Episodes

Ready or not, the September Knesset elections are coming! Alan and Mike are here to catch you up on the new parties that have formed, how things look in the polls, and what to expect this time around. Join us! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! We are happy to take topic requests and questions. And please rate and review us on Apple. R...

Ready or not, the September Knesset elections are coming! Alan and Mike are here to catch you up on the new parties that have formed, how things look in the polls, and what to expect this time around. Join us! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! We are happy to take topic requests and questions. And please rate and review us on Apple. R...

Sometimes, feedback to our podcast takes us by surprise. Several listeners couldn't understand why we listed problems with Israel's schools as something that troubled voters. Well, People of the Book have waited a long time to get our state back, and we need to get our national school system working right. So we decided to devote an episode to explaining the evolution, successes and challenges of our educational infrastructure. To do that, we invited an expert in the field of education and scho...

Sometimes, feedback to our podcast takes us by surprise. Several listeners couldn't understand why we listed problems with Israel's schools as something that troubled voters. Well, People of the Book have waited a long time to get our state back, and we need to get our national school system working right. So we decided to devote an episode to explaining the evolution, successes and challenges of our educational infrastructure. To do that, we invited an expert in the field of education and scho...

Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and Bashar al-Assad oversee a toxic brew in the country that used to be called Syria. What does that mean for Israel? How did it become this mess? Why is it keeping Israeli generals up at night? What has Israel been doing about it? What will Israel do about it? What does the Israeli military slang, "Mabam" mean? How does citizen morale on the homefront affect the strategy? Alan, Mike and Matt go evaluate the messy status quo, and discuss what this means going forward. Joi...

Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and Bashar al-Assad oversee a toxic brew in the country that used to be called Syria. What does that mean for Israel? How did it become this mess? Why is it keeping Israeli generals up at night? What has Israel been doing about it? What will Israel do about it? What does the Israeli military slang, "Mabam" mean? How does citizen morale on the homefront affect the strategy? Alan, Mike and Matt go evaluate the messy status quo, and discuss what this means going forward. Joi...

In response to a listener request, Alan and Mike review the basics regarding the Palestinian refugee problem. Why is this an issue that's entering its eight decade? How did the problem begin, what has been done to address it? his episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you thin...

In response to a listener request, Alan and Mike review the basics regarding the Palestinian refugee problem. Why is this an issue that's entering its eight decade? How did the problem begin, what has been done to address it? his episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you thin...

Israel is a major exporter of military resources, including weapons and training. But should countries have to reach at least a basic level of ethical policy before Israel sells them implements of destruction? Rabbi Avidan Freedman thinks so, and he explains why to Alan and Mike. They discuss the issue with him, and what can possibly be done about it. Join us! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced b...

Israel is a major exporter of military resources, including weapons and training. But should countries have to reach at least a basic level of ethical policy before Israel sells them implements of destruction? Rabbi Avidan Freedman thinks so, and he explains why to Alan and Mike. They discuss the issue with him, and what can possibly be done about it. Join us! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced b...

Was the Bahrain peace conference a meaningful attempt to break the status quo of the Israeli Palestinian conflict? Or a cynical attempt to bribe Middle Easterners into acquiescence? Alan and Mike debate the pros and cons of the initiative, and what a sensible response should be from the Palestinian leadership. Join us! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unter...

Was the Bahrain peace conference a meaningful attempt to break the status quo of the Israeli Palestinian conflict? Or a cynical attempt to bribe Middle Easterners into acquiescence? Alan and Mike debate the pros and cons of the initiative, and what a sensible response should be from the Palestinian leadership. Join us! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unter...

Is there a culture war brewing in Israel over religion in the public sphere? If so, is it being driven by politicians and the media? Or is it much ado about nothing? Join Alan and Mike as they separate reality from hype. This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! W...

Is there a culture war brewing in Israel over religion in the public sphere? If so, is it being driven by politicians and the media? Or is it much ado about nothing? Join Alan and Mike as they separate reality from hype. This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! W...

The New York Times tried to make a big story out of a passing statement by US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman. Alan and Mike make sense out of it, and explain what is (and isn't) going on in the West Bank. Join us! Saeb Erekat explains why he gives up. This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Please subscribe, listen to more episo...

The New York Times tried to make a big story out of a passing statement by US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman. Alan and Mike make sense out of it, and explain what is (and isn't) going on in the West Bank. Join us! Saeb Erekat explains why he gives up. This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Please subscribe, listen to more episo...

It caused quite a hubbub around Israel when MK Bezalel Smotrich claimed that he wanted the Israeli legal system to go back to Torah law, like in the days of King David. Alan, Mike and Matt sort out the backlash, backtrack and vitriol. What sort of legal system should Israel follow? What are the options? Join us! Time of Israel Article Let us know what you think on our Facebook Page! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a w...

It caused quite a hubbub around Israel when MK Bezalel Smotrich claimed that he wanted the Israeli legal system to go back to Torah law, like in the days of King David. Alan, Mike and Matt sort out the backlash, backtrack and vitriol. What sort of legal system should Israel follow? What are the options? Join us! Time of Israel Article Let us know what you think on our Facebook Page! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a w...

Two Knesset elections in 2019?! What is going on? Clearly, this is a mess. We put the main actors in this bizarre and unprecedented Israeli political event "on trial." Liberman, Bibi and Litzman each get prosecuted and defended by Alan, Mike and Matt. Are there good guys and bad guys? Is this messiness part of global governmental dysfunction? Join us as we decipher the bizarre aftermath of the failed 21st Knesset! Let us know what you think on our Facebook Page! This episode was recorded at th...

Two Knesset elections in 2019?! What is going on? Clearly, this is a mess. We put the main actors in this bizarre and unprecedented Israeli political event "on trial." Liberman, Bibi and Litzman each get prosecuted and defended by Alan, Mike and Matt. Are there good guys and bad guys? Is this messiness part of global governmental dysfunction? Join us as we decipher the bizarre aftermath of the failed 21st Knesset! Let us know what you think on our Facebook Page! This episode was recorded at th...

Its coming down to a nail biting finish! Will Israel have a government by Wednesday? Or will the coalition talks collapse bringing us to new elections? This 10 minute update will fill you in on the situation, and we'll bring you up to date on what happened on the regular Thursday episode. Yikes! Let us know what you think on our Facebook Page! These episodes are usually recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt...

Its coming down to a nail biting finish! Will Israel have a government by Wednesday? Or will the coalition talks collapse bringing us to new elections? This 10 minute update will fill you in on the situation, and we'll bring you up to date on what happened on the regular Thursday episode. Yikes! Let us know what you think on our Facebook Page! These episodes are usually recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt...

We have all noticed the increasing number of Anti-Semitic incidents over the past few years? But has a qualitative change occurred as well? What data would help us decide? Are discussions of Jews and Israel in foreign governments an indication of some change? Alan, Mike and Matt discuss matters of existential importance to Jews everywhere. Join us! Let us know what you think on our Facebook Page! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers...

We have all noticed the increasing number of Anti-Semitic incidents over the past few years? But has a qualitative change occurred as well? What data would help us decide? Are discussions of Jews and Israel in foreign governments an indication of some change? Alan, Mike and Matt discuss matters of existential importance to Jews everywhere. Join us! Let us know what you think on our Facebook Page! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU Israel Teachers...