If you missed this classic episode, you'll want to catch it. And if you heard it back in the day, it's worth a refresher. Enjoy! Zionism's founders wanted to change Jewish character and culture. In 2019, the data is in, and we can now see that they succeeded. (although not necessarily in the ways they intended) In this important episode, Alan and Mike interview Shmuel Rosner . Shmuel Rosner's Webpage with many relevant links. This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is aw...
Jul 07, 2022•Season 7Ep. 264
Well, there goes the government. It looks like we're headed to the 5th elections in under 4 years. How did this happen? Why did this happen? What happens next? Mike is joined by Calev Ben-Dor and new team member Mordechai Cohen. Join us! This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Masa Website Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recommend our podcast. If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher....
Jun 22, 2022•42 min•Season 7Ep. 263
Ummm... WHAT?! What the heck is happening? Is the Israeli government about to change the status of West Bank settlements in a political fight? What does that mean for the almost half a million Jews who live there? Why are right wing parties endangering the settlement movement? Will this receive international attention? What is the plan here? How will all of this mess turn out. Mike and Liel try to figure out what's going on while explaining it to you... and themselves. Join us! This episode was ...
Jun 08, 2022•41 min•Season 7Ep. 262
Why are posts about Israel on social media so distorted and strange? What can we do about it? How should Israel educators discuss these issues with their students? Social media and PR expert Emily Schrader joined Liel and Mike for a discussion filled with thought provoking insights and perspective. This episode is a must listen! Join us! Emily Schrader This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Masa Website Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recommend ...
Jun 02, 2022•52 min•Season 7Ep. 261
Why is the current government coalition in constant chaos? What does that mean for Israel's present and future? How do we follow these stories? Rajel Leghziel joined Matt and Mike to explain. Join us! This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Masa Website Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recommend our podcast. If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher....
May 27, 2022•37 min•Season 7Ep. 260
With all the challenges facing the current coalition, can the government possibly last? What does it represent in terms of civility in politics? Why does civility matter so much to the health of democracy? Calev joined Mike and Matt to discuss. Join us! This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Masa Website Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recommend our podcast. If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teache...
May 19, 2022•37 min•Season 7Ep. 259
What does it mean that member of Knesset Amichai Chikli has been declared a renegade? What does that show us about Israeli democracy? And what do the "Yoms" (HaShoah, HaZikaron and HaAtzmaut) mean to us? What do they tell us about Israel and our people? Calev discussed these topics with Liel and Mike. Join us! This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Masa Website Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recommend our podcast. If you have further questions ...
May 04, 2022•40 min•Season 6Ep. 258
When Idit Silman left the government coalition, she gave a strange reason. She said it was the implementing of the Supreme Court's ruling on Chametz in Israeli hospitals. What was that ruling? What are the rules on Chametz in Israeli institutions? What role does that Rabbinate play? How should Israel resolve the tension between its Jewish and Democratic identity? Liel and Mike invited Tani Frank, Director of the Center for Judaism and State Policy, to help explain these issues. Join us! This epi...
Apr 21, 2022•39 min•Season 6Ep. 257
How is the current wave of terrorism different from past ones? Is this another intifada? What is Israel doing about it? What exactly makes terrorism different from "freedom fighting"? To address these questions, and more, Mike and Matt invited Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian to the podcast. Mannie is the Times of Israel's military correspondent, and he brought information, explanation and insight to this troubling situation. Join us! Emanuel Fabian at TOI This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Walli...
Apr 14, 2022•35 min•Season 6Ep. 256
Israelis woke up on Wednesday morning to discover that the Government coalition dropped down to 60. Why did that happen? Why is it happening now? What does it mean for the future? Rajel Leghziel joined Liel and Mike on Thursday morning to explain the situation. It may seem confusing at first, but we help make sense of it all. Join us! TOI News and Analysis This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Masa Website Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recomm...
Apr 07, 2022•37 min•Season 6Ep. 255
Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, famously moved to kibbutz Sde Boker to promote settling the Negev. This week, it hosted a summit of representatives from the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt and the USA. What would Ben-Gurion think about all of this? (including the hotel they stayed at!) Calev joined Liel and Mike to discuss this landmark event. Join us! Negev Summit 2022 Sde Boker The Hotel This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Masa Website Fac...
