For Heaven's Sake

Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi bring very different perspectives to the same table, and that tension is exactly what makes For Heaven's Sake so compelling. The show is named after the Talmudic concept of machloket l'shem shemayim -- disagreement for the sake of heaven -- and the hosts take that seriously. Hartman is the president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, and Klein Halevi is a senior research fellow there, and together they tackle the moral dimensions of issues affecting Israel, world Jewry, and Zionism. Elana Stein Hain joins as a regular voice, adding another layer of scholarly depth. Episodes run 30 to 50 minutes and come out roughly every two weeks, which means each one feels deliberate and well-prepared rather than reactive. Over 216 episodes, the show has built a reputation for treating its audience like adults who can handle nuance. They talk about antisemitism, Israeli coalition politics, the American Jewish relationship with Israel, and religious pluralism without retreating to talking points. The 4.7-star rating from 377 reviews reflects a listenership that values serious conversation. This is not a news podcast -- it is a thinking podcast. If you want to understand why smart, committed Jews disagree about fundamental questions, spend some time here.