In a stark warning, renowned Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari has cautioned that Israel’s current trajectory could precipitate a “spiritual catastrophe” for Judaism, potentially voiding 2,000 years of Jewish thought, culture, and existence. Speaking on the Unholy Podcast, Harari drew parallels between the ongoing conflict since October 7, 2023, and the fall of the Second Temple in 70 CE, describing it as one of the most pivotal turning points in Jewish history.
Harari emphasized that Judaism has historically excelled in surviving physical catastrophes, from Roman conquests to the Holocaust. However, he argued the present crisis poses a unique spiritual threat. If unchecked, he warned, it could lead to an ethnic cleansing campaign in Gaza and the West Bank, resulting in the expulsion of over two million Palestinians. This would pave the way for a “greater Israel” founded on Jewish supremacy, the erosion of Israeli democracy, and a society venerating power and violence – values antithetical to millennia of Jewish teachings.
The historian painted a grim worst-case scenario where a militarily and economically robust Israel redefines Judaism globally. Jews worldwide, he said, would be compelled to confront this new identity, unable to dismiss it as inauthentic, much like communists grappling with the Soviet Union in the 1950s. “This will be the new Judaism and maybe the only Judaism,” Harari stated.
While stressing that this outcome is preventable, Harari urged clarity on the stakes, highlighting the risk of a paradigm shift where military success masks profound spiritual loss. The comments come amid escalating tensions in the region, raising questions about long-term implications for interfaith relations and global Jewish identity.
