For Heaven's Sake

This podcast discusses the leadership void in Israel during a difficult war, criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu for his failures. They explore the importance of leaders taking responsibility, the power of Israeli civil society, and the desired qualities of leaders. They also mention the ritual of Eglah Arufah and offer blessings for soldiers and prayers for peace.

In this episode, Donniel Ha, an Israeli perspective on the war between Israel and Hamas, discusses the nuances of context and justification, morality and war, and how language can engage or isolate allies. They discuss the impact of the ongoing war in Israel, responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, analyzing the justification of events, and contextualizing October 7th and Israel's moral responsibilities.

On day 16 of the war with Hamas, the IDF is poised for a ground invasion into Gaza, marching into the unknown. What awaits the troops when they enter? Will this embroil Hezbollah, Iran, and perhaps the US, into a broader regional clash? Most importantly: what price are Israelis willing to pay to win this war?Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss their anxieties about this moment and consider the unspoken and unprecedented willingness of the Israeli public to do whatever it takes in order to defeat the existential threat of Hamas to the State of Israel.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

On October 17, a blast at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza killed many Palestinians. Israelis and Palestinians were quick to blame each other for the blast, which has now been confirmed as a misfired rocket from the Islamic Jihad.Recorded on October 18, as conflicting reports continue to spread across both social media and international media outlets, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore the ramifications and ethics of warfare, consider how this incident brought the tragedy in Gaza into our consciousness, and grapple with the role of journalists in a time when reporting happens too quickly before facts are confirmed.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss moral red lines in response to absolute evil during the Israel war. They explore the impact of recent events on society, the ethical dilemma of granting Hamas immunity, managing emotional responses, and the complexity of producing evil while maintaining moral boundaries.

The podcast discusses the emotional and intellectual depth of Israeli society during the ongoing war, exploring the concept of evil and the impact of President Biden's speech. It explores the complexities of evil, distinguishing evil acts from absolute evil, and the challenges in determining when an evil act becomes the embodiment of evil.

The hosts discuss their emotional response to the attack and the delayed response of the IDF. They explore the impact on their nation and question how it happened. They also discuss the failures of the army during the recent conflict and reflect on the military's effectiveness and communication breakdowns.

Historically the Arab world, and Saudi Arabia in particular, has acted as a force in encouraging Palestinian rejection of Israel. With recent and unprecedented shifts in the geopolitical landscape, could a formal alliance with Saudi Arabia be a reality for Israel? Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi, and Elana Stein Hain explore the security implications of a deal with Saudi Arabia, how the Israeli public might respond, and whether Prime Minister Netanyahu, for whom peace with Arab neighbors was always a strategic goal, will consider forming a new coalition.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

The High Holidays are a time for reviewing our successes and failures, individually and collectively, but also a time for looking forward to future possibilities. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi reflect on what they describe as one of the most traumatic years in Israeli history, the "pathologies" of Jewish theology and psyche that brought us here, and what it might take for 5784 to be a turning point in restoring a sense of cohesiveness and shared purpose to Israeli society.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

For many Israelis, the IDF has long been considered the people's army, a beloved and trusted institution that represents the nation's Zionist ethos and serves as an expression of Jewish solidarity. Now, in the midst of one of Israel's most violent period's since the second Intifada, and with significant opposition by thousands of voluntary reservists to the government's judicial overhaul plans, that trust threatens to dissolve and leaves in its wake a security threat. Complicating matters further is a pending bill that would grant Haredi Jews an exemption from military service. Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi, and Elana Stein Hain explore what this moment means for Israel's solidarity, its ability to defend itself, and where to begin to repair this fracturing.