The Comedy Cellar: Live from the Table Inside the Mind of the Israeli Religious Right with Rabbi Yishai Fleisher
Jun 12, 2025
Rabbi Yishai Fleisher is an influential voice as the International Spokesperson for the Jewish Community of Hebron and a Councilman in Efrat. He dives deep into the complexities of the Israeli religious right, contrasting their viewpoints with secular perspectives on identity and land. The conversation covers the historical roots of Israel, intricate land claims, and the moral quagmires involved. Fleisher expresses concerns about the future of Israel amid demographic shifts and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, exploring themes of identity, governance, and coexistence.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Rabbi Fleisher's Personal Story
- Rabbi Yishai Fleisher shares a personal story about courting his wife near Washington Square Park.
- His experience connects his personal life with his journey from New York to Israel as a Zionist and settler.
Reclaiming 'Settler' Identity
- Rabbi Fleisher rebrands the term 'settler' as 'resettler' to emphasize Jewish historical ties.
- He embraces settler identity as a positive commitment to holding Jewish land.
Historical Claims and UN Partition
- The 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict led to Jordan's control of key Jewish heartland areas like Hebron and Jerusalem.
- Fleisher argues the UN partition was non-binding and Jordan's occupation was illegal.
