Yossi Klein Halevi: Why Jewish extremism is so seductive - and dangerous
About this episode
Yossi Klein Halevi discusses the seduction and dangers of Jewish extremism in contemporary Israel.
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…
People in this episode
Host: Amanda Borschel-Dan
Guest: Yossi Klein Halevi
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Hartman Institute
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