Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas

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Hannah Senesh is one of the most iconic figures of Israel’s pre-state history - a young poet and parachutist whose story has become part of national memory. But who was she beyond the symbol, and what can her story still teach us today?
Host Aviva Klompas speaks with Matti Friedman about his new book Out of the Sky, which revisits the story of Senesh and the Jewish parachutists who were sent behind enemy lines during World War II. Together, they explore the gap between the mythology and the lived reality of these young fighters, and what motivated them to act in a moment when the world largely stood by.
The conversation examines how Jews have historically understood vulnerability, responsibility, and the limits of relying on others for protection. It also looks at the tension between individual lives and the national narratives that are later built around them.
Along the way, they draw connections to the present: the persistence of old questions about identity and belonging, the limits of assimilation, and the ways Jewish history continues to echo in contemporary moments of crisis.
Guest Bio:
Matti Friedman is an award-winning author of five works of nonfiction, translated into more than a dozen languages. His newest book is Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe, published in 2026.
His previous books include Who by Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai, a Vanity Fair best book of the year, Spies of No Country, which won the Natan Book Award, and Pumpkinflowers, a New York Times Notable Book.
A former Associated Press correspondent, his reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Smithsonian. He now writes from Jerusalem for The Free Press.
Matti was born in Toronto and lives in Jerusalem with his family.

In the two and a half years since the Gaza war began, a new body of writing has taken hold, one that claims to explain not just the conflict, but the world itself. In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Matti Friedman about his essay Introduction to Gazology. He argues that this emerging genre isn’t really about Gaza as a place, but uses it as a framework to interpret global politics, morality, and power. 
They discuss why this narrative has gained traction after October 7, the central role of language—especially the use of “genocide”—and how key elements of the conflict are often left out. The conversation also explores how Gaza has become a lens for broader Western concerns, and what that reveals about the way the conflict is being understood.
We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to [email protected] or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Introduction to Gazology by Matti Friedman
Guest Bio:
Matti Friedman is an award-winning author of five works of nonfiction, translated into more than a dozen languages. His newest book is Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe, published in 2026.
His previous books include Who by Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai, a Vanity Fair best book of the year, Spies of No Country, which won the Natan Book Award, and Pumpkinflowers, a New York Times Notable Book.
A former Associated Press correspondent, his reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Smithsonian. He now writes from Jerusalem for The Free Press.
Matti was born in Toronto and lives in Jerusalem with his family.

After months of tension along Israel’s northern border, a fragile ceasefire has opened the door to renewed diplomacy between Israel and Lebanon. But with Hezbollah rejecting the agreement and the Lebanese government constrained in its ability to act, the path forward is anything but clear.
Aviva Klompas speaks with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter about the latest round of U.S.-brokered talks in Washington and what they are actually trying to achieve. They discuss whether talk of peace is realistic, how Israel defines success in Lebanon, and the challenge of negotiating stability with a state that does not fully control the armed group operating within its borders.
The conversation also explores the role of the United States in shaping the ceasefire, the skepticism within Israel about whether the campaign ended too soon, and the broader regional dynamics—including Iran—that continue to influence the situation.
We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to [email protected] or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Yechiel (Michael) Leiter was appointed Israel’s Ambassador to the United States in January 2025. A longtime public servant, he has served as adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Chief of Staff to then-Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and held senior roles in the Ministries of Education and Transportation. He holds a PhD in political philosophy and is the author of a Cambridge University Press book on John Locke and the Hebrew Bible. Ambassador Leiter is a father of eight. His eldest son, Maj. Moshe Yedidya Leiter—a doctor, special ops commander, and father of six—was killed in Gaza in November 2023.

After weeks of heavy headlines - from multiple conflicts to rising antisemitism and political tension - we’re switching things up. 
Host Aviva Klompas is joined by actor and comedian Michael Rapaport to talk about everything from Jewish holidays to pop culture, life hacks, random obsessions, the unexpected things bringing joy right now, and the kind of advice that sticks.
They also check in on Rapaport’s campaign to be New York City’s next mayor – if you have ideas for slogans, theme music, email us at [email protected] or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to [email protected] or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.
On Israel’s 78th Independence Day, we reflect on what the Jewish state means today, and why it still matters.
Aviva Klompas sits down with Dr. Einat Wilf to explore the enduring idea of Zionism - how it is being challenged, misunderstood, and defended in a rapidly shifting global conversation. They discuss Israel’s central role in Jewish life, the widening gap between Israel’s reality and how it is perceived in the West, and why that gap has grown so stark.
The conversation also examines how language is shaping the debate around Israel, and what it takes to engage in a world where facts alone are often not enough. Against the backdrop of war and internal strain, they reflect on what this period has revealed about the resilience of Israeli society and the Jewish people more broadly.
Looking ahead, Aviva and Einat consider what a confident, modern Zionism might look like and what it will take to sustain and strengthen the Jewish state in the decades to come.
Guest Bio
Dr. Einat Wilf is a leading thinker on Israel, Zionism, foreign policy and education. She was a member of the Israeli Parliament from 2010 to 2013, where she served as Chair of the Education Committee and Member of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Born and raised in Israel, Dr. Wilf served as an Intelligence Officer in the Israel Defense Forces, Foreign Policy Advisor to Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres and a strategic consultant with McKinsey & Company.
Dr. Wilf has a BA from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cambridge. She was the Goldman Visiting Professor at Georgetown University.
Dr. Wilf is the author of seven books that explore key issues in Israeli society. “We Should All Be Zionists“, published in 2022, brings together her essays from the past four years on Israel, Zionism and the path to peace; the co-authored “The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace”, was published in 2020