Podcasts about Israelis

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. We record today's episode hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to take off on Wing of Zion for a whirlwind few days of meetings in Washington, DC. Berman, who is joining the prime minister, updates us on what we know about the ceasefire/ hostage release negotiations right now: An Israeli negotiating team was set to travel to Qatar Sunday for indirect talks with the Hamas terror group, as mediators bear down on the sides amid intensifying efforts to clinch an agreement. There are still a lot of wrinkles to iron out. Berman weighs in. The premier’s spokesman Omer Dostri announced he is stepping down just ahead of the DC trip. “The decision to terminate his employment was made in coordination between the prime minister, his chief of staff, and Dostri,” says the PMO. Berman offers a competing narrative. Early Saturday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation reported that two American aid workers were wounded when assailants threw two hand grenades at a distribution site in southern Gaza, blaming the attack on “hostile action by Hamas.” Berman discusses other recent Hamas attacks on aid in the Strip and how international humanitarian organizations still prefer to ramp up their efforts rather than cooperate with the GHF. The head of a militia operating in an area of Gaza under Israeli military control, Yasser Abu Shabab, gave an interview to the Israeli public broadcaster’s Arabic-language radio station Makan, in which he confirmed for the first time that his forces are cooperating at some level with the IDF. Could this be a viable option elsewhere? Iranian ballistic missiles struck five Israeli military bases during the 12-day war with last month, The Telegraph reported on Saturday for the first time, citing satellite data shared by Oregon State University. We hear which bases The Telegraph pointed to and their significance. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Israel sends team to Qatar for hostage talks, but deems Hamas demands ‘unacceptable’ Netanyahu, US blame Hamas for grenade attack on Gaza Humanitarian Foundation workers PM fires spokesman on eve of US trip; reportedly amid spats with Sara Netanyahu Report: Iranian ballistic missiles struck five IDF bases during war Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Illustrative: Palestinian terrorist groups Islamic Jihad and Hamas arrive near the family home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar before handing over Israeli and Thai hostage to a Red Cross team in Khan Yunis on January 30, 2025. (Eyad BABA / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major developments are unfolding in Israel: For the first time in modern history, Jews are dancing and singing freely on the Temple Mount—following a bold move by Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu is heading to Washington on July 7th for a potentially historic meeting with the Trump Administration. On the table: sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, a Gaza ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages, and even whispers of normalization with Syria. Back home, Likud ministers are urging Netanyahu to apply sovereignty before the Knesset recesses on July 27th. With Hamas rejecting the latest truce and regional tensions rising—particularly from Yemen—Israel's leaders believe the window to act is now. Are we on the verge of a pivotal shift?

In this episode of the Jewish Inspiration Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the 17th gate of generosity from Orchos Tzaddikim (page 561, Treasure for Life edition) during a "Mussar Mondays" Masterclass. He redefines generosity as a heart-driven trait encompassing not just financial giving but also kindness, wisdom, and physical effort, using Abraham's hospitality and advocacy as a model. Generosity, he explains, elevates one spiritually and socially, yielding rewards in this world and the next, as illustrated by a story of a man in Ashdod whose father's kindness decades earlier led to an unexpectedly lavish wedding for his daughter.Rabbi Wolbe emphasizes that generosity is a divine loan, citing King Solomon's teaching to “cast your bread upon the water” for future returns. He highlights three forms of generosity—monetary, physical, and intellectual—and encourages proactive giving without calculation, as God replenishes the giver. Tied to the Torch campaign at GiveTorch.net, the episode inspires listeners to embrace generosity as a transformative act that aligns with divine will and fosters connection, urging them to judge others favorably and share wisdom to uplift the world.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on March 10, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on July 6, 2025_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Generosity, #Giving, #Abraham, #Kindness, #ProactiveGiving ★ Support this podcast ★

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube.

At least 27 people, including nine children, have died and dozens of people are missing amid flash floods in Texas on Independence Day, according to US authorities.Also on the programme: The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting his security cabinet to discuss the response by Hamas to the latest US-backed proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza; and the River Seine in Paris has reopened publicly to swimmers for the first time after a century-long ban.(Photo: A pickup truck sits damaged after deadly flooding in Kerrville, Texas, U.S., July 5, 2025. Credit: Reuters)

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur. Dozens of Jewish extremists set fire to a security installation and rioted outside a West Bank base overnight Sunday-Monday, days after an officer in the Israel Defense Forces was assaulted by settlers, who threw rocks and attempted to harm other IDF soldiers. If there’s one institution that a majority of Israelis still get behind, it’s the IDF. So this attack, to many, was a wake-up call to the bubbling issue of settler extremists. In this week's What Matters Now, Rettig Gur describes the origins of the settler movement and how there were several visions that at times competed with each other -- and overlapped. He explains how the extremists who are repeatedly attacking neighboring Palestinian villages -- and now IDF soldiers -- are disenfranchised and largely shunned by the diverse settler communities. And we learn how politicians, some of whom serve as role models for these "hilltop youth" -- are finally also waking up to the problem. But while the leaders are changing their tunes, the youth are no longer listening. And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: Illustrative: Young Jewish protesters throw rocks as Israeli police forces arrive at the illegal outpost of Amona, on February 1, 2017, on the morning of the settlement's evacuation. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the past few days, we've observed strong signs that Israeli leaders are moving to bring the Gaza war to a close, though it remains unclear how exactly this would take shape. On Tuesday, Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermermet with senior Trump administration officials in Washington, DC. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set […]

Max Blumenthal : Trump and Israeli DisinformationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In American Jewish life, few questions are as fraught — or as revealing — as this one: Is Donald Trump good for the Jews? For some, the answer lies in his record. As president, Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, brokered normalization deals between Israel and Arab states, and cast himself as an unflinching ally of the Jewish state. In recent months, he has demanded action on campus antisemitism and positioned himself as a defender of Jewish students. But others see a more cynical calculus: a president who invokes Jewish loyalty tests, traffics in antisemitic tropes, and redefines criticism of Israel as bigotry — thereby narrowing the space for dissent and civil discourse. They worry that his brand of politics is less about safeguarding Jewish life than about instrumentalizing it, often at the expense of liberal values many American Jews hold dear. In this launch of the SAPIR Debates, two prominent Jewish voices take opposing sides of this urgent and emotionally charged question: Jason Greenblatt, who served as Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East and worked for him for 20 years, and Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Obama, Mayor of Chicago, and US Ambassador to Japan. Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens, this is a timely, unsparing exchange on identity, power, politics — and what it means to stand with the Jews in America today.

The Israeli military has killed at least 20 Palestinians in Gaza, as the fate of the US truce proposal hangs in the balance. Hamas said early on Friday that it is discussing the U.S. ceasefire proposal with other Palestinian groups, and it would submit its response to mediators once the talks conclude. Earlier in the week it appeared a breakthrough was near with to US president Donald Trump claiming that Israel had agreed to conditions for a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas. But it looks like no such progress is on the cards between Russia and Ukraine. To wrap it all together let's cross to Toni Waterman is our US correspondent in Washington.

