Podcast Summary

Podcast: Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
Episode: The Vilification of World Jewry — with Yossi Klein Halevi & Donniel Hartman
Date: December 18, 2025
Topic: The challenges, vulnerabilities, and evolving identity of global Jewish communities following the Bondi Beach terror attack in Australia.

Episode Overview

This episode is a powerful reflection on the state of global Jewry—especially in the Diaspora—amidst a global surge of anti-Jewish violence. Host Dan Senor introduces a cross-posted conversation between Yossi Klein Halevi and Donniel Hartman (from the For Heaven’s Sake podcast) focused on the aftermath of the Bondi Beach attack, the unique features of the Australian Jewish community, and the broader dilemmas now confronting Jewish life outside Israel.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context: A Wave of Antisemitic Violence

• Recent anti-Jewish attacks are occurring globally: Australia (Bondi Beach), New York, Amsterdam, San Bernardino, and campus arson in San Francisco.
• Political and social climates are shifting; international leaders make statements, and even classic safe havens are rattled.

Memorable Quote

"It is beginning to seem like, well, a globalized intifada."
— Dan Senor [02:17]

2. The Uniqueness of Australian Jewry

• Vibrant, Zionist, Distinct:
  Australian Jewry is small but builds a robust, proud, highly Zionist community. High day school attendance and strong Jewish identity are core traits.
• Diaspora Identity:
  Not just an outpost of American/Canadian Jewry. Australian Jews have created their own dynamic, with deep roots and successive migration waves (especially Holocaust survivors, South Africans, Russians, and Ukrainians).

Memorable Quotes

“There is a Judaism being built in a loving, vibrant way... They love Israel. But it’s a love and a commitment not necessarily an aliyah to Israel.”
— Donniel Hartman [05:57]

“Most of them were second generation children of survivors. And there was no place in the Diaspora that I felt more at home in than Australian Jewry.”
— Yossi Klein Halevi [09:09]

3. The Emotional Toll: Rage, Sadness, and Vulnerability

• Rage at Vilification: Yossi expresses intense anger—not merely at attackers but at those (media, political, and even some Jews) who, through rhetoric and lies, contributed to an atmosphere that made the violence possible.
• Consequences of Language: Both speakers discuss how persistent demonization and extreme anti-Israel rhetoric legitimize and encourage acts of hate.
• Sadness and Mourning: Donniel describes the heavy sadness of realizing that vulnerability and violence are now normalized features of Jewish life even in previously "safe" places.

Notable Quotes

“I felt rage toward all who... turned us into a genocidal Nazi-like country. So, yes, if we are Nazis, then diaspora Jews who support us are pro-Nazi—they’re fair game.”
— Yossi Klein Halevi [13:06]

“But when a certain language becomes so vitriolic... there’s going to be consequences, there’s going to be legitimacy for the evil which exists to emerge.”
— Donniel Hartman [15:00]

4. The Blurred Lines: Antisemitism vs. Anti-Zionism

• Debate on whether anti-Zionism equates to antisemitism is rendered "irrelevant" by the real-world effects—rhetorical distinctions are less significant than lethal consequences.
• The focus must shift from motives to tangible threats and community safety.

Notable Exchange

Yossi: “What you’re really saying, Donniel, is that the whole conversation about whether anti-Zionism is antisemitism or not is irrelevant...” [16:22]
Donniel: “I wouldn’t go that far... but it doesn’t mean it’s any less dangerous, and we as a community have to respond accordingly.” [17:10]

5. Loss of Immunity: The End of a Safe Diaspora Era

• Historic Shift:
  Post-Holocaust, English-speaking Jewish communities largely felt immune from physical threat—no longer.
• Global Ripple:
  From Europe (1980s) to Latin America (1990s) to now Australia, successive shocks have stripped Jewish communities of their sense of safety.
• Existential Questions:
  Leaders are asking if it's time to consider leaving; for the first time, even “last havens” are forcing this conversation.

Quote

“The shock of October 7th was that the English-speaking Diaspora lost its immunity from physical threat. The post-Holocaust era is now definitively over.”
— Yossi Klein Halevi [27:13]

6. To Stay or To Leave: Deep Dilemmas

• For many, leaving is not an easy answer, especially for those who have invested in rich, unique Diaspora communities.
• Donniel emphasizes the cost—emotional, communal, and spiritual—of simply uprooting.

Exchange

“When you realize you’ve created something special, the option of leaving… only the person in the community itself… knows the gift they’ve created.”
— Donniel Hartman [33:13]

"I’m a Zionist, but I’m also a Diasporist… the fact that we have a diaspora has immeasurably enriched my personal Jewish life."
— Yossi Klein Halevi [34:24]

7. Dignity, Security, and Identity

• The difference between physical safety and psychological dignity: in Israel, Jews are statistically less safe, but have the dignity of self-defense. Diaspora Jews now wrestle with lost trust in authorities and a sense of abandonment.
• The enduring value of multiple Jewish homelands and traditions; the globalization of Jewish pain, but also its endurance and creativity.

Memorable Quotes

"We may be the most insecure physically, but we are actually the strongest Jewish community in the world psychologically."
— Yossi Klein Halevi [36:37]

"My sadness is that we have to live with that insecurity… but I want Israel as a center of Jewish life. But I love Israel in which the Jewish people have many homes."
— Donniel Hartman [37:56]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Global Context & Attacks Overview: [01:07]–[04:48]
• Australian Jewish Community: Distinctive Features: [04:48]–[12:33]
• Personal Reactions: Rage vs. Sadness: [13:02]–[23:21]
• Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism, & Dangerous Rhetoric: [14:42]–[19:47]
• Security, Vulnerability, & Post-Holocaust Immunity: [21:05]–[30:12]
• Should We Leave? Existential Community Questions: [30:12]–[34:13]
• Diaspora Enrichment & Conclusion: [34:13]–[39:40]

Notable Quotes: Quick Reference

• “It is beginning to seem like, well, a globalized intifada.” — Dan Senor [02:17]
• “Most of them were second generation children of survivors. And there was no place in the Diaspora that I felt more at home in than Australian Jewry.” — Yossi Klein Halevi [09:09]
• “I felt rage… at those who… turned us into a genocidal Nazi-like country. So, yes, if we are Nazis, then diaspora Jews who support us are pro-Nazi—they’re fair game.” — Yossi Klein Halevi [13:06]
• “We may be the most insecure physically, but we are actually the strongest Jewish community in the world psychologically.” — Yossi Klein Halevi [36:37]
• “My sadness is that we have to live with that insecurity… but I want Israel as a center of Jewish life. But I love Israel in which the Jewish people have many homes.” — Donniel Hartman [37:56]

Tone & Style

The conversation is deeply personal, reflective, and at times raw with emotion. Yossi and Donniel merge intellectual analysis with heartfelt candor, challenging listeners to recognize the richness, resilience, and current fragility of global Jewish life. There is both mourning and defiance, a call to thoughtful solidarity, and pragmatic reckoning with the realities of antisemitism today.

Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned with the fate of Jewish communities worldwide. It spotlights not just tragedy and fear, but also the ongoing creativity, diversity, and contribution of Diaspora Jewry. The episode ends in solidarity, mourning, and a reaffirmation of the enduring spirit of world Jewry.