Makom Israel Teachers Lounge

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 2022Sde BokerThe HotelThis 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.

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 SpeechBe'er Sheva News Sharm-el-Sheikh News 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.

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 powerful Masa Moment from Zachary Caplan, an MITF fellow from Bat Yam, and his unique perspective on the war. You don't want to miss this essential episode. Join us! Haviv 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.

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 Smotrich and his "Religious Zionism" party? How much tolerance should we have for intolerance? Liel, Mike and Calev discuss these questions about the identity of the Jewish State. Join us! TOI Article on the UK ReactionThis 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 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 bringing Jewish young adults from around the world for long-term immersive programs in Israel. No matter the situation Masa will do everything in its power to continue our mission. The situation in Ukraine will not hinder us. Our programs continue to remain open for everyone and we want our listeners to know Masa is here to provide assistance for young Jewish adults to come to Israel. During troubling times such as these, Masa continues to be committed and supportive of young Jewish adults in the global communities, as

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

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

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 ArticleHi all,Many thanks for hosting me, I really enjoyed it.Please see here our website on reports and position papers, including our annual home demolitions report, human rights report, the statistical gap among the Bedouin communities and so forth. I would like to share with you some informative slides we have produced with This is Not an Ulpan, which you can find here...Looking forward to hearing from you regarding a tour in the Naqab ;)All the best,ElianneThis episode was edited by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is awesome!Facebook pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 distributes over 40 million pounds of produce and perishable goods to Israel’s socio-economic periphery through its partnerships with 330 nonprofit organizations, reaching more than 246,000 people in need each week.  Joseph received the coveted Presidential Award for Volunteerism from former President Shimon Peres.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 awes

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 JewryRe-Emergence of the Jewish QuestionHow Class Disappeared From Western PoliticsShalom Lappin is the Professor of Natural Language Processing at School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of LondonThe 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 pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa

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 institute dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability of NGOs claiming human rights agendas, primarily in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict.(Note: The Israel Podcast has contacted multiple organizations defending these Palestinian NGOs to explain their perspective. So far, none have responded.)Itai Reuveni at NGO MonitorNGO Monitor Report on the 6 OrganizationsThe Israel Conversation by Masa Israel Journey is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Liel Zahavi-Asa.This

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 sample of Daniel's work found of the Rabbi Sacks websiteThe 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 pagePlease rate, review, share and recommend our podcast.If you have further questions about Israel, please feel free to contact your Masa teacher.