms. I'm not even sure what it means... But I am certain that our Zionist Reform institutions should not be ordaining anti-Zionist rabbis.
March 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
An "anti-Zionist" Jew is a contradiction in terms. I'm not even sure what it means... But I am certain that our Zionist Reform institutions should not be ordaining anti-Zionist rabbis.
@realbaddiel.bsky.social does jokes about rabbis, too. Our full convo: apple.co/4bF70fe
March 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
@realbaddiel.bsky.social does jokes about rabbis, too. Our full convo: apple.co/4bF70fe
Has comedy changed in the 40 years since @realbaddiel.bsky.social has been on stage? Yes. But — he says — no topic is off-limits. Not even the Holocaust... Our full convo: apple.co/4bF70fe
March 25, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Has comedy changed in the 40 years since @realbaddiel.bsky.social has been on stage? Yes. But — he says — no topic is off-limits. Not even the Holocaust... Our full convo: apple.co/4bF70fe