Ronit Heyd: 'If Israel becomes less democratic, it will become less Jewish'

You cannot separate Israel’s democratic and Jewish identity, Ronit says. The two are interdependent in the Jewish state. Ronit Heyd is an Israeli social leader and activist who spent over 20 years leading initiatives dealing with Israel’s intimate and domestic issues—those outsiders often overlook because of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict’s large shadow. Previously leading the New Israel Fund’s social justice initiative, religious freedom project, and capacity-building arm Shatil, Ronit is now the vice president and director of Shalom Hartman Institute’s Center for Israeli and Jewish Identity. She holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School as a Wexner Fellow and an MA in social psychology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Now, she joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including democracy, religion, and the country’s future. This interview was held on June 18. Here are our 18 questions: As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history? What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for? Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy? Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same? Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism? Should Zionism define Jewish identity in and outside of Israel? If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin? Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism? What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today? What does the world misunderstand about Israelis? Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic? What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters? Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime? Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”? What is a book you think everyone needs to read about Israel? Where’s a spot in Israel you find comfort and peace? Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?