Mar 30, 2022•31 min•Season 6Ep. 254
After brief regional updates, Alan, Calev and Mike discuss Ukrainian President Zelensky's speech to Knesset members. What did he get wrong? Why did he say what he said? How should Israeli leaders react? When is using the term "Genocide" accurate and helpful? For this and more, join us! Zelensky Speech Be'er Sheva News Sharm-el-Sheikh News This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Masa Website Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recommend our podcast. I...
Mar 23, 2022•55 min•Season 6Ep. 253
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been the focus of our thoughts and conversations. Long time listeners know the Times of Israel's senior analyst, Haviv Rettig Gur, as a friend of the podcast who helps us make sense of complex topics. In this extra long episode, Leil and Mike talk with him about what the conflict means to Israel and the world, and what it might mean for the future. What are the lessons that we must take from what has happened so far? We start this important episode with a powerfu...
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 6Ep. 252
A few weeks ago, Knesset Member Bezalel Smotrich visited the UK. The Board of Deputies of British Jews, UK Jewry’s mainstream umbrella organization, greeted him with the following tweet: “We reject the abominable views and the hate-provoking ideology of Bezalel Smotrich. We call on all members of the British Jewish community to show him the door. Get back on the plane, Bezalel, and be remembered as a disgrace forever.” Why were they so negative and uninviting? How should we best characterize Smo...
Mar 04, 2022•41 min•Season 6Ep. 251
What challenges does the war in Ukraine pose to Israeli diplomats? How does Israel balance its relationships with both Ukraine and Russia? What is Jewish life in Ukraine like? What is Israel's responsibilities towards those Jews? Mike and Liel were fortunate to have Lazar Berman, the Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter, as a guest to explain what this conflict means. (and also - what it doesn't mean) Join us for this important and timely episode! Since 2004, Masa has been at the forefront of b...
Feb 24, 2022•45 min•Season 6Ep. 250
Middle East expert Calev Ben-Dor joined Liel and Mike for a news roundup. They covered regional diplomacy, the Whoopi Goldberg race weirdness and Amnesty International UK's declaration that Israel is an Apartheid state. Fun times? You be the judge! Join us! This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recommend our podcast. If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher....
Feb 10, 2022•43 min•Season 6Ep. 249
Should non-Jews be cast to play Jews in movies? Is Jewface a thing? Matt and Sharon joined Liel and Mike to discuss this question. Spoiler alert: three out of four of the participants thought this raised interesting questions. Mike was the fourth, and went on a bunch of rants. Just so you know. Join us! Golda's grandson ok's Helen Mirren TOI article from last year This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recommend o...
Feb 04, 2022•40 min•Season 6Ep. 248
We were very confused by the angry protests over JNF tree planting in the Negev. What could be less controversial than planting trees? We invited Elianne Kremer of the Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality to explain it to us. She gave us the background and discussed the difficulties facing Israel's Bedouin minority. She also sent us the information links below. Join us! TOI Article Hi all, Many thanks for hosting me, I really enjoyed it. Please see here our website on reports and position ...
Jan 31, 2022•51 min•Season 6Ep. 247
What is Gush Katif day? It occurs annually on the 22nd of Shevat, which falls on Monday, January 24th, this year. Leil and Mike invited Yoav Yaron, a fellow educator who was born and raised in Neve Dekalim in Gush-Katif. What was it like growing up there? Why is it so important for Israelis and Zionists to learn about their communities and the disengagement? What are the remaining relevant controversies? For this, and much more on this important topic, join us! This episode was edited by the ama...
Jan 21, 2022•50 min•Season 6Ep. 246
What is life like in Jewish communities in India? What is life like in Israel for Jews from India? This week, Masa Israel Teaching Fellow Maayan Shapurkar joined Liel and Mike to answer these questions and many more. Join us! This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recommend our podcast. If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher....
Jan 14, 2022•34 min•Season 6Ep. 245
Dear Listener, Always get as much Hillel Halkin content as you possibly can. If you want to know why, listen to our current episode. Alan rejoined Mike for this one. They discussed Ahad Ha'am's arguments with Herzl, but it's really about why the history of Zionism is so relevant to us today. Normally we discuss current events, but a scholar like Hillel reminds us that we need to be informed by our past. Don't miss this one! Hillel Halkin His Amazon Page This episode was edited by the amazing Ben...