01:00:45 – 01:01:07Libertarian Party Courts Elon MuskThe Libertarian Party is criticized for abandoning its principles by attempting to partner with Elon Musk, a figure labeled a crony capitalist. 01:02:29 – 01:03:26Musk's Sudden Praise for Trump Sparks SpeculationFollowing Trump's deportation threat, Musk reverses his critical stance and praises Trump's handling of international conflicts, raising questions about motive and sincerity. 01:09:12 – 01:10:07Critique of Libertarian Party's Shift Toward MuskThe Libertarian Party is accused of abandoning principle in favor of courting Musk for funding and influence, likened to previous compromises with Gary Johnson. 01:19:28 – 01:20:15Bannon and MAGA Turn on MuskSteve Bannon slams Musk for opposing the spending bill and for proposing a third party, reigniting internal GOP conflicts over fiscal policy. 01:25:45 – 01:27:46Musk Discusses AI and Brain Chip AgendaMusk predicts imminent digital superintelligence and promotes Neuralink's human augmentation, raising serious ethical and societal concerns. 01:33:32 – 01:35:20Pastor Robert Jeffress Celebrates Trump and the VaccineA televised interview shows Jeffress gleefully promoting the vaccine as a moral Christian act, even linking it to a phone call from Trump, sparking criticism of his theological justifications. 01:55:38 – 02:07:17UN-Backed Religious Unity Agenda Promotes Climate MoralityUN, globalist institutions, and religious leaders push a unified spiritual movement centered on environmentalism, unveiling a new "climate Ten Commandments" and calling for a global moral reset away from Biblical ethics. 02:17:41 – 02:24:24Robert Jeffress Defends Israel's Military Actions in SermonJeffress supports Trump's attacks on Iran and promotes unconditional support for modern Israel as a Christian duty, drawing backlash for conflating political actions with divine will and rejecting critiques of Israeli policy. 02:55:30 – 03:01:45Property Tax as Modern SerfdomCritics argue that property tax turns Americans into permanent renters of government-owned land, echoing feudal systems and undermining genuine property ownership. 03:01:46 – 03:06:01BlackRock and Central Banks Reshape Housing and CurrencyConcerns grow over BlackRock buying up single-family homes and central banks de-dollarizing. Commentary frames this as elite-driven economic warfare against the middle class. 03:25:46 – 03:26:32Del Monte Files for BankruptcyAfter 140 years, Del Monte enters bankruptcy as consumers reject canned, preservative-heavy foods. The collapse highlights broader food industry shifts. 03:28:26 – 03:31:06Mass Layoffs and Job Market Collapse Under Trump-Era PoliciesReports reveal over 744,000 job cuts in the first half of 2025, with critics attributing economic instability to Trump's lockdown and trade tariff disruptions. 03:34:38 – 03:37:12Criticism of Trump's Vietnam Trade DealTrump's deal with Vietnam is labeled economically backwards, imposing new import tariffs while offering little in export gains due to Vietnam's low purchasing power. 03:47:58 – 03:49:17Amazon's Robots Raise Short-Term vs. Long-Term Job Threat DebateCoverage of Amazon's million-robot milestone leads to concerns over whether automation will displace workers. While current staffing is stable, long-term consequences remain uncertain. Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHTFind out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastCheck out Ark Media's other podcasts: For Heaven's Sake: lnk.to/rfGlrA‘What's Your Number?': lnk.to/rbGlvMFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorTo order Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdnToday's Episode:Over the past few days, we've observed strong signs that Israeli leaders are moving to bring the Gaza war to a close, though it remains unclear how exactly this would take shape.On Tuesday, Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermermet with senior Trump administration officials in Washington, DC. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit the White House on Monday, July 7. This comes just over a week after Israel's 12-day war against the Iranian regime. The war also included, of course, a round of American strikes on Iran's three key nuclear facilities. Prime Minister Netanyahu spent his entire political career warning of the existential threat posed by Iran's nuclear program, and he is now largely being credited — even by domestic critics — with its destruction. As the post-Iran War geopolitical map is being drawn, we wonder, what could be Netanyahu's next moves in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria. Saudi Arabia, and domestically, in Israel?To discuss this we are joined by Israeli author and journalist Ari Shavit. Ari is the author of the award-winning book My Promised Land and was a senior correspondent at Haaretz for many years.To order Ari's book, My Promised Land: https://tinyurl.com/45jbnhbzCREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Operations DirectorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

President Donald Trump is expected to sign his “big, beautiful, bill” tomorrow after marathon voting sessions in Congress. Florida lawmakers are raising concerns about a new migrant detention facility. Israeli strikes killed scores of Palestinians in Gaza as negotiations to reach a ceasefire ramp up. Gloomy weather could dampen some Fourth of July weekend plans. Plus, an alternate juror in Sean “Diddy” Combs' trial spoke exclusively to CNN.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

01:00:45 – 01:01:07Libertarian Party Courts Elon MuskThe Libertarian Party is criticized for abandoning its principles by attempting to partner with Elon Musk, a figure labeled a crony capitalist. 01:02:29 – 01:03:26Musk's Sudden Praise for Trump Sparks SpeculationFollowing Trump's deportation threat, Musk reverses his critical stance and praises Trump's handling of international conflicts, raising questions about motive and sincerity. 01:09:12 – 01:10:07Critique of Libertarian Party's Shift Toward MuskThe Libertarian Party is accused of abandoning principle in favor of courting Musk for funding and influence, likened to previous compromises with Gary Johnson. 01:19:28 – 01:20:15Bannon and MAGA Turn on MuskSteve Bannon slams Musk for opposing the spending bill and for proposing a third party, reigniting internal GOP conflicts over fiscal policy. 01:25:45 – 01:27:46Musk Discusses AI and Brain Chip AgendaMusk predicts imminent digital superintelligence and promotes Neuralink's human augmentation, raising serious ethical and societal concerns. 01:33:32 – 01:35:20Pastor Robert Jeffress Celebrates Trump and the VaccineA televised interview shows Jeffress gleefully promoting the vaccine as a moral Christian act, even linking it to a phone call from Trump, sparking criticism of his theological justifications. 01:55:38 – 02:07:17UN-Backed Religious Unity Agenda Promotes Climate MoralityUN, globalist institutions, and religious leaders push a unified spiritual movement centered on environmentalism, unveiling a new "climate Ten Commandments" and calling for a global moral reset away from Biblical ethics. 02:17:41 – 02:24:24Robert Jeffress Defends Israel's Military Actions in SermonJeffress supports Trump's attacks on Iran and promotes unconditional support for modern Israel as a Christian duty, drawing backlash for conflating political actions with divine will and rejecting critiques of Israeli policy. 02:55:30 – 03:01:45Property Tax as Modern SerfdomCritics argue that property tax turns Americans into permanent renters of government-owned land, echoing feudal systems and undermining genuine property ownership. 03:01:46 – 03:06:01BlackRock and Central Banks Reshape Housing and CurrencyConcerns grow over BlackRock buying up single-family homes and central banks de-dollarizing. Commentary frames this as elite-driven economic warfare against the middle class. 03:25:46 – 03:26:32Del Monte Files for BankruptcyAfter 140 years, Del Monte enters bankruptcy as consumers reject canned, preservative-heavy foods. The collapse highlights broader food industry shifts. 03:28:26 – 03:31:06Mass Layoffs and Job Market Collapse Under Trump-Era PoliciesReports reveal over 744,000 job cuts in the first half of 2025, with critics attributing economic instability to Trump's lockdown and trade tariff disruptions. 03:34:38 – 03:37:12Criticism of Trump's Vietnam Trade DealTrump's deal with Vietnam is labeled economically backwards, imposing new import tariffs while offering little in export gains due to Vietnam's low purchasing power. 03:47:58 – 03:49:17Amazon's Robots Raise Short-Term vs. Long-Term Job Threat DebateCoverage of Amazon's million-robot milestone leads to concerns over whether automation will displace workers. While current staffing is stable, long-term consequences remain uncertain. Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHTFind out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

In these segments, Tara delivers an unflinching look at two unfolding humanitarian and political crises. The first exposes a scathing report that the Biden administration knowingly placed thousands of migrant children with unvetted sponsors, including convicted criminals, fueling a system of trafficking, abuse, and neglect while dismantling safeguards like DNA testing. The second explores new studies indicating massive underreported COVID vaccine deaths—potentially up to 600,000 in the U.S.—and severe long-term side effects among teens. Tara contrasts the blackout of these issues by legacy media with rising distrust in America itself, as Gallup shows Democrats' pride in their country plunging to historic lows, and sympathy shifting dramatically toward Palestinians over Israelis. Together, these stories paint a picture of institutional collapse, moral abdication, and a nation in crisis.

In this extensive broadcast, Tara details alarming findings from peer-reviewed studies and official data estimating up to 600,000 U.S. deaths linked to COVID-19 vaccines—far surpassing what the media reports. She highlights underreported dangers of mRNA shots, including serious gastric illnesses and a surge in ER visits among vaccinated teens, while contrasting Japan and Denmark's public warnings with America's ongoing blackout. The show then pivots to expose a legal push to prevent deportations by citing alleged abuse in El Salvador's mega prison. Finally, Tara unpacks Gallup polling showing Democrats' record-low pride in America, and a stunning shift in sympathy toward Palestinians over Israelis—a transformation she argues is fueling the rise of far-left candidates and anti-American sentiment.

