Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

On this edition of Parallax Views, historian of religion Prof. Daniel Boyarin joins the show to discuss his fascinating book The No-State Solution: A Jewish Manifesto. A self-described "diasporic rabbinic Jew", Boyarin grapples with Jewish identity contra both Zionism and cosmopolitanism, in the process making a radical for a Jewish nationhood without the nation-state in the form of the Jewish diaspora. This conversation, recorded in October, is a fascinating conversation that delves into Boyarin's intellectual evolution from his early days supporting socialist Zionism to eventually abandoning Zionism altogether. In addition to discussing both Zionism and anti-Zionism, Boyarin expresses his skepticism of cosmopolitanism, at least as it is often thought of in Western capitalist society, as well as trying to discover a Jewish peoplehood that is distinct from Zionism. And yes, we do discuss the Oct. 7th Hamas attack and Israel's bombing of Gaza since that time which has now claimed over 20,000 Gazans lives. Boyarin will also give his thoughts on where he and his friend the philosopher Judith Butler converge as well as where they part ways, the ideas of Simon Dubnow and Jewish autonomism, his personal belief that Zionism has been a catastrophe for the Jewish people, the possibility of a nationalism that avoids the "poison" of the state, the importance of the Jewish diaspora to his book and its thesis, thoughts on the Jewish protests against Israel's bombardment of Gaza, and much, much more!