Michael Oren: 'We are living in biblical times'

Michael Oren: 'We are living in biblical times'

Author: 18Forty July 14, 2025 Duration: 1:04:55
Israel is a heroic country, Michael Oren believes—but he concedes that it is a flawed heroic country.
Michael Oren—our 40th Israeli thinker—served as Israeli ambassador to the U.S. from 2009-2013 under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while former U.S. President Barack Obama was in office. A diplomat, writer, historian, veteran, and political thinker, Michael worked extensively in all fields of defending the Jewish state. 
He is the bestselling and award-winning author of several fiction and non-fiction books, including Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israeli Divide and Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East. Michael is working on a book on October 7. 
Now, this unapologetic Israel advocate joins us to answer 18 questions on the war in Gaza, the IDF's morality, and satanic accusations against Jews.
This interview was recorded on July 10.

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
Chuck Freilich: 'Netanyahu needs to step down or be voted out' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:57
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…
Rula Daood: 'We are closest to peace at times of war' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:49
Take our annual survey.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 o…
Daniel Gordis: ‘The great failure of the hostages is enormous’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:51
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…
Khitam Abu Bader: 'Violence is never the answer' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:16
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, an…
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…