Why does Israel suffer from the highest levels of political polarization in the West, yet simultaneously enjoy the highest levels of national solidarity in the world?

In this insightful lecture from the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Community Leadership Program, philosopher, author, and Research Fellow Micah Goodman explores the deep historical roots and modern realities of Zionism and Israeli society. He begins by contrasting the foundational visions of Theodor Herzl (who feared the physical destruction of the Jews) and Ahad Ha’am (who feared the spiritual fragmentation of Judaism), demonstrating how both of their greatest fears have materialized today through rising global antisemitism and the pandemic of political polarization.

Micah dives deep into the “love-hate paradox” of the Israeli mainstream, explaining how social media algorithms have weaponized historical grievances and future anxieties to divide a populace that actually agrees on most major issues. Finally, he offers a glimmer of hope: can Israel use its deep-rooted solidarity to become the world’s first post-polarized society?

What does it mean to be a Jewish sovereign?

In this lecture at the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Community Leadership Program, Michal Hartman explores the theological and moral crisis of power in the modern State of Israel. Michal draws on the teachings of Rav Kook, Rav Uzziel, and her grandfather, David Hartman, to offer a restorative Jewish theology of sovereignty. She outlines three essential biblical principles: that Israel must strive to be a blessing to the world (Genesis 12), must maintain the capacity for fierce moral self-criticism (Genesis 18), and must never lose the distress that comes with having to wield lethal power (the story of Jacob and Esau).

You can find the source sheet here: https://shalomhartman.org/hartman_m_t…

Is faith an opiate for the masses, a simplistic panacea, or something infinitely more demanding?

Join Elana Stein Hain at the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Community Leadership Program for a deep examination of the phenomenology of modern emunah (faith). In an era where Jewish and Israeli communities feel intensely isolated and lonely, this session re-centers ancient Jewish wisdom to counter modern nihilism.

Key Frameworks Explored in this Episode:

1. Emunah vs. Bitachon: Why covenantal faith does not require a guarantee that everything will turn out fine today.

2. Lifnei Iver (The Blind Stumbling Block): Taking internal moral responsibility when no one on earth can catch you.

3. Communitarian Collective Ethic: How the pre-modern, ancient architecture of Jewish law can balance our modern obsession with individual autonomy.

📖 Download the source sheet for this lecture here: https://shalomhartman.org/stein_hain_…

How does collective hope translate into direct action during a politically turbulent time?

As Israel prepares for an intense election season, a new generation of leaders is stepping up. At the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Community Leadership Program, Ronit Heyd, Vice President and Director of the Center for Israeli & Jewish Identity at the Shalom Hartman Institute, and three alumni from the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Hazon program—Gali Saar, Yonatan Maklis, and Noa Kamer—discuss the future of the Jewish state. The alumni from the Hazon leadership program share firsthand stories from the front lines of local politics, grassroots organizing, and civic activism.

Together, they tackle the toughest questions facing Israeli democracy today: How do we shift political conversations back toward professionalism and party platforms? How do we safeguard election integrity? And what role must the global Jewish diaspora play in this critical moment? Watch to hear how these inspiring young leaders are answering the call to action and navigating disagreement with a commitment to a resilient society.

Has Holocaust education failed to prepare us for the antisemitism of today?

In this dialogue, The Post October 7th Jew, the Michelle Gary z”l Lecture at the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Community Leadership Program, Senior Fellow Yossi Klein Halevi and author and speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz explore the deep crisis facing the contemporary Jewish narrative in the wake of October 7th. They unpack how the post-1945 era of Jewish empowerment and unconditional diaspora acceptance is currently under severe assault from both political extremes.

In this discussion, Yossi and Sarah examine:

• Why teaching that antisemitism is just “powerful people hurting weak people” has dangerously backfired.
• The painful reality of “conditional acceptance” for Jewish students on college campuses today.
• Why the Jewish community must boldly reclaim the word “Zionist” as an act of spiritual defiance.
• How the transcendent resilience of 1945 survivors offers a blueprint for overcoming today’s global anxieties.

How do we hold onto our humanity when we are fighting for our survival?

