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  • Yaakov Katz: 'The Israeli military has fought in probably the most humane way possible'

    Yaakov Katz: 'The Israeli military has fought in probably the most humane way possible'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    If you asked Yaakov Katz, the world should be lining the streets to applaud the IDF's military campaign in Gaza.
    The decades-long journalist and political thinker is emphatic that the IDF fights in the most humane and moral way possible. A senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute and former editor in chief of the Jerusalem Post, Katz has his pulse on many sectors of Israeli society today—from the government to civil society.
    Katz authored three books on Israel's military prowess and regional affairs, and his fourth book on Oct. 7 is set to release next year. He also writes a regular column for Newsweek, the Jewish Chronicle, and the Jerusalem Post, and is the host of the JPPI weekly podcast.
    Now, he joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including Israeli media's coverage of the war, the IDF's military ethics, and the "day-after" plan in Gaza.
    This interview was held on Nov. 13.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?Do you think Western media covers the Israel-Hamas War fairly?What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — such as in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?Do you think Israel is properly handling the Iranian threat?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Uri Zaki:

    Uri Zaki: "The war has to end in Gaza'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    Uri Zaki supported Israel's war against Hamas from the getgo—but the killing of six hostages and Sinwar's assassination were a turning point. Now, he thinks it needs to end.
    Uri Zaki is a left-wing political thinker and activist. He founded the New Israel Fund’s The Front for the Protection of Democracy and was previously the chairperson of the Meretz (Israel’s left-wing party) executive board and has worked at and with several Zionist and human rights organizations. In 2010, he was the founding director B'Tselem USA, the American chapter of Israel's most prominent and controversial Israeli human rights organization.
    A proud Zionist and left-winger, Uri has fiercely defended Israel's war against Hamas since October 7. But over one year later, he thinks things need to change.
    Now, he joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including West Bank settlements, Israeli leadership, and ending the war in Gaza.
    This interview was held on Oct. 30.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?Is Israel properly handling the Iranian threat?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

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  • Nechumi Yaffe: 'I hate the idea that we are being killed and need to kill'

    Nechumi Yaffe: 'I hate the idea that we are being killed and need to kill'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    As a Haredi woman of the Israeli left, Nechumi Yaffe lives between a few different worlds—and she feels at home in Israel's new "Religious Left" movement.
    A professor of public policy at Tel Aviv University, Nechumi is a political and social psychologist focused on the Haredi communities in America and Israel (of which she is a part). She is a leading expert guiding the Israeli government on Haredi affairs—from COVID-19 to the education system.
    Since Oct. 7, Nechumi has coordinated over 100,000 Haredi emergency volunteers as part of the "Unity Command Center" and has risen as a social leader of the Religious Left ("Smol Ha-Emuni").
    Now, she joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the Haredi draft, Israel's hostage negotiations, and religion since October 7.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Should Israel be a religious state?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Should all Israelis serve in the army?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Lahav Harkov: 'We are winning'

    Lahav Harkov: 'We are winning'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    Israel's multi-front war changes by the day—but Lahav Harkov thinks Israel is winning.
    A long-time journalist covering Israel's domestic and international affairs, Lahav speaks with an insider's investigation and knowledge about Israel's issues today: military strategy, hostage negotiations, international relations, and more.
    Previously the Senior Contributing Editor, Diplomatic Reporter and Knesset Reporter for The Jerusalem Post, Lahav is now the Senior Political Correspondent for Jewish Insider. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency previously named her the 5th-most influential person on “Jewish Twitter.”
    Now, she joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the state of Israel's war, Western media, and the fight to free the hostages.
    This interview was held on Oct. 8.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?Do you think Western media covers the Israel-Hamas War fairly?What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — such as in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?Where do you read news about Israel?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Netta Barak-Corren: 'I hope that Gaza will see a day when it is no longer ruled by Hamas'

    Netta Barak-Corren: 'I hope that Gaza will see a day when it is no longer ruled by Hamas'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    Israel is facing several existential crises—at least three, by Netta Barak-Corren's account.
    The legal scholar and law professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is intimately concerned with Israel's future and current threats. During the judicial reform, Netta authored a 45-page document (later translated into English) breaking down the problems and proper courses of action as she saw them, and most recently, she co-wrote a 28-page recommendation for the Israeli government's plan for Gaza after the war.
    An award-winning researcher and visiting teacher and fellow at elite universities, Netta is also a cognitive scientist and seeks empirical and pragmatic resolutions in law.
    Now, she joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including anti-Israel bias among international law experts, Israel's existential crises, and Gaza's "day after the war."
    This interview was held on Sept. 29.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?Do you think Israel is properly handling the Iranian threat?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Despondent, Unmoored, Hopeful: How Israeli Thinkers Feel After October 7

    Despondent, Unmoored, Hopeful: How Israeli Thinkers Feel After October 7

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    How do Israeli thinkers feel after October 7?
    Israelis have lived in a new reality over the last year—one haunted by the horrors of the day Hamas terrorists massacred 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped 251 others, and dragged the country into an existential war.
    To feel October 7 one year later, we bring voices and perspectives from the Israeli thinkers we interviewed thus far to connect to their pain and their hope.

