A long line of Palestinians snaked slowly toward the Al-Hada security checkpoint in the West Bank, where Israeli soldiers stop and question everyone who wants to enter the country. Although the roadblock inconveniences hundreds of innocent people every day, it prevents terrorists from slipping into Israel. On this particular morning, the heavy, stagnant air suffocated one and all and made the wait feel doubly oppressive. A lone figure with a miniature video camera stood in the distance. He wore a scowl on his face and carried despair in his heart. Millions of Israelis could recognize him at a glance, but few knew his political opinions. This truth, however, was about to change.

When he retired in August 2007 from Channel One News, Haim Yavin had been the anchor of Israel's top rated newscast for 37 years. Israelis respected him and fondly called him "Mr. Television." One journalist even dubbed him "the voice of Israel." But on that sweltering morning four years ago, Yavin broke a sacred trust that he had earned from his adoring audience during his distinguished career. He set aside his professional commitment to report facts and to avoid clouding them with personal opinions. Indeed, his sole purpose for being at Al-Hada was to gather video footage for a personalized documentary, "Land of the Settlers," that he hoped would convince Israelis to abandon the Jewish communities beyond the Green Line-the international border established after Israel's War of Independence. Peace remains impossible, he argued, as long as Israeli settlers live in the disputed territories. "Some of my friends hate the settlers," Yavin said. "I don't hate them, I appreciate them. I even like them, but I think they are wrong and they are endangering us."

In response to the threat he believed existed, Yavin spent two years producing "Land of the Settlers." He understood the risks of stepping out from behind the anchor's desk, but he felt compelled to speak his mind. After the controversial documentary aired on May 31, 2005, the reaction was swift and explosive. Critics such as Bentzi Lieberman, former head of the settlers' council, condemned Yavin for "stereotyping the settler community and portraying them in a negative light." Also, Lieberman worried that the documentary would "divide Israeli society." He demanded that Yavin be fired because the veteran broadcaster could no longer be an objective reporter; his continued presence, Lieberman claimed, constituted "a blow to media ethics."

Because Judaism recognizes that "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21), our tradition places moral limits on the freedom of speech. Haim Yavin's career provides multiple opportunities to explore not only the power of the spoken word, but also the necessity, at times, to restrict freedom of expression.

Here are the words of "Mr. Television" himself:

"This was one of the first live broadcasts [in the late 1960s]. Absorbing new immigrants from the poorer countries put a strain on our economy. We did a live broadcast from Beit She'an, a poor town in the Jordan Valley. One girl who served schoolchildren lunch caught our attention. She hadn't eaten because her parents couldn't pay, even though lunch was inexpensive. One of us asked her if she was hungry. 'Yes, I am hungry,' she said. Her words caused an outcry throughout the country-the government almost fell."

"When Israel was on the verge of signing the peace agreement with Egypt, President Jimmy Carter had to fly here to finalize the wording. He spoke first with Prime Minister Begin and then President Sadat. We knew the delicate content of his talks with Sadat, but the government asked us to keep quiet. We didn't quarrel."

"I would say that there's a red line in broadcasting; you try to be as popular as you can without lowering standards. It's like going to the supermarket: You have to choose between junk food and food that's nourishing. Everyone likes ice cream, but we need to eat carrots."