The Brian Lehrer Show Brian Lehrer Weekend: Passover; Easter
Apr 4, 2026
Reverend Juan Carlos Ruiz, a Lutheran pastor who ministers to immigrants, and A.L. Press, a New Yorker reporter on Jewish community divides. They discuss how Gaza and Zionism are fracturing synagogues. They also explore Christian responses to immigration, from radical hospitality to calls for controlled borders. Short, timely conversations on faith, politics, and community tensions.
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American Jewish Community Deeply Divided Over Gaza
- American Jewish opinion on Israel is no longer monolithic and is roughly split about 50/50 on the Gaza war according to recent polls.
- A.L. Press notes this fracture reflects generational change and Israel's shifting politics, making Zionism more contested within congregations.
Rabbi Buchdahl's Sermon About Being Pulled Both Ways
- Rabbi Angela Buchdahl said expressing either side of her views on Israel would cost her congregants, illustrating congregational strain.
- She called the Israel conversation the most painful experience of her rabbinic life, showing emotional toll on leaders.
Congregant Nat Felder Protests Synagogue Sign
- Nat Felder, a member of Congregation Beth El, protested his synagogue's sign saying "we stand with Israel" by making his own sign criticizing starvation policies.
- His action followed repeated requests to leadership to change messaging and escalated tensions within the congregation.