Are American Jewish leaders deliberately misleading the public when they blame Israeli policies for the widening rift between Israel and progressive, young US Jews to make up for their own failures in reaching out to them? Rabbi David Eliezrie, who is Chabad’s liaison to the American Jewish establishment thinks so, and tells it to their face and to Gil Hoffman on this week’s Inside Israel Today. Eliezrie says the problem is not with the Jewish Nation-State Law or the broken compromise on the Western Wall but with the lack of Jewish education for non-Orthodox Jewish children and follow up programs to Birthright Israel. He also questions whether Reform or Conservative Jewish leaders can still claim to speak for a majority of US Jews due to their dwindling membership. But he gives hope that in Israel, trends are going in a more positive direction.

Gil Hoffman and Peggy Cidor, who have been covering the exciting race to succeed Nir Barkat as mayor of Jerusalem for The Jerusalem Post analyze who has the best chance to win the October 30 election. Hoffman provides audio from a political event in the holy city. Cidor, who has been covering municipal politics for 20 years, explains why this election is different than all mayoral races in the city in the past. She also answers what Barkat’s chances are to succeed Benjamin Netanyahu and become prime minister of Israel one day.

Isaac Herzog explains why he left his jobs as opposition leader in the Knesset and a Knesset member in the Zionist Union for the chairmanship of the Jewish Agency in excerpts from his Jerusalem Post interview broadcast here with permission. Gil Hoffman asks him whether leaving the Zionist Union is akin to fleeing the sinking Titanic.

Gil then talks about the new head of the opposition, Tzipi Livni, and gives examples of how not to head an opposition that perhaps could come in handy for her, from protests this week, from demonstrations that failed to prevent the Gaza Strip withdrawal this week 13 years ago, and from a Jerusalem city council member who claims to know the ways of God.

Gil Hoffman takes you behind the scenes into the conflict between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and progressive Jews from the Diaspora over the fate of egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall and a bill that would define Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. Would Netanyahu prefer to help the ultra-Orthodox over Diaspora Jews from around the world? Gil explains all sides in a dispute that reflects the complexity and beauty of Israeli democracy.

Gil Hoffman gives an insider’s look into the exciting events at the Knesset Monday night, when MKs advanced a bill that could draft yeshiva students and passed a law that removes funding for the Palestinian Authority that is given to terrorists and their families. He explains the potential impact of each bill and whether one could be a first step to elections and the other to Middle East peace. Along the way, he talks about the vibrancy of Israeli democracy, where there is never a dull moment.

Gil Hoffman interviews Dr. Steven B. Nasatir, president of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, the longest serving chief executive of any Jewish Federation in North America, who is leaving his post after 40 years in the top role and 48 years with the organization. During his tenure, JUF has grown to be one of the largest non-profit social service organizations in the country. Gil talks to him about the past and future of Israel, the US Jewish community, and the relationship between the two.

Gil Hoffman speaks to the “Sports Rabbi,” Josh Halickman, about the World Cup and why even though Israel has not made the tournament since 1970, people who love the Jewish state should be watching. Halickman, who is an expert on Israeli sports, explains why Israel has not had much success in the most popular sport among its people.
Gil then speaks about the ongoing divide between Israelis and young, progressive American Jews and why the choice of a new chairman of the Jewish Agency in the week ahead could be the key to either solving or deepening the problem.