In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar Ish Shalom sits down with Matti Friedman, one of the most perceptive and nuanced voices writing about Israel, war, and Jewish identity today.

A former Associated Press correspondent in Jerusalem and a longtime contributor to the New York Times, The Atlantic, and the Free Press, Friedman has built a reputation for clarity in moments of confusion and for resisting the easy narratives that so often dominate coverage of Israel. Born in Canada and having made Aliyah at 17, he occupies a rare vantage point, both fully Israeli and slightly apart. It is precisely this dual perspective that lends his work its depth, skepticism, and moral precision.

The conversation moves between biography and history, journalism and memory. What does it mean to choose Israel rather than be born into it? How does one write honestly about a society one loves? And what responsibilities does a journalist carry when covering a country so burdened by myth, projection, and misunderstanding?

They also discuss his forthcoming book, Out of the Sky, and the enduring challenge of telling Jewish and Israeli stories in a world eager for simplification.

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Matti's books:
Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe - https://a.co/d/01RVQU8r
Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai - https://a.co/d/06j2RmCI
Spies of No Country: Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel - https://a.co/d/02Oo5cf7

Articles:
Israel Had a Disorienting 2025. What Comes Next? Read here: https://www.thefp.com/p/israel-had-a-disorienting-2025-what

An Insider’s Guide to the Most Important Story on Earth. Read here:
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/israel-middle-east/articles/israel-insider-guide