VOR39-Guest: Judith Mendelsohn Rood, PhD - Voice of Reason

This episode features an in-depth discussion with Judith Mendelsohn-Rood, an emeritus professor at Biola University, about her new book 'Beauty for Hashes' and her unique perspective on the Israeli-Hamas conflict. Dave introduced Judith, highlighting her background as someone raised in a conservative Jewish family with a father who escaped Nazi Germany. This experience made her a dedicated student of the Holocaust and shaped her understanding of Israel. Judith shared her family's Holocaust history, including her grandfather's escape from a labor camp through an unusual exchange involving a stamp. She discussed how her grandmother's parents perished in Theresienstadt, and how these experiences influenced her academic interests. The conversation explored Judith's journey from Judaism to Christianity, her academic career studying Islamic and Middle Eastern history, and her perspectives on the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She emphasized the importance of understanding the historical roots of both Zionism and Palestinian resistance.


Judith provided detailed analysis of the Muslim Brotherhood's influence and the Nazi connections to Palestinian resistance movements. She discussed the Abraham Accords as a positive development and expressed concerns about rising antisemitism on university campuses. The discussion concluded with Judith sharing her personal testimony of accepting Jesus Christ while maintaining her Jewish identity, emphasizing the importance of understanding both Jewish roots and Christian faith.

Categories: Lifestyle

Starring: Dave Dias