  • Rivka Ravitz: 'Being separated is at the core of being Haredi'

    Rivka Ravitz: 'Being separated is at the core of being Haredi'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    Rivka Ravitz may be a long-time Haredi political thinker, but that doesn't mean she thinks politics is always the answer.
    Since her father-in-law first employed her in the Knesset at age 18, Rivka has spend decades working in Israeli politics. She was chief of staff to President Reuven Rivlin and a senior fellow at the Jewish Public Policy Institute; now she is chief of staff to the mayor of Bet Shemesh.
    Rivka is intimately involved in the personal and political sphere of Haredi life—a focus of her PhD, which she is pursuing at Haifa University.
    Now, she joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including Israeli politics, the Haredi draft, and Israel as a religious state.
    This interview was held on Sept. 24.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Should Israel be a religious state?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Should all Israelis serve in the army?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • David Stav: 'Israel as a state should not be a religious state'

    David Stav: 'Israel as a state should not be a religious state'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    Israel should not be a religious state, Rabbi David Stav says, and then its citizens could more freely welcome religion into their lives.
    The Chief Rabbi of Shoham, an Israeli town with a large secular populace, Rabbi Stav has long dedicated his life to bridging the social divides between religious and secular life. After the Rabin assassination, he and other rabbis founded Tzohar—an organization that "makes Jewish life accessible to secular Israelis—which received the 2009 Presidential Award for Volunteers.
    Rabbi Stav was previously a candidate for Israel's Chief Rabbinate and sought to revolutionize the relationship between religion and state.
    Now, he joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including democracy, IDF drafts, and Messianism.
    This interview was held on Sept. 11.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Should Israel be a religious state?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Should all Israelis serve in the army?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Haviv Rettig Gur: 'Hamas is upset that the death toll in Gaza isn't higher'

    Haviv Rettig Gur: 'Hamas is upset that the death toll in Gaza isn't higher'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    Until Hamas is gone, Haviv Rettig Gur says, Gaza will be unable to recover after the war.
    The Times of Israel journalist and political analyst has emerged as a leading voice for the Israeli public and the Jewish world for deeper understandings of the war's developments. Haviv has covered Israeli politics — domestic and foreign — for nearly two decades and speaks internationally about Zionism, the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, and Israel's future.
    Haviv was previously the director of communications for the Jewish Agency for Israel, and currently teaches history and politics at Israeli premilitary academies.
    Now, he joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the country's leadership, Western media, and the Palestinian future.
    This interview was recorded on Sept. 9.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?Do you think Western media covers the Israel-Hamas War fairly?What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — such as in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?Where do you read news about Israel?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Yossi Klein Halevi: 'Anti-Zionism is an existential threat to the Jewish People'

    Yossi Klein Halevi: 'Anti-Zionism is an existential threat to the Jewish People'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    What began on Oct. 7, Yossi Klein Halevi says, is not the Israel-Hamas War but the Israel-Iran War.
    A senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, the journalist and author has been intimately invested in Israel since he was a boy. Two of his books in particular—Like Dreamers and Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor—capture the tensions he embraces in Israel, and his own dedication to the Zionist dream.
    At Hartman, Yossi co-directs the Institute’s Muslim Leadership Initiative and is a long-time teacher, writer, and thinker on Israel, Zionism, and Judaism.
    Now, he sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including whether anti-Zionism is antisemitism, how Western media covers the Israel-Hamas War, the threat of Iran, and so much more.
    This interview was held on Aug. 28.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?Do you think Western media covers the Israel-Hamas War fairly?What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — such as in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?Where do you read news about Israel?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Rachelle Fraenkel: 'I had expectations from humanity'

    Rachelle Fraenkel: 'I had expectations from humanity'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel has expectations from humanity. It made October 7's horror all the more terrifying.
    The religious figure and educator has been a voice of faith, hope, and strength for Israel and the Jewish People since her own teenaged son, Naftali, Hashem yikkom damo, was abducted and killed with Eyal Yifrach and Gilad Shaer by Hamas terrorists in 2014. Rachelle has lived, grappled, taught, and faced some of life's most haunting questions. She is a co-founder of The Jerusalem Unity Prize and Unity Day project, in honor of Naftali.
    Director of Matan’s Advanced Halacha Program and an educator at Nishmat, Rachelle is immersed in the world of Jewish thought and Jewish law. She previously studied at Bar Ilan University, Midreshet Lindenbaum, and Nishmat’s Keren Ariel Yoatzot Halacha Training Program, and was in the first graduating class of Matan’s Talmudic Institute.
    Now, she sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including her religious views, religiosity in Israel, and Messianism.
    This interview was held on Aug. 22.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Should Israel be a religious state?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Should all Israelis serve in the army?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Gadi Taub: 'We should annex the north third of the Gaza Strip'

