Makom Israel Teachers Lounge

You don't get to sit down with one of your Zionist heroes every day. This week, the guys get a chance to talk to a man who helped shape the Jewish world, and take down the Soviet Union. After discussing the state of democracy in Israel and around the globe, he explains why Israel's relationship with diaspora Jews should be seen as a top priority. Don't miss this chance to hear from one of the great Jewish heroes of our time. Wikipedia Page This episode was recorded by the amazing Ben Wallick. Ben is the best! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher. Recommend us to your friends!

Confused by the headlines this week? Frankly, reading the stories through could leave you scratching your head. Alan, Mike & Matt try to make sense out of Australia's confusing new Jerusalem policy, and the Israeli government's renewed attempt to retroactively legalise West Bank settlement outposts after the recent wave of terrorism. Want to understand what's happening? Join us! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher. Recommend us to your friends!

Did President Trump cross a line when speaking to the Jewish attendees at the White House Hanukah party and referred to Israel as "your country"? Rena is back to discuss feelings and accusations of dual loyalty for American Jews. Join us! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher.

This past week Israel has faced political and military mini-crises. Why are the police recommending indicting Bibi again? What does that mean for his government? What is going on at the Lebanese border? What is Operation Northern Shield, and what does it mean for our conflict with Hezbollah? Are these two stories linked?! Times of Israel journalist Raoul Wootliff joins Alan, Mike and Matt to offer deep insight into the hectic and rapidly changing stories of the week. Join Us! Raoul Wottliff at TOI This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher.

Wow! 100 Episodes! This week we take an anti-establishment stance against the the prevailing view in the Jewish social media world. Was AirBNB's decision to stop listing Jewish homes in the West Bank antisemitic? And if Alan, Mike and Matt are in so much agreement on the issue, how did they spend so much time disagreeing? We review, analyse, and generally hash out the issue. Join us! Why are we so excited about episode 101? We're going to interview Natan Sharansky! Stay tuned! This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher.

How should Israel balance the Jewish and democratic nature of the state? This question has troubled Zionists since the modern state began, and resolving the difficulty remains elusive. Alan, Mike and Matt interview Tani Frank, a lobbyist with the Ne’emanei Torah Va’Avodah organisation, who pushes for to meaningful improvements to the status quo. The guys play devil's advocate in different directions, and the conversation explores these thorny issues. Join us! The Gavison-Medan Covenant Ne’emanei Torah Va’Avodah's Facebook Page This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher.

Alan, Mike and Matt juggle all that's going on this week, and try to give it context and perspective. What made this week's rocket attacks from Gaza unusual? Why were Gazans walking around with suitcases full of money? How long will the current Israeli government hold together? How many jobs does Bibi have? We call our podcast the Teachers Lounge because you hear us in real time making sense of Israel's story. This week, join us as we go with the flow of a difficult and eventful week. This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher.

How should we handle conversations with people who criticize Israel for questionable behavior? What if its on Facebook? Alan and Rena give Mike advice on how he should respond to his student's question. They discuss how millennials are using social media, when they should speak out, and the social/psychological aspects of doing so. They also discuss the issue in question, namely Bibi unabashedly praising the very controversial President elect of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro. This is an important episode for students and educators alike. Join us! The Coddling of the American Mind This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher.

It's been a complicated week. The team shares reactions from students to the worst antisemitic attack in US history, and discuss perspectives on how to handle those conversations. Then they talk about this week's local Israeli elections, and the proposal that diaspora Jews should be given the right to vote in Israel. We'd love to hear your thoughts. This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher.

After some quick news updates, Alan, Mike, Matt & Rena take stock of where the Oslo peace process has left us. There are some storm clouds, some silver linings, some agreements and disagreements. Join us as we unpack this complex and controversial issue. Article by Douglas Feith This episode was recorded at the amazing Ben Wallick Studios. Ben is the best! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher. Join our Facebook page!

What does the detention of Lara Alqasem say about Israeli Democracy? What do the clashes at the Gaza border mean for the future? And what is Hamas' strategy here? We break from our history reflections to talk about major news stories in the headlines. Alan arrives in the middle of the discussion between Matt, Mike, and our Program Manager, Rena Levin. Join us for updates and insights. (This episode was recorded on Tuesday, October 16th, 2018) JU 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 iTunes and stitcher. Join our Facebook page!

