For Heaven's Sake

Israel may have the most diverse government – not only in its history but anywhere in the democratic world. For its supporters, this government is a model of pluralism and dedication to the common good but that is not the feeling among a majority of the public. Why is there such a vast gap between those who see this coalition as a government of national salvation and those who see it as a government of national catastrophe? Join Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi and Elana Stein Hain as they discuss why this government is failing to win the hearts of Israelis.

Yom Yerushalayim, the final holiday of the “Israeli high holidays,” was intended to celebrate the Jewish people’s transition from destruction to rebirth, yet this holiday is deeply polarizing for many Israelis. Why has it failed to unify Israelis around the vision of a united Jerusalem? What does the rise of ultra-nationalism portend for the future of Jerusalem and of Israel? How might it be restored as a day of hope and blessing for Israel and our neighbors? Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi and Elana Stein Hain seek the answers.

Just past Israel's 74th birthday, many North American Jews are increasingly questioning why they should have a relationship to Israel. On this 50th episode of For Heaven’s Sake, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi ask: Does Israel’s existence make American ambivalence irrelevant? Is the content, meaning and inspiration that Israel once provided to American Jews no longer important? Though answers are not guaranteed, a lively discussion that leads to more questions is inevitable.

Israel’s National Holidays, Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Ha’atmaut, commemorate the last century’s major upheavals of Jewish history. While these days are meant to unite Israelis around a proud, shared story, they also highlight divisions in Israeli society. Arab Israelis and Haredim generally don’t participate in the commemorations, excluding over a quarter of the country’s population. Tal Becker joins Donniel Hartman, and Elana Stein Hain to better understand the intent, complexity, and evolution of Israel’s national holidays, and share their favorite ways to celebrate.

Memory is at the core of the Jewish experience. At the Passover seder, there's one memory that we are individually obligated to embody-- the memory of having been freed from slavery in Egypt. What are the personal and collective memories that shape our lives? What significant moral challenges and opportunities face us on an ongoing basis? Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi, and Elana Stein Hain share some of their personal memories and explore the ways in which we carry the memories that shape us.

Once again, Israelis are struggling with the agonizing personal and political dilemmas of living with terrorism. How will this latest wave impact the delicate relationship between Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens? Though fear and suspicion are contagious, so too are coexistence and hope. Join Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi and Elana Stein Hain as they struggle to make sense of this latest violence.

The crisis in Ukraine is impacting the way we think about the place of Israel in the world. There remain nagging questions at the heart of the state founded to protect the Jewish people. Is our only mission protecting the Jews? What are our responsibilities to the rest of humanity? Beyond providing safe refuge to Jews, do we have a moral responsibility to extend our energies and resources to others? Join Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi and Elana Stein Hain as they discuss the crisis in Ukraine and Israel’s place in the world.

Why has the conflict and unfolding tragedy in Ukraine touched Jews so deeply? Is it because Ukraine's new national hero is Jewish? Perhaps it’s because of the many Ukraine Jews who have made aliyah and call Israel home? Yossi Klein Halevi, Donniel Hartman, and Elana Stein Hain explore the Jewish, moral and historical dimension of the war in Ukraine and how our personal and collective memories of the Holocaust impact our present perspective.

What does the War in Ukraine mean for Israel? While thousands of Israelis have demonstrated in support of Ukraine, the Israeli government's reaction has been muted and measured. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the Israeli government's response to the invasion, the fact that a proud self-identified Jew is leading one of the most heroic struggles in history, and the implications of this crisis on a possible Israeli attack on Iran. Tune into this special episode of the For Heaven’s Sake podcast.

Sheikh Jarah, the predominantly Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem, has become the focal point for the conflict over Jewish sovereignty of Jerusalem. What is it about Sheikh Jarah that elicits such strong emotions on all sides? In this episode, Donniel Hartman, Yossi Klein Halevi and Elana Stein Hain wrestle to answer some unanswerable questions.