israel360

Tel Aviv street artist Murielle Cohen, joins us for a lively chat about her art, her connection to Israel, and her hilarious encounters with the police in Tel Aviv. Murielle recently joined israel360 for a live event in Boston where she led a group of young adults in creating murals of Israel's Zionist pioneers.

Yonatan Weiss, Israeli tour guide to the stars, talks with us about his recent gig guiding Prince William around Tel Aviv. We learn what it's like to kick it with royalty, how Netta Barzilai is a natural ambassador, and how the Israeli public reacted to the historic UK visit.

In a few short weeks, CJP president Barry Shrage’s incredible three decades-long career at CJP will come to an end. But before he leaves, we catch up with Barry on our latest podcast to hear more about the next phase of his relentless pursuit to strengthen Jewish identity, community and learning at Brandeis University as both a professor and researcher.

Peter Lerner—an author, retired Israel Defense Forces (IDF) lieutenant colonel, communications and strategy consultant, Israel advocate and former IDF spokesman—talks with us about the significance of recent events in Israel. Our conversation covers the ongoing riots on the border with Gaza, the unlikely developing relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and the intriguing and controversial suggestion on the need to engage with Hamas.

For two weeks in July, Israel will be transformed into the center of the universe — at least the lacrosse universe.

That’s because more than 48 nations, including Israel, are gearing up to participate in the quadrennial World Lacrosse Championships. The home team, led by captain Jake Silberlicht and head coach Bill Beroza, have a real shot at winning a medal in the competition, which will be held in the beachfront city of Netanya.

We caught up with Jake and Bill just before the ball drops on lacrosse’s premier event to talk lax, playing team sports in the heat, how Israel landed a world sporting event, and pitching a North American game to Israeli boys and girls.

Neal Hoffman had a problem to solve. His son, Jacob, looked at a Christmas toy at a Nordstrom's – the Elf on a Shelf – and wanted one. Neal had a quick reply: “Jews don’t do elves on shelves. We do mensches on benches.” From there, the gears were turning. Neal came up with designs, created a Kickstarter campaign, and found himself on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” pitching a foot-tall plush doll, complete with a beard, tallit, a black fedora, and a menorah. The rest is (Jewish) history. Neal has created a modern Jewish icon with a back story, plush family members, and a cartoon deal. Israel’s national baseball team adopted the Mensch as its official mascot, ordering a 5-foot-tall custom Mensch, who, quite literally, sat on the bench through the team’s improbably fantastic run in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Liraz Cohen, Israeli fashionista and founder of Fashionating by Liri, talks to israel360 about Israeli history through the lens of fashion. From the kibbutz to the runway, listen along as we explore the story behind the “intentionally effortless” Israeli style and the history of the Jewish state.

Avi Jorisch, author of “Thou Shalt Innovate: How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the World,” talks to israel360 and JewishBoston.com about how Israelis are helping to feed the hungry, cure the sick, protect the defenseless, and make the desert bloom. Check out the podcast - our third in a series of programs celebrating Israel's 70th birthday.

This year, Israel, a country with nine ski lifts, three skating rinks and winter temperatures hovering around 60 degrees, sent a record 10 athletes to the winter Olympics in South Korea. Among them was AJ Edelman, a 26-year-old Orthodox Jew who attended Maimonedes in the Boston area then MIT. He has likened his sport to “taking a lunch tray, diving headfirst on to it, and going 90 miles an hour down an icy chute.” We talk to AJ about his insane sport, repping Israel on the world stage, and how he'll be celebrating Israel's 70th birthday.

Col. (ret) Miri Eisin, like many Israelis, is ready to party. That's because this month, Israel will celebrate 70 years of the modern state. For Miri, it's a time of joy and reflection. We discuss the significance of the upcoming anniversary, the incredible 48 hour period between Yom Hazikaron (memorial day) and Yom Ha'atzmaut (independence day) and Miri's hope for the next 70 years of the Jewish State. (Also beer, Kardashians, real estate, and beach workouts.)