    Gadi Taub: 'We should annex the north third of the Gaza Strip'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    In Gadi Taub's eyes, Israel is hardly a democracy — "it's a juristocracy."
    The historian, activist, and public intellectual believes that there are many forces at play that threaten the Jewish state: progressivism, elitism, and Western ideals. Formerly on the left himself, Gadi is one of Israel's most popular conservative thinkers.
    Gadi co-hosts Tablet's Israel Update podcast and his own Hebrew podcast, Gatekeeper. Outside of those roles, he is a senior lecturer at the Federmann School of Public Policy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Previously a columnist for Haaretz, he now writes for Tablet and JNS.
    Now, he sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including judicial reform, Gaza's future, and the Palestinian Authority.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?Are political and religious divides a major problem in Israeli society?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People.

  • Efraim Inbar: 'Israel doesn't use enough force'

    Efraim Inbar: 'Israel doesn't use enough force'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    Bullying isn't always a bad thing, Efraim Inbar says. In a tough neighborhood like the Middle East, sometimes it's necessary.
    President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and head of Shalem College’s program on Strategy, Diplomacy, and National Security, he speaks as a veteran Israeli political scientist and national security. In his view, Israel must be tough to stay alive—and it hasn't been tough enough.
    Efraim authored five books on Israeli national security and politics, and edited 14 collections of scholarly articles, and as such, he is considered an expert on Israeli strategic doctrine, public opinion on national security issues, American policy in the Middle East, Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy, and Israel-Turkey relations.
    Now, he sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the Iranian threat, Gaza's future, and why Israel needs to act even stronger.
    This interview was held on August 6.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?Do you think Israel is properly handling the Iranian threat?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Ronit Heyd: 'If Israel becomes less democratic, it will become less Jewish'

    Ronit Heyd: 'If Israel becomes less democratic, it will become less Jewish'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    You cannot separate Israel’s democratic and Jewish identity, Ronit says. The two are interdependent in the Jewish state.
    Ronit Heyd is an Israeli social leader and activist who spent over 20 years leading initiatives dealing with Israel’s intimate and domestic issues—those outsiders often overlook because of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict’s large shadow.
    Previously leading the New Israel Fund’s social justice initiative, religious freedom project, and capacity-building arm Shatil, Ronit is now the vice president and director of Shalom Hartman Institute’s Center for Israeli and Jewish Identity. She holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School as a Wexner Fellow and an MA in social psychology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
    Now, she sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including democracy, religion, and the country’s future.
    This interview was held on June 18.
    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Should Zionism define Jewish identity in and outside of Israel?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?What does the world misunderstand about Israelis?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?What is a book you think everyone needs to read about Israel?Where’s a spot in Israel you find comfort and peace?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Yehoshua Pfeffer: 'The army is not ready for real Haredi participation'

    Yehoshua Pfeffer: 'The army is not ready for real Haredi participation'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    The Israeli government’s draft of Haredi men is no simple matter—but Yehoshua Pfeffer has some ideas for moving forward.

    Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer is a Haredi social thinker and activist intimately involved in Haredi affairs. He heads the Iyun Institute—which operates programs and publications in the Haredi space—is the founding editor of Tzarich Iyun journal, and serves on the executive board of Netzah Yehuda, which serves Haredi soldiers in the IDF.

    While also teaching as a professor at Hebrew University’s law school, he is the rabbi of Ohr Chadash in Ramot Bet, Jerusalem. Yehoshua’s life is guided by his convictions.
    Now, he sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the Haredi draft, Israel as a religious state, Messianism, and so much more.

    This interview was held on July 2.

    Here are our 18 questions:

    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Should Israel be a religious state?Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Should all Israelis serve in the army?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?Are political and religious divides a major problem in Israeli society?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Anita Shapira: 'You cannot wipe out Hamas'

