Gadi Taub: 'We should annex the north third of the Gaza Strip'

Gadi Taub: 'We should annex the north third of the Gaza Strip'

Author: 18Forty August 19, 2024 Duration: 1:07:29
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.

What does it mean to live a meaningful life? How do we navigate doubt, find purpose, or understand suffering? 18 Questions, 40 Mystics explores these profound human inquiries through a distinctly Jewish mystical lens. Hosted by Rabbi Benji Levy, this series from 18Forty engages in deep, personal conversations with a diverse global community of thinkers-including rabbis, kabbalists, artists, and teachers-each deeply immersed in mystical tradition. The format is elegantly simple yet expansive: eighteen core existential questions posed to forty different voices, yielding a rich tapestry of perspectives drawn from ancient wisdom and contemporary experience. Listeners will encounter discussions that weave together spirituality, daily practice, and the inner dimensions of faith known as pnimiyut. This isn't about abstract theory; it's about the practical and soulful insights that arise when earnest questioning meets lived spiritual knowledge. Whether you're well-versed in Jewish texts or simply curious about the intersection of mysticism and modern life, each episode offers a unique point of reflection and inspiration. The conversations are intimate and revealing, designed not to provide monolithic answers but to illuminate the many paths toward understanding. Tune in for a journey that is as much about the questions we all share as it is about the diverse, thoughtful responses from those who have dedicated their lives to contemplation. This podcast serves as a rare gateway into the minds and hearts of today's leading mystical practitioners.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 74

18 Questions, 40 Mystics
Podcast Episodes
Moshe Koppel: 'We won the war in Gaza' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:35
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…
Uri Zaki: 'The war has to end in Gaza' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:07
Uri Zaki supported Israel's war against Hamas from the getgo—but the killing of six hostages and Sinwar's assassination were a turning point. Now, he thinks it needs to end.Uri Zaki is a left-wing political thinker and a…
Lahav Harkov: 'We are winning' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:22
Israel's multi-front war changes by the day—but Lahav Harkov thinks Israel is winning.A long-time journalist covering Israel's domestic and international affairs, Lahav speaks with an insider's investigation and knowledg…
Rivka Ravitz: 'Being separated is at the core of being Haredi' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:30
Rivka Ravitz may be a long-time Haredi political thinker, but that doesn't mean she thinks politics is always the answer.Since her father-in-law first employed her in the Knesset at age 18, Rivka has spend decades workin…