Episodes

Managing Mental Health in Difficult Times Being under stress isn’t a new condition for Jews. But with decades of Israeli power and relative diaspora security, our people have gotten used to a historically unusual state of calm. As the last few years have shown, political and even physical insecurity may be the new normal. While there’s no need to panic, that kind of chronic stress takes a physical and mental toll. Some are in combat on Israel’s front lines, and some have loved one’s who are. So...

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. Haviv ...

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. Haviv ...

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 podcas...

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 podcas...

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....

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 Is...

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 Is...

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 ...

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 ...

Well, the swearing in of the new government is delayed till Sunday. Here's hoping it will work out. Hours before the delay was announced Alan, Mike and Matt Zoomed to discuss the last minute twists and turns. Will we have a fully mandated government after 18 months of disfunction? Will the priority of a global pandemic force the politicians to get to work? Are there still reasons to be positive and optimistic? Join us! Latest update as of posting Analysis by friend of the podcast Haviv Rettig G...

Well, the swearing in of the new government is delayed till Sunday. Here's hoping it will work out. Hours before the delay was announced Alan, Mike and Matt Zoomed to discuss the last minute twists and turns. Will we have a fully mandated government after 18 months of disfunction? Will the priority of a global pandemic force the politicians to get to work? Are there still reasons to be positive and optimistic? Join us! Latest update as of posting Analysis by friend of the podcast Haviv Rettig G...

Due to a technical problem on our part the original release of this episode was missing some audio. This release is the corrected file. Our apologies. Writer and activist Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll joined Alan and Mike to discuss how the Corona crisis has exacerbated tension with and within the Haredi community. Her constructively critical perspective is always worth a listen. Why did it take so long for Haredi neighbourhoods to practice quarantine? What steps need to be taken within the community?...

Due to a technical problem on our part the original release of this episode was missing some audio. This release is the corrected file. Our apologies. Writer and activist Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll joined Alan and Mike to discuss how the Corona crisis has exacerbated tension with and within the Haredi community. Her constructively critical perspective is always worth a listen. Why did it take so long for Haredi neighbourhoods to practice quarantine? What steps need to be taken within the community?...

Now that Netanyahu and Gantz have come to an agreement, it looks like we won't have a 4th round of elections. Will this work? Will we really have a mandated government after 16 months? What is an Emergency Unity government? Will Gantz become Prime Minister? Will annexations take place this summer? Rajel comes to explain things with Alan and Mike. 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 Loun...

Now that Netanyahu and Gantz have come to an agreement, it looks like we won't have a 4th round of elections. Will this work? Will we really have a mandated government after 16 months? What is an Emergency Unity government? Will Gantz become Prime Minister? Will annexations take place this summer? Rajel comes to explain things with Alan and Mike. 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 Loun...

Sometimes reality reminds us that it doesn't care about our opinions. Pandemics don't care what we think, and viruses don't listen to pundits. We would have guessed that Israeli politicians would overcome their differences and form a unity government in a time of crisis. Just how dysfunctional have we become? How do we navigate reality in the age of information overload? How to we separate facts from silliness? How can we develop critical thinking skills under a media deluge? Alan, Mike and Matt...

Sometimes reality reminds us that it doesn't care about our opinions. Pandemics don't care what we think, and viruses don't listen to pundits. We would have guessed that Israeli politicians would overcome their differences and form a unity government in a time of crisis. Just how dysfunctional have we become? How do we navigate reality in the age of information overload? How to we separate facts from silliness? How can we develop critical thinking skills under a media deluge? Alan, Mike and Matt...

After a week of trying to set up an emergency government, why are we still stuck in negotiations? How should politicians balance principle with compromise for the sake of functionality? Rajel joins Alan and Mike to help explain the negotiation sticking points. Join us! This episode on Youtube 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 produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Mi...