Israel had a cadre of talented leaders. Israel also enjoyed the support of world Jewry resulting in sorely needed funds and volunteers that formed the beginning of the Israeli Air Force. The least likely of allies was the Soviet Union, which was and would return to being fiercely anti-Zionist, but at this critical period backed Israel and allowed its satellite Czechoslovakia to supply Israel with arms. King Abdul of Jordan, pragmatically realized that Israel was here to stay and would have prefe...
Dec 27, 2023•10 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Despite the embargo on armaments to Israel, the Israelis figured out daring ways to smuggle in weapons. The arrival of these munitions enabled the Hagana to attempt to break the stranglehold on Jerusalem. The all important site overlooking the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway was Kastel and the Arabs under the command of their most dynamic leader, Abdel Kader al-Husseini, drove the Jews out. But not before a Hagana gunner eliminated Husseini, seriously crippling Arab leadership. Abdel Kader al-Hussein...
Dec 13, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 36
The Young Israel of West Hempstead burgeoned to a community of 750 families under the dynamic leadership of Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer of blessed memory. Referred to as the “Rabbi’s Rabbi,” this title does no justice to the overwhelming impact that he had upon anyone he encountered. It wasn’t charisma, and it certainly wasn’t hip coolness; it was the rarest blend of mastery of every facet of Torah, exquisite sensitivity, and how a God-fearing individual must consistently conduct themselves. Anyone who...
Nov 29, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 35
As we noted in our previous episode, a spirit of volunteerism and unity has swept Israel. Everyone seems to be joining the war effort in their own modest way, and the result is enterprising ingenuity marshalled in a scope that is hard to comprehend and beautiful to behold. The murderous and barbaric Hamas attack exacted a very heavy price, but in its aftermath the people of Israel have united and put aside their long-standing differences. There are those from around the world – even cowboys – wh...
Nov 16, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Consequential to the Hammas barbaric attack on October 7, 2023, the residents of Israel have locked arms in a sincere display of unity and determination to support each fellow countryman. The amazing acts of generosity, altruism, volunteerism and philanthropy are unprecedented on the world stage. Differences that had ripped the country apart prior to the Hammas attack, are nearly forgotten, as Israelis have soberly realized that they face an existential threat and everyone must join in this batt...
Nov 01, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Teller From Jerusalem has culled the trenchant interviews and clips to provide a perspective and understanding of what has transpired since the outbreak of the Hamas terrorist incursion. The news is appalling, but the reaction of Israel and of Israel’s friends is heartening and emboldening. Listen to the acts of kindness, unity, and generosity that have enveloped a country on the brink of a serious escalation of the war. This episode captures the determination and the love of the people of Israe...
Oct 18, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Our second installment on how to avoid shaming others takes note that the desire to humiliate adversaries is particularly common in politics. Just because someone is competing with you for the same seat, gives no right to violate privacy and humiliate. Many other key rules are discussed and the children’s ditty, “Sticks and Stones may Break my Bones, but Words will Never Hurt me” is dismissed as incorrect. Lastly, caution is issued over the damage that can be so readily and devastatingly achieve...
Aug 02, 2023•18 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Israel’s Law of Return was designed to solve the problem of persecuted Jews who had nowhere to flee, for no country would allow them entry. They would all be welcomed in Israel. Israel did not just open her doors, but actively took part in dangerous rescue missions to bring entire populations to Israel where they could be resettled in safety. One of the most famous missions was Operation Magic Carpet which, in the span of one year, clandestinely airlifted nearly 50,000 Jews from Yemen, where the...
Jul 19, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 30
The British Mandatory government enforced a ban not only on Jews entering the country, but also on Jews acquiring weapons or manufacturing arms under the penalty of death. Where was Israel to acquire weapons to defend herself? There were risky efforts to smuggle in weaponry and clandestine production in Israel. But the production that was done locally was neither the volume nor the dimension that Israel required. But Jewish innovation which was the hallmark of the War of Independence met this ch...
Jul 05, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 29
The Partition Plan of November 1947 has a glaring error insofar as that it never occurred; and there never was a partition between a Jewish and an Arab country. The significance of the Partition Plan was that it delineated a point from which both sides could begin their struggle. For the Zionists it was never more than a starting point as no one believed that it was the ending point for the map according to the Partition Plan was unrealistic and absurd. From the Arab position the Partition Plan ...
