This episode is sponsored by HOLY CHUTZPAH
https://holy-chutzpah.com/
***
It’s been three weeks since Israel resumed its ground operations in Gaza—but the mission still feels undefined. Fifty-nine hostages remain in Hamas captivity, and while the IDF maneuvers cautiously on the ground, the sense that we’re holding back our full strength lingers. At the same time, Trump is warning of an imminent strike on Iran, raising the specter of regional escalation.
Domestically, chaos reigns. The government is in crisis over allegations that senior Netanyahu aides advanced Qatari interests. The Prime Minister’s attempt to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has been blocked by the Supreme Court—an unprecedented move that could trigger a constitutional showdown. And just yesterday, a leaked recording of the Shin Bet’s head of the Jewish department revealed him boasting about arresting settlers without any evidence. In a moment where everything feels fragile—national unity, legal order, deterrence—we’re left asking: where is this all headed?
To help us think through these turbulent times, we’re joined by Dr. Ronen Shoval—a political philosopher, public intellectual, and longtime activist in Israel’s ideological landscape. He’s the Dean of the Tikvah Fund and founder of the Argaman Institute for Conservative Thought. He co-founded the influential “Im Tirtzu” movement, has taught at Princeton University, and is the author of Holiness and Society, a groundbreaking new book exploring the political theology of the Bible and its relevance to modern politics. Today, we turn to him to unpack the crisis, the philosophy behind it, and what might come next.
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This episode is sponsored by HOLY CHUTZPAH
https://holy-chutzpah.com/
***
It’s been three weeks since Israel resumed its ground operations in Gaza—but the mission still feels undefined. Fifty-nine hostages remain in Hamas captivity, and while the IDF maneuvers cautiously on the ground, the sense that we’re holding back our full strength lingers. At the same time, Trump is warning of an imminent strike on Iran, raising the specter of regional escalation.
Domestically, chaos reigns. The government is in crisis over allegations that senior Netanyahu aides advanced Qatari interests. The Prime Minister’s attempt to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has been blocked by the Supreme Court—an unprecedented move that could trigger a constitutional showdown. And just yesterday, a leaked recording of the Shin Bet’s head of the Jewish department revealed him boasting about arresting settlers without any evidence. In a moment where everything feels fragile—national unity, legal order, deterrence—we’re left asking: where is this all headed?
To help us think through these turbulent times, we’re joined by Dr. Ronen Shoval—a political philosopher, public intellectual, and longtime activist in Israel’s ideological landscape. He’s the Dean of the Tikvah Fund and founder of the Argaman Institute for Conservative Thought. He co-founded the influential “Im Tirtzu” movement, has taught at Princeton University, and is the author of Holiness and Society, a groundbreaking new book exploring the political theology of the Bible and its relevance to modern politics. Today, we turn to him to unpack the crisis, the philosophy behind it, and what might come next.
#347 - Deciphering Ben Gvir and Smotrich: A Deep Dive into Religious Zionism (Yair Ettinger)
Two Nice Jewish Boys
1 hour 2 minutes 9 seconds
1 year ago
#347 - Deciphering Ben Gvir and Smotrich: A Deep Dive into Religious Zionism (Yair Ettinger)
As the war in Gaza rages on, the influence of the Religious Zionist party, led by figures like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, looms large over the direction of the Israeli government. With key ministerial positions in hand, they wield considerable power in shaping policies not only concerning the ongoing war but also regarding broader societal issues such as military service, national identity and economic affairs.
Today, we’re going to take a close look at this pivotal shift in Israeli society with our distinguished guest, Yair Ettinger, an Israeli journalist and the author of the illuminating new book, "Frayed: The Disputes Unraveling Religious Zionists", Ettinger's work provides invaluable insights into the challenges facing the Religious Zionist movement, which has become increasingly influential within Israeli politics and society. Amidst the turmoil of war and political maneuvering, many questions arise about the future direction of Religious Zionism and its impact on the broader Israeli landscape.
Ettinger is an award-winning journalist, with decades of experience. Frayed has won the 2021 Hillel Kook Award and is a finalist of the Jewish Book Council. He was a journalist for Haaretz newspaper for 20 years and today, he’s one of Kan’s commentators on Religious affairs and writes for various outlets such as Ynet. We are super thrilled to be joined by Yair Ettinger on this episode of the Two Nice Jewish Boys podcast.
Two Nice Jewish Boys
This episode is sponsored by HOLY CHUTZPAH
https://holy-chutzpah.com/
***
It’s been three weeks since Israel resumed its ground operations in Gaza—but the mission still feels undefined. Fifty-nine hostages remain in Hamas captivity, and while the IDF maneuvers cautiously on the ground, the sense that we’re holding back our full strength lingers. At the same time, Trump is warning of an imminent strike on Iran, raising the specter of regional escalation.
Domestically, chaos reigns. The government is in crisis over allegations that senior Netanyahu aides advanced Qatari interests. The Prime Minister’s attempt to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has been blocked by the Supreme Court—an unprecedented move that could trigger a constitutional showdown. And just yesterday, a leaked recording of the Shin Bet’s head of the Jewish department revealed him boasting about arresting settlers without any evidence. In a moment where everything feels fragile—national unity, legal order, deterrence—we’re left asking: where is this all headed?
To help us think through these turbulent times, we’re joined by Dr. Ronen Shoval—a political philosopher, public intellectual, and longtime activist in Israel’s ideological landscape. He’s the Dean of the Tikvah Fund and founder of the Argaman Institute for Conservative Thought. He co-founded the influential “Im Tirtzu” movement, has taught at Princeton University, and is the author of Holiness and Society, a groundbreaking new book exploring the political theology of the Bible and its relevance to modern politics. Today, we turn to him to unpack the crisis, the philosophy behind it, and what might come next.
