Yoav Heller: 'Israel will be in existential peril if society continues to fragment'

There is a time to wage wars, Rabbi Michael Melchior says, and there is a time to make peace.An internationally renowned Jewish leader, thinker, and activist, he has long dedicated his life to fighting for human rights and peace—whether for Soviet Jews in the 1960s or Palestinians and Israelis in 2024. In the past, he was a representative of the Meimad Knesset Party, International Director of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, and founder with the late Sheikh Abdullah Nimer Darwish of the Religious Peace Initiative, where he is still active today. The list of his accolades and accomplishments are long.Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the Israel-Hamas War, prayer after October 7, and why peace is still possible. This interview was held on Dec. 25.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?

30 Dec 20241h 17min

With over 100 hostages still trapped in Gaza, Daniel Gordis says, that is Israel's greatest failure to date—even if it's unclear that any deals would have gotten them back.An acclaimed writer and author, Daniel Gordis is a Koret Distinguished Fellow at the Israeli liberal arts institution Shalem College and writes for his 41,000 subscribers on his Substack, Israel From the Inside. From Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn to Impossible Takes Longer, Daniel's award-winning books probe the inner logic and history of Israel, Zionism, and the Jewish People—and are considered must-haves on bookshelves around the globe.Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the IDF's morality, the hostage crisis, the Iranian threat, and so much more.This interview was held on Dec. 15.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?

23 Dec 20241h 30min

Violence is never the answer for Khitam Abu Bader. That's why she tries to fight for peace.Khitam is helping to build Ma'oz Darom South by promoting regional development in the Negev, collaborating with local leaders, and empowering communities. She has extensive experience in leadership and youth development, previously directing the Raidat Leadership Program for Women at Desert Stars and the Arab sector activities of Krembo Wings for youth with and without disabilities.The Bedouin social activist finds herself in a complicated position with Israel's military campaign in Gaza: As a person dedicated to creating a shared society in Israel, and as a Palestinian and Arab woman, Khitam mourns Jews, Israelis, and Palestinians. She constantly tries to emphasize our "shared humanity" in the hopes for coexistence.Now, she joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including what Zionism is for her, how October 7 affected her, and whether peace is possible.This interview was held on Dec. 11.Here are our 18 questions:As an Israeli, and as a Bedouin, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?Can you share more about your experience of October 7?How have your religious views changed since October 7? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?What kind of work do you do to create a shared society?What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?What do you see when bringing Arab and Jewish students together?What is Zionism for you?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?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?What does the world misunderstand about Israeli society?What is a book you think everyone should read about Israel?What do you wish the world knew about the Palestinian and Bedouin communities in 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?

16 Dec 20241h 1min

Israel has pretty much destroyed its enemies, Moshe Koppel says. That's (partly) why he believes Israel has won the war in Gaza.Founding chairman of the Kohelet Policy Forum—called “the most successful initiative of the right in the past decade" by Haaretz—Moshe is a political thinker and computer scientist deeply involved in Israel's political affairs. He and his think tank propelled the Knesset's 2018 Nation-State Law and the push for judicial reform.Also a professor emeritus of computer science at Bar-Ilan University, Moshe is the founding director of Dicta, a research institute devoted to developing tools for computational analysis of Hebrew texts, and the author of three books on Jewish thought.Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including religion & state, the war in Gaza, and Israel's greatest threats.This interview was held on Nov. 27.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.

9 Dec 20241h

The true enemy in Israel's current war, Einat Wilf says, is what she calls "Palestinianism."Once part of the Israeli left, Einat Wilf is a popular political thinker on Israel, Zionism, and foreign policy. Her 2020 co-authored book, "The War of Return," outlines what she believes lies at the core of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict: the Palestinian people's "Right of Return" is what makes this conflict unresolvable.Einat served in Israel's Knesset from 2010 to 2013 and now lectures and writes widely on contemporary issues. She is the author of seven books and hosts the "We Should All Be Zionists" podcast. She has a BA from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cambridge. Now, Einat joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including what Palestinianism is, why Israel's war aims are flawed, and the future of Gaza.This interview was held on Nov. 25.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?

2 Dec 20241h 22min

We return next week with a new episode of 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers. In the meantime, enjoy an earlier interview with Sivan Rahav-Meir.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 Sruli Fruchter 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?

25 Nov 202445min

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 Sruli Fruchter 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?

18 Nov 20241h 15min

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 Sruli Fruchter 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?

11 Nov 20241h 18min