How has the media distorted Israel's response to the October 7 Hamas attacks? In this powerful conversation from AJC Global Forum 2025, award-winning journalist and former AP correspondent Matti Friedman breaks down the media bias, misinformation, and double standards shaping global coverage of Israel. Moderated by AJC Chief Communications and Strategy Officer Belle Etra Yoeli, this episode explores how skewed narratives have taken hold in the media, in a climate of activist journalism. A must-listen for anyone concerned with truth in journalism, Israel advocacy, and combating disinformation in today's media landscape. Take Action: Take 15 seconds and urge your elected leaders to send a clear, united message: We stand with Israel. Take action now. Resources: Global Forum 2025 session with Matti Friedman:: Watch the full video. Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod:  Latest Episodes:  John Spencer's Key Takeaways After the 12-Day War: Air Supremacy, Intelligence, and Deterrence Iran's Secret Nuclear Program and What Comes Next in the Iranian Regime vs. Israel War Why Israel Had No Choice: Inside the Defensive Strike That Shook Iran's Nuclear Program Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman: I've had the privilege of interviewing journalism colleague Matti Friedman: twice on this podcast. In 2022, Matti took listeners behind the scenes of Jerusalem's AP bureau where he had worked between 2006 and 2011 and shared some insight on what happens when news outlets try to oversimplify the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Then in 2023, I got to sit down with Matti in Jerusalem to talk about his latest book on Leonard Cohen and how the 1973 Yom Kippur War was a turning point both for the singer and for Israel.  Earlier this year, Matti came to New York for AJC Global Forum 2025, and sat down with Belle Yoeli, AJC Chief Strategy and Communications Officer. They rehashed some of what we discussed before, but against an entirely different backdrop: post-October 7. For this week's episode, we bring you a portion of that conversation.  Belle Yoeli:   Hi, everyone. Great to see all of you. Thank you so much for being here. Matti, thank you for being here.  Matti Friedman:   Thanks for having me.  Belle Yoeli:   As you can tell by zero empty seats in this room, you have a lot of fans, and unless you want to open with anything, I'm going to jump right in. Okay, great.  So for those of you who don't know, in September 2024 Matti wrote a piece in The Free Press that is a really great foundation for today's discussion. In When We Started to Lie, Matti, you reflect on two pieces that you had written in 2015 about issues of media coverage of Israel during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. And this piece basically talked about the conclusions you drew and how they've evolved since October 7. We're gonna get to those conclusions, but first, I'm hoping you can describe for everyone what were the issues of media coverage of Israel that you first identified based on the experience in 2014? Matti Friedman:   First of all, thanks so much for having me here, and thanks for all of the amazing work that you guys are doing. So it's a real honor for me. I was a reporter for the AP, between 2006 and the very end of 2011, in Jerusalem. I was a reporter and editor. The AP, of course, as you know, is the American news agency. It's the world's largest news organization, according to the AP, according to Reuters, it's Reuters. One of them is probably right, but it's a big deal in the news world.  And I had an inside view inside one of the biggest AP bureaus. In fact, the AP's biggest International Bureau, which was in Jerusalem. So I can try to sketch the problems that I saw as a reporter there. It would take me seven or eight hours, and apparently we only have four or five hours for this lunch, so I have to keep it short. But I would say there are two main problems. We often get very involved. When we talk about problems with coverage of Israel. We get involved with very micro issues like, you call it a settlement. I call it a neighborhood. Rockets, you know, the Nakba, issues of terminology. But in fact, there are two major problems that are much bigger, and because they're bigger, they're often harder to see. One of the things that I noticed at the Bureau was the scale of coverage of Israel. So at the time that I was at the AP, again, between 2006 and the very end of 2011 we had about 40 full time staffers covering Israel. That's print reporters like me, stills photographers, TV crews. Israel, as most of you probably know, is a very small country. As a percentage of the world's surface, Israel is 1/100 of 1% of the surface of the world, and as a percentage of the land mass of the Arab world, Israel is 1/5 of 1%. 0.2%.  And we had 40 people covering it.  And just as a point of comparison, that was dramatically more people than we had at the time covering China. There are about 10 million people today in Israel proper, in China, there are 1.3 billion. We had more people in Israel than we had in China. We had more people in Israel than we had in India, which is another country of about 1.3 billion people. We had more people in Israel than we had in all of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. That's 50 something countries. So we had more people in Israel than we had in all of those countries combined. And sometimes I say that to Jews, I say we covered Israel more than we covered China, and people just stare at me blankly, because it's Israel. So of course, that makes perfect sense.  I happen to think Israel is the most important country in the world because I live there. But if the news is meant to be a rational analysis of events on planet Earth, you cannot cover Israel more than you cover the continent of Africa. It just doesn't make any sense. So one of the things that first jumped out at me– actually, that's making me sound smarter than I am. It didn't jump out at me at first. It took a couple of years. And I just started realizing that it was very strange that the world's largest organization had its largest international bureau in the State of Israel, which is a very small country, very small conflict in numeric terms. And yet there was this intense global focus on it that made people think that it was the most important story in the world. And it definitely occupies a place in the American political imagination that is not comparable to any other international conflict.  So that's one part of the problem. That was the scope, the other part was the context. And it took me a while to figure this out, but the coverage of Israel is framed as an Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict is defined in those terms, the Israeli Palestinian conflict, and everyone in this room has heard it discussed in those terms. Sometimes we discuss it in those terms, and that is because the news folks have framed the conflict in those terms. So at the AP bureau in Jerusalem, every single day, we had to write a story that was called, in the jargon of the Bureau, Is-Pals, Israelis, Palestinians. And it was the daily wrap of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. So what Netanyahu said, what Abbas said, rockets, settlers, Hamas, you know, whatever, the problem is that there isn't an Israeli=Palestinian conflict. And I know that sounds crazy, because everyone thinks there is.  And of course, we're seeing conflicts play out in the most tragic way right now in Gaza. But most of Israel's wars have not been fought against Palestinians. Israel has unfortunately fought wars against Egyptians and Jordanians and Lebanese and Iraqis. And Israel's most important enemy at the moment, is Iran, right? The Iranians are not Palestinian. The Iranians are not Arab. They're Muslim, but they're not Arab. So clearly, there is a broader regional conflict that's going on that is not an Israeli Palestinian conflict, and we've seen it in the past year. If we had a satellite in space looking down and just following the paths of ballistic missiles and rockets fired at Israel. Like a photograph of these red trails of rockets fired at Israel. You'd see rockets being fired from Iraq and from Yemen and from Lebanon and from Gaza and from Iran. You'd see the contours of a regional conflict.  And if you understand it's a regional conflict, then you understand the way Israelis see it. There are in the Arab world, 300 million people, almost all of them Muslim. And in one corner of that world, there are 7 million Jews, who are Israelis. And if we zoom out even farther to the level of the Islamic world, we'll see that there are 2 billion people in the Islamic world. There's some argument about the numbers, but it's roughly a quarter of the world's population. And in one corner of that world there, there are 7 million Israeli Jews. The entire Jewish population on planet Earth is a lot smaller than the population of Cairo.  So the idea that this is an Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where Israelis are the stronger side, where Israelis are the dominant actor, and where Israelis are, let's face it, the bad guy in the story, that's a fictional presentation of a story that actually works in a completely different way. So if you take a small story and make it seem big. If you take a complicated regional story and you make it seem like a very small local story involving only Israelis and Palestinians, then you get the highly simplified but very emotive narrative that everyone is being subjected to now. And you get this portrayal of a villainous country called Israel that really looms in the liberal imagination of the West as an embodiment of the worst possible qualities of the age. Belle Yoeli:   Wow. So already you were seeing these issues when you were reporter, earlier on. But like this, some of this was before and since, since productive edge. This is over 10 years ago, and here we are. So October 7 happens. You already know these issues exist. You've identified them. How would you describe because obviously we have a lot of feelings about this, but like, strictly as a journalist, how would you describe the coverage that you've seen since during October 7, in its aftermath? Is it just these issues? Have they? Have they expanded? Are there new issues in play? What's your analysis? Matti Friedman:   The coverage has been great. I really have very I have no criticism of it. I think it's very accurate. I think that I, in a way, I was lucky to have been through what I went through 10 or 15 years ago, and I wasn't blindsided on October 7, as many people were, many people, quite naturally, don't pay close attention to this. And even people who are sympathetic to Israel, I think, were not necessarily convinced that my argument about the press was right. And I think many people thought it was overstated.  And you can read those articles from 2014 one was in tablet and one was in the Atlantic, but it's basically the two chapters of the same argument. And unfortunately, I think that those the essays, they stand up. In fact, if you don't really look at the date of the essays, they kind of seem that they could have been written in the past year and a half. And I'm not happy about that. I think that's and I certainly wrote them in hopes that they would somehow make things better. But the issues that I saw in the press 15 years ago have only been exacerbated since then. And October seven didn't invent the wheel. The issues were pre existing, but it took everything that I saw and kind of supercharged it.  So if I talked about ideological conformity in the bureaus that has been that has become much more extreme. A guy like me, I was hired in 2006 at the AP. I'm an Israeli of center left political leanings. Hiring me was not a problem in 22,006 by the time I left the AP, at the end of 2011 I'm pretty sure someone like me would not have been hired because my views, which are again, very centrist Israeli views, were really beyond the pale by the time that I left the AP, and certainly, and certainly today, the thing has really moved what I saw happening at the AP. And I hate picking on the AP because they were just unfortunate enough to hire me. That was their only error, but what I'm saying about them is true of a whole new. Was heard. It's true of the Times and CNN and the BBC, the news industry really works kind of as a it has a herd mentality. What happened was that news decisions were increasingly being made by people who are not interested in explanatory journalism. They were activists. Activists had moved into the key positions in the Bureau, and they had a very different idea of what press coverage was supposed to do. I would say, and I tried to explain it in that article for the free press, when I approach a news story, when I approach the profession of journalism, the question that I'm asking is, what's going on? That's the question I think you're supposed to ask, what's going on? How can I explain it in a way that's as accurate as as possible? The question that was increasingly being asked was not what's going on. The question was, who does this serve? That's an activist question. So when you look at a story, you don't ask, is it true, or is it not true? You ask, who's it going to help? Is it going to help the good guys, or is it going to help the bad guys?  So if Israel in the story is the villain, then a story that makes Israel seem reasonable, reasonable or rational or sympathetic needs to be played down to the extent possible or made to disappear. And I can give you an example from my own experience.  At the very end of 2008 two reporters in my bureau, people who I know, learned of a very dramatic peace offer that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had made to the Palestinians. So Olmert, who was the prime minister at the time, had made a very far reaching offer that was supposed to see a Palestinian state in all of Gaza, most of the West Bank, with land swaps for territory that Israel was going to retain, and a very far reaching international consortium agreement to run the Old City of Jerusalem. Was a very dramatic. It was so far reaching, I think that Israelis probably wouldn't have supported it. But it was offered to the Palestinian side, and the Palestinians rejected it as insufficient. And two of our reporters knew about this, and they'd seen a map of the offer. And this was obviously a pretty big story for a bureau that had as the thrust of its coverage the peace process.  The two reporters who had the story were ordered to drop it, they were not allowed to cover the story. And there were different explanations. And they didn't, by the way, AP did not publish the story at the time, even though we were the first to have it. Eventually, it kind of came out and in other ways, through other news organizations. But we knew at first. Why were we not allowed to cover it? Because it would have made the Israelis who we were trying to villainize and demonize, it would have made Israel seem like it was trying to solve the conflict on kind of reasonable lines, which, of course, was true at that time. So that story would have upended the thrust of our news coverage. So it had to be made to go away, even though it was true, it would have helped the wrong people. And that question of who does this serve has destroyed, I want to say all, but much, of what used to be mainstream news coverage, and it's not just where Israel is concerned.  You can look at a story like the mental health of President Biden, right. Something's going on with Biden at the end of his term. It's a huge global news story, and the press, by and large, won't touch it, because why? I mean, it's true, right? We're all seeing that it's true, but why can't you touch it? Because it would help the wrong people. It would help the Republicans who in the press are the people who you are not supposed to help.  The origins of COVID, right? We heard one story about that. The true story seems to be a different story. And there are many other examples of stories that are reported because they help the right people, or not reported because they would help the wrong people. And I saw this thinking really come into action in Israel 10 or 15 years ago, and unfortunately, it's really spread to include the whole mainstream press scene and really kill it.  I mean, essentially, anyone interested in trying to get a solid sense of what's going on, we have very few options. There's not a lot, there's not a lot out there. So that's the broader conclusion that I drew from what I thought at the time was just a very small malfunction involving Israel coverage. But Israel coverage ends up being a symptom of something much bigger, as Jews often are the symptom of something much bigger that's going on.  So my problems in the AP bureau 15 years ago were really a kind of maybe a canary in the coal mine, or a whiff of something much bigger that we were all going to see happen, which is the transformation of the important liberal institutions of the west into kind of activist arms of a very radical ideology that has as its goal the transformation of the west into something else. And that's true of the press, and it's true of NGO world, places like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which were one thing 30 years ago and are something very different today. And it's also true of big parts of the academy. It's true of places like Columbia and places like Harvard, they still have the logo, they still have the name, but they serve a different purpose, and I just happen to be on the ground floor of it as a reporter. Belle Yoeli:   So obviously, this concept of who does this serve, and this activist journalism is deeply concerning, and you actually mentioned a couple other areas, academia, obviously we're in that a lot right now in terms of what's going on campus. So I guess a couple of questions on that. First of all, think about this very practically, tachlis, in the day to day.  I'm a journalist, and I go to write about what's happening in Gaza. What would you say is, if you had to throw out a percentage, are all of them aware of this activist journalist tendency? Or you think it's like, like intentional for many of them, or it's sort of they've been educated that way, and it's their worldview in such a way that they don't even know that they're not reporting the news in a very biased way. Does that make sense? Matti Friedman:   Totally. I think that many people in the journalism world today view their job as not as explaining a complicated situation, but as swaying people toward the correct political conclusion. Journalism is power, and the power has to be wielded in support of justice. Now, justice is very slippery, and, you know, choosing who's in the right is very, very slippery, and that's how journalism gets into a lot of trouble. Instead of just trying to explain what's going on and then leave, you're supposed to leave the politics and the activism to other people. Politics and activism are very important.  But unless everyone can agree on what is going on, it's impossible to choose the kind of act, the kind of activism that would be useful. So when the journalists become activists, then no one can understand what's what's going on, because the story itself is fake, and there are many, many examples of it. But you know, returning to what you asked about, about October 7, and reporting post October 7, you can really see it happen. The massacres of October 7 were very problematic for the ideological strain that now controls a lot of the press, because it's counterintuitive. You're not supposed to sympathize with Israelis.  And yet, there were a few weeks after October 7 when they were forced to because the nature of the atrocities were so heinous that they could not be ignored. So you had the press covering what happened on October 7, but you could feel it. As someone who knows that scene, you could feel there was a lot of discomfort. There was a lot of discomfort. It wasn't their comfort zone, and you knew that within a few weeks, maybe a month, it was gonna snap back at the first opportunity.  When did it snap back? In the story of the Al Ahli hospital strike. If you remember that a few weeks in, there's a massive global story that Israel has rocketed Hospital in Gaza and killed about 500 people and and then you can see the kind of the comfort the comfort zone return, because the story that the press is primed to cover is a story about villainous Israelis victimizing innocent Palestinians, and now, now we're back. Okay. Now Israel's rocketing hospital. The problem was that it hadn't happened, and it was that a lot of stories don't happen, and they're allowed to stand.  But this story was so far from the truth that even the people involved couldn't make it work, and it had to be retracted, but it was basically too late. And then as soon as the Israeli ground offensive got into swing in Gaza, then the story really becomes the same old story, which is a story of Israel victimizing Palestinians for no reason. And you'll never see Hamas militants in uniform in Gaza. You just see dead civilians, and you'll see the aftermath of a rocket strike when the, you know, when an Israeli F16 takes out the launcher, but you will never see the strike. Which is the way it's worked in Gaza since the very end of 2008 which is when the first really bad round of violence in Gaza happens, which is when I'm at the AP.  As far as I know, I was the first staffer to erase information from the story, because we were threatened by Hamas, which happened at the very end of 2008. We had a great reporter in Gaza, a Palestinian who had always been really an excellent reporter. We had a detail in a story. The detail was a crucial one. It was that Hamas fighters were dressed as civilians and were being counted as civilians in the death toll, an important thing to know, that went out in an AP story. The reporter called me a few hours later. It was clear that someone had spoken to him, and he told me, I was on the desk in Jerusalem, so I was kind of writing the story from the main bureau in Jerusalem. And he said, Matti, you have to take that detail out of the story. And it was clear that someone had threatened him. I took the detail out of the story. I suggested to our editors that we note in an Editor's Note that we were now complying with Hamas censorship. I was overruled, and from that point in time, the AP, like all of its sister organizations, collaborates with Hamas censorship in Gaza.  What does that mean? You'll see a lot of dead civilians, and you won't see dead militants. You won't have a clear idea of what the Hamas military strategy is. And this is the kicker, the center of the coverage will be a number, a casualty number, that is provided to the press by something called the Gaza health ministry, which is Hamas. And we've been doing that since 2008, and it's a way of basically settling the story before you get into any other information. Because when you put, you know, when you say 50 Palestinians were killed, and one Israeli on a given day, it doesn't matter what else you say. The numbers kind of tell their own story, and it's a way of settling the story with something that sounds like a concrete statistic. And the statistic is being, you know, given to us by one of the combatant sides. But because the reporters sympathize with that side, they're happy to play along. So since 2008, certainly since 2014 when we had another serious war in Gaza, the press has not been covering Gaza, the press has been essentially an amplifier for one of the most poisonous ideologies on Earth. Hamas has figured out how to make the press amplify its messaging rather than covering Hamas. There are no Western reporters in Gaza. All of the reporters in Gaza are Palestinians, and those people fall into three categories. Some of them identify with Hamas. Some of them are intimidated by Hamas and won't cross Hamas, which makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't want to cross Hamas either. So either. And the third category is people who actually belong to Hamas. That's where the information from Gaza is coming from. And if you're credulous, then of course, you're going to get a story that makes Israel look pretty bad. Belle Yoeli:   So this is very depressing. That's okay. It's very helpful, very depressing. But on that note, I would ask you so whether, because you spoke about this problem in terms, of, of course, the coverage of Israel, but that it's it's also more widespread you talk, you spoke about President Biden in your article, you name other examples of how this sort of activist journalism is affecting everything we read. So what should everyone in this room be reading, truly, from your opinion. This is Matti's opinion. But if you want to you want to get information from our news and not activist journalism, obviously The Free Press, perhaps. But are there other sites or outlets that you think are getting this more down the line, or at least better than some, some better than others?  Matti Friedman:   No, it's just The Free Press. No. I mean, it's a question that I also wrestle with. I haven't given up on everyone, and even in publications that have, I think, largely lost the plot, you'll still find good stuff on occasion. So I try to keep my eye on certain reporters whose name I know. I often ask not just on Israel, but on anything, does this reporter speak the language of the country that they're covering? You'd be shocked at how rare that is for Americans. A lot of the people covering Ukraine have no idea what language they speak in Ukraine, and just as someone who covers Israel, I'm aware of the low level of knowledge that many of the Western reporters have. You'll find really good stuff still in the Atlantic. The Atlantic has managed, against steep odds, to maintain its equilibrium amid all this. The New Yorker, unfortunately, less so, but you'll still see, on occasion, things that are good. And there are certain reporters who are, you know, you can trust. Isabel Kirchner, who writes for The New York Times, is an old colleague of mine from the Jerusalem report. She's excellent, and they're just people who are doing their job. But by and large, you have to be very, very suspicious of absolutely everything that you read and see. And I'm not saying that as someone who I'm not happy to say that, and I certainly don't identify with, you know, the term fake news, as it has been pushed by President Trump.  I think that fake news is, you know, for those guys, is an attempt to avoid scrutiny. They're trying to, you know, neuter the watchdog so that they can get away with whatever they want. I don't think that crowd is interested in good press coverage. Unfortunately, the term fake news sticks because it's true. That's why it has worked. And the press, instead of helping people navigate the blizzard of disinformation that we're all in, they've joined it. People who are confused about what's going on, should be able to open up the New York Times or go to the AP and figure out what's going on, but because, and I saw it happen, instead of covering the circus, the reporters became dancing bears in the circus. So no one can make heads or tails of anything. So we need to be very careful.  Most headlines that are out there are out there to generate outrage, because that's the most predictable generator of clicks, which is the, we're in a click economy. So I actually think that the less time you spend following headlines and daily news, the better off you'll be. Because you can follow the daily news for a year, and by the end of the year, you'll just be deranged. You'll just be crazy and very angry.  If you take that time and use it to read books about, you know, bitten by people who are knowledgeable, or read longer form essays that are, you know, that are obviously less likely to be very simplistic, although not, you know, it's not completely impossible that they will be. I think that's time, that's time better spent. Unfortunately, much of the industry is kind of gone. And we're in an interesting kind of interim moment where it's clear that the old news industry is basically dead and that something new has to happen. And those new things are happening. I mean, The Free Press is part of a new thing that's happening. It's not big enough to really move the needle in a dramatic way yet, but it might be, and I think we all have to hope that new institutions emerge to fill the vacuum.  The old institutions, and I say this with sorrow, and I think that this also might be true of a lot of the academic institutions. They can't be saved. They can't be saved. So if people think that writing an editor, a letter to the editor of the New York Times is going to help. It's not going to help. Sometimes people say, Why don't we just get the top people in the news industry and bring them to Israel and show them the truth? Doesn't help. It's not about knowing or not knowing. They define the profession differently.  So it's not about a lack of information. The institutions have changed, and it's kind of irrevocable at this point, and we need new institutions, and one of them is The Free Press, and it's a great model of what to do when faced with fading institutions. By the way, the greatest model of all time in that regard is Zionism. That's what Zionism is. There's a guy in Vienna in 1890 something, and his moment is incredibly contemporary. There's an amazing biography of Herzl called Herzl by Amos Elon. It's an amazing book. If you haven't read it, you should read it, because his moment in cosmopolitan Vienna sounds exactly like now. It's shockingly current. He's in this friendly city. He's a reporter for the New York Times, basically of the Austro Hungarian empire, and he's assimilated, and he's got a Christmas tree in his house, and his son isn't circumcised, and he thinks everything is basically great. And then the light changes.  He notices that something has changed in Vienna, and the discourse about Jews changes, and like in a Hollywood movie, the light changes. And he doesn't try to he doesn't start a campaign against antisemitism. He doesn't get on social media and kind of rail against unfair coverage. He sits down in a hotel room in Paris and he writes this pamphlet called the Jewish state, and I literally flew from that state yesterday. So there's a Zionist model where you look at a failing world and you think about radical solutions that involve creation. And I think we're there. And I think Herzl's model is a good one at a dark time you need real creativity. Belle Yoeli:   Thank God you found the inspiration there, because I was really, I was really starting to worry. No, in all seriousness, Matti, the saying that these institutions can't be saved. I mean the consequences of this, not just for us as pro-Israel, pro-Jewish advocates, but for our country, for the world, the countries that we come from are tremendous.  And the way we've been dealing with this issue and thinking about how, how can you change hearts and minds of individuals about Israel, about the Jewish people, if everything that they're reading is so damaging and most of what they're reading is so damaging and basically saying there's very little that we can do about that. So I am going to push you to dream big with us. We're an advocacy organization. AJC is an advocacy organization. So if you had unlimited resources, right, if you really wanted to make change in this area, to me, it sounds like you're saying we basically need 15 Free Presses or the new institutions to really take on this way. What would you do? What would you do to try to make it so that news media were more like the old days? Matti Friedman:   Anyone who wants unlimited resources should not go into journalism. I have found that my resources remain limited. I'll give you an answer that is probably not what you're expecting or not what you want here. I think that the fight can't be won. I think that antisemitism can't be defeated. And I think that resources that are poured into it are resources wasted. And of course, I think that people need legal protection, and they need, you know, lawyers who can protect people from discrimination and from defamation. That's very important. But I know that when people are presented with a problem like antisemitism, which is so disturbing and it's really rocking the world of everyone in this room, and certainly, you know, children and grandchildren, you have a problem and you want to address it, right? You have a really bad rash on your arm. You want the rash to go away, and you're willing to do almost anything to make it go away. This has always been with us. It's always been with us.  And you know, we recently celebrated the Seder, and we read in the Seder, in the Haggadah, l'chol dor vador, omdim aleinu l'chaloteinu. Which is, in every generation, they come at us to destroy us. And it's an incredibly depressing worldview. Okay, it's not the way I wanted to see the world when I grew up in Toronto in the 1990s. But in our tradition, we have this idea that this is always gonna be around. And the question is, what do you do? Do you let other people define you? Do you make your identity the fight against the people who hate you? And I think that's a dead end.  This crisis is hitting the Jewish people at a moment when many of us don't know who we are, and I think that's why it's hitting so hard. For my grandfather, who was a standard New York Jew, garment industry, Lower East Side, poor union guy. This would not have shaken him, because he just assumed that this was the world like this. The term Jewish identity was not one he ever heard, because it wasn't an issue or something that had to be taught. So if I had unlimited resources, what I would do is I would make sure that young Jewish people have access to the riches of Jewish civilization, I would, you know, institute a program that would allow any young Jewish person to be fluent in Hebrew by the time they finish college. Why is that so important? Why is that such an amazing key?  Because if you're fluent in Hebrew, you can open a Tanakh, or you can open a prayer book if you want. Or you can watch Fauda or you can get on a plane to Israel and hit on Israeli guys. Hebrew is the key to Jewish life, and if you have it, a whole world will open up. And it's not one that antisemites can interfere with. It does not depend on the goodwill of our neighbors. It's all about us and what we're doing with ourselves. And I think that if you're rooted in Jewish tradition, and I'm not saying becoming religious, I'm just saying, diving into the riches of Jewish tradition, whether it's history or gemara or Israel, or whatever, if you're if you're deep in there enough, then the other stuff doesn't go away, but it becomes less important.  It won't be solved because it can't be solved, but it will fade into the background. And if we make the center of identity the fight against antisemitism, they've won. Why should they be the center of our identity? For a young person who's looking for some way of living or some deep kind of guide to life, the fight against antisemitism is not going to do it, and philanthropy is not going to do it. We come from the wisest and one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and many of us don't know how to open the door to that civilization, and that's in our hands. And if we're not doing it, it's not the fault of the antisemites. It's our own fault. So if I had unlimited resources, which, again, it's not, it's not going to happen unless I make a career change, that's where I would be putting my effort. Internally and not externally.  Belle Yoeli:   You did find the inspiration, though, again, by pushing Jewish identity, and we appreciate that. It's come up a lot in this conversation, this question about how we fight antisemitism, investing in Jewish identity and who we are, and at the same time, what do we do about it? And I think all of you heard Ted in a different context last night, say, we can hold two things, two thoughts at the same time, right? Two things can be true at the same time. And I think for me, what I took out of this, in addition to your excellent insights, is that that's exactly what we have to be doing.  At AJC, we have to be engaging in this advocacy to stand up for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. But that's not the only piece of the puzzle. Of course, we have to be investing in Jewish identity. That's why we bring so many young people to this conference. Of course, we need to be investing in Jewish education. That's not necessarily what AJC is doing, the bulk of our work, but it's a lot of what the Jewish community is doing, and these pieces have to go together. And I want to thank you for raising that up for us, and again, for everything that you said. Thank you all so much for being here. Thank you. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you missed last week's episode, be sure to tune in as John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point, breaks down Israel's high-stakes strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure and the U.S. decision to enter the fight. 

