18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

We return next week with a new episode of 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers. In the meantime, enjoy this earlier interview with Einat Wilf, recorded Nov. 25, 2024. 

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.

Here are our 18 questions:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
8. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
9. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
10. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
11. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
12. 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?
13. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
14. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
15. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
16. Is Israel properly handling the Iranian threat?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not surprise Anshel Pfeffer over the last 17 months of war—and that's the most disappointing part.
A British-born Israeli journalist, Anshel Pfeffer is the Israel correspondent for The Economist and was a longtime senior correspondent and columnist for Haaretz. 
Pfeffer's 2018 book, Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu, earned widespread and acclaim and praise. He is a central voice for understanding Israel's political and social climate, bringing decades of coverage on the country.
Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including war crimes, Hamas' future, and the World Zionist Organization.
This interview was held on March 17.

Judaism does not value power and might, Rav Mosheh Lichtenstein says—in fact, it abhors it.
Co-rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion, Rav Mosheh is a venerated leader in Israel's Religious Zionist world who is unafraid to call out his community's shortfalls. His statements on Israel's religious-political affairs draw ire and praise—a fact-of-life that does not discourage him.
Rav Mosheh has been a raam in yeshiva since 1992, and teaches on an array of subjects within Talmud and Jewish thought in Gush Etzion. He is also the eldest son of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein.
Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including Religious Zionism, moral failures, and US President Donald Trump.
This interview was held on March 11.

Sgt. Itay Chen was taken captive by Hamas on October 7. The IDF believes he is dead—but his family is still holding out hope.
Ever since Itay was declared Missing in Action, Ruby and Chagit Chen—and the Chen family—have tirelessly fought to bring him home. Ruby and Itay are American citizens, so they hoped that would play to their advantage. In March of 2024, the IDF declared that Itay was killed on Oct. 7 and his body is being held by Hamas.
Itay’s family has chosen not to sit shiva until his body is returned from the Strip for burial. They are still holding out hope—however slim, or grim—that Itay’s fate is different than the army believes. That he will return home alive.
Ruby joins Sruli Fruchter to speak about his family’s reality over the last 500-plus days—fighting for Itay while continuing their lives, working with US administrations, and ensuring he is not forgotten.
This interview was held on March 12.

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Sagui Dekel-Chen was held hostage in Gaza for 498 days—or 43 million seconds. He came home on Feb. 15.
An American-Israeli citizen who was living in Kibbutz Nir Oz, Sagui left behind a pregnant wife and two daughters when Hamas took him captive in Gaza. Sagui had no idea of their fate—until two days before his release.
Jonathan Dekel-Chen, Sagui's father, joins Sruli Fruchter to speak about his tireless advocacy to bring Sagui home, his family's experiences over the last 500 days, and where they go from here.
This interview was held on March 10.

For more 18Forty:
NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/join
CALL: (212) 582-1840
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: 18forty.org
IG: @18forty
X: @18_forty

We don't have a new episode this week, but we invite you to revisit our 18Forty Podcast conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi, originally aired on Dec. 26, 2023. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yossi Klein Halevi, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, about what it means to be a Zionist and a Jew post-October 7.

Since Simchas Torah, we’ve spent lots of time airing our political differences with others. What might be harder, though, is asking the uncomfortable questions about our own beliefs. Our guest today has decades of experience with this kind of soul-searching. In this episode we discuss:

• What is our relationship to the State of Israel, and how seriously must we take our participation in the building and rebuilding of the nation we envision?
• How might we maintain a sense of empathy for and kinship with the Muslim world and the Palestinian people?
• Why is it so important that we continue to have a Jewish state?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the tensions that come with trying to uphold the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Interview begins at 6:54.

Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Together with Imam Abdullah Antepli of Duke University, he co-directs the Institute's Muslim Leadership Initiative (MLI), which teaches emerging young Muslim American leaders about Judaism, Jewish identity and Israel. Halevi’s 2013 book, Like Dreamers, won the Jewish Book Council's Everett Book of the Year Award. His latest book, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, is a New York Times bestseller. He writes for leading op-ed pages in the US, including the Times and the Wall Street Journal, and is a former contributing editor to the New Republic.

