On today's Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten, a rundown of the many terrorist attacks that took place in Israel this week, including yesterday's Jordan Valley shooting. On Sunday, two Jihadi terrorists fired at an Israeli bus, injuring six, including the driver and five IDF soldiers. One of the soldiers who was seriously hurt has made progress in his recovery. As the terrorists were fleeing the scene of the attack, karma caught up with them, and their vehicle caught on fire, severely burning them both. At the same time, the IDF's "Breaking the Wave" anti-terror campaign continues in full force. Media reports indicate that 1,200 wanted terror suspects were arrested and some 200 shooting attacks were thwarted over the past several months. Plus all the other latest news from Israel on this week's podcast.

Photo Credit: National Union of Bus Drivers

Another one of Rav Mike's live favorites! The author of the Zohar is traditionally said to be R' Shimon Bar Yochai, but since its first appearance in the hands of R' Moshe DeLeon in 13th century Spain its origin has been in dispute. The Zohar has been a source of spiritual strength in the Jewish Story for more than a millennia, which is far more importance than its role as a source of controversy.

Stay turned, season 6 of the Jewish Story starts next week!

Rabbi Yishai is joined by Malkah Fleisher for the first day of Israeli school - yay! They discuss meeting Hebron Arab school kids and the pictures of terrorist heroes they carry. Then, Ben Bresky celebrates 125 years since the First Zionist Congress in Basil, Switzerland. And finally, Rav Mike Feuer on the Torah portion of Shoftim and the tension between the commandment to anoint a Jewish king and yet stay rooted in simple faith to the One Above.

If there’s a ‘Banality of Evil’, can there be an opposing ‘Banality of Greatness’?

Eve Harow knows quite a few people who look normal but are accomplishing great things, beyond what one could expect from an individual.

Is this time period of lackluster leadership an opportunity for seemingly simple folks to shine?

Give a think and let her know your ideas.

Are we all potentially Frodo?

Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fatedenied/7362636056

As Israel is in the midst of a country-wide heat wave, Jihadi terrorists are keeping things hot as well, with attempted attacks taking place throughout Judea and Samaria. At the same time, the IDF is busy carrying out nightly raids, making arrests, and seizing weapons, in their heroic efforts to keep the people of Israel safe. These stories, and much more news from Israel, on this week's Israel Uncensored, with Josh Hasten.

Photo Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sun_in_ocean.JPG

All things good things must come to an end, so here is the concluding episode of season 5. In it you will find an exploration of how to relate to the brokenness of the world, some thoughts on our present posture and even hints about what the future might hold. See you in the fall!

Just in time for the new month of Elul! Rabbi Yishai Fleisher is ascending the Temple Mount and recording with Dr. Melissa Kronfeld and then going to the Isaac and Rebecca Hall at the Tomb of the Ancestors in Hebron and speaking with Nachman Mostovsky - and finishing off the show with the great Malkah Fleisher!

Dr. Jodi Magness, the outstanding archaeologist, prolific writer and excellent educator, joins Eve Harow to talk about her renewed decade long excavation at the ancient Jewish village of Huqoq in the Galilee. The mosaics discovered in the 1600 year old synagogue have been widely publicized as befitting their well preserved and unique depictions of Biblical scenes. She discusses what is a synagogue’s function, how they evolved over time and how the Jews fared in the Land under Byzantine rule. Listen in to a dynamic and ever curious woman who doesn’t let the work overtake her ultimate goals of discovering historical facts, if not truths.

This past week, while in Germany nonetheless, PA head Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of carrying out 50 Holocausts against the "Palestinians." His comments were condemned by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz along with leaders from Israel and around the world. While certainly despicable, why was anybody shocked? Abbas is a notorious Holocaust denier whose 1982 doctoral dissertation was called "The Other Side: The Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism," in which Abbas minimized the Nazi plan to liquidate the Jewish people and accused the Zionists of colluding with the Nazis.  Abbas' comments were certainly outrageous, but no reason for surprise. This story and all the latest news from Israel on this week's Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten.

Photo Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1987-004-09A,_Amin_al_Husseini_und_Adolf_Hitler.jpg

A second wrap up interview for season five. Dr. Zhenia Fleisher lived in all three of the 20th century's major centers of Jewish life - USSR, Israel and the USA. Tune in for her thoughts on past present and future.