18 Questions, 40 Mystics20 Tammi 2025

Natan Sharansky: 'If you don't have faith or Zionism, your grandchildren will not be Jewish'

Antisemitism and assimilation are threatening the Jewish People, says Natan Sharansky, but to both Israel offers a solution.

Born in the Soviet Union and imprisoned by the authorities when trying to immigrate to Israel, Sharansky experienced brutal interrogations, forced feedings, and torture — sparking international campaigns to fight for his freedom in 1986.

Today, Natan is Chairman for the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy and has an extensive record as a human rights activist, Israeli politician, and advocate for the Jewish People. He is the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1986 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006.

Now, he joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including anti-Zionism, hostage negotiations, and the threats of antisemitism and assimilation.

This interview was held on Jan. 13.

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Here are our 18 questions:

As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?
What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
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?
What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
Is Israel properly handling the Iranian threat?
Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

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Jaksot(90)

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3 Elo 41min

Faigy Blumstein: 'Take that darkness, flip it over, and see the light'

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27 Heinä 28min

Judah Mischel: 'I identify as somebody who is living in the days of redemption'

Raised in a home that focused on the soul of Judaism, Rabbi Judah Mischel was immersed in the world of mysticism from a young age. For Rabbi Judah, true connection with God begins with love for other ...

20 Heinä 48min

Elliot Wolfson: ‘Jewish mysticism is the garment that I wear in this world’

Professor Elliot Wolfson, one of the world’s foremost scholars of Jewish mysticism, has dedicated over forty years to teaching and researching Kabbala and its expressions across Jewish history. He exp...

13 Heinä 37min

Efraim Palvanov: 'Every person can be the Messiah'

What is taught today as basic science, argues Efraim Palvanov, was taught centuries ago in the Zohar. To Efraim, complex scientific functions such as quantum physics, epigenetics, and wave particle du...

6 Heinä 45min

Fruma Schapiro: 'The direct path of connection to Hashem is through the simple and the small'

Fruma Schapiro’s connection to Jewish mysticism is deeply entrenched in Chabad Hasidism. She has seen the way it can transform lives and nourish souls, and she is particularly drawn to the idea that e...

29 Kesä 41min

YY Jacobson: 'Jews were chosen to hold onto the frequency of redemptive consciousness'

In this insightful conversation, Rabbi YY Jacobson presents Jewish mysticism as a dynamic framework for consciousness and connection rather than abstract theology. He passionately and clearly illustra...

22 Kesä 55min

Oshra Koren: 'If this is not redemption, I don't know what is'

For Rabbanit Oshra Koren, mysticism is the soul and spirit of the Torah that animates the "body" of Jewish law. It is a path of deep longing that wakes the sleeping heart, transforming the way we see ...

15 Kesä 15min