    Anita Shapira: 'You cannot wipe out Hamas'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    After Auschwitz, Anita Shapira says, Jews understood the necessity of power—and the necessity of statehood.
    A leading Israeli historian and author, she is professor emerita of Jewish History at Tel Aviv University and founder of the Yitzhak Rabin Center. When Anita Shapira speaks, her words are informed by acute expertise of Israeli and Jewish history—as evidenced by her many accolades and awards, including the Israel Prize for research on Jewish history in 2008.
    Having published groundbreaking studies on the history of Zionism, Jewish-Arab relations, and the state of Israel, Anita Shapira is a vital voice for all things Israel—past, present, and future.
    Now, she sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including wiping out Hamas, Israel’s catastrophe up North, her sense of Israel’s future, and so much more.
    This interview was held on June 19.
    Here are our 18 questions:As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Is there anything miraculous about Israeli history?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — such as in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?Are there parts of Israeli-Palestinian history that it is unhelpful to discuss?What should happen with Gaza after the war?What is something you were wrong about in your historical views?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • David Horovitz: 'We need this state to survive'

    David Horovitz: 'We need this state to survive'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    No news outlet is utterly reliable these days, David Horovitz says. You always need one eyebrow raised.
    The founding editor of Time of Israel — with tens of millions of monthly readers, and ranked as the world’s fastest-growing news site in October and November — has worked in journalism for over 40 years, previously editing The Jerusalem Post and The Jerusalem Report. His days and nights are consumed by Israel (and he has the bags to prove it) since Hamas’ October 7 attack.
    David is also the author of several books, including Still Life with Bombers: Israel in the Age of Terrorism (2004) and the award-winning Shalom, Friend: The Life and Legacy of Yitzhak Rabin (1996).
    Now, he sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including if Western media covers the Israel-Hamas War fairly, what should happen with Gaza after the war, which outlets he reads on Israel, and so much more.
    This interview was held on July 1.
    Here are our 18 questions:As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?Do you think Western media covers the Israel-Hamas War fairly?What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — such as in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?Where do you read news about Israel?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Sivan Rahav-Meir: 'When it comes to terrorism, you can't compromise'

    Sivan Rahav-Meir: 'When it comes to terrorism, you can't compromise'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    Israel's fight against Hamas, Sivan Rahav-Meir says, is preventing another Oct. 7—and another Sept. 11.

    The Israeli religious journalist — voted Israel’s most popular media personality — grew up secular and part of the Israel left’s “Peace Now” movement, but she’s not quite there anymore.
    Now a journalist for Israel TV news, a columnist for Yediot Aharonot newspaper, and host of a weekly radio show on the Army Radio, Sivan is a leading figure in Israeli society more broadly — and the religious society specifically.

    A 2017 Forward profile described her as “a female sort of Hasidic grand rabbi” because of the thousands flocking to her Torah lectures. She sends a Jewish insight each day to tens of thousands of WhatsApp subscribers The Daily Thought.

    Now, she sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including Israel’s battle against terrorism, living in Messianic times, that time she interviewed Yitzchak Rabin, and so much more.

    This interview was held on July 4.

    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Should Israel be a religious state?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Should all Israelis serve in the army?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Yakov Nagen: 'Jewish Messianism is a vision for all of humanity'

    Yakov Nagen: 'Jewish Messianism is a vision for all of humanity'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    To Rabbi Yakov Nagen, the Jewish-Muslim fraternity will be the major breakthrough of the 21st century.

    This Religious Zionist rabbi is at the forefront of interfaith dialogue and peace work in Israel between Judaism, Islam, and Eastern Religions. The director of Ohr Torah Stone’s Blickle Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and its Beit Midrash for Judaism and Humanity, he is a passionate voice for universalist Jewish Messianism, which he says is a “vision for all of humanity.”

    Rav Nagen teaches Talmud, Kabbalah, and Jewish philosophy as a senior educator at Yeshiva Otniel. He is an extensive writer with four books and hundreds of articles. His latest book on peace and universalism in Jewish Messianic thought, U-Shmo Echad (God Shall Be One), will be released in English this summer.

    Now, he sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including Israeli democracy, non-Jewish citizens in a Jewish state, whether Messianism is helpful or harmful, and so much more.

    This interview was held on June 20.

    Here are our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7?What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?Now that Israel already exists, what's the purpose of Zionism?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Should Israel be a religious state?If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?Are political and religious divides a major issue in Israeli society today?Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

  • Benny Morris: 'We should have taken Rafah at the start'

    Benny Morris: 'We should have taken Rafah at the start'

    · 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

    If you want to understand Israel, then you need to know Benny Morris.

    Prof. Benny Morris is a leading Israeli historian who revolutionized the field of Israeli history by digging into the government’s declassified archives in the ‘80s, ushering in the era of “New Historians” who challenged traditional views of Israel’s history. After peace talks failed and the Second Intifada began in the early 2000s, his views drastically shifted regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict—specifically its prospects for resolution. Praised and criticized across the political divide, Benny Morris’ work lies at the bedrock of Israeli history today.

    Now, he sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including what should happen with Gaza after the war, Palestinian-Israeli peace prospects, whether the IDF is the world’s most moral army, and so much more.

    This interview was held on June 10.


    Here are some of our 18 questions:
    As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?

    What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?

    Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?

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