Call Me Back – with Dan Senor

Episode: Bret Stephens’ State of World Jewry Address
Date: February 5, 2026
Guest: Bret Stephens (New York Times, Sapir Journal)
Host: Dan Senor
Produced by Ark Media

Episode Overview

In this special episode, Dan Senor presents Bret Stephens’ widely discussed “State of World Jewry” address, delivered at Manhattan's 92nd Street Y. As global events challenge Jews in Israel and the diaspora—in the shadow of war, escalating anti-Semitism, and cultural anxiety—Stephens offers a bold, provocative thesis: decades of efforts to combat anti-Semitism have had little impact, and it's time for a wholesale redirection of Jewish energies. Instead of focusing on fighting hatred, Stephens advocates for turning inward—strengthening Jewish identity, community, and culture. The address is an unflinching, stirring exploration of Jewish vulnerability, resilience, and destiny in 2026.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Honor of Being Hated” (05:05–13:20)

• Stephens opens by drawing a parallel between the artist Manet being "honored" by inspiring hatred and the perennial global hatred faced by Jews.

• He asserts all Jews—Israeli and diaspora, secular and observant, left and right—share “the honor of being hated,” and should see this not just as a curse but a strange compliment.

• Lists the diverse sources of anti-Semitism today, from “campus lemmings” and despots like Khamenei and Erdogan, to prominent public figures, media, and even some who profess their own “Jewishness” as an alibi for anti-Zionism.

  "All of us ultimately in the same boat, whether we like each other or not, have the honor of being hated."
  —Bret Stephens (00:08, 05:08)

  "We have the honor of being hated by the so-called feminists who downplayed the rape of Israeli women on and after October 7th, and by the so-called progressives who denied it."
  (06:40)

• Acknowledges the real dangers: fatal attacks in Sydney, Amsterdam, Pittsburgh, and October 7th itself; rising ostracism in academia; security threats at Jewish events.

2. Four Provocative Theses (13:21–35:10)

Stephens outlines four central arguments:

2.1. Fighting Anti-Semitism is a Misguided Effort (13:45–17:35)

• Billions have been spent on education, advocacy, and combating anti-Semitism with limited results.

• Temporary victories are not scalable, and bigotry is “not the result of a defect in education.”

  "Jew hatred is not the result of a defect in education... It’s a neurosis."
  (16:43)

• Formal efforts—Holocaust education, PR campaigns, or better Israeli leaders—fail to alter deep-seated animus.

• Urges communities to redirect resources towards internal Jewish strength.

2.2. Anti-Semitism as a Compliment and the Nature of Jewish Identity (17:36–22:35)

• Argues that anti-Semitism is rooted in envy: Jews are a "countercultural nation" whose values—monotheism, dignity for all, the pursuit of literacy, argument for heaven’s sake—challenge oppressive social orders.

• The Jewish instinct to say "no" to idolatry, tyranny, assimilation, and complacency makes Jews lightning rods.

  "Our yeses to our surroundings have always been predicated on our nos. And what we affirm also requires that we maintain the courage to reject."
  (20:48)

  "Above all, we believe in the word no..."
  (20:58)

2.3. Self-Improving to Win Favor Is Futile; Focus on Jewish Thriving (22:36–30:40)

• Refutes the idea that being more virtuous, successful, or altruistic will reduce hatred: “They do not hate us because of our faults and failures. They hate us because of our virtues and successes.”

• The drive to win love and acceptance—through philanthropy, integration, or activism—inevitably disappoints, as even social justice movements turn against Jews.

• Calls for an unapologetic embrace of Jewish identity, making Jewishness “the centering fact of life.”

  "Constantly seeking to prove ourselves worthy in order to win the world's love is a fool's errand."
  (25:11)

• Suggests “Jewish thriving” means investing deeply in Jewish life—in culture, learning, ritual, and identification, not just assimilation.

  "Jewish thriving happens not when there are a lot of rich and successful and well integrated Jews... Jewish thriving happens when being Jewish is not merely an incident of ancestry, but rather the centering fact of life..."
  (27:12)

2.4. Building Our Own Table (30:41–35:10)

• Traces three historic “stories” of American Jews: Arriving (immigration and struggle), Making It (integration, success), and Departing (renewal, sometimes through Israel or new cultural initiatives).

• Promotes a bold vision: create independent Jewish infrastructures—schools, cultural institutions, philanthropies, media, and a possible “Jewish sovereign wealth fund.”

• Warns against complacency and loss of identity, highlighting how Jewish communities in history faltered when “they lost their instinct for danger.”

• Argues that the Jewish contribution is also vital for America’s own project of pluralism and moral conscience.

  "If there’s no room at the table, build your own table." (Quoting composer Philip Glass)
  (13:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Anti-Semitism’s Roots and Futility of Fighting It

• “Jew hatred is the product of a psychological reflex and that kind of reflex can never be educated out of existence.”
  —Bret Stephens (16:50)

On Jewish Identity

• "The goal of Jewish life is not to ingratiate ourselves with others so that they might dislike us somewhat less. The goal of Jewish life is Jewish thriving."
  —Bret Stephens (25:54)

On Recent Jewish Vulnerability after October 7

• “What I should have said was that the October 8th Jew was the one who woke up trying to remember who he or she truly is.”
  —Bret Stephens (29:23)

On the American Jewish Role

• "America needs us as its witty, gadfly and loyal critic and skeptical moral conscience, as the keeper of its tolerant and pluralistic flame."
  —Bret Stephens (34:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 05:05: Opening – The “honor of being hated” as today’s Jewish condition
• 08:50: Enumerating sources and types of contemporary anti-Semitism
• 13:21: Introduction to the four provocative theses
• 16:43: On the futility of education and advocacy in fighting anti-Semitism
• 20:58: Jewish identity as a countercultural “no” to the world’s injustices
• 25:11: On futile efforts for approval and focus on thriving
• 27:12: Definition of Jewish thriving
• 29:23: Redefining October 8th Jew – rediscovering Jewish essence
• 30:41: “Build your own table” – blueprint for Jewish community renewal
• 34:10: American Jewish contribution to broader American ideals

Tone & Style

• Stephens is direct, unsparing, and analytical but delivers his message with moments of wit, self-critique, and hope.
• He rigorously challenges assumptions within his own community while affirming a resilient, assertive Jewish pride.
• There is a clear call to action—rejecting victimhood, self-abasement, and the quest for acceptance, and instead embracing robust Jewish self-confidence and nationhood.

Summary Takeaways

• Anti-Semitism will not be solved by education or advocacy alone—it is a neurotic, perennial force.
• Attempts to win favor through virtue or assimilation are largely futile; pride and flourishing in Jewish identity are essential.
• The core Jewish trait is resilience and the courage to say “no”—to danger, assimilation, and moral relativism.
• Now is the time for Jewish renewal, investment, and self-reliance. This work is not just for Jews but essential for the health of pluralistic societies at large.

For those seeking a clear-eyed, unvarnished take on the Jewish moment in 2026—and inspiration for the road ahead—Stephens’ address is essential listening.

For deeper discussion, Stephens will join Dan Senor on Friday's “Inside Call Me Back” episode to further explore these themes.