The Israel Conversation

How can a government coalition work if its members are so different? How did they handle their first week in power? What signs are there for the future? If you are pro-Israel, a Zionist or just a civics nerd, there are all sorts of questions on your mind. Mike, Benji and Matt came together in the good old teachers lounge to share their perspectives on this new experiment in Israeli democracy. Join us!

Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg.

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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.

If you have further questions about the events happening in Israel, please feel free to contact your Makom teacher.

Blake Flayton helped form the New Zionist Congress in response to growing antisemitism on college campuses. What are his goals? What is really happening on campus? Why is there a rise in antisemitism on the left? What does all of this mean for the future? Mike and Benji invited him to the podcast to find out what he's doing and what his goals are. Join us!

Blake Flayton on Tablet

Blake on Twitter

Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg.

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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.

If you have further questions about the events happening in Israel, please feel free to contact your Makom teacher.

After four elections in two years, a new coalition agreement has been formed! But will it actually work? Who are the very different parties that have agreed to join? What are they getting out of it? Is this good for Israeli culture and democracy? Alan returns as a guest to hash it all out with Mike and Benji. Join us!

(recorded at 3:30 Israel time on Thursday)

Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg.

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.

If you have further questions about the events happening in Israel, please feel free to contact your Makom teacher.

Before the current crisis and today's ceasefire, the conversation about Israel was already hard for us to grasp. Why is there so much focus on, and misunderstanding about, Israel and Zionism? How do we deal with it all? We invited journalist, writer and translator, Eylon Levy, to speak to a group of Rimon students. The past couple of weeks have been hard to deal with for all of us. We are sharing Eylon's international Zoom session with you this week, because we think it helps put things into perspective. Enjoy!

Eylon Levy on Twitter

The Rimon Movement

Our Rimon Episode

Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg.

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.

If you have further questions about the events happening in Israel, please feel free to contact your Makom teacher.

Why the rockets from Gaza? Why are there race riots in Israeli cities? Why does social media and journalism distort the story? What should we do to maintain our equilibrium?

Mike recorded his class at Midreshet HaRova unpacking these questions. Listen to the first half hour as Mike gives his personal understanding and perspective. Then listen in for the Q&A as long as you like. If you're a current or former student of our Israel course, it will feel very familiar. If not, buckle up for the ride and join us!

(Because it was recorded live in a classroom, the sound quality may not be quite the same as usual. But we think you'll agree that it came out very well. Mike repeated questions from students, so if you have trouble hearing them it will be made clear)

Previous episodes interviewing Israelis from the South explaining life under rocket fire:

Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg.

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.

If you have further questions about the events happening in Israel, please feel free to contact your Makom teacher.

Alan Goldman visited Mike and Matt in the teachers lounge to discuss current events. What caused the Lag Ba'Omer tragedy in Meron? What do we know a week later and what are people saying? Why are there evictions and protests in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah? These are troubling and difficult issues and Alan helps us understand them. Join us!

Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg.

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.

Wondering why there's still no Israeli government? What's the holdup? Will Netanyahu pull it off? Or has he gone a magic trick too far? Can the anti-Netanyahu bloc outmaneuver him and form their own coalition government? Political experts (and friends of the podcast) Calev Ben-Dor & Rajel Leghziel joined Mike and Matt to explain it all. Join us!

Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg.

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.

What just happened in Jordan? Was it an attempted coup or wasn't it? How should we understand Israel's warm/cold relationship with Jordan? What are its internal dynamics? Mike and Matt invited returning guest Dr. Eran Lerman to give us a Jordan primer and explain current events. Join us!

Eran Lerman

Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg.

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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.

What is the ICC? Why are they investigating alleged war crimes among Israelis and Palestinians? Why does it anger so many Israelis? Dr. Shany Mor returns to the podcast to explain. Join us!

Shany Mor

ICC Investigation - Wikipedia

Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg.

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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 an extra long episode. We invited friend of the podcast Haviv Rettig Gur to explain Israeli elections to a group of Rimon students. (see links below about the Rimon Movement. As usual, Haviv wove data and anecdotes into an explanatory narrative that made so much sense out of Israel's unique system of government. We just had to share it! The first hour is Haviv explaining his thesis, in his usual engaging manner, followed by Q&A with students. You can listen to all or part of it, but we think the whole episode is rewarding from start to finish.

Enjoy!

Haviv at TOI

Rimon Episode

Rimon Movement

Mike's Comic with Zvi Ron explaining Israeli Elections

Makom Israel Teachers Lounge is a weekly podcast produced by Matt Lipman, and hosted by Michael Unterberg.

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.