Extremism and Ethnic Conflict with Dr. Kamila Valenta

Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre discuss "Jewish values" and whether or not that phrase is a meaningful way of talking about Jewish life. Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk with political scientist Dr. Kamila Valenta about extremism and ethnic conflict. (Producer's note: This conversation was recorded in March 2021 and discusses national and international affairs in the context of that time.)Dr. Kamila Valenta is a part-time instructor at the Department of Global Studies at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, where she teaches two courses: “Ethnic Con􀀁ict in a Changing World” and “Extremist Ideologies and the Politics of Terror.” She received her PhD in Political Science with a specialty in International Con􀀁ict from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and her Master’s degree in International Studies from Florida International University in Miami. She originally comes from Prague, Czech Republic, and has also lived in France and Great Britain. Her interests include international politics, war and peace, the problem of ethnic minorities, terrorism, democratization, and religious con􀀁ict and reconciliation. She has published articles on current political issues (especially on the problems of extremism, immigration, religious freedom and democracy) in the Catholic News Herald (the o􀀂cial newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina).Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

"A person should not need to choose between their religion and their rationality. The two are not in conflict."In this episode, Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre discuss the life and work of Maimonides. Rabbi Beyo explains what he sees as the untapped potential of Maimonides medieval theology and philosophy for helping contemporary Jews to strengthen their connection with Jewish tradition while navigating the modern world.Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk with Rabbi Ysoscher Katz about leaving Orthodox communities and navigating the contemporary world.Rabbi Ysoscher Katz is the Chair of the Talmud department at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and the past Senior Rabbi of the Prospect Heights Shul. He studied at the Satmar, Brisk, and Beit Yosef Navaradok yeshivot. Receiving his smicha shortly after high school, R. Katz has taught Talmud and halakhah at a wide array of institutions. For nine years, he delivered a daily daf yomi shiur- twice a day in Borough Park- attended by many. During the past years, he has taught weekly Jewish thought and Talmud classes for professionals on the Upper East Side and Park Slope, and at the Skirball Center for adult education. A graduate of HaSha'ar’s educators program, he also worked as the Judaic studies coordinator for the innovative Luria school, and taught at Ma'ayanot, SAR, and Ramaz High Schools. In addition, he has directed the Lindenbaum Center for Modern Orthodox Halakhah, composed responsa on vital contemporary halakhic issues, and writes extensively on matters pertaining to Jewish society for publications including the Forward, Jerusalem Post, Makor Rishon, and the Times of Israel. He lectures widely, most recently in Jerusalem, Melbourne, Zurich, and LA, and has been a visiting scholar at Jofa, Eshel, Pearlstone and Limmud.Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

Immediately after recording the podcast episode with Glenn E. Martin (Ep. 25), Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre continue the conversation and let the recorder run as they share some candid thoughts and personal views about racism, sexism, and more. Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk with Glenn E. Martin about race and racism, antisemitism, equity, and criminal justice reform in America. For two decades, Glenn E. Martin successfully conceptualized, created and directed a handful of national multi-million dollar organizations in the non-profit sector. Glenn has occupied the important leadership role of "visionary," while developing a strong track record in the more pragmatic aspects of building and running successful organizations, including fundraising, operations, administration and communications. Before launching both GEMrealestate and GEMtrainers, multi-state real estate investment company and a successful non-profit consultancy, respectively, Glenn founded and served as President of JustLeadershipUSA for three years, an organization he built as a tribute to his son Joshua, dedicated to cutting the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030. For almost 20 years, since leaving prison, he's been a part of the vanguard of successful reform advocates in America. His leadership has been recognized with multiple honors, including the 2016 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, the 2017 Brooke Astor Award, and the 2014 Echoing Green Fellowship. He is also a Founding Member of the Council on Criminal Justice. Prior to founding JustLeadershipUSA, Glenn was the Vice President of The Fortune Society, where he founded and led the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy. He also served as the Co-Director of the National HIRE Network at the Legal Action Center, and co-founded the Education from the Inside Out Coalition. He's also the founder and visionary behind the #CLOSErikers campaign in NYC. Glenn has served as a public speaker and has been a media guest appearing on national news outlets such as NPR, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, Al Jazeera and CSPAN. Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

In preparation for an upcoming episode of the podcast, Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre have a candid, "behind-the-scenes" conversation about race and racism in America. Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk with M. Zuhdi Jasser, MD, the Founder and President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy and the author of “A Battle for the Soul of Islam: An American Muslim Patriot’s Fight to Save His Faith.” A first-generation American Muslim, Jasser’s parents fled the oppressive Baath regime of Syria in the mid-1960's for American freedom. A devout Muslim, he and his family have strong ties to the American Muslim community having helped lead mosques in Wisconsin, Arkansas, Virginia and Arizona. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, Jasser and a group of American Muslims founded AIFD which promotes Muslim voices for liberty and freedom through the separation of mosque and state. They believe the root cause of Islamist terrorism is the ideology of political Islam (Islamism) and a belief in the supremacy of the Islamic state. AIFD's primary projects include the Muslim Liberty Project and the Muslim Reform Movement, which was launched in December 2015 and is comprised of a coalition of over 15 Western Muslim Leaders from the US, Canada, and Europe. Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk with Carlos Galindo-Elvira about community partnerships, overcoming hate, and connections between the Latino and Jewish communities. Carlos Galindo-Elvira is Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships for Chicanos Por La Causa. A longtime civil rights, community and nonprofit leader, Carlos is part of CPLC’s Resource Development team. His duties include corporate and community relations, donor relations, media engagement, advocacy, and policy initiatives. Prior to joining CPLC, Galindo-Elvira served as regional director of a national anti-hate organization bringing attention to the rise of antisemitism and white supremacy in Arizona.Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk with Karolyn Benger about orthodoxy, inclusion, and prayer. Karolyn Benger is the principal of KB Enterprise, a consulting firm in Phoenix, AZ to nonprofit organizations specializing in social justice. Karolyn is a student at Yeshivah Maharat and was appointed by Phoenix’s Mayor to serve on the Human Relations Commission for the City of Phoenix. She serves on the Jewish Advisory Board for the Phoenix Police Department, the Arizona Interfaith Movement, is a member of the Valley Interfaith Project’s 3rd Monseigneur Ryle Public Policy Faith Leader Institute, a mentor in the Women’s Leadership Institute, and a board member of the Albert Einstein Academy, a new STEAM and Hebrew/Arabic language charter school being developed. She was the founding Executive Director of the newly created Jewish Community Relations Council in Phoenix and served as the Executive Director of the Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta. Ms. Benger is a graduate of Emory University with a degree in Political Science and a specialization in the Middle East where she studied Arab and Islamist opposition groups in Egypt. She has taught at Emory University, Georgia Tech, and Emerson College and is passionate about interfaith dialogue, race relations, and community relations between Jews and non-Jews. She regularly speaks on Women in Orthodoxy, Women in Islam, Democratization in the Middle East, Social Movements, Anti-Semitism, and Islamist organizations. Her publications can be found with Blue Avocado, eJewish Philanthropy, Kveller, Times of Israel, Binah, and the Arizona Republic. Additional Resources: Karolyn Benger on LinkedIn Karolyn Benger on Facebook Karolyn Benger on Twitter Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm