Episodes

Happy Purim! It's been a weird week in pop culture casual antisemitism. There was Michael Che's ignorant (and also bad) joke on SNL, and also impossibly racist Hasidim on a Canadian NBC tv show. (did you know there was Canadian NBC?) Its as if the news wanted to set us up for a Purim episode! What actually happened? Does this mean the world is heading into an antisemitic apocalypse? Does it mean nothing and we should forget about it? If it means something between these two extremes, how do we sp...

Happy Purim! It's been a weird week in pop culture casual antisemitism. There was Michael Che's ignorant (and also bad) joke on SNL, and also impossibly racist Hasidim on a Canadian NBC tv show. (did you know there was Canadian NBC?) Its as if the news wanted to set us up for a Purim episode! What actually happened? Does this mean the world is heading into an antisemitic apocalypse? Does it mean nothing and we should forget about it? If it means something between these two extremes, how do we sp...

The fourth Knesset elections in two years are scheduled for March 23rd. What's different this time around? What are the new parties and coalitions? How might the outcome differ from the previous three times? Our panel of Mike, Matt and Benji discuss. Join us! Opinion polling for the 2021 Israeli legislative election Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes,...

The fourth Knesset elections in two years are scheduled for March 23rd. What's different this time around? What are the new parties and coalitions? How might the outcome differ from the previous three times? Our panel of Mike, Matt and Benji discuss. Join us! Opinion polling for the 2021 Israeli legislative election Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes,...

How can we discuss the tensions building over Israel's Haredi community in the age of Covid in a positive constructive way? With angry protests and burning buses, how can we add light but lower the heat? How can we find an honest yet positive take on this social conflict? Alan and Mike invited friend of the podcast Haviv Rettig Gur to reflect on his article on the subject. As always, Haviv brought insight, perspective, and even some optimism to this troubling topic. Join us! Haviv's Article in ...

How can we discuss the tensions building over Israel's Haredi community in the age of Covid in a positive constructive way? With angry protests and burning buses, how can we add light but lower the heat? How can we find an honest yet positive take on this social conflict? Alan and Mike invited friend of the podcast Haviv Rettig Gur to reflect on his article on the subject. As always, Haviv brought insight, perspective, and even some optimism to this troubling topic. Join us! Haviv's Article in ...

Israel is rolling out Covid vaccinations faster than any other nation. Why are people blaming the Jewish State for the much slower roll out for West Bank Palestinians? Is Israel treating Jewish and Arab citizens differently? Why are Arabs in the West Bank a different situation? What are the agreements between Israel and the Palestinian authority regarding healthcare? Can Israel reach herd immunity without vaccinated Palestinians? Simon Plosker, the Managing Editor of UN Watch, wrote about the to...

Israel is rolling out Covid vaccinations faster than any other nation. Why are people blaming the Jewish State for the much slower roll out for West Bank Palestinians? Is Israel treating Jewish and Arab citizens differently? Why are Arabs in the West Bank a different situation? What are the agreements between Israel and the Palestinian authority regarding healthcare? Can Israel reach herd immunity without vaccinated Palestinians? Simon Plosker, the Managing Editor of UN Watch, wrote about the to...

Returning guest expert Miri Eisin (Col. Ret.) joined us to explain the Israeli security concerns over Iran. What role does Iran play in the Middle East? How will the new American administration approach this problem? What are the different perspectives on how do deal with the Iranian pursuit of nuclear weapons? As always, Miri explains complicated issues in ways that are easy to understand. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael ...

Returning guest expert Miri Eisin (Col. Ret.) joined us to explain the Israeli security concerns over Iran. What role does Iran play in the Middle East? How will the new American administration approach this problem? What are the different perspectives on how do deal with the Iranian pursuit of nuclear weapons? As always, Miri explains complicated issues in ways that are easy to understand. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael ...

