Nechumi Yaffe: 'I hate the idea that we are being killed and need to kill'

As a Haredi woman of the Israeli left, Nechumi Yaffe lives between a few different worlds—and she feels at home in Israel's new "Religious Left" movement. A professor of public policy at Tel Aviv University, Nechumi is a political and social psychologist focused on the Haredi communities in America and Israel (of which she is a part). She is a leading expert guiding the Israeli government on Haredi affairs—from COVID-19 to the education system. Since Oct. 7, Nechumi has coordinated over 100,000 Haredi emergency volunteers as part of the "Unity Command Center" and has risen as a social leader of the Religious Left ("Smol Ha-Emuni"). Now, she joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the Haredi draft, Israel's hostage negotiations, and religion since October 7. 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? How have your religious views changed since Oct. 7? 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? Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic? Should Israel be a religious state? If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin? Should all Israelis serve in the army? 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? Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption? Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime? What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war? Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”? Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?