Yossi Klein Halevi on Israel, War, and Moral Complexity

Source: AudioVersity

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.

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  'Raw' is a podcast that confronts the complexities of war from the inside out. Hosted by Anouk Lorie—journalist, author, and yoga and meditation teacher—'Raw' embodies the collective sense of exposure and vulnerability many of us feel in the wake of Israel's conflicts. This show goes beyond discussing external events, diving deep into our inner battles and how these moments of violence shake our very core.
  Join Anouk in intimate conversations with leading philosophers, psychologists, spiritual leaders, and trauma experts. Together, they explore how we can navigate these painful times with wisdom and resilience, offering guidance for our paths in an unfiltered, raw world. Whether you seek deeper understanding, tools for emotional resilience, or are seeking comfort and solidarity, 'Raw' invites you to listen, learn, and heal.