Understanding Israeli Perspectives with Yossi Klein Halevi

Welcome to the Schaarai Zedek Podcast, featuring sermons, teachings, conversations, and special programs from Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa, Florida.
This Episode: Understanding Israeli Perspectives
Recorded live on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Congregation Schaarai Zedek.
In this special joint program presented by Congregation Schaarai Zedek and the Saint Leo University Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies, Rabbi Joel Simon and Dr. Matt Tapie lead a live conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and co-host of For Heaven’s Sake.
Originally planned as a conversation about how dialogue around Israel has shifted since Oct. 7, 2023, the program also took on added urgency as Halevi joined remotely from Israel during the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Together, the speakers explore Israeli perspectives on this moment, the meaning of Israel in Jewish life, the challenges of interfaith and communal dialogue, and what it means to hold difficult conversations with honesty, nuance, and shared purpose.
This episode offers a thoughtful and timely discussion of Jewish peoplehood, moral complexity, and the ongoing work of understanding across difference.