When the nation needed water, they found it in a most unexpected place: Moshe struck a rock and it began to spew forth enough water for the entire nation. Why was there water inside the rock? Why when Jacob needed water, he removed the rock blockading it? Why didn't he find water inside the rock too? Water and rocks are often connected, but sometimes the water is found beyond the rock and other times the water is embedded inside the flinty stone. This distinction reveals the two different ways to contend with adversity. When we examine the opening subject of our Parsha, the strange protocol of the red heifer, we see a pattern of the multiple methods of transformation.– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101 ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the Jewish Inspiration Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues his study of Orchos Tzadikim (Ways of the Righteous), concluding the chapter on laziness. Drawing from King Solomon's wisdom in Proverbs, Rabbi Wolbe highlights the pitfalls of laziness, particularly in failing to seek or maintain friendships with wise and God-fearing individuals, which he deems the epitome of laziness. He uses the metaphor of the ant, which tirelessly gathers over a thousand kernels of food it doesn't need, to contrast with the lazy person's endless excuses, such as fearing "lions in the streets" to avoid Torah study or good deeds. Rabbi Wolbe emphasizes the need for balance, noting that while excessive laziness is detrimental, strategic laziness—such as avoiding evil pursuits or working on Shabbos—can be virtuous. He encourages listeners to be eager in pursuing Torah, mitzvot, and positive influences, while being "lazy" about negative actions like slander, envy, or frequenting inappropriate places. Rabbi Wolbe shares a personal strategy inspired by his grandfather, who used his love for Mussar study to motivate Talmud study, illustrating how one can leverage enthusiasm for enjoyable tasks to accomplish less appealing ones. He recounts a story of agreeing to pick up a friend at 1:30 a.m., viewing it as a divine test of willingness to act, even when the task was ultimately unnecessary. The episode concludes with a call to overcome laziness by proactively pursuing good deeds and Torah study, using modern tools like YouTube and podcasts to access Torah effortlessly, and strategically applying laziness to avoid harmful influences, thereby aligning with God's will.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on March 3, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on July 3, 2025_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Laziness, #Torah, #Productivity, #Neglect, #Excuses, #Growth, #Balance, #Alacrity, #Diligence ★ Support this podcast ★

