Humanness: From Mensch to Warrior

What happens to our humanity when fear takes hold? 

In this special summer episode, recorded live in the Beit Midrash of the Shalom Hartman Institute's Jerusalem campus during our Community Leadership Program, Donniel Hartman delivers a solo lecture on the journey from “mensch” to “warrior." He dissects the Jewish tradition's ambivalent view of human nature, the methodology of mitzvah as training for decency, and the IDF Code of Ethics now under pressure after October 7. A thought-provoking meditation on vulnerability, moral instincts, and whether a people with power can remain a people of conscience. 

For the source sheet that accompanies this lecture: https://shalomhartman.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hartman_D_Humaness-from-Mensch-to-Warrior_CLP-2_Plenary_Jul-2-2026-1.pdf  

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Past episodes of this show, and other podcasts from Ark Media can be found at arkmedia.org. 

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Here’s more from the Shalom Hartman Institute this week: 

Watch select sessions from our summer learning in Jerusalem.