Born to a Jewish family in Warsaw, David Ginsburg (1831–1914) was baptized as a teenager, adding “Christian” to the beginning of his name. Unlike many Jews who joined the church in the 19th century, Ginsburg appears to have converted out of conviction. He relocated to England, where he became one of the world’s foremost experts on ancient Judaism, influencing not just other scholars but also such figures as the novelist George Eliot. He achieved social as well as academic success, counting Prime Minister William Gladstone among his friends. J.J. Kimche delves into Ginsburg’s highly unusual life story, and explains its significance, in this conversation with Nachi Weinstein. (Audio, 69 minutes.)

The former Israeli chief justice Aharon Barak recently warned that the country could be headed toward civil war due to Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to fire the head of the Shin Bet, and the opposition thereto. To Amichai Attali, such comments are both “out of touch with reality” and irresponsible—as are those of Barak’s political opponents:

Yes, there is tension and stress, but there is also the unique Israeli sense of solidarity. Who exactly would fight in this so-called civil war? Try finding a single battalion or military unit willing to go out and kill their own brothers and sisters—you won’t. They don’t exist. About 7 percent of the population represents the extremes of the political spectrum, making the most noise. But if we don’t come to our senses, that number might grow.

And what about you, leader of [the leftwing party] The Democrats and former deputy IDF chief, Yair Golan? You wrote that the soldiers fighting Hamas in Gaza are pawns in Netanyahu’s political survival game. Really? Is that what the tens of thousands of soldiers on the front lines need to hear? Or their mothers back home? Do you honestly believe Netanyahu would sacrifice hostages just to stay in power? Is that what the families of those hostages need right now?

Israeli democracy will not collapse if Netanyahu fires the head of the Shin Bet—so long as it’s done legally. Nor will it fall because demonstrators fill the streets to protest. They are not destroying democracy, nor are they terrorists working for Hamas.