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An explosive expose by Haaretz featured testimonies from IDF soldiers and officers that they were ordered to use live fire to disperse thousands of unarmed Palestinians in Gaza who had crowded the handful of stations set up to distribute humanitarian aid. The story grabbed international attention, and sparked fury among top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, who both called the article a “blood libel.” On the Haaretz Podcast, one of the three journalists who wrote the story, Nir Hasson, takes listeners behind the scenes of his reporting, explaining the reasons soldiers decided to speak to him and his fellow journalists. The soldiers’ motivations, he said, were two-fold. First the “moral issue” of being put in the position to use deadly force to stop “hungry people trying to get some food for their family” bothered them. “The second thing they spoke about was the fact that this was not the IDF that they used to know. These were not values of the army that these reservists used to serve in,” Hasson added. “They told me, this is not the way a professional army deals with a civil population. They were very angry at their commanders for telling them to use this kind of tool to control a crowd,” and even refused to employ non-lethal methods like tear gas. Also appearing on the podcast: Haaretz columnist Amir Tibon, who pointed out that the formation of these distribution centers appeared to be aimed at creating such intolerable conditions that Gazans seek to leave, while "doing nothing" to serve Israel's proclaimed war goals – returning the hostages and ridding Gaza of Hamas. The current operation, Tibon said, “is not serving real security interests of Israel, is not helping us get back the hostages, and it is part of a dangerous fantasy that is leading us into a ‘forever war’ in Gaza.” Read more: 'It's a Killing Field': IDF Soldiers Ordered to Shoot Deliberately at Unarmed Gazans Waiting for Humanitarian Aid Israeli Army Says 'Lessons Learned' From Army Fire Incidents on Gaza Aid-Seekers After Haaretz Exposé A Fatal Failure: Israel's Gaza Aid Policy Leaves Dozens Killed Daily as They Seek FoodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thinking of buying property in Israel? Get ready for a wild ride. From off-plan pricing surprises to second-hand sticker shock, the Israeli housing market is anything but predictable, especially if you're trying to manage it from abroad. Doug Goldstein teams up with Debbie Goldfischer, Founder and CEO of Buyitinisrael.com and host of the popular podcast On The House, to break it all down. This episode is packed with smart tips, clear explanations, and the critical info every cross-border buyer should hear before making a move. If you're making Aliya, eyeing an investment, or just trying to figure out where to hang your hat long-term, this conversation will help you steer clear of stress and financial setbacks. Key takeaways:
 Get clear on the trade-offs between off-plan and second-hand properties
Learn how the construction index could blow up your budget if you're not prepared
Know when working with an agent is a must and when to go it alone Want help figuring out your next move? Schedule a free Cross-Border Financial Evaluation to see how we can help you buy smart and invest wisely in Israel.

