The Israel Conversation

The good news is, no fourth round of elections. Rajel joins Alan and Mike to hash out why our new government has more ministries than any other. How did the political leaders from various sides frame this new team? Why are there so many new and/or changed ministries? How does this compare to previous governments? What’s our personal vote for silliest ministry? Join us!

Analysis by friend of the podcast Haviv Rettig Gur

This episode was recorded on Zoom, and then sent to the amazing Ben Wallick Studios for editing. Ben is the best!

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

Makom Website

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.

Well, the swearing in of the new government is delayed till Sunday. Here's hoping it will work out. Hours before the delay was announced Alan, Mike and Matt Zoomed to discuss the last minute twists and turns. Will we have a fully mandated government after 18 months of disfunction? Will the priority of a global pandemic force the politicians to get to work? Are there still reasons to be positive and optimistic? Join us!

Latest update as of posting

Analysis by friend of the podcast Haviv Rettig Gur

This episode was recorded on Zoom, and then sent to the amazing Ben Wallick Studios for editing. Ben is the best!

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

Makom Website

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.

Due to a technical problem on our part the original release of this episode was missing some audio. This release is the corrected file. Our apologies.

Writer and activist Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll joined Alan and Mike to discuss how the Corona crisis has exacerbated tension with and within the Haredi community. Her constructively critical perspective is always worth a listen. Why did it take so long for Haredi neighbourhoods to practice quarantine? What steps need to be taken within the community? How can people outside the community help move things forward? You'll want to hear the important insights in this must hear episode. Join us!

Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll's website

This episode was recorded on Zoom, and then sent to the amazing Ben Wallick Studios for editing. Ben is the best!

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

Makom Website

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.

Now that Netanyahu and Gantz have come to an agreement, it looks like we won't have a 4th round of elections. Will this work? Will we really have a mandated government after 16 months? What is an Emergency Unity government? Will Gantz become Prime Minister? Will annexations take place this summer? Rajel comes to explain things with Alan and Mike. Join us!

This episode was recorded on Zoom, and then sent to the amazing Ben Wallick Studios for editing. Ben is the best!

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

Makom Website

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.

Sometimes reality reminds us that it doesn't care about our opinions. Pandemics don't care what we think, and viruses don't listen to pundits. We would have guessed that Israeli politicians would overcome their differences and form a unity government in a time of crisis. Just how dysfunctional have we become? How do we navigate reality in the age of information overload? How to we separate facts from silliness? How can we develop critical thinking skills under a media deluge? Alan, Mike and Matt discuss educational challenges in the 21st century. Join us!

This episode was recorded on Zoom, and then sent to the amazing Ben Wallick Studios for editing. Ben is the best!

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

Makom Website

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.

After a week of trying to set up an emergency government, why are we still stuck in negotiations? How should politicians balance principle with compromise for the sake of functionality? Rajel joins Alan and Mike to help explain the negotiation sticking points. Join us!

This episode on Youtube

This episode was recorded on Zoom, and then sent to the amazing Ben Wallick Studios for editing. Ben is the best!

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

Makom Website

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.

This week, in the middle of the health crisis, economic turmoil and civil rights dilemma, the Knesset was shut down?! Yet somehow, as the week is ending, we have the beginnings of an agreement for a new government?! What just happened? Alan and Mike were privileged to be joined by the Times of Israel's senior analyst, (and friend of the podcast) Haviv Rettig Gur. He helped us make sense of the crazy week that was, what it means for us now, and what it means moving forward. Keep your fingers crossed, because Haviv gives us reason for cautious optimism. Don't miss this one!! There's a lot to wrap your head around, and nobody explains it better. Join us!

Haviv's article on the Edelstein crisis

Latest news as of this posting

This episode on Youtube

This episode was recorded on Zoom, and then sent to the amazing Ben Wallick Studios for editing. Ben is the best!

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

Makom Website

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 Benji quickly get up to date on Israel social distancing policy. Then they turn to the current political stalemate in resolving the current political stalemate. What is going on in the formation of a coalition? Why is speaker Yuli Edelstein being asked to step aside? Why isn't he? How should leaders be handling this crisis? What should we be expecting moving forward? We close with an inspirational reading by Alan. Join us!

Friend of the podcast Haviv Rettig Gur's article

Watch the episode on Youtube

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

Makom Website

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 confusing time, and we wanted clarity about the current health situation. So we invited Aviva Yoselis, MPH, BCPA, Director of Advocacy Services at the Shira Pransky Project to help us out. How can we understand what's going on? How do we make decisions going forward? Who is handling this in the Israeli Health ministry, and how are they doing? Aviva did an amazing job explaining things to Alan and Mike in this important episode. If you're looking for guidance to find understanding, wisdom and calm during an age of pandemic, join us.

The Shira Pransky Project

This episode was recorded by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best!

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

Makom Website

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.

Rajel came to help Alan and Mike explain the election results. What was different this time around? What wasn't? Did anyone win? And what's going to happen next? Join us!

This episode was recorded by the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best!

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

Makom Website

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.