In Gadi Taub's eyes, Israel is hardly a democracy — "it's a juristocracy."
The historian, activist, and public intellectual believes that there are many forces at play that threaten the Jewish state: progressivism, elitism, and Western ideals. Formerly on the left himself, Gadi is one of Israel's most popular conservative thinkers. 
Gadi co-hosts Tablet's Israel Update podcast and his own Hebrew podcast, Gatekeeper. Outside of those roles, he is a senior lecturer at the Federmann School of Public Policy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Previously a columnist for Haaretz, he now writes for Tablet and JNS.
Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including judicial reform, Gaza's future, and the Palestinian Authority.
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. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
7. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
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. Are political and religious divides a major problem in Israeli society?
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.

Bullying isn't always a bad thing, Efraim Inbar says. In a tough neighborhood like the Middle East, sometimes it's necessary.
President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and head of Shalem College’s program on Strategy, Diplomacy, and National Security, he speaks as a veteran Israeli political scientist and national security. In his view, Israel must be tough to stay alive—and it hasn't been tough enough.
Efraim authored five books on Israeli national security and politics, and edited 14 collections of scholarly articles, and as such, he is considered an expert on Israeli strategic doctrine, public opinion on national security issues, American policy in the Middle East, Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy, and Israel-Turkey relations.
Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the Iranian threat, Gaza's future, and why Israel needs to act even stronger.
This interview was held on August 6.
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. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
7. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
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. Do you think Israel is 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?

You cannot separate Israel’s democratic and Jewish identity, Ronit says. The two are interdependent in the Jewish state.
Ronit Heyd is an Israeli social leader and activist who spent over 20 years leading initiatives dealing with Israel’s intimate and domestic issues—those outsiders often overlook because of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict’s large shadow.
Previously leading the New Israel Fund’s social justice initiative, religious freedom project, and capacity-building arm Shatil, Ronit is now the vice president and director of Shalom Hartman Institute’s Center for Israeli and Jewish Identity. She holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School as a Wexner Fellow and an MA in social psychology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Now, she joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including democracy, religion, and the country’s future.
This interview was held on June 18.
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. What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
4. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
5. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
6. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
7. Should Zionism define Jewish identity in and outside of Israel?
8. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
9. 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?
10. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
11. What does the world misunderstand about Israelis?
12. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
13. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
14. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
15. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
16. What is a book you think everyone needs to read about Israel?
17. Where’s a spot in Israel you find comfort and peace?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

The Israeli government’s draft of Haredi men is no simple matter—but Yehoshua Pfeffer has some ideas for moving forward.

Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer is a Haredi social thinker and activist intimately involved in Haredi affairs. He heads the Iyun Institute—which operates programs and publications in the Haredi space—is the founding editor of Tzarich Iyun journal, and serves on the executive board of Netzah Yehuda, which serves Haredi soldiers in the IDF.

While also teaching as a professor at Hebrew University’s law school, he is the rabbi of Ohr Chadash in Ramot Bet, Jerusalem. Yehoshua’s life is guided by his convictions.
Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the Haredi draft, Israel as a religious state, Messianism, and so much more.

This interview was held on July 2.

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. What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
4. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
5. Should Israel be a religious state?
6. Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?
7. Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?
8. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
9. Should all Israelis serve in the army?
10. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
11. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
12. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
13. 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?
14. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
15. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
16. Are political and religious divides a major problem in Israeli society?
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?

After Auschwitz, Anita Shapira says, Jews understood the necessity of power—and the necessity of statehood.
A leading Israeli historian and author, she is professor emerita of Jewish History at Tel Aviv University and founder of the Yitzhak Rabin Center. When Anita Shapira speaks, her words are informed by acute expertise of Israeli and Jewish history—as evidenced by her many accolades and awards, including the Israel Prize for research on Jewish history in 2008.
Having published groundbreaking studies on the history of Zionism, Jewish-Arab relations, and the state of Israel, Anita Shapira is a vital voice for all things Israel—past, present, and future.
Now, she joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including wiping out Hamas, Israel’s catastrophe up North, her sense of Israel’s future, and so much more.
This interview was held on June 19.
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. Is there anything miraculous about Israeli history?
7. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
8. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
9. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
10. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
11. Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — such as 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. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
14. Are there parts of Israeli-Palestinian history that it is unhelpful to discuss?
15. What should happen with Gaza after the war?
16. What is something you were wrong about in your historical views?
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?

No news outlet is utterly reliable these days, David Horovitz says. You always need one eyebrow raised.
The founding editor of Time of Israel — with tens of millions of monthly readers, and ranked as the world’s fastest-growing news site in October and November — has worked in journalism for over 40 years, previously editing The Jerusalem Post and The Jerusalem Report. His days and nights are consumed by Israel (and he has the bags to prove it) since Hamas’ October 7 attack.
David is also the author of several books, including Still Life with Bombers: Israel in the Age of Terrorism (2004) and the award-winning Shalom, Friend: The Life and Legacy of Yitzhak Rabin (1996). 
Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including if Western media covers the Israel-Hamas War fairly, what should happen with Gaza after the war, which outlets he reads on Israel, and so much more.
This interview was held on July 1.
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. Do you think Western media covers the Israel-Hamas War fairly?
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 role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
7. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
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 — such as 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. Where do you read news 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 and the Jewish People?

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 joins 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?

To Rabbi Yakov Nagen, the Jewish-Muslim fraternity will be the major breakthrough of the 21st century.

This Religious Zionist rabbi is at the forefront of interfaith dialogue and peace work in Israel between Judaism, Islam, and Eastern Religions. The director of Ohr Torah Stone’s Blickle Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and its Beit Midrash for Judaism and Humanity, he is a passionate voice for universalist Jewish Messianism, which he says is a “vision for all of humanity.”

Rav Nagen teaches Talmud, Kabbalah, and Jewish philosophy as a senior educator at Yeshiva Otniel. He is an extensive writer with four books and hundreds of articles. His latest book on peace and universalism in Jewish Messianic thought, U-Shmo Echad (God Shall Be One), will be released in English this summer.

Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including Israeli democracy, non-Jewish citizens in a Jewish state, whether Messianism is helpful or harmful, and so much more.

This interview was held on June 20.

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's 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. Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?
14. Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?
15. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
16. Are political and religious divides a major issue in Israeli society today?
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?

If you want to understand Israel, then you need to know Benny Morris.

Prof. Benny Morris is a leading Israeli historian who revolutionized the field of Israeli history by digging into the government’s declassified archives in the ‘80s, ushering in the era of “New Historians” who challenged traditional views of Israel’s history. After peace talks failed and the Second Intifada began in the early 2000s, his views drastically shifted regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict—specifically its prospects for resolution. Praised and criticized across the political divide, Benny Morris’ work lies at the bedrock of Israeli history today. 

Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including what should happen with Gaza after the war, Palestinian-Israeli peace prospects, whether the IDF is the world’s most moral army, and so much more. 

This interview was held on June 10.


Here are some of 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. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
7. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
8. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
   
   
9. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
10. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?

18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers is a new podcast by 18Forty interviewing Israel's leading voices to explore critical questions on Zionism, the Israel-Hamas War, democracy, morality, Judaism, peace, Israel’s future, and so much more.

Every Monday, we introduce you to fresh perspectives and challenging ideas about Israel that you won’t find anywhere. Join us on our journey as we pose 18 pressing questions to the 40 Israeli thinkers you need to hear from today. 

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

To suggest questions or guests, shoot us an email at [email protected]. For all things big Jewish questions, be sure to visit 18forty.org.