Yossi Klein Halevi on Israel, War, and Moral Complexity

On this episode of RAW, I speak with Yossi Klein Halevi—author, historian, and public intellectual whose voice is vital in conversations about Israel, Jewish identity, and moral complexity in times of crisis. Yossi was born in Brooklyn to a family of Holocaust survivors. His father, a Hungarian Jew, survived the war as a teenager by hiding for months in a frozen ditch in the forests of Transylvania—a story that shaped Yossi’s worldview and sense of Jewish responsibility. He moved to Israel in 1982 and is now a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. His acclaimed books include Like Dreamers, about the paratroopers who reunited Jerusalem in 1967, and Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, a courageous effort to bridge one of today’s most painful divides. We talk about the current war and what it reveals—about Israeli society, leadership, and the nation’s soul. We explore how the shadow of the Holocaust continues to shape Yossi’s view of the Jewish state, and the impossible tensions between survival and conscience. We also touch on Yossi’s long-standing meditation practice, and how it helps him stay spiritually elevated and emotionally grounded through heartbreak and chaos. This is a conversation about moral clarity and humility. About fear, grief, memory—and the quiet practices that help us stay human. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: 📌 Apple Podcasts 📌 Spotify 📌 YouTube 📩 Subscribe to my newsletter: www.WithAnouk.com 📸 Follow on Instagram Don't miss an episode—tune in and be part of the conversation that matters. For more updates on episodes, tools for resilience and wellbeing, and inspiration, subscribe to our newsletter at WithAnouk.com.