Makom Israel Teachers Lounge

How Should Diaspora Jews Express their Ideas About Israeli Politics?Note: This is the end of the season and our podcast will be on a brief hiatus. Keep subscribed for season 9! There are several factors that can make it complicated for diaspora Jews to express their opinions on Israeli politics. Here are a few:Lack of firsthand experience: Diaspora Jews may not have firsthand experience living in Israel or the Palestinian territories, which can make it difficult to fully understand the complexities of the political situation. They also don’t share the heaviest burdens or pay the heaviest costs of living in Israel.Fear of alienation: Expressing opinions that are contrary to the dominant narrative within the Jewish community can lead to feelings of alienation or ostracism.There may be pressure from within the Jewish community to conform to a particular political viewpoint on Israel, which can make it difficult for individuals to express their own opinion.Perceived lack of influence: Some diaspora Jews may feel

Should Israeli Reserve Soldiers Refuse to Serve as Protests?The protests against Judicial Reform have continued on a smaller scale over the past weeks. With Passover behind us, and the national holiday season underway, Israelis are gearing up for whatever is coming next. One aspect of the protests in particular has been hotly debated. Should reservist soldiers refuse to perform their duties (“miluim’ in Hebrew) as a form of protest? Over the course of the past few months, this has been a growing phenomenon. Historically, the military has been supposed to be entirely apolitical. This is partly because in a Democracy the military protects the people, it doesn’t rule them. But it is also because national security is an issue that is so existential that it is dangerous to allow the military to take sides in political debates of any kind.What about the current debate has caused it to spill into withholding of service by the IDF’s most loyal soldiers? And more to the point, are they doing more harm or good with thi

Nation State LawIsrael's Nation-State Law, also known as the Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, was passed by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in July 2018. The law enshrines Israel as a Jewish state and makes Hebrew the country's official language, while downgrading Arabic from an official language to one with "special status."The debate over the Nation-State Law has been largely divided along political and ideological lines. Supporters of the law argue that it is necessary to strengthen Israel's Jewish identity and protect its cultural and religious heritage. They argue that it is a symbolic law that does not infringe on the rights of non-Jewish citizens and that it simply reinforces the fact that Israel was created as a Jewish homeland.Opponents of the law argue that it undermines the democratic nature of the state and discriminates against Israel's Arab minority, which makes up about 20% of the population. They argue that the law sends a message that non-Jewish citizens are se

Is Israeli Democracy in Existential Danger?Once again, we turned to Chat GPT and asked a simple question. “Does the current judicial reform crisis mean that Israeli democracy is coming to an end?”Here’s the essential parts of it's answer: As an AI language model, I strive to remain impartial and avoid making predictions about political developments. However, I can provide some background information on the ongoing judicial reform crisis in Israel and its potential implications for Israeli democracy.In recent years, there has been ongoing debate and controversy in Israel over attempts to reform the country's judiciary. Some critics of the judiciary argue that it is overly activist and unaccountable, and that it wields too much power over the other branches of government. They have called for various reforms, including limiting the power of the Supreme Court and allowing the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) to overrule the court's decisions.However, many defenders of the judiciary argue that it is a crucial saf

Do we wish for an Exceptional or Normal state?What do we hope for when we consider the Jewish State? Let’s consider our National Anthem:“As long as deep in the heart,The soul of a Jew yearns,And forward to the EastTo Zion, an eye looksOur hope will not be lost,The hope of two thousand years,To be a free nation in our land,The land of Zion and Jerusalem.”Is that hope to become a free nation like all others, or to become an exceptional lofty nation? I suppose it depends who you ask. Ben-Gurion is often quoted as having said, “When Israel has prostitutes and thieves, we’ll be a state just like any other.” There is no question that a goal of Modern Political Zionism was to achieve for the Jews no more than any other nation deserves, but surely no less. But for many, the Jewish State is obligated to become exceptional. It isn’t a new idea. It's literally Biblical.  It goes at least as far back as Isaiah 42:6, who prophesied, "I the LORD have called unto you in righteousness, and have taken hold of your hand, and s

