Donniel Hartman, at The Blogs

Jan 23, 2023, 3:28 PM

Israeli worker making flags of Israel at the Berman's Flags and Embroidery factory, Jerusalem on April 27, 2020 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

This government can’t be changed, but the foundations can be laid for a broad, new social coalition with a different vision for Israel

Feb 20, 2022, 6:17 PM

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Dear Sophie, Israel has failed you

Background image of IDF soldiers in West Bank, on February 10, 2017 by Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90; Montage by The Times of Israel

The first step in engaging a generation of Jews troubled over where Israel and Zionism are heading is to acknowledge that they do indeed have a valid point

Dec 31, 2021, 2:58 PM

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Bad for the Jews

For Israel to represent our most noble Jewish values, it must pursue peace, and prevent racism, and xenophobia from having any foothold in the Jewish state

May 19, 2021, 6:54 PM

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Why Israel lost this war

Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters in London let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration against Israel amid fighting between the Jewish state and Palestinian terrorists in Gaza, on May 15, 2021. (Tolga Akmen/AFP)

As criticism of the war shifts to a foundational critique of Israel itself, Israel can't afford to not make its case. This it can do only by reclaiming the moral high ground

May 12, 2021, 8:06 PM

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I cannot just put my anger aside until things are quiet

No question Hamas is a repulsive, immoral enemy. And yet, Israel, enamored by its own power, has failed its duty to strive to be smarter, more just, more visionary

Feb 18, 2021, 3:48 PM

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He finally called

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to US President Joe Biden on February 17, 2021. (Prime Minister's Office)

Why did President Biden wait so long before picking up the phone? Doesn’t he love us? Doesn’t he know how important we are to America, to the world?

Jan 14, 2021, 2:01 AM

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Believing the unbelievable

Robert Keith Packer's shirt, right, was one of many hate symbols present at the storming of the Capitol. Other rioters constructed a noose. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP Images and screenshot from Reddit via JTA)

Seeing the Capitol riots as an aberration may help us sleep at night, but we Jews know better -- and yes, Holocaust comparisons are allowed

Oct 8, 2020, 3:51 PM

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Good fences

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the funeral of Pittsburgh Rebbe Mordechai Leifer in the city of Ashdod on October 5, 2020. (Flash90)

Since we can't dissuade the ultra-Orthodox from their harmful actions, we must physically separate ourselves from them

Aug 25, 2020, 4:00 PM

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Netanyahu’s identity crisis

Israel needs the great leader who takes risks for peace and forgoes military excess, not the petty politician who puts his own interests first

May 10, 2020, 8:52 PM

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Annexation now?

Jordan Valley. February 02, 2020. (Yaniv Nadav/FLASH90)

Making this fateful political move during the Corona crisis is an act of opportunism that would subvert the moral credibility of our leadership

About Me

Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman is the president of the Shalom Hartman Institute and the author of 'Putting God Second: How to Save Religion' from Itself. Together with Yossi Klein Halevi and Elana Stein Hain, he co-hosts the 'For Heaven’s Sake' podcast. Donniel is the founder of some of the most extensive education, training and enrichment programs for scholars, educators, rabbis, and religious and lay leaders in Israel and North America. He is a prominent essayist, blogger and lecturer on issues of Israeli politics, policy, Judaism, and the Jewish community. He has a PhD in Jewish philosophy from Hebrew University, an MA in political philosophy from New York University, an MA in religion from Temple University, and rabbinic ordination from the Shalom Hartman Institute.