References:

“What Israelis Fear the World Does Not Understand” with Ezra Klein and Yossi Klein Halevi

Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor by Yossi Klein Halevi

Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation by Yossi Klein Halevi

Arab Strategies and Israel's Response by Yehoshafat Harkabi

Israel should prioritize its Jewish citizens, Yishai Fleisher says, because that's what a nation-state does.
Yishai is the international spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron, a flashpoint in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and a councilman for the Efrat community. His words reach audiences across the world via CNN, Piers Morgan's Uncensored, the New York Times, his own YouTube and podcasts, and more.
A lawyer and rabbi, Yishai served as a paratrooper in the IDF and served in reservist duty during the Israel-Hamas War. 
Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including Jewish rights, the Land of Israel, and whether Israel should be a democracy.
This interview was held on Feb. 17.
Here are our 18 questions:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
8. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
9. Should Israel be a religious state?
10. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
11. 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?
12. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
13. Should all Israelis serve in the army?
14. Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?
15. Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?
16. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

Gaza can be leveled down or built up, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner says, and she wants Trump's plan to do the latter.
An Israeli international lawyer and activist who has represented hundreds of terror victims in legal actions against terror organizations and their supporters, Nitsana is the head of Shurat HaDin—Israel Law Center, which combats terrorism, promotes civil rights, and actively pursues pro-Israel lawfare. 
Nitsana was ranked among the 50 most influential Jews in the world by the Jerusalem Post, and one of the 50 most influential Israeli women by the Israeli Forbes magazine. 
Now, she joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including international law, Gaza's future, and Trump's plan.
This interview was held on Feb. 10.
Here are our 18 questions:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
8. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
9. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
10. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
11. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
12. 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?
13. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
14. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
15. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
16. Is Israel properly handling the Iranian threat?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

 

Israel is opening a Pandora's box by releasing Palestinian prisoners and terrorists, Shani Taragin says — but she still has not given up hope.
A prominent religious leader and educator in Israel, Rabbanit Shani Taragin is impassioned by the State of Israel's future as the homeland for the Jewish People, despite what she sees as its pitfalls. She is sought out for her convictions, faith, and inspired guidance.
Shani directs and teaches in Israel and worldwide, and currently serves on the advisory committee for the Mizrachi Olami Shalhevet program; as Rosh Beit Medrash for the women in Yeshiva University’s new academic program in Israel; and together with her husband, Reuven, as Educational Director for Mizrachi Olami. 
Now, she joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the hostage deal, messianism, and the prophetic lessons for the Jewish state.
This interview was held on Jan. 31.
Here are our 18 questions:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
8. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
9. Should Israel be a religious state?
10. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
11. 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?
12. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
13. Should all Israelis serve in the army?
14. Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?
15. Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?
16. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

Hamas is already beginning to rebuild, Chuck Freilich says, because Israel lacks a post-war vision for Gaza.
An Israeli national security expert, Chuck is a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies and has taught at elite American universities like Harvard, NYU, and Columbia. He has spent extensive time in Israel's national security establishment.
The author of three books on Israel—Zion’s Dilemmas: How Israel Makes National Security Policy, Israeli National Security: A New Strategy for an Era of Change, and Israel and the Cyber Threat: How the Startup Nation Became a Global Cyber Power—Chuck specializes in Mideast policymaking, US-Israel relations, and national security.
Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the ceasefire deal, hostage negotiations, and Hamas' rule in Gaza.
This interview was held on Jan. 27.
Here are our 18 questions:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
8. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
9. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
10. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
11. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
12. 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?
13. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
14. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
15. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
16. Is Israel properly handling the Iranian threat?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

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Until the Israeli government sets a plan for Gaza after the war, Rula Daood says, they are choosing to end up with Hamas.
 A speech pathologist by trade, Rula Daood is now the national co-director of Standing Together, a progressive grassroots movement of Israeli Jews and Palestinians fighting for "full equality for everyone in this land." 
A Christian Palestinian who is also an Israeli citizen, Rula grew to become a political activist organizing Jewish-Arab partnerships in Israel's mixed cities. Since joining Standing Together in the late 2010s, Raood has propelled the movement's dramatic growth. Alongside her co-director Alon-Lee Green, who is Jewish, Rula was named as one of TIME magazine's 100 emerging global leaders of 2024.
Now, she joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the ceasefire deal, Gaza's future, and how peace is still possible.
This interview was held on Jan. 21.
Here are our 18 questions:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Palestinian, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. Can you share more about your experience of October 7?
3. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in the current war against Hamas?
4. Is Standing Together reflective of Israeli society?
5.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
6. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
7. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
8. What is Zionism for you?
9. Is opposing Zionism ever antisemitic?
10. 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?
11. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
12. What do you think is the most illegitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
13. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
14. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
15. What do you wish the world knew about the Palestinian communities in Israel?
16. What is a book you think everyone should read about Israel?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel?

Antisemitism and assimilation are threatening the Jewish People, says Natan Sharansky, but to both Israel offers a solution.

Born in the Soviet Union and imprisoned by the authorities when trying to immigrate to Israel, Sharansky experienced brutal interrogations, forced feedings, and torture — sparking international campaigns to fight for his freedom in 1986. 

Today, Natan is Chairman for the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy and has an extensive record as a human rights activist, Israeli politician, and advocate for the Jewish People. He is the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1986 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006. 

Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including anti-Zionism, hostage negotiations, and the threats of antisemitism and assimilation. 

This interview was held on Jan. 13.

Take our annual survery: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WZKXNWR

Join Share in supporting victims of terror on Jan. 25 while learning Torah and connecting to your soul. Sign up for Jerusalem here and Modiin (with David Bashevkin) here.

