How did it come to this? Fourth elections in two years! Why did the current government collapse? Who are the major players in this story? What will happen next? Alan, Mike and Matt explain the headlines and all that you'll need to know to follow current events. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! We...
Dec 25, 2020•42 min•Season 5Ep. 204
According to the Talmud, Jews must love converts, and never mistreat them. Then why is David Ben Moshe, a Jew whose conversion was recognized by the Israeli Rabbinate, not being given Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return? Is it because of the criminal record in his pre-conversion life? Is it because he is a Jew of color? This episode is longer than usual for our podcast, and the Israel issues come in about half way through. But we feel that David's personal journey of growth and repentanc...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 202
Why would Israel have assassinated Iran's leading nuclear weapon's expert? What could happen if Iran creates nuclear weapons? How will shifting American administrations change the dynamics in the region? Alan and Mike turned once again to expert Eran Lerman to help us understand this complex issue. Join us! Eran Lerman Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to...
Dec 07, 2020•40 min
With massacres in Northern Ethiopia on the rise, resolving the status of the last Jews there has become a matter of urgency. To explain the issue, Alan and Mike invited Uri Perednik, the founder and CEO of The Struggle for Aliyah for Ethiopian Jewry, an NGO that works with Jews in both Ghondar and Addis Ababa. Why are there Jews still left in Ethiopia? What is life like for them there? What more can Israel do to help them? What can we do? Join us to hear about this important topic. Uri's Links: ...
Nov 26, 2020•35 min•Season 5Ep. 200
Why are Israelis so focused on the NBA draft? Why does this sports news matter? What stories are being ignored? And what do we want to follow up on with Aaron David Miller? Join Alan, Mike and Benji for this news roundup! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! We are happy to take topic requests and questions. ...
Nov 20, 2020•28 min•Season 5Ep. 199
He was in all the rooms where it happened. Having worked for multiple American administrations, Aaron David Miller has tremendous access and insight into the world of Middle East diplomacy. In what way was having a personal relationship with Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat different than just watching him on the news? How do personal relationships shape diplomacy? What should the American team have done differently at Camp David? What were the pros and cons of the Trump administration's appro...
Nov 12, 2020•49 min•Season 5Ep. 198
Now that the dust seems to be settling on the American election, Alan and Mike invited Dr. Shany Mor to give them some perspective. Why are Israelis so focused on USA politics? What do changing administrations really mean for Israel and the Middle East? Join us for this enlightening discussion! Shany Mor at the Israel Democracy Institute Shany Mor at Tablet Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Fa...
Nov 08, 2020•47 min•Season 5Ep. 197
Alan and Mike wanted to know how Palestinians view the normalization of ties with the UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan. They invited friend and colleague Firas Amad to share his thoughts. Firas is from East Jerusalem, and is a tour guide, educator and entrepreneur. We've invited him as a guest speaker to many of our students over the years. His opinions are his own, and they are informed and thought provoking. To understand any issue, it's crucial to hear out all sides and perspectives. That includes, ma...
Oct 29, 2020•46 min•Season 5Ep. 196
Calev Ben-Dor joins Alan and Mike to talk about his recent observations in Fathom. Is Israel an "I" culture or a "we" culture? How does that impact the fight against Corona? What is generating the weekly protests around the country? Is there a path out of the cynicism and distrust for institutions and leadership? Join us! Calev's article in Fathom Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook pag...
Oct 22, 2020•40 min•Season 5Ep. 195
We last spoke to Nathan Jeffay, The Times of Israel's health and science correspondent, in July. He joins Alan and Mike for an update. What are the human and societal implications of over 2,000 deaths and rising? What can we to to protect ourselves and Israel's future? Join us! Nathan Jeffay at Times of Israel Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more epi...
Oct 15, 2020•38 min•Season 5Ep. 194
It a complicated Middle Eastern story, so we turned once again to retired Colonel Miri Eisen. What is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict about? How is Israel involved? What are the implications for the region? Join us! Miri Eisin Website Map Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - History and Maps Example of Youtube footage Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episod...