To understand Middle East dynamics, I always count on Michael Doran, Director of the Middle East Center at the Hudson Institute.“For the first time, Jan, in history, Israel and the United States have taken military action together. This is totally new,” he tells me.We sat down to discuss what has now been dubbed ‘The 12-Day War' and how Middle East political realities have been transformed.“One of the most amazing things about the Israeli attack against the Iranians is that they totally took the Iranians by surprise. Scientists were in their beds. Commanders all got together, thinking they were safe. That is just remarkable,” says Doran.How did the strikes on Iran change the geopolitical landscape? Was World War III ever a real possibility? And has the threat of a nuclear Iran been neutralized … for good?There's still a little lingering doubt that maybe some of the enriched uranium was squirreled away by the Iranians in some other secret site,” says Doran. “Right now, Iran is a nuclear power of indeterminate status. So, we have to wait and determine.”Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Yet another police officer had a negligent discharge with a gun that was supposedly just sitting in a holster. This incident occurred in Ceres, California. How and why does this keep happening? Is there a common denominator? During our SOTG Homeroom brought to you by www.SOTGU.com we witnessed an example of the failure of the “Israeli Carry” method of carrying half-loaded guns. An Israeli soldier is lucky to be alive after the attack. Also, for our Tech Talk from EOTech Inc., Professor Paul has another hunting rifle to consider. This one is chambered in .22 Nosler and has a VUDU X scope mounted on it. TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Spike's Tactical Virtues of a Warrior Poster - Get one today! www.shopsotg.com [0:16:00] EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com TOPIC: The .22 Nosler; an Ultimate Varmint Round? [0:38:33] SOTG Homeroom - SOTG University TOPIC: An Israeli Soldier Shows Why ‘Israeli Carry' Can Get You Killed www.shootingnewsweekly.com [1:00:17] School police officer accidentally fires gun on Ceres campus www.abc10.com

Iran announced it would suspend cooperation with the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, likely preventing a review of the damage done to its nuclear sites and setting Washington and Tehran on another collision course. It comes as Iran has launched a massive operation to find Israeli spies. Nick Schifrin spoke with Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi, who describes it as a harsh crackdown on all dissent. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Alex Traiman, CEO of Jewish News Syndicate, calls in live from Israel to talk about the potential ceasefire in Gaza despite the ongoing hostage situation involving around 50 hostages, with 20 believed to be alive. Traiman discusses the missile threats from Yemen, possible Israeli and US military actions against the Houthis, and the role of Hamas and Hezbollah as Iran's other terror proxies. Alex also considers the implications of a possible permanent ceasefire and the future governance of Gaza post-conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yet another police officer had a negligent discharge with a gun that was supposedly just sitting in a holster. This incident occurred in Ceres, California. How and why does this keep happening? Is there a common denominator? During our SOTG Homeroom brought to you by www.SOTGU.com we witnessed an example of the failure of the “Israeli Carry” method of carrying half-loaded guns. An Israeli soldier is lucky to be alive after the attack. Also, for our Tech Talk from EOTech Inc., Professor Paul has another hunting rifle to consider. This one is chambered in .22 Nosler and has a VUDU X scope mounted on it.

