How Do We Build a Better Israel? with Orly Erez-Likhovski

Orly Erez-Likhovski, Director of the Israel Religious Action Center, joins Rabbi Dan Levin for a conversation about law, justice, and what it means to live Jewish values in the public sphere. She shares how her path—from a secular upbringing to discovering Reform Judaism—shaped her belief that being committed to equality and being Jewish go hand in hand.

Drawing on her work as a human rights attorney, she reflects on challenges within Israeli society, including religious freedom, racism, and the gap between the country’s founding ideals and its current reality. She also discusses some of the legal battles she’s led—advancing women’s rights, supporting LGBTQ+ equality, and pushing back against discrimination.

Throughout the conversation,  Orly Erez-Likhovski returns to a central question: how do you keep working toward a more just society without becoming cynical? Grounded in Jewish tradition and real-world experience, this episode explores what it takes to hold onto both hope and responsibility in a complicated moment for Israel.