The Lowdown

In this episode of The Lowdown, Máté Holler delves into Romania's deepening political crisis, where a canceled election, far-right surges, and foreign interference have shaken the country's democratic foundations. Sorin Ioniță, director of the Think Tank, Expert Forum, and a seasoned political commentator, joins to unpack the turmoil - from Kremlin-backed disinformation to unexpected influence from Washington. They explore Romania's fragile political landscape, the rise of extremist candidates, and the stakes of the rescheduled May 2024 presidential election in a country at the crossroads of European security and democratic resilience.

In this episode of The Lowdown, Maria Borysenko, a Ukrainian activist and expert in analytics and advocacy, joins us to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine and the rights of Ukrainians in Germany. Maria shares her firsthand experiences of the conflict, the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the transformations shaping Ukraine's fight for sovereignty. She explores the war's impact on Europe, the role of international support, and the power of advocacy in securing Ukraine's future.

In this episode of The Lowdown, Judith Offenberg interviews Sarah Sackman, MP for Finchley and Golders Green and Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services. Sarah reflects on Labour's transformation under Keir Starmer, the fight against antisemitism, and how the party regained the trust of Jewish voters. They discuss the 2024 landslide victory, the government's response to the Israel-Gaza conflict, and the steps being taken to create safer, more inclusive campuses for Jewish students.

In this episode of The Lowdown, Máté Holler dives into the political upheaval in Serbia, where mass student-led protests have led to the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević. Dr. Danielo Mandić, Associate Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Harvard University, joins to break down the protest movement, the broader struggle for democratization, and the regime's efforts to consolidate power. They explore Serbia's political landscape, the parallels with other hybrid regimes, and what this crisis means for the country's EU ambitions. Later, we hear from Serbian Jewish student Noa Fisher, who shares her personal experiences from the protests and reflects on how Jewish students in Serbia engage with the movement.

Join host Máté Holler on The Lowdown as we delve into the complexities of the Shoah with Dr. Natalia Aleksiun and Dr. Eliyana Adler, editors of the book Entanglements of War: Social Networks During the Holocaust. As International Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches, we explore the untold stories of resilience and social networks that shaped Jewish survival. The episode reminds us  how central human connections and resilience were, and in fact, still are in the Jewish story.

In this special episode of The Lowdown, host Hanna Veiler is joined by Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, a leading voice in family law and international women's rights, and the founding director of the Rackman Center at Bar-Ilan University. Professor Halperin-Kaddari opens up about her work in the wake of October 7, tackling the gendered atrocities carried out by Hamas, the global denial of these crimes, and the fight for justice through the DINAH Project. She also shares her thoughts on the challenges Jewish women face around the world and offers advice for young Jewish leaders on how to advocate for truth in today's complicated and often polarized world.

In this special episode of The Lowdown, host Hanna Veiler welcomes Amie Liebowitz, an Australian journalist working for the BBC – live from Summer U Greece. Throughout the episode, Amie tells us about her career with media outlets, dealing with intense topics like far-right politics and antisemitism as well as her path into journalism, the highs and lows, and what it means to cover crucial Jewish topics in today's world, especially post-October 7th.

In this episode of The Lowdown, host Judith Offenberg welcomes Tom Khaled Würdemann, a German academic with Syrian heritage and Middle East scholar. They delve into the historical and contemporary aspects of antisemitism in Arab countries and Arab society, examining the intricate relationships between Jewish and Muslim communities. The discussion covers the evolution of these relations, particularly post-October 7th, and the impact of misinformation on public perceptions. Tom shares insights on campus dynamics, the challenges in fostering balanced discussions, and strategies for combating antisemitism.

In our 11th episode, host Judith Offenberg welcomes Eylon Levy, the former Israeli Government Spokesperson. Recorded five months after the horrors of the October 7th Massacre, he details the nation's collective mission to overcome trauma, return hostages, and secure a future free from threats, emphasizing a unified stance against adversity. Levy also discusses the alarming international response, critiques the UN's lack of impartiality, and shares personal insights, concluding with a lighter rapid-fire segment.

In our tenth episode of The Lowdown, host Judith Offenberg is joined by Shahrzad Osterer, an Iranian-Jewish activist and journalist. Released on March 8 to celebrate International Women's Day and the relaunch of the EUJS Women's Network, Shahrzad shares her insights into the Iranian women's resistance against the Islamic Republic. She also sheds light on how this struggle is intertwined with the battle against antisemitism and the denial of sexual violence since the October 7 Massacre, offering a powerful narrative of unity and resilience.