Well, Lee, fear has broken out among the neocons. This is terrifying because as I've demonstrated over the years, in order to have enemies to fight and profit from fighting, you have to fund them because they can't afford to fight us on their own, and it wouldn't be fair anyway. So we pay them to kill us. In fact, we did it this week. $30,000,000 in aid going to Gaza. Okay? Nobody physically walks in there unless they're with Hamas. It's impossible to do. So you send aid $30,000,000, you're funding Hamas so they can rearm. That's what you're doing. There's no other way to look at that. I mean, look. We tried to build that floating dock so we could literally hand them supplies. Right? Yeah. And they bombed it. That was the story. Yeah. They bombed it. Injured, one person in the process, and we had to disassemble it. So you don't even get to build a dock to hand them free stuff if they'll vomit. Just to recap where we are here, we're, the we we're watching this this rescission bill. It's already passed in the house to defund USAID USAID a little. They're gonna get the rest of it later, but it's a nice start. It's $9,000,000,000, 7,000,000,000 of it out of USAID. Obama and Bush are freaking out, criticizing Trump. As you know, we have to continue to let the pink haired people with the rainbow pride flags who run USAID fund all our enemies because they hate America. I mean, we need the money for national security. So let's just revisit some of USAID's greatest hits. Just, since October 7, we paid $97,000,000 in reward payments, USAID did, to the Hamas terrorists who raped and slaughtered innocent Israelis Israelis. How do we do that? We gave it to the Palestinian authority. And if you are killed or injured, killing an Israeli or a Jew, they will pay you for life. No. I'm sorry. We will pay you for life. And the shocking thing about this, disperse with the $97,000,000 in aid to the Palestinian Authority is that that's illegal. Trump actually got a bill passed in his last term. Saying no. We can't nope. We cannot disperse any money to the Palestinian Authority. They didn't care. They did it anyway. This was after October 7. This is what Obama and Bush wanna keep. So but, you know, we need a good enemy. We need a good enemy. We need to have enemies, so we'll play them. How about the Taliban? This is my favorite. This is one of my favorite. As reported by Reuters, $40,000,000 in cash. Would you like to have that? On a tarmac for the Taliban. Wait. Was that after the murder of the 13? Yes. It was. At Abigail. Yeah. We paid them. USAID did specifically. It was an aid scheme. Listen to how it worked. To keep the Taliban in power, USAID provided $1,700,000,000 in funding in multiple tranches to the UN, and then the UN shipped the cash to Afghanistan. And what they did was they helped the Taliban to print their own currency. Think monopoly money because it's useless. And then they let the Taliban trade it for our money. You paid. Do I have your attention now? $40,000,000 a tranche, and they they you should see the look on their faces as they receive the money. This picture is great. I mean, this guy looks like it's Christmas. And they're sitting there, Lee, and there's piles of cash. Because if I mean, who how would we have enemies? And then what would we need a military industrial complex for? Big problem. Let's keep going. Shall we? Because it goes on and on and on. A total of $3,700,000,000 to the Taliban, including $200,000,000 when Trump was in office last time, shuffled in there by USAID. Because, you know, they funded you know, when they blow our troops' limbs off, what they pay for that by growing poppies. So we went, you know what? You can make so much more money if we modernize your system. So we sent them $200,000,000, for the poppy fields. That was cool. While they were fighting us. So you see, you gotta fund both sides of the war. You can see why Bush is upset here being, like, the original warmonger. Her ...

Today, we're speaking with Matt Bowles, a longtime Palestinian human rights activist.With a Master's Degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, Matt has over two decades of human rights and activism experience. He led activist delegations to monitor human rights abuses in the north of Ireland, co-founded an organization to stop U.S. aid to Israel, organized solidarity delegations to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and did solidarity work with the indigenous Zapatista communities in Chiapas, Mexico.In the past few years, many more people around the world have tuned in to the injustice that has been happening in Palestine for the past 75 years. If you want to understand the origins of this injustice AND what you can do to help stop it, this episode is for you. I first became immersed in the struggle for Palestinian liberation in 2017, when I visited the West Bank and saw the Israeli soldiers at checkpoints, the humiliation of people, the treatment of Arabs like second-class citizens, and the Israeli system of apartheid with my own eyes. Matt has been working on Palestinian solidarity since 1998. It has been so helpful to hear the perspective of someone with this much longer view on the struggle. Become a Going Places member for as little as $6 a month. Visit our reimagined platform at goingplacesmedia.com to learn more.Thanks to our Founding Member: RISE Travel Institute, a nonprofit with a mission to create a more just and equitable world through travel education.What you'll learn in this episode:Current moment in the Palestinian human rights advocacyTravel media's sanitized version of seeing the worldHow Matt's Palestinian advocacy started with the Black liberation struggle in the USBritain's first and last colony (is the same?)The gap in awareness between what Palestine is and what the media showsThe power asymmetry and the longest military occupation in modern historyConfronting antisemitism and misrepresentationWhat the Rwandan, Guatemalan, and Cambodian genocides can teach usMatt dismantles "It's too complicated"Why do we give states more rights than people?The origins of this settler colonial projectWhy the US shifted its Palestine stance in 1967The history of Palestinian nonviolent resistance Why is there zero accountability for the State of Israel's actions?US law enforcement training with IOFWhat can an individual do? A lot!What gives Matt hope todayWhy Yulia believes that Gaza will change the worldFeatured on the show:Listen to Matt's Maverick Show podcastFollow @maverickshowpod on InstagramSubscribe to Matt's Monday Minute newsletter Learn more about the International Solidarity MovementLearn more about Jewish Voice for PeaceLearn more about If Not NowLearn more about the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions...

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An NPR journalist in Gaza describes his harrowing experience seeking food from a distribution site run by private American contractors. He found himself facing Israeli military fire, crowds fighting for rations, and masked thieves.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We've seen this movie before. US President Donald Trump is talking up a ceasefire initiative, only for the killing to continue in Gaza; killing that is relentless and off-the-scales ever since the rollout of a US-Israeli aid delivery scheme that bypasses traditional international agencies.  We ask about Trump's claim that Israel has agreed to his 60-day truce and the reaction of a Hamas that's down but not completely out. We also ask what's changed since Benjamin Netanyahu walked away in March from a phased agreement that was to lead to a permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages. For starters: Israel's 12-day war with Iran, where it was the US president who told Netanyahu to declare victory and go home. Will Trump twist the Israeli leader's arm again when Netanyahu travels to Washington next week? All bets are off: will it be the Trump who gushes about a Gaza Riviera construction scheme that kicks out Palestinians, or the one who forces Netanyahu's hand by announcing Iran negotiations or recognising Syria's government? More broadly, when is enough enough? Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Aurore Laborie, Ilayda Habip and Yann Pusztai.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Did BBCs focus on one potential Glastonbury controversy miss another Israeli, US backed Gaza aid group must end, say 130 charities House prices see biggest monthly fall for over two years Danish women to face conscription by lottery Robert Kennedy Jr Could he really revolutionise US healthcare Chief Rabbi says vile Jew hatred at Glastonbury a national shame Ryland Headley Cold case rapist and killer, 92, jailed for life Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended over leaked phone call Manslaughter arrests in Lucy Letby hospital investigation Two rescued after father jumps after child who fell off cruise ship

The jury begins deliberating in the Sean “Diddy” Combs racketeering trial, and a bizarre jury note raises questions about one specific juror. Bryan Kohberger takes a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. The Trump Administration declares Harvard in violation of federal civil rights law for failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students. A sweeping new EU law takes effect today, potentially allowing European regulators to pressure American tech companies to censor content globally. Riverbend Ranch: Visit https://riverbendranch.com/ | Use promo code MEGYN for $20 off your first order. Beam: Visit https://shopbeam.com/MEGYN and use code MEGYN to get an exclusive discount of up to 40% off.

Many Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike at a popular seafront cafe in Gaza. Also: Microsoft AI system diagnoses patients "much better than doctors", and big wins not so big in Norwegian lottery.

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month Shopify trial and start selling today at ⁠shopify.com/tyt The Senate prepares to start voting on a massive policy bill, but with its fate hanging in the balance as support remains shaky. Sen. Thom Tillis announces he won't seek reelection in 2026. Elon Musk ramps up his attacks on Trump's “big, beautiful bill,” slamming it yet again. Meanwhile, at least 81 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Hosts: Ana Kasparian & Cenk Uygur SUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE ☞  https://www.youtube.com/@TheYoungTurks FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK  ☞   https://www.facebook.com/theyoungturks TWITTER  ☞       https://twitter.com/TheYoungTurks INSTAGRAM  ☞  https://www.instagram.com/theyoungturks TIKTOK  ☞          https://www.tiktok.com/@theyoungturks

Journalist and Free Press founder Bari Weiss joins Jillian to unpack the geopolitical firestorm surrounding Israel—from the war in Gaza to the 12 day war with Iran, and how America's foreign policy is shifting in real time. We dig into why antisemitism is exploding globally—from college campuses to international institutions—and what it reveals about the new moral order shaping the West. Bari breaks down the double standards in media coverage, the erasure of Israeli trauma, and the ideological forces driving a growing hostility toward the Jewish state.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he breaks down today's biggest stories shaping America and the world. Trump Visits “Alligator Alcatraz” Amid Immigration Firestorm President Trump visits a new detention facility for illegal immigrants deep in Florida's Everglades. Nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the site was built in secrecy using Biden-era hotel funds, sparking lawsuits from environmentalists and migrant groups. Meanwhile, the Senate fails to pass a Medicaid ban for illegal immigrants, and House Republicans move forward with a bill to deport those arrested for DUIs. LA Sued for Sanctuary Policies, Activists Launch ICE-Tracking App The Trump administration sues Los Angeles for violating the Constitution's Supremacy Clause with its sanctuary city policies. At the same time, a Democrat activist and Antifa supporter launches an app to help migrants avoid ICE agents. Critics warn the app could incite violence against law enforcement, especially as pride in America drops sharply among Democrats, according to new Gallup polling. Hamas Crumbles in Gaza as Netanyahu Eyes Peace Israel's operation in Gaza has killed top Hamas leaders and brought 75% of the territory under Israeli control. Internal resistance to Hamas is growing among Palestinian clans, even as militants continue sporadic attacks. The U.S. now faces a strategic dilemma after depleting 20% of its anti-missile stockpiles during the conflict. Russia's Offensive Stalls, Ukraine Sends Grandfathers to the Front Russia's summer offensive falters due to poor morale, corruption, and untrained soldiers. Ukraine, running low on manpower, is deploying men in their 50s and 60s to the front lines, while corruption plagues the country's funeral industry amid surging war casualties. Mexican Cartels Use AI to Track and Kill FBI Informants A DOJ report reveals that the Sinaloa Cartel used cellphone metadata and Mexico City surveillance to track U.S. officials and murder FBI informants. The breach highlights growing dangers of digital surveillance and "digital exhaust," with Bryan urging listeners to reduce their own digital footprint. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." – John 8:32

