In this interview, Jonathan Rosenbloom, an Israeli columnist and author, offers a multifaceted perspective on contemporary Israeli society, politics, and the Jewish faith in the wake of significant events like October 7th. He discusses the fluctuating but generally optimistic mood in Israel, attributing it to a perceived weakening of Iran's regional influence. Rosenbloom critically assesses Israel's war strategy against Hamas, identifying the October 7th intelligence failure as the gravest mistake and highlighting the success of adopting a territorial control approach. He defines victory as a fundamental shift in Palestinian mindset, achieved through dismantling Hamas's control, particularly over education that promotes hatred.
Rosenbloom reflects on the strengthening of his personal religious faith, interpreting recent events through a broader divine plan that he sees as transforming the Middle East in Israel's favor. He delves into the evolving role of the Haredi community, addressing the contentious issue of army service, emphasizing the community's internal diversity, and advocating for its increased responsibility within Israeli society. He articulates his view on Israel's core identity, asserting Judaism's paramount importance as the nation's purpose while simultaneously supporting equal rights for all citizens. While dismissing external criticisms of Israel as illegitimate, he acknowledges internal institutional weaknesses, particularly regarding the judicial system. Rosenbloom concludes with a profound sense of hope for Israel's future, envisioning a religious awakening and a continued flourishing of Jewish life and Torah learning.
Exploring Israel's Shifting Landscape: Faith, War, and Identity
0:00 Fluctuating Post-October 7th Mood: Jonathan Rosenbloom describes his emotional state post-October 7th as rapidly fluctuating between exhilaration, excitement, and confusion, particularly regarding the unresolved questions of the current ceasefire and Iran's nuclear program.
0:01:10 Underlying Optimism: Despite immediate uncertainties, he maintains general optimism, citing the significant destruction of Iran's capabilities and the perceived removal of the "ring of fire" threat that has encircled Israel for years.
0:02:14 Gravest Mistake of the War: He unequivocally states that the greatest mistake was the intelligence failure of October 7th, expressing hope that such an event will never be repeated in Israeli history.
0:03:26 Success in War Strategy: Rosenbloom identifies Israel's success in the war as adopting a strategy that prioritizes holding territory (e.g., Philadelphia Corridor, Erez Crossing) and creating a clear separation between Gazan and Israeli communities. He also highlights direct food delivery as a method to undermine Hamas's control.
0:05:54 Defining Victory: For him, victory means Hamas losing control, especially over the education system, which he characterizes as promoting a "jihad curriculum" of hatred against Israel. The ultimate goal is a change in the Palestinian mindset towards coexistence.
0:07:42 Faith Strengthened by Crisis: October 7th deepened his religious views by forcing a broader perspective; he sees the disaster as having been followed by a positive transformation of the Middle East in Israel's favor, demonstrating divine protection.
0:11:45 Haredi Community and Army Service Controversy: The army draft has become a critical issue due to manpower shortages, with married men serving extensive periods. He notes that the Haredi community, traditionally believing their full-time Torah study exempts them, must now rethink their role.
0:14:59 Diversity within the Haredi Community: He stresses that the Haredi community is not a monolith, noting different attitudes and active participation in war efforts (e.g., cooking for soldiers, purchasing Tefillin for 10,000 soldiers).
0:17:50 Criteria for Political Choice: Rosenbloom considers defense policy, opposition to anti-religious rhetoric, and perceived competence (favoring Netanyahu in times of crisis) when voting, alongside community-specific concerns like school funding, housing, and integration.
0:21:22 Judaism Over Democracy: He asserts that Judaism is paramount for Israel's existence, as it defines the nation's purpose to bring knowledge of God to the world, seeing no inherent tension with democracy and advocating for equal rights for all citizens.
0:23:57 Redefining Zionism: For Rosenbloom, Zionism today primarily means the continued existence of Israel as the world's only majority-Jewish state, and he affirms his identity as a Zionist.
0:25:24 Israel as a Safer Home: He believes it is currently safer to be a Jew in Israel than in America due to rising antisemitism and potential terror threats abroad.
0:28:16 Opposing Zionism and Antisemitism: While acknowledging legitimate internal criticisms of Israel, he views explicit opposition to Israel's existence, especially when aligned with hostile regimes, as inherently antisemitic.
0:30:15 Making the Case for Israel: To a general audience, he would highlight Israel's humanitarian aid and innovation; to a Jewish audience, the flourishing of Torah learning and Jewish life in Israel is the primary case.
0:36:41 Reluctance for a Religious State: He is personally not interested in imposing religious views or creating a coercive religious state, believing that people should be drawn to Torah by experiencing it as the "best life."
0:43:41 Haredi Communal Vision: The primary communal goal for Haredim is the primacy of Torah β fostering a community where individuals can flourish with Torah as the central focus. They are less interested in setting a broad national agenda but engage with issues that directly affect their community, like judicial reform.
0:46:47 Growing Haredi Responsibility: As the Haredi community grows to 15% of Israel's population, he argues it must increasingly take responsibility for the larger society, moving beyond a "beleaguered community" mindset.
0:49:03 All Israelis Should Serve: He notes that a significant percentage of Israelis, not just Haredim, do not serve in the army, and criticizes the view within parts of the Haredi community that army service is something to be "looked down upon."
0:54:08 Obstacles to Haredi Draft: Key reasons for Haredi resistance to the draft include the fear of destroying their established social structure (early marriage, intense learning) and concerns about children maintaining their religious observance in a secular army environment.
0:59:36 Misunderstanding of Haredi Perspective: He contends that critics misunderstand the Haredi community's deep concern for all Jews and Israel's survival, as their future is inextricably linked to the country's fate.
1:04:26 Most Legitimate Criticism (Internal): The most valid criticism against Israel, in his view, is internal: the imbalance of its judicial system, where the Supreme Court has seized undue power, reflecting weak institutions compared to a strong and resilient society.
1:08:02 Israel and Final Redemption: Rosenbloom prefers to remain agnostic on whether the state of Israel is part of the final redemption, advising against theological predictions, though he views the return of the Jewish people and the flourishing of the land as a historical miracle.
1:09:50 Anticipated Revival: He anticipates a major "Teshuvah movement" (return to religious observance) as a result of recent events, noting that Israeli Jews often maintain a strong Jewish consciousness even if not deeply religious, which can be built upon.
1:12:05 Messianism's Role: Messianism is helpful if it means understanding that history has a divine purpose and an ultimate goal; however, actively attempting to "bring Mashiach" (messiah) can be dangerous.
1:13:31 Skepticism on Palestinian Peace: He is skeptical about achieving peace with Palestinians in his lifetime due to their education system fostering anti-Jewish sentiment, but he is optimistic about expanding peace with other Arab nations, as seen with the Abraham Accords.
1:15:52 Personal Identity & Political Stance: He identifies as a Haredi Jew whose children attend Haredi institutions, with a generally right-leaning political stance, though he finds traditional left/right distinctions in Israel increasingly less relevant. He actively seeks friendships and learning opportunities outside his immediate community.
1:18:09 Overarching Hope for Israel: Rosenbloom concludes with a strong sense of hope for Israel and the Jewish people, rooted in an inherent Jewish optimism, believing that despite historical challenges, they are growing stronger in Torah learning and making significant contributions to the world.