In everyday Hebrew, chinam means “free.”

But as we approach Tisha B’Av—the day we mourn the destruction of the Temple—chinam takes on a darker meaning.

Our sages say the Temple was destroyed because of sin’at chinam, which I translate as “hatred without cost.” 

In today’s episode, I’ll speak about the current divisions in Israeli society and why these very divisions are the greatest threat to Israel’s existence – far greater than that posed by Hamas, Hezbollah, or even Iran. 

I’ll also offer reasons for hope. 

And, as always, I answer listener questions.

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Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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