How are the nation's most elite universities navigating the Trump administration? Harvard was recently been informed by the Trump administration that the school has violated federal civil rights law over how it treats Jewish and Israeli students. Allegations of civil rights violations are just the latest troubles for the Ivy Leagues, as Columbia University received a formal warning for their conduct back in May. President Emeritus of Purdue University and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joins to explain navigating Trump administration criticism, legal action, and frozen federal grants. The Supreme Court has finished its term, and the final rulings were all wins for the Trump administration on a variety of issues, such as abortion funding, parental rights in schools, and limiting the power of federal judges. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized these outcomes, arguing that the 6-3 conservative majority holds too much power. Former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty joins to discuss the latest Supreme Court decisions. Plus, commentary from FOX News contributor and host of The Jason In The House podcast, Jason Chaffetz. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comLight Years co-host Saam Esfandiari is here to explain his perspective on NBA free agency, parenting, and Iran. Massive range in this pod. A great talk as always, including but not limited to…* Is there much to say about beloved Kevon Looney leaving GSW? * Why, oh why, is the “cuck chair” Saam's preferred metaphor for GSW roster moves?* Why is Saam desperate to deal Jonathan Kuminga?* What is the chance Kuminga flourishes elsewhere?* Are millennial stars doomed to get injured?* Sam Presti shuts down Adam Silver's BS on injuries!* We love what Denver did (Cam Johnson fro MPJ)* Western perspectives on the Middle East? * What's with the American White Guy NBA moment right now?* Israelis in the NBA? * How to approach youth sports as a parent

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will embark on his third trip to to Washington early next week to meet with US President Donald Trump. This comes alongside increased pressure to end the war in Gaza and perhaps the potential of a domino-type deal between Israel and regional players. Berman speaks about reports that Israel and Syria are holding “advanced talks” on a bilateral agreement halting hostilities between the countries. Could this lead to Syria joining the Abraham Accords? And what position does this put Turkey in, even as its neighbor, Iran, just suffered a defeat at the hands of the US and Israel. Israel’s military chief has advised cabinet ministers against ordering the Israel Defense Forces to expand operations in the Gaza Strip, over fears that doing so could significantly endanger the lives of hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave, according to Hebrew media accounts Monday. Berman speaks about the terrible decision that has faced Israel's political echelons for almost 21 months -- hostages or defeating Hamas -- and how Israeli soldiers in Gaza will likely increasingly be on Hamas's radar as long as no decision is taken. At least 11 people in Gaza were killed yesterday in the area of a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution center, according to local Palestinian media outlets. Also Monday, the military admitted in a statement that it has killed several civilians near aid sites in recent weeks and said it has learned lessons that will avoid similar incidents in the future. Berman recently spoke with the head of GHF, Reverend Johnnie Moore Jr. He brings us highlights from their conversation. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Netanyahu set to visit White House July 7 as US pushes for end to Gaza war Israel in ‘advanced talks’ for deal to end hostilities with Syria, says senior official Israel says Hezbollah must disarm before any Lebanon peace talks can advance Dozens said killed in Gaza; IDF admits it has killed several civilians near aid sites Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14, 2025. (Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, we speak with Yara Eid, a young Palestinian journalist and human rights advocate from Gaza, currently based in London. Yara has worked with international organizations, including Amnesty International, and uses her platform to shed light on life under Israeli occupation and apartheid in Gaza. Yara is known for her viral interview on Sky News, where she directly challenged the anchor's dehumanizing portrayal of Palestinians. Her calm yet firm response highlighted the media's double standards when it comes to reporting on Palestine. Yara's powerful interview brought global attention to the biased narratives often used when covering Israel's genocide against Gaza. Listen to this episode to learn more about Yara's inspiring story and journey of journalism amid Israel's military occupation and genocide.Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu     

In Parshas Chukas we read about the death of two giants: Miriam and Aaron, Moshe's older sister and brother, pass away. Our sages tell us that the death of the righteous serves as an atonement in a way similar to sacrifices. Just as sacrifices atone, so too does the death of the righteous. But why does the death of the righteous provide atonement? Why is the sacrifice used to convey this principle specifically the red heifer, the most unusual of sacrifices? In this delectable Parsha podcast, we discover critical elements, growth, change, and transformation.– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101 ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the Jewish Inspiration Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues his exploration of Orchos Tzadikim (Ways of the Righteous), focusing within the chapter on laziness. Drawing from King Solomon's teachings in Proverbs, Rabbi Wolbe outlines seven characteristics of a lazy person, emphasizing their tendency to make excuses to avoid effort, such as fearing imaginary dangers like "lions in the streets" when urged to learn Torah from a visiting rabbi. He illustrates how laziness manifests as a refusal to act, even when opportunities—like free access to Torah resources in the modern era—are readily available. Rabbi Wolbe highlights the accessibility of Torah study today through platforms like YouTube, ArtScroll, and the All Daf app, noting that there are no valid excuses for ignorance in Judaism due to laziness. He shares a personal anecdote about learning Russian in the former Soviet Union by persistently collecting vocabulary, demonstrating how consistent effort transforms one-dimensional knowledge into a rich, multidimensional understanding, applicable to Torah study. Quoting Moses, Rabbi Wolbe underscores that Torah is "close to you, in your mouth and heart," requiring only action and desire to achieve greatness, not reliance on external blessings or lineage. He contrasts the lazy person, who procrastinates and fails to act, with the proactive individual who maximizes time and opportunities, such as listening to Torah classes while multitasking. The episode concludes with a Talmudic analogy of a lazy servant who feigns illness to avoid a king's missions, underscoring that laziness renders one unfit for both this world and the next. Rabbi Wolbe encourages listeners to train themselves to be proactive, overcome laziness, and seize the abundant opportunities for spiritual growth.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on March 3, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on July 1, 2025_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Laziness, #Torah, #Productivity, #Neglect, #Excuses, #Growth, #Balance, #Pitfalls_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org ★ Support this podcast ★

Journalist Séamus Malekafzali joins PTO to talk about the aftermath of the Israel-Iran war. We chatted about where the cessation of hostilities leaves the two states militarily, and whether Iran's strategy of reliance on ballistic missiles and a loose regional alliance was wholly misbegotten or just poorly implemented. And we talked about why the Trump administration shifted from their red line of opposition to the weaponisation of Iran's nuclear programme to the hardline Israeli position that opposed enrichment entirely.In the interview we touched on Séamus' recent article in Parapraxis which you can read here: https://www.parapraxismagazine.com/articles/axes-of-resistance

It's make-or-break week for Congressional Republicans and their big policy and spending legislation, a.k.a. President Donald Trump's ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.' Trump says he still expects to see the final package on his desk by this Friday, even as new estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office show the latest version of the bill could add more than $3 trillion dollars to the national debt over the next decade. Is that deterring members of the party that professes to care about federal spending? Not really. Senate Republicans are expected to vote on the measures, after narrowly advancing it to the floor for debate over the weekend. Elana Schor, senior Washington editor for the online news publication Semafor, gives us an update on where the bill stands now and the possible speed bumps ahead.And in headlines: Trump hints at a possible TikTok buyer, the Supreme Court hands the White House another huge win by limiting the powers of lower court judges, and the president pressures Israeli officials to drop Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial.Show Notes:Check out Elana's work – www.semafor.com/author/elana-schorSubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Ryan discusses Republican quits Senate while trashing Trump bill, Dems smear Zohran as antisemite, death to IDF chants in the UK, Trump attacks Israeli courts over Bibi charges, Gaza aid site massacres, explosive new details on Karen Read trial. David Dayen: https://x.com/ddayen Dave Smith: https://x.com/ComicDaveSmith Amir Tibon: https://x.com/amirtibon Aidan Kearney: https://x.com/DoctorTurtleboy To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show AD FREE, uncut and 1 hour early visit: www.breakingpoints.comMerch Store: https://shop.breakingpoints.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UN is warning that millions of Sudanese refugees fleeing war are at risk, after drastic cuts to food programmes. Also: Palestinians in Gaza report one of the worst nights of Israeli bombing in weeks and why Wimbledon is changing one of its oldest traditions.

The Supreme Court rules that individual judges don't have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions, but the court did not clarify the constitutionality of birthright citizenship. The Senate has a timeline to advance Trump's so-called "big, beautiful bill." Israel's prime minister denies a newspaper report that Israeli troops have been firing at will on hungry Gazans at aid distribution centers.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy