Judaism and Islam: A Common Story – Podcast
In today’s digital world, podcasts have become one of the more popular and informative ways to share ideas that reach larger audiences. Accordingly, the Koret Center aims to launch a new podcast about meeting points between the Jewish and Islamic civilizations. The eight-episode podcast were produced and recorded during 2024-2025 and will launch in the spring of 2025. In the first stage, the episodes will be recorded in Hebrew, and then additional episodes will be produced in English.
The podcast will be produced in collaboration with The Yad Yizhak Ben-Zvi Institute, a research facility and a publisher of books and periodicals on Jerusalem, Israel and Jewish communities of the Middle East. It is operated by Yad Ben-Zvi, an independent, non-profit organization chartered by the Knesset to perpetuate the legacy of Israel’s second president, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, in two areas in which he was a pioneering scholar: the history of the Land of Israel and the heritage of Sephardi and Eastern Jewry.
The Koret Center is also in partnership with the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching, the podcast was established with the aim of fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.
The podcast is available for viewing and listening on YouTube, as well as on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the Tel Aviv University 360 website
Podcast summary and guests’ speakers:
Judaism and Islam – A Shared Journey
In the podcast Judaism and Islam – A Shared Journey, we embark on an exploration of the rich, intricate, glorious, and sometimes tragic history of these two ancient cultures: Judaism, the elder of the two, and Islam, its younger counterpart. Across the episodes, we delve into thought and philosophy, popular culture, daily life, shared music, and the holy sites sacred to both religions.
In light of the events of October 7, we felt it was the right time to discuss what separates—and more importantly, what unites—these two rich traditions.
A conversation with historians Prof. Youval Rotman, Prof. Miriam Frenkel and Dr. Orit Ouaknine Yekutieli Host: Chen Malul.
Muhammad and the Jews
In this episode of the podcast, we begin at the beginning: the initial encounter between Muhammad, the prophet of the new religion, and the Jews of Medina and the Arabian Peninsula. What role did Muhammad envision for the Jews within the new Islamic community? Why was he disappointed when they did not convert en masse? And why has this foundational encounter been almost entirely forgotten in Jewish sources?
A conversation with historian with Dr. Oded Zinger. Host: Chen Malul.
The secret poetic rituals of the Sabbatean believers
Throughout their shared history, Jewish and Muslim cultures influenced each other in countless ways, but in music, the lines have always been more fluid. In this episode, we discuss one particularly rich intersection: the forbidden, secret songs of the Sabbateans—Jews who followed the false messiah Shabtai Tzvi, even after his forced conversion to Islam. Long before the rise of modern genre of ‘Mediterranean music’, Jews and Muslims exchanged melodies, instruments, and even lyrics.
A conversation with historian Dr. Hadar Feldman Samet. Host: Chen Malul.
The holiness of Jerusalem in Judaism and Islam
Although Jerusalem is not mentioned by name in the Quran, from the dawn of Islam, commentators identified the “farthest mosque” (Al-Masjid al-Aqsa) with Jerusalem. When did Jerusalem become one of the three holiest cities in Islam? How does Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca and one of the five pillars of Islam, differ from Ziyara, a visit to a sacred site? And in what ways is Jerusalem’s sanctity in Judaism similar to or different from its sanctity in Islam?
A conversation with historian Prof. Daniella Talmon-Heller. Host: Chen Malul.
Daily Life in the Cairo Geniza
Sometimes, a single discovery can reshape how we view history. This is the case with the Cairo Geniza: a treasure trove of hundreds of thousands of documents preserved in the second-floor storeroom of a synagogue in Fustat (modern-day Cairo). Unearthed in the 19th century, these documents continue to be studied today, though many remain unexamined.
In this episode, we offer just a glimpse into the thousands of stories about the daily lives of Jews and Muslims over the past thousand years that the Geniza reveals. Where did Jews and Muslims of the era live? Did they argue about rent payments even then? How did they earn a living? What did they eat, and how did they dress? How did they find spouses, and where did they live after marrying? And what were grounds for divorce?
A conversation with historian Dr. Moshe Yagur. Host: Chen Malul.
Jewish and Muslim Morocco
In both historical research and common narratives, we tend to separate Jews who lived in various diasporas from the societies around them, connecting them instead to global Jewish culture. While this approach holds some truth, it risks overlooking the delicate fabric of life that once existed. As our guest in this episode suggests, when discussing Morocco—before most of its Jews emigrated—it’s possible to view it as one big family: Muslims, Jews, Christians, and others, coexisting like relatives. And, as in any family, relationships could involve love, conflict, and reconciliation (or not).
This episode explores the stories we tell about the past, as well as the stories people of the past told about themselves.
A conversation with historian Dr. Orit Ouaknine Yekutieli. Host: Chen Malul.
Maimonides and his world
If you know anything about Maimonides, you probably know that he was a great rabbi, philosopher, and physician who sought to condense Jewish law into a single comprehensive book. In this fascinating conversation, we explore a lesser-known aspect of Maimonides: as a thinker deeply rooted in the Islamic intellectual world as well as the Jewish one.
For Maimonides, Jewish legal study (Halakha) was only the beginning of the Jewish intellectual journey—a journey that must continue into the realms of philosophy, science, and the broader intellectual currents of his time.
A conversation with historians Prof. Omer Michaelis and Prof. Sarah Stroumsa. Host: Chen Malul
The Wisdom of the Sufism
In the final episode of the season, we discussed the wisdom of the Sufi heart. Most of us have probably heard the name Sufism, but we may not have taken the time to delve deeper and learn about this important and influential mystical movement in Islam. Sufism has many facets, and its thinkers and followers have produced a wealth of works: mesmerizing poetry, religious practices involving dance and prayer, profound philosophical thought, and much more. All with one goal—to open the heart and discover that God is already there.
A conversation with historian Prof. Sara Sviri and Dr. Khalid Abu-Ras. . Host: Chen Malul.