Here are our 18 questions:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
8. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
9. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
10. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
11. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
12. 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?
13. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
14. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
15. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
16. Is Israel properly handling the Iranian threat?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

We don't have a new episode this week, but we invite you to revisit David Bashevkin's conversation with Shayna Goldberg about the unique features of Israel’s Religious Zionist community, originally aired Nov. 26, 2024.

This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at [email protected] for more details.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Shayna Goldberg—a teacher, mashgicha ruchanit, yoetzet halacha, and author—about the unique features of Israel’s Religious Zionist community.

Jews in America are proud of the institutions and culture built over the past century, but we tend to forget that Israel’s Dati Leumi community has developed its own parallel—and vastly different—culture. In this episode we discuss:

• How did Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and Rav Kook lay the groundwork for our different religious communities today?
• How does religious life in Israel compare with America?
• How have religious Israeli women’s attitudes toward army service evolved over the years?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how deeply Jewish practice and spirituality penetrate everyday life in Israel’s religious communities.

Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg teaches Israeli and American post-high school students and is the mashgicha ruchanit in the Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women in Migdal Oz, an affiliate of Yeshivat Har Etzion. She is a yoetzet halacha, a contributing editor for Deracheha: Women and Mitzvot, and the author of the book, What Do You Really Want? Trust and Fear in Decision Making at Life’s Crossroads and in Everyday Living (2021).

References:

“Rabbi Soloveitchik Meets Rav Kook” by Jeffrey Saks

Orot HaTeshuvah by Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook

Prepare My Prayer by Rabbi Dov Singer

Works of Rav Shagar

Sus Anochi by Rabbi Jacob Sasson

Zeved Tov by Rabbi Zevulun Charlop

We don't have a new episode this week, but we invite you to revisit David Bashevkin's conversation with Jonathan Gribetz teaching about Israel in the Ivy League, originally aired Jan. 12, 2024.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jonathan Gribetz, a Princeton professor and scholar of Near Eastern and Judaic studies, about the history of Israel and Palestine.

At a time in which we can feel as if we’re all at war, it may be helpful to take a step back and look at the full history between Arabs and Israelis, to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges we face in 2024. Jonathan Gribetz helps us do this. In this episode we discuss:

• What was discourse between Jews and Arabs like during the infancy of Zionism?
• When and how did this discussion begin to deteriorate and become often counterproductive?
• What can a current Ivy League professor teach us about discussing Israel today?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might seek out the seeds of a reconciliation between the descendants of Isaac and the descendants of Ishmael.

Interview begins at 5:02.

Jonathan Marc Gribetz is Associate Professor of Near Eastern Studies and Judaic Studies at Princeton University, where he teaches about the history of Jerusalem, Palestine, Israel, and Jewish and Arab nationalisms. He is the author of Defining Neighbors: Religion, Race, and the Early Zionist-Arab Encounter.

References:

Defining Neighbors: Religion, Race, and the Early Zionist-Arab Encounter by Jonathan Marc Gribetz

“‘A Question That Outweighs All Others’: Yitzhak Epstein and Zionist Recognition of the Arab Issue” by Alan Dowty

The Zionist Idea by Arthur Hertzberg

Zionism: An Emotional State by Derek J. Penslar

1929: Year Zero of the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Hillel Cohen

Arabs and Israelis: Conflict and Peacemaking in the Middle East by Abdel Monem Said Aly, Shai Feldman, and Khalil Shikaki

Clima Twins

Time and Difference in Rabbinic Judaism by Sarit Kattan Gribetz

Genesis 15:15

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:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
8. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
9. Should Israel be a religious state?
10. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
11. Should all Israelis serve in the army?
12. 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?
13. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
14. Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?
15. Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?
16. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

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:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
8. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
9. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
10. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
11. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
12. 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?
13. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
14. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
15. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
16. Is Israel properly handling the Iranian threat?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

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:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Bedouin, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. Can you share more about your experience of October 7?
3. How have your religious views changed since October 7?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. What kind of work do you do to create a shared society?
7. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
8. What do you see when bringing Arab and Jewish students together?
9. What is Zionism for you?
10. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
11. 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?
12. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
13. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
14. What does the world misunderstand about Israeli society?
15. What is a book you think everyone should read about Israel?
16. What do you wish the world knew about the Palestinian and Bedouin communities in Israel?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel?

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:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
8. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
9. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
10. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
11. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
12. 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?
13. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
14. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
15. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
16. Is Israel properly handling the Iranian threat?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People.

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:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
8. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
9. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
10. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
11. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
12. 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?
13. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
14. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
15. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
16. Is Israel properly handling the Iranian threat?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

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:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7?
4.  What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
8. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
9. Should Israel be a religious state?
10. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
11. Should all Israelis serve in the army?
12. 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?
13. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
14. Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?
15. Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?
16. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?