Should the IDF end the draft?Polling over the last few years shows growing support among Israelis for a professional, rather than a conscripted army. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has had a mandatory conscription policy since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. All Israeli citizens, with few exceptions, are required to serve in the IDF for a period of 2-3 years for men, and 2 years for women, after reaching the age of 18. So why, in recent years, has there been a growing debate over whether Tzahal should continue its draft policy?One argument is that the current system is unfair and discriminatory. Some argue that certain groups, such as ultra-Orthodox Jews and Arab Israelis, are exempt from the draft or are not required to serve for the full term, creating a sense of inequality and resentment. Others argue that the draft unfairly targets certain groups, such as low-income families, who may not have the same resources to support their children through their military service.Another argument ag

Is there still a chance for a two-state solution?For the last nine decades, whenever outsiders looked at the conflict between Jews and Arabs between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean Sea, they have come up with the same idea. Since both people have claims to the land, it will need to be split. A two-state solution refers to the idea of establishing two independent states for Israelis and Palestinians, respectively, living side by side within recognized borders. This usually means creating an independent Palestinian state in the territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, alongside the State of Israel. The two states would have their own governments, laws, and security forces, and would coexist peacefully and diplomatically, recognizing each other's sovereignty and right to exist.Of course, no such thing has ever existed. The specific details of how such a solution would be implemented remain subject to ongoing debate and disagreement between the two sides and the international community. We can imagine

Are Jews Indigenous to Israel?There are still some things you can Google, but now we also have Chat GPT.When we looked on google to define indigenous peoplehood, it said it means “inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists.”Does this concept apply to Jews in Israel?There are two ways to address this question. One is simply to answer it. The other is to question its relevance. It feels like it's important and relevant to the Zionist cause, but is it really? Does it actually matter? Well, we wondered what chat GPT had to say about this question’s relevance. Here’s some of what it answered: “The debate over Jewish indigeneity to the land of Israel has significant implications for politics, society, and culture in the region and beyond. Some possible implications of this debate include:Political Conflict: The question of Jewish indigeneity is closely tied to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The idea that Jews are indigenous to the land of Israel has b

The Israeli Judicial Reform DebateThis is certainly the most divisive topic in current Israeli politics. While many thousands protest every week, supporters call those protesters anarchists. We recorded this episode before all of the plan’s specifics were announced, we certainly called the issues correctly. This debate has been ongoing for several years, but is now reaching a crisis point. The main issue at the center of the debate is the balance of power between the legislative and judicial branches of government. Proponents of judicial reform argue that the current system gives the judiciary too much power, and that it needs to be reined in to prevent it from overstepping its bounds. They argue that the current system has resulted in a lack of accountability and has allowed the judiciary to interfere in areas that should be the purview of the legislature.On the other hand, opponents of judicial reform argue that the judiciary is an essential check on the power of the legislature, and that limiting its power

New episodes on the way!Our new season is coming before you know it. We've reformatted in light of a different podcast landscape then when we started, back in 2016. (There are more options now for Israeli headlines in english)As educators, we decided that working out various issues that affect Israeli life, culture and politics is our strength. We thought it would be fun to take turns debating these topics in an informal way. Issues like judicial reform, the Nation-State law and the viability of a Two State solution are coming to your feed over the next six weeks.Let us know what you think of the new format, and please request topics for us to uncover.This episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is awesome!Masa WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.

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 HalkinHis Amazon PageMasa WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.

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 WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.

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 edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is awesome!Masa WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.

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 WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.

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 WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.

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 WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.

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 WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.

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 episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is awesome!Masa WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.

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 TOIThis episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is awesome!Masa WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.

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 AnalysisThis episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is awesome!Masa WebsiteFacebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.