Why Antizionism is the New Antisemitism: A PhD's Urgent Call to Educators

In this powerful episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz sits down with Dr. Naya Lekht, a leading scholar, educator, and writer who is reshaping how we understand Zionism, Jewish identity, and today's wave of antizionism. Drawing on her background as a Soviet-born Jew and her PhD research on how the USSR erased Holocaust memory and reshaped Jewish identity, Naya explains why antizionism is not "just politics" but the newest form of Jew hatred—and how the slogans shouted on campuses and streets today were carefully engineered in Moscow decades ago.

In this powerful IsraelCast episode, host Steven Shalowitz speaks with Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi live from the Jewish National Fund-USA Conference in Hollywood, Florida. Davidi paints a vivid picture of Sderot—a resilient, diverse community just 700 meters from the Gaza border, long celebrated for its music and warmth but also burdened by decades of rocket fire. He shares the personal toll of life under constant threat, recalling how his own seven children have sprinted to shelters thousands of times with only seconds to spare.

At the Jewish National Fund-USA 2025 Global Conference, IsraelCast host Steven Shalowitz interviewed Australian journalist Erin Molan, who shared her transformation from sports anchor to global advocate for Israel and Western values. Deeply influenced by her late father, Major General Andrew Molan, Erin described how the reaction to Hamas's October 7 attacks compelled her to speak out against terrorism, despite severe backlash and death threats. She warned that the conflict extends beyond Israel, reflecting a broader struggle for democracy and moral clarity across the West. Molan condemned biased media coverage and rising antisemitism in Australia, calling for everyday people to speak truth and challenge misinformation. Reflecting on her visits to Israel, she praised Israelis' resilience and compassion, sharing moving encounters that reaffirmed her mission. Now hosting The Erin Molan Show on the Salem Network, she continues to champion Israel and the values her father taught her: "Even if it's hard, always do what's right."

Host Steven Shalowitz sits down with journalist and author Yaakov Katz to unpack While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East. Katz argues that October 7 wasn't a "mystery failure," but the result of a long-running "policy of containment" (the concepcia): believing Hamas could be deterred, managed economically, and fenced in with tech like Iron Dome and border sensors. He walks us through the tense night of Oct. 6–7—alarms, contradictory intel, and warnings from female surveillance soldiers that were brushed aside—and explains why a visible show of force might have changed the next morning.

Host Steven Shalowitz speaks with veteran Israeli diplomat Shahar Azani in a special IsraelCast episode recorded on October 13, 2025—just hours after the final 20 hostages were released from Hamas captivity. Framing the moment as a "miracle" and the start of a long national healing, Azani underscores the medical, emotional, and spiritual recovery ahead for the freed hostages and for Israelis still processing the trauma of October 7. Azani credits the release to relentless IDF pressure combined with President Trump's hard-edged diplomacy, which he says aligned the U.S., Israel, and key Arab states to isolate Hamas and weaken Iran. Looking forward, he argues that Gaza must be demilitarized and undergo sustained deradicalization, with reform of incitement-laden curricula—particularly in UNRWA schools—placed at the top of the diplomatic agenda. He and Steven also survey the resilience of the Abraham Accords, citing durable ties through the war and hinting at future breakthroughs with countries like Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and even Lebanon.

Host Steven Shalowitz speaks with former hostage Tal Shoham, who was abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7 and held in Gaza for 505 days. Tal recalls the terrifying moments of barricading with his family and ultimately surrendering to prevent a deadly attack—an instinct he later learned likely saved their lives. After an initial period of solitary confinement and transfers between apartments, he was moved underground, where he spent over eight months in tunnels.

Episode: 234 - Host Steven Shalowitz welcomes multi-hyphenate entertainer and podcaster Jonah Platt for a candid conversation about Jewish representation, advocacy, and dialogue in a polarized era. Platt argues that contemporary Jews are often flattened on screen—either as Holocaust victims, ultra-Orthodox stereotypes, or casual cultural references. He points to Shtisel and Fauda as refreshing because they tell compelling stories first, with characters who happen to be Jewish, which humanizes modern Jewish life.

Episode 233: In this eye-opening episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz welcomes Shabbos Kestenbaum—student activist, writer, and lead plaintiff in a landmark lawsuit against Harvard University over pervasive antisemitism. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish family and having studied at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem, Shabbos entered Harvard Divinity School expecting intellectual exchange but instead encountered systemic bias against Jews and Israel. From professors who excluded Israeli voices in the classroom to student groups blaming Israel after October 7th, his experiences exposed a troubling double standard in higher education.

Episode 232:  In this insightful episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz welcomes Dr. Asaf Romirowsky, Executive Director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, to explore the challenging landscape of university campuses today. Dr. Romirowsky sheds light on how "cancel culture" has begun to restrict open debate—particularly around Israel—making it increasingly difficult for students and faculty to engage in nuanced discourse on Israel and the Middle East.

In this high-octane episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz welcomes Alon Day, Israel's trailblazing professional race car driver and four-time NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion. Speaking from North Carolina, Day shares his dramatic journey from Israel to the American racetrack—literally sailing from Ashdod to Cyprus to escape closed airspace following Iranian attacks on Israel, all in pursuit of his dream to race in the U.S.