Makom Israel Teachers Lounge

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! We are happy to take topic requests and questions. And please rate and review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

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 repentance are a crucial prelude to understand the true injustice of denying his citizenship. And it is a fascinating, unique and deeply troubling story every step of the way. Please join us, and do what you can to help David in his struggle for justice and citizenship in the country he and his family call home. Jpost Article Go Fund Me Campaign Episode 115 about Israel's problems welcoming converts -  An interview with Rabbi Chashi Freedman of Nativ Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and

Why would Israel have assassinated Iran's leading nuclear weapon's expert? What could happen if Iran creates nuclear weapons? How will shifting American administrations change the dynamics in the region? Alan and Mike turned once again to expert Eran Lerman to help us understand this complex issue. Join us! Eran Lerman 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 review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.  

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: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ethiopianjewryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethiopian_jews/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EthiopianJewryTelegram: https://t.me/ethiopianjewry 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 review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

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. And please rate and review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

He was in all the rooms where it happened. Having worked for multiple American administrations, Aaron David Miller has tremendous access and insight into the world of Middle East diplomacy. In what way was having a personal relationship with Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat different than just watching him on the news? How do personal relationships shape diplomacy? What should the American team have done differently at Camp David? What were the pros and cons of the Trump administration's approach to diplomacy? What should we anticipate from a Biden administration? All this and so much more! Alan and Mike learned so much, and we're sure you will as well. Don't miss this episode! (note: we apologise for some glitches in Mike's sound quality this episode, but we don't think it will detract from the fascinating discussion) Ha'aretz Tribute to Erekat Aaron David Miller on Twitter, at Carnegie, and on Wikipedia. Aaron David Miller is a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former S

Now that the dust seems to be settling on the American election, Alan and Mike invited Dr. Shany Mor to give them some perspective. Why are Israelis so focused on USA politics? What do changing administrations really mean for Israel and the Middle East? Join us for this enlightening discussion! Shany Mor at the Israel Democracy Institute Shany Mor at Tablet 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 review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

Alan and Mike wanted to know how Palestinians view the normalization of ties with the UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan. They invited friend and colleague Firas Amad to share his thoughts. Firas is from East Jerusalem, and is a tour guide, educator and entrepreneur. We've invited him as a guest speaker to many of our students over the years. His opinions are his own, and they are informed and thought provoking. To understand any issue, it's crucial to hear out all sides and perspectives. That includes, maybe especially, perspectives that are very different from your own. From a Palestinian perspective, the new accords are largely irrelevant, and that becomes clear during the conversation. Join us for this engaging discussion! 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

Calev Ben-Dor joins Alan and Mike to talk about his recent observations in Fathom. Is Israel an "I" culture or a "we" culture? How does that impact the fight against Corona? What is generating the weekly protests around the country? Is there a path out of the cynicism and distrust for institutions and leadership? Join us! Calev's article in Fathom 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 review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

We last spoke to Nathan Jeffay, The Times of Israel's health and science correspondent, in July. He joins Alan and Mike for an update. What are the human and societal implications of over 2,000 deaths and rising? What can we to to protect ourselves and Israel's future? Join us! Nathan Jeffay at Times of Israel 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 review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

It a complicated Middle Eastern story, so we turned once again to retired Colonel Miri Eisen. What is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict about? How is Israel involved? What are the implications for the region? Join us! Miri Eisin Website Map Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - History and Maps Example of Youtube footage 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 review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

Alan, Mike and Sharon take a deep dive into Enlightenment philosophy to unpack why politics have become so dysfunctional. We think you'll enjoy coming along the ride for the ride. How do we debate permitting protests over Yom Kippur prayers in a productive way? How does modern philosophy help that discourse? Does post-modern philosophy help or hinder resolution of social dilemmas? What are facts? Its an unusual episode for our podcast, but a great look into a conversation in the Israel Teachers Lounge. 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 questions. And please rate and review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

Sure it's great news. But why are the U.A.E. and Bahrain normalising relations with Israel now? What message are they sending to Israel when the mention the Palestinians? How does all of this play out in the culture and politics of the region? How will the imminent U.S. elections affect the Middle East? The always insightful Haviv Rettig Gur explains his perspective to Alan and Mike. Join us! Haviv at Times of Israel Haviv at Mosaic 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 review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

It's a strange moment to move back to Israel, which is exactly what new team member Sharon Wagner-Zauder did. She joined Alan and Mike to discuss the current Corona outbreak. How did we end up with 4,000 new cases a day? What does this say about Israeli society? What does it say about the current government? How do we manage our emotional equilibrium in an age of disfunction? (spoiler alert: it's rough) 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 questions. And please rate and review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

Why doesn't the Israeli government have a budget yet? Why are Corona virus cases on the rise? Why are there anti-government protests every week? Did the first two questions answer the third one? Can we find reasons for optimism? Rajel Leghziel joins Alan and Mike to get them up to date and reflect on the disfunction. 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 questions. And please rate and review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

Politics in Israel are confusing enough. Things get more complicated when you bring in other countries and their policies. Should expats in Israel vote in foreign elections? How should pro-Israel voters outside of Israel cast their votes? How should we talk to each other about our opinions when we disagree? Join Alan, Mike and Matt for a candid discussion. 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 review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

Alan and Mike asked Colonel (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS) to explain Israel's new relationship with the United Arab Emirates. What makes this deal so groundbreaking? What does it mean for Israel diplomatically and economically? How does it reflect and affect the various allegiances in the region? What role did the US play in this achievement? What might unforeseen consequences be? Could there be a downside? You won't want to miss this one! Join us! Colonel (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman 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 review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

Hours before the announcement of a peace treaty with the UAE, Alan and Mike met with Miri Eisen to explain the situation in Lebanon and what it means for Israel. Why did the explosion happen? What does it tell us about the Lebanese government? What may the future bring and is there any reason for optimism? Confused by the whole situation? For clarity and understanding, join us! Miri Eisen's Website Miri Eisin served in the Israeli intelligence community and retired at the rank of full colonel in 2004. Over her twenty year career in the military she served in diverse positions in the field, combat units and research departments. Miri served as the Israeli Prime Minister’s spokesperson from the second Lebanon war until the end of 2007. She now teaches at IDC Herzliya, and works extensively with the media, student groups and diplomats. Miri is a fellow at the Center for International Communication at Bar Ilan University and an associate at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism. Makom Israel Teachers

What is life like for Jews on today's college campuses? What should Jewish educators know about young Jews in North America? What are the challenges and what are some solutions for keeping Jews connected to their people? Former director of Jewish Life and Israel Engagement at Rutgers Hillel in New Jersey, Liel Zahavi-Asa, joins Alan and Mike to share her thoughts and insights. 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 questions. And please rate and review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.

Alan and Mike met with Nathan Jeffay, the Times of Israel health reporter, to explain Israel's fight against the pandemic. What role does government policy have in the rise in Covid19 cases? What advances have Israeli researchers made in fighting the disease? How has Israeli society changed in these strange times? Join us! Nathan Jeffay on Facebook Times of Israel byline 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 review us on Apple. Recommend us to friends.