Peter Beinart in conversation with Eva Illouz |

Jews entered modernity by espousing many of its emancipatory programs: socialism, communism, universalism have all been "Jewish causes”. This is evinced by the socialism of Israeli early institutions. Yet, for the last decades there seems to have a sharp shift rightward, in Israel and in much of the diaspora. American Jewry, however, has become more liberal. Hence, part of the growing conflict between American Jews and Israeli Jews stems from the fact that Israeli Jews are growing more nationalistic and religious. In this conversation we will try to identify the causes for this shift and the possible directions of Jewish politics this entails.