Yossi Klein Halevi: Why Jewish extremism is so seductive - and dangerous

Yossi Klein Halevi: Why Jewish extremism is so seductive - and dangerous

Author: The Times of Israel August 21, 2026 Duration: 57:11

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with author Yossi Klein Halevi.

The Hartman Institute senior fellow, writer and thinker joins us in our Jerusalem studio for a probing conversation about Jewish extremism.

Klein Halevi is the author of the 1995 "Memoirs of a Jewish Extremist," based on his time spent as a disciple of far-right racist firebrand Meir Kahane. He is uniquely poised to delve into the psyche of the violent fringe terrorizing West Bank Palestinian and shaking members of the settler movement.

We discuss the throughline between the era that spawned Kahane and his followers and today's national traumas that are spurring extremists to believe Kahane was right all along.

Through Kahane's vanities and human frailties, Klein Halevi realized that the cult of personality was dangerous and unhealthy. We ask, what happens if adherents believe their racist violence is actually in the service of God?

Klein Halevi, optimistic that these youth can be awoken, sets out conditions that could, slowly, allow for their transformation.

And so this week, we ask Yossi Klein Halevi, what matters now.

What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Each morning, The Times of Israel Daily Briefing cuts through the noise to deliver essential context on the stories shaping Israel and the wider region. Produced by the seasoned journalists of The Times of Israel, this podcast provides more than just headlines; it offers grounded analysis and on-the-ground perspective that listeners won't find in a standard news bulletin. You'll hear directly from reporters and editors who live the story, discussing the political, security, and social developments that matter most. The conversation naturally extends to the broader Middle East and issues affecting Jewish communities worldwide, making sense of complex events with clarity and depth. Tune in for a concise, authoritative briefing that respects your time and intelligence, turning the day's most pressing news into understandable narrative. This is where informed listening begins, a trusted audio resource for anyone seeking a reliable, nuanced understanding of a dynamic and often misunderstood part of the world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
Podcast Episodes
Dan Ben-David: Israel is on the brink of a spiral of collapse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:10
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with leading economist Prof. Dan Ben-David. Ben-David heads the Sho…
Is there really progress in Trump's Gaza, Lebanon and Iran talks? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:51
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. On the three major fronts with which Israel is…
The latest alliances shaking up Israel's fateful election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:48
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today'…
Inside Israel's fortifications on the Gaza Yellow Line [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:57
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for t…
Banking on politics -- Israel and the Palestinian financial crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:55
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episo…
Israel in the dark as Trump adopts Saudi-first policy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:43
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for t…
Saudis talk Trump down from Iran strike... for now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:54
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Mideast expert Ksenia Svetlova joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's…