Jun 21, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Teller From Jerusalem was horrified when a Google search for “public humiliation” rendered clips and even websites devoted to shaming others. The actual evil of public shaming has scant representation – even in an age where social media has made the humiliation of others instantaneous and ubiquitous. The first of our installments on this subject will focus upon how to avoid shaming others. In our discussion regarding revealing the former criminal behavior of someone who is now leading an ethical...
Jun 07, 2023•17 min•Season 2Ep. 27
The UN was about to vote on partition and surprisingly the Soviet Union supported it as did the US (The United States means President Truman, the State Department was opposed). The world was shocked by the sudden Soviet support of the partition plan affording a home for the Jews, for this contravened all of Stalin policy heretofore. Although Israel was not yet ready to defend itself militarily against its Arab enemies, the constellation of countries willing to support the partition vote would ne...
May 24, 2023•18 min•Season 2Ep. 26
TFJ is very proud to welcome Ambassador Daniel Taub who served as Israel’s ambassador to the UK from 2011 – 2015. An academic scholar (attending both Oxford and Harvard Universities) playwright extraordinaire, and blessed with an outstanding sense of humor which has made him beloved and adored in all of his postings. Ambassador Taub marshals his encyclopedic knowledge and treasure trove of anecdotes to enlighten and edify regarding one of the most seminal events in the ultimate establishment of ...
May 10, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Even after the conclusion of WWII Zionist fulfillment faced enormous hurdles. They British had every intention of maintaining the same blockade of Jews to Palestine which they enforced during the war denying the Jews haven that would have saved their lives. Jewish lives was simply not as important as antagonizing the Arab world and threatening the importation of oil to Britain. And if illegal immigrants managed to sneak in, the British would capture and deport them. The Patria was crammed with 1...
Mar 29, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 24
A considerate individual thinks about the needs of others and recognizes that they are greater than your own needs or conveniences. Primarily, it means not living with a “me-first” approach. On this episode we shall explore consideration regarding driving, being punctual and not wasting other people’s time. We will also discuss the rabbinic concept of “say a little, but do a lot” and not raising other people’s expectations, only to disappoint them in the end. Good manners also govern how we shou...
Mar 15, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Israel’s War of Independence resulted in three distinct refugee problems: 70,000 Israelis that were displaced from their homes and villages because of the war, 700,000 Arabs that fled Israel because of the war, and over 800,000 Jewish refugees from Arab lands that had to flee for their lives. Teller From Jerusalem filters between the truth and the propaganda concerning the misery and suffering of those disposed. It is very telling how Israel and her neighbors reacted to the refugees of their res...
Mar 01, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 22
TFJ Season 2 Episode 21 Foreign Volunteers, The Battle for Lod and the Displacement of Non-Combatants Foreign volunteers were critical to Israel’s victory in the War of Independence. Israel’s fledgling air force was made up of Jewish English speaking pilots, veterans of WWII. It became clear that the only way that Israel could persevere through the difficult beginning of the War of Independence would be if she would seize the initiative and Plan Danny was launched. Part of this operation was to ...
Feb 15, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 21
TFJ Season 2 Episode 20 The Arab Revolt, The White Paper and the Évian Conference With the rise of Jewish immigration to Palestine in the 1930s the Arabs lodged their protest with violence, attacks, murder and mayhem that became known as the Arab Revolt (1936-1939). In response to the revolt, famous appeaser Neville Chamberlin, far more interested in Arab oil than the plight of millions of desperate Jews whose lives were in imminent danger, issued The White Paper of 1939. This entailed a severe ...
Feb 01, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Gratitude should not be short-term. Ideally one should feel and express gratitude for favors done to family members and the community, yet minimize the favors that you have done for others. Otherwise, you may walk around in a constant state of annoyance for not being recognized for the good that you have performed. Gratitude is the most important component to achieve happiness, but even gratitude cannot help if happiness is confused with pleasure. There are many who believe that the pursuit of p...
Jan 18, 2023•30 min
Close to 100,000 Jewish residents in Jerusalem were starving because of an Arab siege of the city. A garrison manned by Jordanian gunners in the high grounds of Latrun overlooking the sole road to Jerusalem saw to it that no trucks bringing relief to the city could pass. Ben Gurion ordered that Latrun be taken, but Israel had neither the manpower nor the weaponry to launch a successful assault and each of its attacks were futile and very costly. A shepherd path was accidentally discovered beyond...
