Jonny Gould's Jewish State

What happens in academia when the best minds are curbed by antisemitism and its modern day manifestation, antizionism? We all know the problems of campus antisemitism, more acute since October 7th. It’s an honour to discuss and unpack academic antisemitism with world-renowned scholar on antisemitism, Professor David Hirsh. Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London, David focuses on contemporary antisemitism, crimes against humanity and totalitarianism.  He's also Academic Director and CEO of the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism and he founded "Engage," a campaign against the academic boycott of Israel.  David has a BSc from City University, London, an MA in Philosophy and Social Theory from the University of Warwick, and a PhD from Warwick where he wrote his dissertation on "Crimes Against Humanity and International Law." He authored "Contemporary Left Antisemitism" exploring antisemitism on the left-wing and edited "The Rebirth of Antisemitism in the 21st Century: From the Academic Boycott Campaign into the Mainstream".  Despite his considerable achievements, his progress has been hampered by hate.  So how has he stuck at it? And what could he have been if he'd been allowed to use his intellect beyond the fight?  I met David at Action Matters in Vienna in December 2024, organized by ELNET, the European Leadership Network in partnership with the Combat Antisemitism Movement. This episode is presented with the cooperation and support of ELNET UK, a bipartisan, cross-party international organisation working to advance UK-Israel relations based on shared democratic values and strategic interests. Considering the awful and disturbing content of our conversation, it’s good humoured, lucid and I hope as you listen, highly informative and educational. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m releasing this momentous episode of the Benjamin Anthony Show on Jonny Gould's Jewish State, and you can follow the show here. Benjamin is joined as always by MirYam Institute's in-house military analyst, Yaakov Lappin, as they discuss the deal's implications for Israeli society, the IDF, Israel's security and the hostage families and whether the whole thing will collapse amid the murderous bad faith of Hamas. They also analyze what might have been offered as a "sweetener" by incoming President-Elect, Donald Trump to Prime Minister Netanyahu and whether or not U.S. collaboration around the targeting of Iran's nuclear weapons program may be what pursuaded Israel's premiere to step back from several of his stated red-lines.  While we celebrate the return of every hostage, we present our notes of caution as to the consequences that may accompany the deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find and follow the rest of Jonny's interviews in the series here. Erin Molan’s moral clarity, critical thought and searing conviction has elevated her voice to a world stage. Tasked with making testy opinion pieces straight down the barrel at Sky News Australia, Erin was removed rather abruptly from her starring role towards the end of 2024. Aside from her forthright journalism, it's her background which also makes her so compelling. Moving around the world as a child, her father Jim Molan was a Major General in the Australian Army and later a liberal senator in Parliament. What he taught her and what it means to her looms large here.  A fluent speaker of Indonesian, Erin grew up in the world's largest Muslim nation. TV journalism has a new world star and you'll hear why when you listen to my interview with Erin Molan. Help support Jonny making his podcasts right here. Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthrophy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find more of Jonny's podcasts here. Support his podcast work here. Mark Birbeck’s civic life changed on October 7th.  Taken aback by the lack of widespread support for the victims from his fellow Britons, he set about being the change he wanted to see. He founded Our Fight UK to support the Jewish community and Israelis following the terrible events of that morning and the wars and plight of the hostages ever since. With other key figures, notably Kurpa Patel and Iranian dissident Niyak Ghorbani, Mark has fronted protests and counter-protests, challenged boycotts, arms embargoes, and curbs on talking and protesting freely on Israel and antisemitism. He was arrested for displaying a sign labelling Hamas as terrorists, which led to his ban from attending Palestinian-related protests for three months and even talking to Niyak under his bail conditions. But for all the street activism, his faith in British democracy, standards in civic life and policing hasn’t eroded one iota and he engages in dialogue with young Muslims countering him on the streets and seeks out common values with them. He says there are some. Listen for what they are.  And in the course of his extraordinary efforts, he’s re-engaged with a pride in our country.  Mark is an inspiration and comfort for those of us, including me, I confess - who fear that some of our nation's values have been eroded.  Share this episode far and wide, as you listen to Our Fight UK founder, Mark Birbeck. Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthrophy. Find more of Jonny's podcasts here. Support his podcast work here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices