The Israel Conversation

Is there a silver lining to holding Knesset elections three times within a year? What was the actual Trump executive order about Jews on campus? Why did it hit such a nerve among so many Jews? What was the hubbub really about, and what does that tell us about Jewish identity in the 21st century? Alan, Mike and Benji share their thoughts and insights. Join us!

Mike's blog post

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.

Is Israel too reliant on fossil fuels? How can we become truly sustainable and independent? Is our current energy grid a national security danger? If so, what can be done about that? Can Israel export energy advances around the region? The world? Alan and Mike sat down with Yossi Abramowitz, (aka Kaptain Sunshine) who addresses these questions and more. He explains his amazing accomplishments, and why he thinks his work is quintessentially Jewish and Zionist. Join us!

Kaptain Sunshine's Wikipedia page

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.

Are things as problematic as they seem to be in the UK? How did Jeremy Corbyn become leader of the Labour party? Why are they accused of (at least) tolerating antisemitism? Why was the Chief Rabbi speaking out so shocking? What will happen if Labour wins? What is they lose? Alan and Mike get a thorough briefing from Arieh Kovler. Join us!

Arieh Kovler is a Jerusalem-based politics and communications expert, and a writer and commentator on global politics. Before his aliya he was the Head of Policy and Research at the UK's Jewish Leadership Council and the founding director of the anti-boycott Fair Play Campaign Group. Arieh was a steering committee member of the Global Coalition for Israel and has advised the Israeli government.

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.

As we announced on our breaking news episode, two overlapping unprecedented events just occurred in Israel. The failure of the second attempt to form a government coalition and the multiple indictments of a sitting Prime Minister. Alan and Mike try to make sense of it all, and explain what it means. How is Netanyahu challenging the indictments? What will it mean for forming a coalition? What is happening within Likud now? Is there any way to know what happens next? Join us!

This episode was recorded at 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.

Just a head up, guys. This is bonkers. Two overlapping unprecedented events just occurred in Israel. The failure of the second attempt to form a government coalition and the multiple indictments of a sitting Prime Minister. Alan and Mike briefly explain what is happening (as best as they can!) and invite you to submit your questions for our full Monday episode. Stay tuned!

Don't miss this past week's regular episode about changing American policy on Jewish West Bank settlements.

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

Makom Website

Makom staff page with emails

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 briefly catching up on coalition negotiations and reflecting on Gaza conflict, Alan, Mike and Matt turn their attention to the new American policy on the legality of West Bank settlements. Why did it change? What are the legal arguments on both sides? How will this new policy affect Israeli plans and international politics? What, if anything, will change at all?

This episode was recorded at 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.

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 your friend

Once again, hundreds of rockets are launched at Israel by Islamic Jihad in Gaza. After reviewing and explaining this particular round of the conflict, Alan and Mike interview Eli Goldman. Eli recently finished his IDF army service, and explains what its like to serve on the Gaza border during rocket attacks and mass "protests".

Who was Baha Abu al-Ata? What's the difference between Islamic Jihad and Hamas? How and why is Israel helping Hamas out? How do soldiers keep safe under fire? How do they protect civilian lives? What does it feel like to be in such close proximity to terrorists? How does it feel to be at home this time watching the conflict on tv instead of from your army base.

So many questions! Join us for answers!

Previous episodes about life on the Gaza border:

Episode 123 - Adults and kids in Kibbutz Alumim

Episode 81 - Judith Spanglet ~ From Trauma to Resilience

This episode was recorded at 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.

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 your friends!

Coalition negotiations for control of the government seem to be going nowhere. What does it mean that Gantz controls them? What are the possible ways to break the deadlock? How are Israelis viewing this process? Is there light at the end of this tunnel? Alan, Mike and our political expert Rajel hash it out. Join us!

This episode was recorded at 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.

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 your friends!

Zionism's founders wanted to change Jewish character and culture. In 2019, the data is in, and we can now see that they succeeded. (although not necessarily in the ways they intended)  In this important episode, Alan and Mike interview Shmuel Rosner.

Shmuel Rosner's Webpage with many relevant links

This episode was recorded at 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.

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 your friends!

Who leads the Boycott Divest and Sanction against Israel movement? What are their goals? What are their methods? Do they really care about human rights, or do they just hate Israel? What have they accomplished? Where are they failing? How do we engage to defeat them without raising their profile and status? Join Alan and Mike as they go through the basics of this disturbing fad.

This episode was recorded at 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.

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 your friends!