Episodes

Just a head up, guys. This is bonkers. Two overlapping unprecedented events just occurred in Israel. The failure of the second attempt to form a government coalition and the multiple indictments of a sitting Prime Minister. Alan and Mike briefly explain what is happening (as best as they can!) and invite you to submit your questions for our full Monday episode. Stay tuned! Don't miss this past week's regular episode about changing American policy on Jewish West Bank settlements. Makom Israel T...

Just a head up, guys. This is bonkers. Two overlapping unprecedented events just occurred in Israel. The failure of the second attempt to form a government coalition and the multiple indictments of a sitting Prime Minister. Alan and Mike briefly explain what is happening (as best as they can!) and invite you to submit your questions for our full Monday episode. Stay tuned! Don't miss this past week's regular episode about changing American policy on Jewish West Bank settlements. Makom Israel T...

After briefly catching up on coalition negotiations and reflecting on Gaza conflict, Alan, Mike and Matt turn their attention to the new American policy on the legality of West Bank settlements. Why did it change? What are the legal arguments on both sides? How will this new policy affect Israeli plans and international politics? What, if anything, will change at all? This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast...

After briefly catching up on coalition negotiations and reflecting on Gaza conflict, Alan, Mike and Matt turn their attention to the new American policy on the legality of West Bank settlements. Why did it change? What are the legal arguments on both sides? How will this new policy affect Israeli plans and international politics? What, if anything, will change at all? This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast...

Once again, hundreds of rockets are launched at Israel by Islamic Jihad in Gaza. After reviewing and explaining this particular round of the conflict, Alan and Mike interview Eli Goldman. Eli recently finished his IDF army service, and explains what its like to serve on the Gaza border during rocket attacks and mass "protests". Who was Baha Abu al-Ata? What's the difference between Islamic Jihad and Hamas? How and why is Israel helping Hamas out? How do soldiers keep safe under fire? How do the...

Once again, hundreds of rockets are launched at Israel by Islamic Jihad in Gaza. After reviewing and explaining this particular round of the conflict, Alan and Mike interview Eli Goldman. Eli recently finished his IDF army service, and explains what its like to serve on the Gaza border during rocket attacks and mass "protests". Who was Baha Abu al-Ata? What's the difference between Islamic Jihad and Hamas? How and why is Israel helping Hamas out? How do soldiers keep safe under fire? How do the...

Coalition negotiations for control of the government seem to be going nowhere. What does it mean that Gantz controls them? What are the possible ways to break the deadlock? How are Israelis viewing this process? Is there light at the end of this tunnel? Alan, Mike and our political expert Rajel hash it out. Join us! 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 Unter...

Coalition negotiations for control of the government seem to be going nowhere. What does it mean that Gantz controls them? What are the possible ways to break the deadlock? How are Israelis viewing this process? Is there light at the end of this tunnel? Alan, Mike and our political expert Rajel hash it out. Join us! 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 Unter...

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 Gold...

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 Gold...

Who leads the Boycott Divest and Sanction against Israel movement? What are their goals? What are their methods? Do they really care about human rights, or do they just hate Israel? What have they accomplished? Where are they failing? How do we engage to defeat them without raising their profile and status? Join Alan and Mike as they go through the basics of this disturbing fad. This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a wee...

Who leads the Boycott Divest and Sanction against Israel movement? What are their goals? What are their methods? Do they really care about human rights, or do they just hate Israel? What have they accomplished? Where are they failing? How do we engage to defeat them without raising their profile and status? Join Alan and Mike as they go through the basics of this disturbing fad. This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a wee...

The news is moving quickly, and there's a lot to digest. What is happening to the Kurds in Syria? Who are they? How is this new attack from Turkey going to affect the region? What are Israelis saying about all this? Why is this relevant to us? After discussing the Sukkot holiday season in Israel, Alan and Mike explain the story behind the headlines and why this story matters. Join us! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is...

The news is moving quickly, and there's a lot to digest. What is happening to the Kurds in Syria? Who are they? How is this new attack from Turkey going to affect the region? What are Israelis saying about all this? Why is this relevant to us? After discussing the Sukkot holiday season in Israel, Alan and Mike explain the story behind the headlines and why this story matters. Join us! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is...

