The Audio Long Read Best of 2025 … so far: Kahane’s ghost: how a long-dead extremist rabbi continues to haunt Israel’s politics
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Aug 20, 2025 The podcast dives into the haunting legacy of a long-gone extremist rabbi and his unsettling influence on modern Israeli politics. It discusses the alarming rise of Kahanism and its acceptance in mainstream political discourse. Through a historical lens, listeners explore how radical ideologies, once marginalized, are now reshaping policies and public sentiment. Attention is drawn to violent narratives and the troubling behavior of radical groups, illustrating a dangerous cycle of extremism in contemporary society.
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Brooklyn Origins Shaped Kahane
- Kahane's roots were American, shaped by postwar Jewish life and a Brooklyn Orthodox household.
- His father Charles mixed religious teaching with right-wing Zionist fundraising that influenced Meir's worldview.
Double Life In New York
- In New York Kahane led a double life as a rabbi and as a confrontational street organizer.
- He co-founded the Jewish Defense League to fight perceived threats with vigilante tactics and violent slogans.
Reviving The Taboo Of Population Transfer
- Kahane reintroduced population transfer as a public political demand, breaking a long taboo.
- He framed expulsion as both a religious imperative and a demographic necessity.
