18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

The Torah wants Israel to be a religious state, Rabbi Elli Fischer says. Just, maybe, not right now.  A historian, writer, translator, and educator, Elli Fischer extensively explores the relationship between Jewish law and the Jewish state, in the past, present, and future. Elli was a previous guest on 18Forty's Zionism series and a 3-Month Book Journey Leader.  A founding editor of The Lehrhaus, Elli was ordained by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate and is working toward a doctorate in Jewish History at Tel Aviv University; his work has appeared far and wide. Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including messianism, democracy, and the future of religion in the Jewish state. This interview was held on May 14.

Twice in its history, Jewish sovereignty collapsed in the last quarter of its first century. Yoav Heller believes Israel must heed this warning. Chairman of the Wingate Institute and a Holocaust historian, Yoav Heller is also chairman of the Fourth Quarter movement—a grassroots movement seeking to repair Israel's civil divides and secure the Jewish state's future. Yoav has been immersed in Israeli society, previously CEO of the Maoz Network and a founder of the Ynet website. Yoav has also served as an officer in reserves in the Strategic Planning Division. Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including ending the war, bringing the hostages home, and securing Israel's future. This interview was held on May 4.

Wishing Arabs would disappear from Israel, Mikhael Manekin says, is a dangerous fantasy. One of the leaders of Israel's Hasmol Haemuni (Faithful Left) movement, Mikhael is a vocal religious activist for equality and peace. He is the director of the Alliance Fellowship program, an Arab-Jewish political network in Israel, and has authored two books, End of Days Ethics, Tradition, and Power in Israel and Sermons from the Abyss. Mikhael was previously the executive director of Breaking the Silence, an Israeli military veterans’ group that seeks "to expose the public to the reality of everyday life in the Occupied Territories."  Now, he joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including peace, the IDF, and ending the war in Gaza. This interview was held on April 28.  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. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism? 7. Is opposing Zionism ever antisemitic? 8. Should Israel be a religious state? 9. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin? 10. Should all Israelis serve in the army? 11. Is the IDF the world’s most moral 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. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime? 16. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war? 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 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.