This week on IsraelCast, we sat down with Tel-Aviv based Arsen Ostrovsky while he was travelling in NYC. Arsen wears many hats, he's a leading international lawyer, diplomat, writer and pro-Israel activist. He's also executive director of the Israeli- Jewish Congress, a leading Israeli-based NGO supporting the state of Israel in Europe, and working with Jewish communities around the continent to strength their bond with Israel. Arsen is co-chair of the Zionist education and international affairs committee for JNFuture Israel. Needless to say, he is very active on social media. In fact in March 2016, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency named Arsen Ostrovsky one of their 25 most influential Jewish people on Twitter.

This week on IsraelCast, Steven is joined via Skype with Kenneth Chepkwony, an enterprising Kenyan student studying at AICAT, the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training located on Kibbutz Lotan. He relays his experiences there and the lessons he’s taking back to his home country. Kenneth also talks his love for the Arava Desert, what it’s like biking in Israel and even how to make a cow happy! You can see some of Kenneth’s experience via his Instagram page!

This week on IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz sits down with Alon Ben-Gurion, grandson of Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben- Gurion, to talk about his grandfather’s life and work. We cover his remarkable journey from a being a boy in Plonsk, Poland to being named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most important people of the 20th century. Ben Gurion talks about his grandfather’s love for his country, his vision for its future,  and we even get a behind the scenes at look at the NY Waldorf Astoria where the leader held secret meetings with leaders like JFK and Konrad Adenauer

This week on IsraelCast, we meet Hadas Goldman, an actress, social activist and the Co-Founder and Current CEO of the "Tarbut Movement", an Israeli organization that brings artists from different disciplines to live and work in low-income cities throughout Israel.

This week on IsraelCast, a conversation with Lior Lev Sercarz. Born and raised in the Galilee, Lior is the chef, spice blender and owner of La Boîte, a biscuits and spice shop in New York City. Lior’s the one top chefs throughout the United States go to when they need spice blends. Lior shares his plans for a Culinary Institute in the Galilee, and talks about Israel as a food lover’s paradise.

This week on IsraelCast, we meet Yedidya Harush, who currently serves as the community representative for Israeli residents living on the border in the Halutza region, established after Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Yedidya fills us in on the exciting developments taking place in his community and why he’s particularly excited about the Negev region.

This week on IsraelCast, we speak with Russell Robinson, the CEO of the Jewish National Fund. In our conversation, Russell shares his thoughts on Israel’s relevance in the world today, the drive and spirit of its people, as well as the Jewish National Fund’s Blueprint Negev and Go North Initiative.

Welcome to IsraelCast, Jewish National Fund's premier podcast where we’ll be sharing with you stories of interesting people doing fascinating work all over Israel. New episodes will be released every other Wednesday. Make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing to us on iTunes, Stitcher or Google play – simply search for IsraelCast. And while you’re at it, rate and review us so that it makes it easier for more people to find us. Happy listening!