Jan 06, 2022•49 min•Season 6Ep. 244
What level of threat does a nuclear Iran pose to Israel? What can the world do about it? What will Israel do about it? Liel & Mike turned to expert analyst, Miri Eisen (Col. Ret.) for the answers. Join us! The Israel Conversation by Masa Israel Journey is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Liel Zahavi-Asa. This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recommend our podcast. ...
Dec 31, 2021•51 min•Season 6Ep. 243
How should Zionist students manage their campus life? How can they express their love for Israel in the current environment? What advice can Israel educators give them to help navigate these challenges? How do these time fit into Jewish history? Liel brought a student's story to Matt and Mike, and they hashed it out. Join us! The Israel Conversation by Masa Israel Journey is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Liel Zahavi-Asa. This episode was edited by ...
Dec 23, 2021•49 min•Season 6Ep. 242
Recorded before the protests against travel bans , this episode explains what they were all about. Entrepreneur Josh Koonin joined us to explain the growing frustration policy. How accurately is the government assessing the dangers to public health? How much of their decisions are based on politics? How much is the tension between the current and former administrations fuling the chaos? How problematic is this lack of tourism for Israel beyond economic concerns? Join us! Josh's Blog Article Josh...
Dec 16, 2021•48 min•Season 6Ep. 241
How should Diaspora Jews express their disagreement with Israeli government policies? Have Israeli and Zionist leadership confused our roles and relationship? Rabbi Haim Shalom has some pretty strong opinions on the issue. Possibly controversial and definitely provocative, you won't want to miss this episode. Join us! Haim Shalom The Israel Conversation by Masa Israel Journey is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Liel Zahavi-Asa. This episode was edited...
Dec 02, 2021•57 min•Season 6Ep. 240
Andrew Getraer recently stepped down from his 20 year position. He was the director of one of the largest Hillels in America. How has Jewish life changed on campus? What are the challenges that lie ahead. Join us! JTA Article The Israel Conversation by Masa Israel Journey is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Liel Zahavi-Asa. This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is awesome! Facebook page Please rate, review, share and recomme...
Nov 25, 2021•Season 6Ep. 239
How serious is the challenge of food insecurity in Israel? What is being done about it? How can we help? Joseph Gitler of Leket joined Liel and MIke to discuss the challenge in what turned out to be a fun, down to earth conversation. Join us! Leket In 2003, Joseph Gitler founded Leket Israel –The National Food Bank as a one-man volunteer operation to respond to the paradox of growing hunger and poverty in Israel on the one hand and significant food waste on the other. Today, Leket Israel distrib...
Nov 19, 2021•47 min•Season 6Ep. 238
Shalom lappin fears that American Jewry is facing dangers ahead. Liel and Mike invited him to the podcast to discuss his insightful article in the Fathom Journal . Is American Democracy under threat from radicals on the left and the right? What does that mean for American Jews? What are the relevant precedents from Jewish History? This extra long episode is challenging and thought provoking. Join us! Article on American Jewry Re-Emergence of the Jewish Question How Class Disappeared From Western...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 6Ep. 237
There was a recent dust up in the headlines over Israel designating 6 Palestinian NGOs as terror organizations. Mike and Matt asked NGO Monitor's Director of Communications, Itai Reuveni, to explain the story. What are NGOs? Who is funding them? If defending human rights is a good thing, why are these organizations problematic? What should be done about this problem? Join us for the enlightening background to this confusing news story. NGO Monitor is an independent and nonpartisan research insti...
Nov 01, 2021•46 min•Season 6Ep. 236
Dr. Daniel Rose is the Director Of Education at The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust. Around the anniversary of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks' passing, Daniel joined Leil and Mike for a moving and wide ranging conversation. What role did Israel play in Rabbi Sacks' life? What is the difference between being a Zionist who is religious and a religious Zionist? How did Rabbi Sacks differ in his understanding of Religious Zionism from so many in Israel today? What was his dream for Israel's future? Join us! A s...
Oct 25, 2021•51 min•Season 6Ep. 235