Oct 07, 2020•46 min•Season 5Ep. 193
Alan, Mike and Sharon take a deep dive into Enlightenment philosophy to unpack why politics have become so dysfunctional. We think you'll enjoy coming along the ride for the ride. How do we debate permitting protests over Yom Kippur prayers in a productive way? How does modern philosophy help that discourse? Does post-modern philosophy help or hinder resolution of social dilemmas? What are facts? Its an unusual episode for our podcast, but a great look into a conversation in the Israel Teachers ...
Sep 25, 2020•41 min•Season 5Ep. 192
Sure it's great news. But why are the U.A.E. and Bahrain normalising relations with Israel now ? What message are they sending to Israel when the mention the Palestinians? How does all of this play out in the culture and politics of the region? How will the imminent U.S. elections affect the Middle East? The always insightful Haviv Rettig Gur explains his perspective to Alan and Mike. Join us! Haviv at Times of Israel Haviv at Mosaic Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by M...
Sep 16, 2020•44 min•Season 5Ep. 191
It's a strange moment to move back to Israel, which is exactly what new team member Sharon Wagner-Zauder did. She joined Alan and Mike to discuss the current Corona outbreak. How did we end up with 4,000 new cases a day? What does this say about Israeli society? What does it say about the current government? How do we manage our emotional equilibrium in an age of disfunction? (spoiler alert: it's rough) Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted...
Sep 11, 2020•43 min•Season 5Ep. 190
Why doesn't the Israeli government have a budget yet? Why are Corona virus cases on the rise? Why are there anti-government protests every week? Did the first two questions answer the third one? Can we find reasons for optimism? Rajel Leghziel joins Alan and Mike to get them up to date and reflect on the disfunction. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, li...
Sep 03, 2020•37 min•Season 5Ep. 189
Politics in Israel are confusing enough. Things get more complicated when you bring in other countries and their policies. Should expats in Israel vote in foreign elections? How should pro-Israel voters outside of Israel cast their votes? How should we talk to each other about our opinions when we disagree? Join Alan, Mike and Matt for a candid discussion. Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Fac...
Aug 27, 2020•34 min•Season 5Ep. 188
Alan and Mike asked Colonel (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS) to explain Israel's new relationship with the United Arab Emirates. What makes this deal so groundbreaking? What does it mean for Israel diplomatically and economically? How does it reflect and affect the various allegiances in the region? What role did the US play in this achievement? What might unforeseen consequences be? Could there be a downside? You won't want to miss this one! Joi...
Aug 19, 2020•41 min•Season 5Ep. 187
Hours before the announcement of a peace treaty with the UAE, Alan and Mike met with Miri Eisen to explain the situation in Lebanon and what it means for Israel. Why did the explosion happen? What does it tell us about the Lebanese government? What may the future bring and is there any reason for optimism? Confused by the whole situation? For clarity and understanding, join us! Miri Eisen's Website Miri Eisin served in the Israeli intelligence community and retired at the rank of full colonel in...
Aug 14, 2020•33 min•Season 5Ep. 186
What is life like for Jews on today's college campuses? What should Jewish educators know about young Jews in North America? What are the challenges and what are some solutions for keeping Jews connected to their people? Former director of Jewish Life and Israel Engagement at Rutgers Hillel in New Jersey, Liel Zahavi-Asa, joins Alan and Mike to share her thoughts and insights. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and A...
Aug 07, 2020•36 min•Season 5Ep. 185
Alan and Mike met with Nathan Jeffay, the Times of Israel health reporter, to explain Israel's fight against the pandemic. What role does government policy have in the rise in Covid19 cases? What advances have Israeli researchers made in fighting the disease? How has Israeli society changed in these strange times? Join us! Nathan Jeffay on Facebook Times of Israel byline Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Ma...
Jul 29, 2020•33 min•Season 5Ep. 184
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 recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios . Ben is the best! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldm...