Alan and Mike invited Jacob Magid to discus his Times of Israel Article about the passing of Sheldon Adelson. They discuss his life, philanthropy, and controversial political activism. Jacob's Article Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page 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...

Alan and Mike invited Jacob Magid to discus his Times of Israel Article about the passing of Sheldon Adelson. They discuss his life, philanthropy, and controversial political activism. Jacob's Article Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page 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...

How can a bunch American expats discuss the chaos in the US with their gap year students? Can they avoid it? What does it mean to Americans, Jews and Israelis? Has anything similar ever happened in Israel? How should teachers process these weighty issues with each other? Alan, Mike and Benji work on these and other issues. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subsc...

How can a bunch American expats discuss the chaos in the US with their gap year students? Can they avoid it? What does it mean to Americans, Jews and Israelis? Has anything similar ever happened in Israel? How should teachers process these weighty issues with each other? Alan, Mike and Benji work on these and other issues. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subsc...

What were the major Israeli news stories that will continue to impact 2021? What are the major take aways from a difficult and challenging year? Alan, Mike and Matt make their year-in-review observations and predictions. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! We are happy to take topic requests and q...

What were the major Israeli news stories that will continue to impact 2021? What are the major take aways from a difficult and challenging year? Alan, Mike and Matt make their year-in-review observations and predictions. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! We are happy to take topic requests and q...

How did it come to this? Fourth elections in two years! Why did the current government collapse? Who are the major players in this story? What will happen next? Alan, Mike and Matt explain the headlines and all that you'll need to know to follow current events. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! ...

How did it come to this? Fourth elections in two years! Why did the current government collapse? Who are the major players in this story? What will happen next? Alan, Mike and Matt explain the headlines and all that you'll need to know to follow current events. Join us! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! ...

According to the Talmud, Jews must love converts, and never mistreat them. Then why is David Ben Moshe, a Jew whose conversion was recognized by the Israeli Rabbinate, not being given Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return? Is it because of the criminal record in his pre-conversion life? Is it because he is a Jew of color? This episode is longer than usual for our podcast, and the Israel issues come in about half way through. But we feel that David's personal journey of growth and repentan...

According to the Talmud, Jews must love converts, and never mistreat them. Then why is David Ben Moshe, a Jew whose conversion was recognized by the Israeli Rabbinate, not being given Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return? Is it because of the criminal record in his pre-conversion life? Is it because he is a Jew of color? This episode is longer than usual for our podcast, and the Israel issues come in about half way through. But we feel that David's personal journey of growth and repentan...

With massacres in Northern Ethiopia on the rise, resolving the status of the last Jews there has become a matter of urgency. To explain the issue, Alan and Mike invited Uri Perednik, the founder and CEO of The Struggle for Aliyah for Ethiopian Jewry, an NGO that works with Jews in both Ghondar and Addis Ababa. Why are there Jews still left in Ethiopia? What is life like for them there? What more can Israel do to help them? What can we do? Join us to hear about this important topic. Uri's Links:...

With massacres in Northern Ethiopia on the rise, resolving the status of the last Jews there has become a matter of urgency. To explain the issue, Alan and Mike invited Uri Perednik, the founder and CEO of The Struggle for Aliyah for Ethiopian Jewry, an NGO that works with Jews in both Ghondar and Addis Ababa. Why are there Jews still left in Ethiopia? What is life like for them there? What more can Israel do to help them? What can we do? Join us to hear about this important topic. Uri's Links:...

Why are Israelis so focused on the NBA draft? Why does this sports news matter? What stories are being ignored? And what do we want to follow up on with Aaron David Miller? Join Alan, Mike and Benji for this news roundup! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! We are happy to take topic requests and questions...

Why are Israelis so focused on the NBA draft? Why does this sports news matter? What stories are being ignored? And what do we want to follow up on with Aaron David Miller? Join Alan, Mike and Benji for this news roundup! Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg and Alan Goldman. Makom Website Facebook page Please subscribe, listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! We are happy to take topic requests and questions...