Jan 04, 2023•17 min
Newly declared prime minister David Ben Gurion said that if Israel can hold out for the first two weeks of battle (in the War for Independence) than “we will win.” Those first two weeks proved to be the bloodiest of all, but with her back against the wall, Israel prevailed in repelling attacks, enlarging its borders and freeing all but the Old City of Jerusalem which had been under siege.
Dec 21, 2022•17 min
At the beginning of the War of Independence Israel was vastly outnumbered and did not had sufficient weapons to defend herself. In those initial weeks before weapons began to arrive, primarily form Czechoslovakia, it was only the daring and ingenuity of lone Israeli soldiers coupled with industrial helpings of Divine Providence that enabled Israel to hold on. Ron Feller is one such hero who single-handedly took on and defeated an entire Egyptian mechanized platoon. Swedish diplomat Count Folk Be...
Dec 07, 2022•16 min
In TFJ’s first installment on gratitude, the correlation between gratitude and happiness is explored. Although goals are critically important, expectations are a recipe for misery. Furthermore, the less you expect the more grateful you will be, and the more you expect the less grateful you will be. Counting your blessings is not merely a phrase, but a mantra for a grateful person. It is the only way to avoid the all-too common appreciating what you have, only when it is taken away....
Nov 23, 2022•21 min
Once Israel declared her independence, she was attacked by all of her neighbors. The Hagana, which will become the Israel Defense Forces, mobilized any able-bodied man or woman and this amounted to barely 30,000. The Arabs had significant manpower and far greater firepower and air forces. The Jews had nothing comparable. Lacking defense in depth the Jews could not afford to give ground on any of their four fronts. But now that the British mandate was over, the Jews were able to import weapons th...
Nov 09, 2022•16 min
Declaring independence was a daring move, for Israel knew that the very declaration was an invitation to immediate war against five organized armies. Ben Gurion understood that it was now or never. Israel’s Declaration of Independence assured that Israel would be open for Jewish immigration, and for the ingathering of the exiles. It would foster the development of the country for the benefit of all inhabitants. It would be based upon freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Isr...
Oct 26, 2022•23 min
Following the UN vote for partition in November 1947, the British informed that they would not carry out on the policy voted on by the General Assembly, and they would remain in Palestine until May 1948. The British would no longer intervene in any fighting between Arabs and Jews, but they would still steadfastly enforce the ban on weapons for Jews. The Hagana was planning its attack to liberate Jewish residents under siege in Jerusalem. The road leading to Jerusalem was subject to sniper fire f...
Oct 12, 2022•18 min
TFJ Season 2: Episode 9 Character Workshop Criticizing constructively is an act of friendship and concern. You can help someone, especially if you catch the problem early on before it becomes too ingrained in the conduct of the offender to alter their behavior. But if a relationship does not exist, the critique will be rejected and resented. Several experts will be sharing their advice how to best go about offering feedback including five points from TFJ’s friend, Charlie Harary. Learn more at T...
Jul 13, 2022•23 min•Season 2Ep. 9
TFJ: The Birth of Israel Series 2 Episode 9 There was no secure area in the section of the land allocated to the Jews where the Israelis had a geographic and demographic advantage. The embargo of weapons to Palestine made it difficult for the Haganah to arm its troops while the Arab armies had resources in Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Because of the fragility of the situation, and fear that the United States and other countries would not recognize the new Jewish state, Ben Gurion made a gutsy decisi...
Jun 29, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 9
TFJ: The Birth of Israel Series 2: Episode 8 It is unlikely that had FDR been the president that he would have recognized Israel. Truman was the first to recognize the Jewish State 11 minutes after her independence had been declared. There are two primary reasons as to why Truman contradicted his State department on this thorny issue, but there is no dispute that were it not for quick-witted and loyal Eddie Jacobson, it would not have happened. Edited and Produced by Alex Drucker Learn more at T...
Jun 15, 2022•21 min
TFJ: Season 2: Episode 7: Character Workshop Comparing to others and dealing with the past are no nos. Harsh words cannot be retracted, and even if the offender is forgiven, the offended party will not forget what was said. When you offer an explanation with criticism, it is often not viewed as an attack. Learn how to use the "Power of the Preface" which enables one to say nearly anything and receive a positive response, if it is framed correctly. Edited and Produced by Alex Drucker Learn more a...
Jun 01, 2022•21 min