In our ninth episode of the Lowdown, Eryn Sarkin from the #BringOurFamiliesBack campaign, interviews Ayelet Svatitzky about her family and tragic experiences since October 7th. Ayelet's brother, Nadav remains in captivity in Gaza. Her mother, Channah, was released from Gaza after 49 days in captivity after being held in the Hamas terror tunnel network. Ayelet's older brother, Roi, was tragically murdered on Oct 7th.

In this special episode of the Lowdown, hosts Judith Offenberg and Máté Zsédely-Holler address their experiences during the past few weeks since October 7th while making the traditional Ashkenazi dish of Blintzik.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Lowdown U, Lowdown's special for Summer U 2023. Alina Bricman former President of EUJS and permanent EUJS enthusiast converses with outgoing EUJS President, Avital Grinberg. Discover Avital's journey, her proudest moments, and the story behind her decision to step down. The conversation doesn't stop there! Stay tuned as Alina introduces EUJS's Presidential Candidate for 2023-25, Emma Hallali. Get a glimpse of Emma's vision, her thoughts on issues facing young European Jews, and a fun quickfire round that reveals a little more about the person running to be the next EUJS President. Don't miss this insightful conversation, bridging the past, present, and future of EUJS leadership.

In this Breaking Exclusive episode, host Máté Zsédely-Holler speaks with Middle East Correspondent Jotam Confino, to discuss the recent developments from within Israel, as he asks "What's going on?" Jotam gives the Lowdown on what has been happening in recent days in Israel and predicts what's going to happen next over the coming weeks and months.

In episode 7 of The Lowdown, we host Barak Ravid, a leading Israeli political commentator and author. In this podcast, episode host Emma Hallali interviews Barak on Israeli-US relations, the impact of the Abraham Accords, and recent developments in the Middle East. Tune in to hear from Barak on the complexities of international relations and to discuss his new book, published in English just last month: Trump's Peace: The Abraham Accords And The Reshaping Of The Middle East".

Episode six of The Lowdown, “Laughing Loud and Proud with MODI” has been released in June for Pride month. In the podcast, episode host Máté Zsédely-Holler chats to Jewish American-Israeli comedian, Modi Rosenfeld as they discuss the man behind the comedian. MODI opens up about his Jewish identity, his sexual identity, his upbringing, and his comedy in what is an honest, earnest, and frank discussion. 

This Breaking Exclusive episode of the Lowdown provides a status update regarding the ongoing escalation in violence that has been seen between Israel and terror groups operating in Gaza. The discussion touches on issues relating to a potential ceasefire, the hundreds of rockets fired from Gaza towards Israeli urban areas, Israeli air strikes into Gaza and the political implications stemming from the Israeli Operation known as "Shield and Arrow". The episode seeks to provide listeners with an overview and holistic understanding of the ongoing developments in the region.

Episode 5, which premieres on May 9th in celebration of Europe Day, delves into the upcoming 2024 European elections by looking a year ahead. The episode's host, Emily Bowman, is accompanied by German MEP Terry Reintke, who serves as the Vice President of the European Parliament's Greens/EFA Group. The conversation focuses on the importance of youth involvement, inclusivity, and equality within both the electoral process and the European Union as a whole.

Episode four is a special podcast for Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Special guest, Professor Philippe Sands KC, joins the podcast as the discussion delves into the themes of Holocaust remembrance and education now and in the future. The discussion is framed through a reflection on Professor Sands' books, East West Street and The Ratline.Also in the podcast, young Jews from across Europe recite a powerful, commemorative poem in memory of the victims of the Shoah.

Episode three dives into the topic of women's inclusion and gender equality for Women's History Month, as episode host Avital Grinberg is joined by former EUJS President, Alina Bricman. Avital is then joined by representatives of the Czech Union of Jewish Students and the Jewish Student Union of Lithuania for the monthly Battle of Unions.

Episode two reflects on the War in Ukraine, one year after the criminal Russian invasion, as host Caterina Cognini is joined by former NATO PA President and Lithuanian MEP, Rasa Juknevičienė from the European Parliament's EPP Group. Caterina is then joined by representatives of the Serbian Union of Jewish Students and the Austrian Union of Jewish Students for the monthly Battle of Unions.

Episode one explores the worrying issue of democratic backsliding and the curtailing of the rule of law in Europe, as host Máté Zsédely-Holler is joined by Hungarian MEP Katalin Cseh from the Renew Europe group. Máté is then joined by representatives of UGEI and JSUD for the inaugural Battle of Unions.