After Rosh HaShana, Israeli media focused on several stories. These included a domestic murder, Arab Israeli protests and several fluid scenarios in the Middle East. What does the murder of Michal Sela tell us about Israeli society? What do Arab protests over insufficient policing tell us about minorities in Israel? What do the shifting diplomatic sands in the region mean for Iran and Israel? How do these stories connect? Alan, Mike and Matt discuss these weighty matters. Join us! This episode ...

After Rosh HaShana, Israeli media focused on several stories. These included a domestic murder, Arab Israeli protests and several fluid scenarios in the Middle East. What does the murder of Michal Sela tell us about Israeli society? What do Arab protests over insufficient policing tell us about minorities in Israel? What do the shifting diplomatic sands in the region mean for Iran and Israel? How do these stories connect? Alan, Mike and Matt discuss these weighty matters. Join us! This episode ...

If coalition building wasn't consuming the headlines, the possible torture of an alleged terrorist ringleader would be getting more attention. Alan, Mike and Benji discuss the case of Samer Arbid, the man accused of being responsible for the murder of 17 year old Rina Shnerb last August. What happened in this case? What is a "ticking time-bomb" case, and why is it treated differently by Israeli security forces? Does torture raise the same questions as the security barrier? What are the ethical a...

If coalition building wasn't consuming the headlines, the possible torture of an alleged terrorist ringleader would be getting more attention. Alan, Mike and Benji discuss the case of Samer Arbid, the man accused of being responsible for the murder of 17 year old Rina Shnerb last August. What happened in this case? What is a "ticking time-bomb" case, and why is it treated differently by Israeli security forces? Does torture raise the same questions as the security barrier? What are the ethical a...

Dr. Steve Klein joins us to help explain the fascinating but complicated role that Arab parties play in Israel politics. Often minorities get overlooked, but in this unusual week, Israelis are talking about an ever evolving demographic. What about this past week was so unusual? Why don't Arab parties usually want to join government coalitions? How do social and cultural issues complicate the politics? Are there political parallels to this situation in other countries? Are there other similar com...

Dr. Steve Klein joins us to help explain the fascinating but complicated role that Arab parties play in Israel politics. Often minorities get overlooked, but in this unusual week, Israelis are talking about an ever evolving demographic. What about this past week was so unusual? Why don't Arab parties usually want to join government coalitions? How do social and cultural issues complicate the politics? Are there political parallels to this situation in other countries? Are there other similar com...

Welcome new team member Rajel Leghziel to help us figure out what just happened. The results are (mostly) in, so what will happen now? What do we find our students asking the most? Why shouldn't we ask "who won"? Also, did Liberman just win? What might happen in the next several weeks? Was this a good outcome for Israeli democracy? Rajel is a great new addition to the podcast, with a new voice and perspective and this is her inaugural episode. Join us! For Makom's full package of election mater...

Welcome new team member Rajel Leghziel to help us figure out what just happened. The results are (mostly) in, so what will happen now? What do we find our students asking the most? Why shouldn't we ask "who won"? Also, did Liberman just win? What might happen in the next several weeks? Was this a good outcome for Israeli democracy? Rajel is a great new addition to the podcast, with a new voice and perspective and this is her inaugural episode. Join us! For Makom's full package of election mater...

Knesset elections are this coming Tuesday! Alan and Mike gained wisdom and insight from Haviv Rettig Gur, Senior Political Analyst at Times of Israel. After explaining what that job is, and why he does it, we challenged him to make sense out of the pre-election chaos. Why has politics become all about shenanigans, instead of policy discussions? How is that shaping our culture? What are the parties really arguing about? What are they agreeing on? How will the next coalition process work, and what...

Knesset elections are this coming Tuesday! Alan and Mike gained wisdom and insight from Haviv Rettig Gur, Senior Political Analyst at Times of Israel. After explaining what that job is, and why he does it, we challenged him to make sense out of the pre-election chaos. Why has politics become all about shenanigans, instead of policy discussions? How is that shaping our culture? What are the parties really arguing about? What are they agreeing on? How will the next coalition process work, and what...