The second in our series of reflections on anniversary events, Alan, Mike and Matt discuss the Camp David Peace Accords. Peace on Israel's southern border is often taken for granted, but the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty was a monumental event that changed the Middle East. Learn about the process itself, and how it shapes today's world. Stay tuned for our next anniversary episode, dealing with the Oslo Accords. JU 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 iTunes and stitcher. Join our Facebook page!

The first in our series of reflections on anniversary events, Alan, Mike and Matt discuss the Yom Kippur War. While the Six Day War is often discussed as a major turning point in the history of Israel and the Middle East, the 1973 October War still has enormous impact on the region. Learn about the war itself, and how it shapes today's world. Stay tuned for our next anniversary episodes, dealing with Camp David and the Oslo Accords. Enjoy our first studio recorded episode, as we resume after the holidays! We're proud of our growing numbers, so enjoy and share! JU 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 iTunes and stitcher. Join our Facebook page!

That sound that you are hearing is the shifting of tectonic plates. This is a news story that many english speaking Zionists aren't paying enough attention to. One of the major causes of conflict here in Israel just had its first change of status quo in decades! What is UNRWA? Why is it one of the central causes of the Israeli Palestinian conflict? What will American defunding do? Alan and Mike get together to help it all make sense and put it into perspective. Don't miss this episode! May your new year be happy and sweet! We'll be back in a few weeks. Stay subscribed! Interview with Einat Wilf JU 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 iTunes and stitcher. Join our Facebook page!

Is Israel really a democracy? Is it balancing liberty and Jewish identity well? And why does it even matter? Join Alan, Mike and Matt as they invite in guest Middle East expert David Harris. They hash out the issues. And in the end, Mike is right. (at least Mike thinks he is) David Horovitz opinion piece in TOI - "Israeli democracy isn’t broken, but it is under assault" JU 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 iTunes and stitcher. Join our Facebook page!

As students prepare for campus life, we have some suggestions for dealing with the topic of Israel. Alan and Mike suggest major ways the issues will come up, and even make some book suggestions. Alan's Recommendation Mike's Recommendation JU 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 iTunes and stitcher. Check out our Our Website! Join our Facebook page!

After two episodes and weeks of consideration, Alan and Mike share their perspective on the Nation State law controversy. Then they respond to the Ronald Lauder op-ed in the New York Times and his concerns about the direction of Israeli policy. Summary of the Lauder Letter Explaining the Nation State Law Episode 85 Palestinian Israeli Perspective on the Nation State Law Episode 87 JerusalemU's The Israel Teachers Lounge Podcast is produced by Matt Lipman. 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 iTunes and stitcher. Check out our Our Website! Join our Facebook page!

Samah Salaime is one of the 25% of Israelis who aren’t Jewish. Whatever your thoughts on the Nation-State law, it is important to hear their perspectives as citizens of their democratic state. Matt and Mike met with Samah at her office in Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom. She shared her opinions with respect, intelligence and passion. Agree or disagree, but hear out an Israeli having her say. Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom website Samah Salaime's Page JerusalemU's The Israel Teachers Lounge Podcast is produced by Matt Lipman. 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 iTunes and stitcher. Check out our Our Website! Join our Facebook page! Contact us with questions and comments!

There's a lot going on in the news. It includes fall out from the nation state law, druzim leaving the army, Ahed Tamimi leaving prison, a new Gaza flotilla. Alan, Mike and Matt think they have found a common theme in all of these stories. Join us for insight behind the headlines. JerusalemU's The Israel Teachers Lounge Podcast is produced by Matt Lipman. 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 iTunes and stitcher. Check out our Our Website! Join our Facebook page! Contact us with questions and comments!

Alan, Matt and Mike turned to Prof. Amichai Cohen of the Israel Democracy Institute to explain the controversial Nation State law being worked on in the Knesset. It is a political hot topic in Israel, with many questions needing answers. What challenges does is pose to the democratic nature of the state? To Israel's minorities? To diaspora Jewry? Is there a problem at all? Join us as we discuss the issues. TOI Update on the Bill Prof. Cohen on IDI site JerusalemU's The Israel Teachers Lounge Podcast is produced by Matt Lipman. 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 iTunes and stitcher. Check out our Our Website! Join our Facebook page! Contact us with questions and comments!