Reflecting on Israel at 76 with Daniel Gordis

Daniel Gordis is Koret Distinguished Fellow at Shalem College. He is the author of thirteen books and the widely read blog/podcast, “Israel from the Inside.” Gordis’ Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn was named the 2016 National Jewish Book Award’s “Book of the Year.” Ambassador Dennis Ross, reflecting on the book, wrote, “When I am asked ‘Is there one book to read about Israel?’ I now have an answer.” Gordis’ writing has appeared in magazines and newspapers including the New York Times, The New Republic, the New York Times Magazine, Azure, Commentary Magazine, TIME, The Atlantic and Foreign Affairs. In 2014, the Jerusalem Post listed him as one of the world’s 50 most influential Jews, while Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic has written, “If you asked me, ‘of all the people you know, who cares the most about the physical, moral and spiritual health of Israel?’ I would put the commentator and scholar Daniel Gordis at the top of the list.” Gordis’ most recent book, Impossible Takes Longer: 75 Years After its Creation, Has Israel Fulfilled Its Founders’ Dreams?, was awarded Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Sacks Book Prize for 2023. Gordis and his wife live in Jerusalem. They have three married children and several grandchildren.

[@ADag83]

Hearing Daniel speak is helping me process so many things that I've barely let my mind rest on. The orphaned children hiding for hours in closets or in bushes or in the back seat of a car with their parents mrdered in the front seat, not knowing whether they can be safe to call out for help. The idea that Hmas may be permitted to remain in power. That they will be eager to do this again.
I guess I'm grateful to you, Daniel Gordis, even though I'm weeping at my desk at work.

[@thetubeschannel]

I recently heard that near 400, 000 people left Israel after Oct 7 because they did not want to be called to serve in the war. Does anyone know if that's true? That number sounds too high.

[@UnownLeaf]

No way is that true. Maybe 4000, but I've seen no report of any number.

[@thetubeschannel]

@@UnownLeaf maybe it included people who wanted to leave because of fearing the war. ?

[@460mas]

It’s probably people who worked in other countries and need to return to those jobs.

[@Macrocompassion]

I find from your remarks Danny GordIs, that you have a very limited understanding about how the people of Israel really feel and behave. AM YISRAEL CHI.

[@trudygreener1929]

A big disappointment. Daniel Gordis sounds like just another newscaster and commentator on Israeli TV (channels 12 and 13). All the same opinions, nothing new, nothing creative. The same heroes, the same villains. The same PC laziness. A shame.

[@OldboyMoy]

Gebocidal country