We return today to our “the state of the State” series of conversations. The war seems to have turned a corner, though war with Yemen and Iran might well not be far off, and now the army is warning of armed conflict with Turkey. Politically, things are tumultuous but not in crisis, and for now, it seems likely that the government will hold—until it doesn’t. The hostage crisis is heartbreaking as ever, but no one knows who to believe about what deal may or may not be in the process of coming together.
All of that—and more—makes this a perfect moment for taking a step back, to ask ourselves how Israel is doing after what was, without doubt, the very worst year in its history. Some months ago, in a different conversation from that which we’re sharing today, Rabbi Seth Farber mentioned to me (and I share this with his permission) that he was “not very optimistic.”
Given everything that has changed, I asked Rabbi Farber if we could revisit his sentiments about Israel not just at this moment, but for the foreseeable future. As always, Rabbi Farber is nuanced, thought-provoking, learned and kind.
I’m beyond grateful to him for his willingness to join us on the podcast once again.
Rabbi Seth Farber was raised in Riverdale, New York, ordained by Yeshiva University, and today lives in Ra'anana with his wife and five children (three of whom are currently in the army). As the founder and director of ITIM: The Jewish Life Advocacy Center, Rabbi Farber is one of the most important people in Israel working to fashion a more inclusive religious establishment for Israeli Jews at all stages of their lives.
We have been fortunate to have Rabbi Farber teach us on Israel from the Inside several times in the past — some of those episodes are listed here:
Israel is going to feel a different kind of responsibility for Jews around the world
"The Chief Rabbinate’s policies have no precedent in Jewish law"
The link above will take you to a brief excerpt of our conversation; the full conversation, along with a transcript for those who prefer to read, is being made available to paid subscribers to Israel from the Inside.
