In this episode of The Contrarian, David Bernstein speaks with Professor Roberta “Bobbi” Kwall of DePaul University, author of Polarized: Why American Jews Are Divided and What to Do About It, about the growing political, religious, and cultural divisions within the American Jewish community. Kwall explains how broader American polarization, changes in academia, and the aftermath of October 7 have intensified these divides, arguing that the goal should not be complete unity but a stronger Jewish center where people with different views can engage respectfully. The conversation explores areas of common ground, including Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish democratic state, combating antisemitism, condemning terrorism, supporting innocent civilians, and allowing thoughtful criticism of Israeli policies. Kwall ultimately calls on Jewish organizations, leaders, and funders to strengthen dialogue, develop a shared educational narrative for future generations, and focus on rebuilding the community from within rather than waiting for outside institutions to change. Guest Bio Roberta Rosenthal Kwall is the Raymond P. Niro Professor at DePaul University College of Law. She is an internationally renowned scholar and lecturer and has written about a wide variety of topics including Jewish law and culture, authorship rights, creativity theory, intellectual property, and women’s issues. Today Kwall is one of the main voices on the state of American Jewry and is the author of The Myth of the Cultural Jew; Remix Judaism: Preserving Tradition in a Diverse World, and her forthcoming book Polarized: Why American Jews are Divided and What to do About It, (Bloomsbury Press, 2026). Kwall also is a frequent visiting professor at Reichman University’s Radzyner Law School in Israel. Her popular writings have appeared in a wide variety of national and Jewish themed media. She is a frequent speaker at synagogues and for Jewish organizations in the United States and Israel.
00:00 – Introducing Roberta Kwall and Polarized
01:57 – What Inspired Polarized?
05:42 – How America Became More Polarized
06:20 – How October 7 Changed the Conversation
07:39 – Why American Jewish Polarization Is Different
13:42 – Can the Jewish Community Overcome Its Divisions?
17:53 – What Does It Mean to Be a Centrist?
19:32 – Finding Common Ground Among American Jews
24:13 – Antisemitism, Israel and Shared Jewish Concerns
30:00 – The Two-State Solution and the Future of Israel
33:07 – Engaging With Anti-Zionism and Deep Disagreements
40:57 – Rebuilding a Stronger Jewish Center