In this rigorous lecture at the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Community Leadership Program, Shalom Hartman Institute President Donniel Hartman explores the agonizing tension between being a mensch (a person of moral decency) and a warrior in the post-October 7th era.

Beginning with the creation story in Genesis, Donniel unpacks what it truly means to be created in the “image of God”. He explains how Jewish tradition uses Mitzvah (commandments) not just as rituals, but as a behavioral training system designed to overcome human mediocrity, proving that “the heart follows the actions”.

Applying these ancient texts to modern warfare, Donniel dives into the “Spirit of the IDF”—the Israeli military’s code of ethics. He discusses why fear is the ultimate enemy of morality, and why insisting that soldiers fight a “just war justly” is the defining battle for the soul of the Jewish State today.

For the sources visit: https://shalomhartman.org/hartman_d_h…

What if you were born already knowing everything you need to change the world?

In this Shalom Hartman Institute Community Leadership Program 2026 lecture, Shalom Hartman Institute President Yehuda Kurtzer explores the radical Jewish idea that human beings are born with limitless potential, and that life is a journey of retrieving innate wisdom. Drawing on the Talmud, the Book of Genesis, and modern philosophy, Yehuda examines the three distinct biblical models of humanity: the powerful creator (*Adam*), the social being bound by relationships (*Ish*), and the fragile, mortal self (*Enosh*). Yehuda explores how these ancient Jewish frameworks provide an ethical roadmap for today’s world. He also examines how modern forces—from the Enlightenment to early Zionism, and now Silicon Valley’s push for AI and transhumanism—threaten to strip away the humility and dignity of the human experience.

A probing look at what it truly means to balance power, ethical responsibility, and vulnerability as a “Jewish human being”.

For the source sheet: https://shalomhartman.org/wp-content/…

Join Donniel Hartman and Rabbi Sharon Brous for a profoundly honest and challenging conversation on the moral responsibility of Jewish leadership today.

Together, they explore the complexities of holding onto faith and hope in a world facing overlapping crises—from climate change and the rise of AI to political extremism and the disturbing normalization of violence and antisemitism. Drawing on the teachings of the prophet Micah, Brous and Hartman share what keeps them up at night and where they find reasons to be optimistic. They delve into the crucial difference between winning the war in the Middle East vs. maintaining a moral standing on the global stage, the necessity of truthtelling within the Jewish community, and the controversial debate over the utility of the label “Zionist” in contemporary political discourse. This discussion is an essential watch for anyone grappling with identity, community, and the ongoing struggle to build a just and loving world in times of deep uncertainty. Topics Covered:

• The “polycrisis” of our time: Climate change, AI, and violent extremism.
• The tension between internal truthtelling and external public relations.
• What it means to drop a “sea anchor” when facing waves of fear and anti-Semitism.
• Why the words we use matter, and the growing debate over the term “Zionism”.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the Shalom Hartman Institute channel for more courageous conversations on the future of Jewish life and the State of Israel.

Can music bridge the deepest divides in society?

In a rapidly changing world, art serves as one of our most vital tools for social commentary. In this intimate evening recorded live in Jerusalem, Shaanan Streett—visionary frontman of the legendary Israeli hip-hop/funk band Hadag Nahash—sits down with Yehuda Kurtzer at the Shalom Hartman Institute to unpack the complex realities of contemporary Israeli identity through the lens of music and culture. Watch as Shaanan shares his personal reflections on three decades of crafting socially conscious art, followed by an exclusive, stripped-down live musical performance.

What do American Jews owe Israel when their own political and moral worlds feel under threat?   

In this episode, recorded live from our Beit Midrash in Jerusalem as part of Hartman’s Community Leadership Program, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi confront recent flashpoints in the Jewish-American relationship: new data from the Pew Research Center on declining favorability of Israel among Americans, Vice President Vance’s public break with Israel, and anti-Israel winners in multiple primaries in New York City, where the mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is under fire for controversial comments about AIPAC.    Together, they unpack the severe erosion of Israel’s international standing, investigate the deep political dilemmas confronting North American Jewry, and debate whether the Jewish state must drastically change its trajectory to win back hearts and minds. Ultimately, they reflect on what is required to heal this growing divide, challenging both diaspora communities and Israeli leadership to reclaim a unified moral vision.