Ask Haviv Anything

What if everybody is right on judicial reform? Israel's highest court is immensely and unreasonably powerful. But if it is weakened, what other checks stand in the way of the tyranny of the majority, that great Achilles' heel of democracy since the dawn of Western civilization?This question is especially urgent for Israel, whose politics are more Middle Eastern than Western, more tribal than ideological.It's not unreasonable to weaken the court, but it would be disastrous to do so without broad trust and buy-in, and without addressing the desperate lack of other checks and balances in the country's constitutional order.It's time for a more serious left-wing critique and a more responsible right-wing reform. Anything less will only cause harm.Thank you to Jason and Lauriel Klinghoffer for sponsoring this episode.Please join me on Patreon to support this project: ⁠ www.patreon.com/AskHavivAnything⁠ If you would like to sponsor an episode, please email us at ⁠haviv@askhavivanything.com⁠.A podcast by Haviv Rettig Gur

In this discussion, Ritchie Torres, a progressive Congressman from the Bronx known for his staunch support of Israel, tackles the complexities of Israel's relationship with the Democratic Party. He argues that abandoning the Democrats would be detrimental for Israel, emphasizing the need for dialogue to bridge gaps with progressive supporters. Torres also reflects on historical perspectives of civil rights leaders regarding Israel and examines the shifting political landscape in America. His insights highlight the urgent necessity for unity within the Democratic Party.

Warfighting has resumed in Gaza. Israel's message is clear: Gaza's future depends on Hamas releasing hostages and surrendering its control of the territory.But there is a larger pivot underway, a regional strategic realignment. Hamas once hoped its attack on Israel would trigger a broader regional war. In a sense, it succeeded, relegating Gaza to a marginal arena in the larger strategic struggle. That alone, gives Israel a freer hand to resume war whenever it wants. Hamas is now truly strategically alone.Thank you to Joe and Shira Lieberman for sponsoring this episode in honor of those we lost on October 7th.Please join me on Patreon to support this project: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/AskHavivAnything⁠If you would like to sponsor an episode, please email us at ⁠haviv@askhavivanything.com⁠.A podcast by Haviv Rettig Gur

This is a podcast about history, but also about this moment in history.Today's episode is a special one. Many of you asked about the hostages, about the activism of their families, about their shattering experiences on October 7 and how they have worked to piece their lives back together since.I can think of no better way to begin to answer these questions than by posing them to our good friend Shaked Haran.There's no one story of the hostage families. Their experiences vary, their opinions on the war differ. All their stories are powerful and excruciating, and often also unexpectedly inspiring; all are worth hearing.And Shaked's voice stands out among them for its clarity and courage.Shaked lost three family members in the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, including her beloved father Avshalom, or Avshal. Seven more family members, including sister Adi, brother-in-law Tal, three-year-old niece Yahel, eight-year-old nephew Naveh, and 12-year-old cousin Noam, were dragged into Gaza as hostages.Just two weeks ago, the last family member still held by Hamas, Tal Shoham, was finally released, closing a long and painful chapter in the life of this extraordinary family.We sat down to talk about that day, about what it feels like to search desperately for your family after a massacre, about finding the strength amid the pain and fear to launch a globe-spanning fight to rescue your loved ones. We looked at Israel's social fractures and at what holds us all together, about a morally confused world and an enemy territory that could still, she believes, flourish if it managed to come out from beneath the shadow of the murderers of her family.Thank you to Joe and Shira Lieberman for sponsoring this episode in honor of those we lost on October 7th.Please join me on Patreon to support this project: https://www.patreon.com/AskHavivAnythingIf you would like to sponsor an episode, please email us at haviv@askhavivanything.com.A podcast by Haviv Rettig Gur

Dive into the rich history of Israeli Jews as the conversation uncovers their origins as the last remnants of myriad Jewish communities. Explore the transformation of Jewish attitudes toward Zionism from skepticism to fervent support. The discussion also addresses the tragic roots of anti-Semitism in the Russian Empire and its impact on Jewish displacement. Hear about the struggles faced by Jewish communities post-Holocaust and how these historical traumas have shaped modern Jewish identity and the unyielding quest for a secure homeland.

Haviv Rettig Gur interviews John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, who brings his extensive military background and research on Israeli wars to the discussion. They analyze why Israel hasn't yet secured victory in Gaza despite its tactical innovations. Spencer highlights the complexities of urban warfare, the significance of Hamas's tunnel systems, and the moral dilemmas faced in combat. He challenges existing military strategies and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to achieve lasting stability in the region.

Recorded Thursday, February 20thIsraelis watched horrified on Thursday, as Hamas gunmen conducted a ceremony handing over four coffins, two of them with the bodies of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, aged 1 and 4, when they were murdered in Gaza, along with their mother Shiri. Oded Lifshitz, 83, was the fourth body handed over to Israel. Around the ceremony, Gazan civilians cheered and threw rice, people brought their kids to watch.What should we make of this gruesome spectacle, of a festival conducted over the coffins of little children?Some thoughts on what Israelis, and with them, the whole Jewish world, just witnessed.Thank you to Joe and Shira Lieberman for sponsoring this episode in honor of those we lost on October 7th. Please join me on Patreon to support this project: https://www.patreon.com/AskHavivAnything

Explore the fascinating journey of American Jews, from their arrival in New Amsterdam to their complex modern identity. Discover how historical trauma and migration shaped a community that, while influential, often grapples with cultural illiteracy. Unpack the challenges faced by Jewish immigrants and their efforts to build supportive institutions. Delve into the paradox of their rich contributions versus feelings of uncertainty about the future, all while recognizing the enduring impact of their past.

It’s hard for a modern Jew to grasp the depth of marginalization and ostracism that even the most assimilated of Austrian Jews experienced in the 1890s. Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism, began his journey as a passionate assimilationist, a deep believer in European modernity and Germanic culture. It was only when these hopes were dashed that he turned, as a drowning man to a life raft, to political Zionism.Here is the untold story of how Herzl found Zionism. (Spoiler: It wasn’t the Dreyfus Affair.)Thank you to Joe and Shira Lieberman for sponsoring this episode in honor of those we lost on October 7th.Please join me on Patreon to support this project: https://www.patreon.com/AskHavivAnything

The podcast delves into Hamas's recent hostage release ceremony, revealing the harrowing conditions endured by the captives. It explores the political messages behind this display and its implications for Israeli society and global views. Additionally, the discussion highlights Hamas's efforts to maintain control in Gaza post-ceasefire, considering public perceptions and the challenges of reconstruction. This analysis sheds light on the shifting power dynamics in the region and what it means for future stability.