

Across the Divide Podcast
Across the Divide
Across the Divide explores the intersection of the faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel. Hosted and produced by a group of Palestinians and Americans, the podcast provides a space for thoughtful and critical conversations with theologians, scholars, and activists about the situation in Palestine-Israel through the lens of faith, justice and peacemaking.
Support our work at https://patreon.com/acrossthedivide
Support our work at https://patreon.com/acrossthedivide
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 8, 2026 • 1h 3min
What Did Jews Think about the Land of Palestine? With Ron Naiweld
Ron Naiweld, professor at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), in Paris, France, joins us to discuss how Jews over the last 2 thousand years have understood the Biblical idea of possessing the land.Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on Instagram @AcrosstheDividePodcast#israel #palestine #gaza #christianity #bible #faith #zionism

Apr 1, 2026 • 1h
History of Ancient Israel with Seth Sanders
We’re joined by Seth Sanders, professor of Linguistics at Dalhousie University, to discuss the historic Jewish connection to the land of Canaan and whether they can be considered indigenous to the land. Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on Instagram @AcrosstheDividePodcast#israel #palestine #gaza #judaism #history #christianity #bible #faith #zionism

Mar 25, 2026 • 1h 4min
What is Judaism? With Raphael Magarik
But what are we talking about when we talk about Judaism? Jewish scholar and professor at the University of Illinois Chicago Raphael Magarik joins us for the launch of our new series on "Judaism and Palestine". There's so much we don't understand about Judaism, and you don't want to miss this conversation!Support our work at Across the Divide: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on Instagram @AcrosstheDividePodcastAcross the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.#israel #palestine #judaism #christianity #bible #faith #zionism

Mar 17, 2026 • 59min
Can Catholics Be Zionists? with Fr. David Neuhaus
We're joined by father David Neuhaus, SJ, to discuss the recent controversies surrounding Carrie Prejean Boller where she asserted at a Religious Liberty Commission hearing that Catholics cannot be Zionists. Fr. Neuhaus explores the history of Nostra Aetate and Jewish-Catholic dialogue, and also reflects on the war on Iran and the Just War Tradition. You don't want to miss this episode!Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on Instagram @AcrosstheDividePodcast#israel #palestine #iran #christianity #bible #faith #zionism #catholic #catholicchurch

Mar 11, 2026 • 1h 7min
Christian Peacemaking in the Midst of the Iran War with Jarrod McKenna
We’re barely coming out of a genocide in Gaza and now there’a war in Iran. How should Christians respond? What does peacemaking look like in the midst of so much violence, especially violence supported by Christians? Australian pastor and educator Jarrod McKenna to help us respond to this moment where we find ourselves.Jarrod is an Australian peace award winning pastor and social change educator. He is founding director of Australia’s largest Christian social justice advocacy group, Common Grace, and also the co-founder of the global www.gazaceasefirepilgrimage.com movement. For more visit https://jarrodmckenna.com.Jarrod’s substack article about peacemaking and Iran: https://jarrodmckenna.substack.com/p/a-starter-kit-for-peacemaking-atBecome a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivideFollow Across the Divide for more on Instagram @AcrosstheDividePodcastAcross the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.#israel #palestine #iran #christianity #bible #faith #zionism

Feb 25, 2026 • 1h 17min
Palestinian Christians Respond to Mike Huckabee!
Daniel Bannoura is joined by Palestinian pastor Munther Isaac and Palestinian theologian Anton Deik to respond to the controversial conversation between Tucker Carlson and the U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on Instagram @AcrosstheDividePodcast#israel #palestine #gaza #bethlehem #holyland #christianity #bible #faith #zionism #tuckercarlson #christianzionism

Feb 17, 2026 • 1h
Revisiting Esther as a Text of Terror(ism) with Sarojini Nadar
South African theologian Sarojini Nadar joins Daniel for a conversation about the weaponization of the Bible and how the book of Esther has been distorted to normalize violent and harmful ideologies. Sarojini is a South African theologian and Biblical scholar, and director and research chair of the Desmond Tutu Research Chair in Religion and Social Justice at the University of the Western Cape. Her research explores the intersection of gender and religion, with a more broad focus on religion and social justice – spanning issues of race, class, gender and sexuality. Here latest book "Gender, Genocide, Gaza and the Book of Esther" bridges the gap between gendered and geopolitical analyses by interrogating both the sexual and ethnic violence embedded in the Book of Esther and its relationship to the Gaza genocide.Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on Instagram @AcrosstheDividePodcastAcross the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.#israel #palestine #gaza #christianity #bible #faith #esther

Feb 10, 2026 • 26min
Urgent Updates from Bethlehem with Usama Nicola
In this episode Jen has a conversation with Palestinian Christian activist, Usama Nicola. They discuss the current realities in Bethlehem and the acute threats that Palestinians are facing in the Bethlehem area and Palestine broadly. Usama reflects on the ways his faith motivates his engagement with these realities, which includes an orientation towards nonviolence and a belief in the power of everyday miracles.Usama Nicola is a Palestinian civil society activist and a tour guide from the ancient and resilient city of Bethlehem. He brings together his love for people, justice, and faith in everything he does. Through his Patreon page, Usama shares regular reflections, updates from Bethlehem, and spiritual insights, building a global circle of solidarity and learning. His hope is to warm hearts, challenge comfort, and remind people everywhere that even in places of sorrow, life still grows. Read Usama’s recent article, “The Everyday Miracles of Palestine: Courage, Hope, and Resilience” Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on Instagram @AcrosstheDividePodcastAcross the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.#israel #palestine #bethlehem #holyland #christianity #miracles #justice #nonviolence

Jan 30, 2026 • 1h 8min
How Palestinian Christians Teach Peacemaking with Michael McDougle
In this episode, Abeer is joined by Michael McDougle to discuss what it means to teach Palestine and questions of justice in contexts where these issues are often unfamiliar, and how insights from Palestinian Christians have shaped understandings of faith and peacemaking.Michael McDougle (mmcdougle@lcc.lt) is an Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Originally from the United States, he has lived and worked in Russia, Ukraine, China, and Lithuania. He holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies (Columbia International University), an MA in TESOL (Biola University), and an MA in Theology and Culture with a concentration in Peace Studies (St. Stephen’s University). His research interests lie at the intersection of theology, peace studies, TESOL, and Culture. Michael is also a Peace Ambassador with Peace Catalyst International, where he serves on the Israel-Palestine Working Group.Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on Instagram @AcrosstheDividePodcastAcross the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.#israel #palestine #gaza #christianity #bible #faith #zionism

Jan 13, 2026 • 54min
How Loving our Neighbors Can Lead to a Revolution with Andrew DeCort
Ethicist and author Andrew DeCort joins Daniel to address the imperative responsibility of the Western church to respond to the calls of Palestinian Christians! Andrew explains how "neighbor-love" translates into a revolutionary political ethic that demands concrete policy changes.Andrew DeCort is an ethicist and “dissident theologian” holding a PhD in religious and political ethics from the University of Chicago. He founded the Institute for Faith and Flourishing and the Neighbor-Love Movement. Andrew has taught at Wheaton College and the University of Bonn, and his writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, and Christianity Today. He is the author of four books, including his latest, Reviving the Golden Rule (2025). For more, visit https://andrew-decort.com/Link to purchase Andrew’s latest work: https://www.amazon.com/Reviving-Golden-Rule-Ancient-Neighbor/dp/1514012766Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on Instagram @AcrosstheDividePodcastAcross the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.#palestine #gaza #christianity #bible #faith #zionism #love #neighbor