Jul 24, 2020•Season 5Ep. 148
Do Biblical borders relate to modern conversations about Israel? How should religion and politics relate? Was Peter Beinart's one state solution argument relevant in any way? Join Alan and Mike in the Teachers Lounge. Neil Rogchevsky piece Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! We are happy to take topic reques...
Jul 16, 2020•32 min•Season 5Ep. 183
Ben Katz joined Alan and Mike to talk about his work for Shoval, educating Israeli teachers and professionals about LGBTQ+ issues in the Orthodox community. How does one open a dialogue with Orthodox institutions? How have things changed over the last decade? What impact has his work had? Join us! Shoval on Wikipedia Shoval Website Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscri...
Jul 09, 2020•39 min•Season 5Ep. 182
July 1st has arrived, and Israel's annexation plan remains as opaque as ever. Has entering July changed the story? What is the argument for and against annexation at this time? How do Israeli security analysts understand the region? Two educators, (Alan & Mike) invited a journalist (friend of the podcast Haviv Rettig Gur) to explain where we are, why we're here, and where we might be going. Join us! Note: the opinions expressed in this episode do not represent Makom or the Jewish Agency. Hav...
Jul 02, 2020•33 min•Season 4Ep. 181
Alan, Mike and Matt analyse the Israeli-Palestinian conflict using the security vs. justice paradigm. How to the Israelis see their history as a story of independence and security? How do the Palestinians see their history as a story of injustice? Can there be a process that resolves those narratives into a peaceful solution? Join us! This episode was recorded on Zoom, and then sent to the amazing Ben Wallick Studios for editing. Ben is the best! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast ...
Jun 26, 2020•32 min•Season 4Ep. 180
It is still not clear what form July's annexation will take, if it happens at all. We discussed many of the relevant questions with Calev Ben-Dor in episode 176 . In this episode, Alan, Mike and Matt lay out Benjy's theory of The Three Lenses for viewing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Then, they role play an improvised conversation about annexation from each of the three perspectives. Alan represents social justice, Matt takes on the geopolitical perspective, and Mike plays the fundamentalist...
Jun 18, 2020•49 min•Season 4Ep. 179
Suzanne Singer joins Alan and Mike to discuss Israel's forgotten war. They invited her after her recent Times of Israel blog post. Why did the IDF control southern Lebanon for 18 years? Why did they leave? Why was this long war so forgotten? How are the veterans trying to reclaim their honor? How does the legacy of Suzanne's son Alex, who died in combat in Lebanon, still inspire the Singer family and countless others? Join us! Suzanne's Blog post The Alex Singer Project Alex Singer Book Pumpkin ...
Jun 12, 2020•41 min•Season 4Ep. 178
Often, “interesting times” leave most people feeling helpless and depressed. The modern Zionist movement was born of such difficult times. Pogroms, World Wars, ideological ferment are just a few of the elements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that ultimately fueled the creative building of a new historical plateau for the Jewish nation. Zionism is a form of activism and is as relevant today as ever. In this episode, Alan and Mike try to break down how Zionism built growth out of chaos....
Jun 04, 2020•42 min•Season 4Ep. 177
The Palestinian Authority has begun the process of ending security coordination with the Israel Defence Forces. How does that coordination work? What are the consequences of ending it? Why is annexation of West Bank territory such a pressing political issue now? What will happen next? Alan and Mike invited Calev Ben-Dor to explain it all and put it all in context. Join us! This episode was recorded on Zoom, and then sent to the amazing Ben Wallick Studios for editing. Ben is the best! Makom Isra...
May 28, 2020•Season 4Ep. 176
The good news is, no fourth round of elections. Rajel joins Alan and Mike to hash out why our new government has more ministries than any other. How did the political leaders from various sides frame this new team? Why are there so many new and/or changed ministries? How does this compare to previous governments? What’s our personal vote for silliest ministry? Join us! Analysis by friend of the podcast Haviv Rettig Gur This episode was recorded on Zoom, and then sent to the amazing Ben Wallick S...
May 21, 2020•Season 4Ep. 175
