POPULARITY
117 episodes with opendor media
79 episodes with opendor media
103 episodes with opendor media
19 episodes with opendor media
30 episodes with opendor media
18 episodes with opendor media
2 episodes with opendor media
2 episodes with opendor media
In June 1967, Israeli paratroopers fought one of the Six Day War's bloodiest battles to reunify Jerusalem. Ammunition Hill, a fortified Jordanian stronghold carved into the limestone hills of East Jerusalem, became the key to the Old City. What followed was four hours of chaos, courage, and carnage in a maze of narrow trenches. This episode unpacks the battle, its heroes, and the complicated legacy of a city reunified. Here are the sources used in this epsidoe. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WIB04rolWgTnfCW-puSaNhXkQzBzS1LxABMU1pEFUKo/edit?usp=sharing Here are links to the Unpacking Israeli History's 3-Part series on the '67 War. 6 days that Changed Israel Forever: Lead-up to the 1967 War (Part 1) 6 days that Changed Israel Forever: The Middle East at War (Part 2) 6 days that Changed Israel Forever: The Aftermath (Part 3) This episode is generously sponsored in honor of Dr. Andrew and Marci Spitzer. It is also sponsored by, and made in partnership with, Jewish National Fund-USA. Since 1901, Jewish National Fund-USA has strengthened the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives that secure the country's North and South. By preserving heritage sites like Ammunition Hill, Jewish National Fund-USA invests in Israel's future, driving tourism, generating jobs, and helping communities thrive.Find more information about visiting Ammunition Hill and other parts of Israel below. You belong in Israel. Find your Jewish National Fund-USA tour or mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/ Educators can explore Israel on Jewish National Fund-USA's special mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/tour/index/educators-mission-to-israel-2026 Jewish National Fund-USA's Alexander Muss High School in Israel offers semester, summer, and mini-mester academic experiences for North American teens. Find out more: https://www.amhsi.org/ Learn more about the Jewish National Fund-USA's work preserving heritage sites in Israel: https://www.jnf.org/our-work/heritage-site-preservation Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Can a musical teach Torah? Why is Fiddler on the Roof beloved in Japan? The answers to these questions could have implications for the future of the Jews and their place in the world. Noam sits down with Jennifer Tepper, a theatre historian, and Etai Benson, a Broadway actor, to discuss the art of crafting stories, and the innovative ways in which Judaism has intersected with the stage. If you're interested in bringing Etai's new show, The Book of Steve, to your synagogue or Jewish space, write to MountCarmelProductions@gmail.com Jennifer Tepper's new book, Women Writing Musicals: The Legacy that the History Books Left Out is available here: https://a.co/d/00JNs0AJ Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
Rabin's life is the story of Israel itself. But who was the real Rabin? Known as a peacenik, he was in fact "Mr. Security," a soldier-statesman whose life and death still echo through Jewish history. Noam Weissman joins Yael Steiner and Jonathan Schwab over at Jewish History Nerds for a special crossover episode on Yitzhak Rabin through the lens of Itamar Rabinovich's Yitzhak Rabin: Soldier, Leader, Statesman from the Jewish Lives series. Two Unpacked shows, three hosts, one conversation you don't want to miss. This episode is sponsored by Jewish Lives, a prize-winning series of biographies from Yale University Press. To learn more about Yitzhak Rabin's life, identity, and legacy, check out Yitzhak Rabin, Soldier Leader Statesman by Itamar Rabinovich at www.jewishlives.org. Use promo code RabinPod for 30 % off. That's R-A-B-I-N-P-O-D. Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out Jewish History Nerds on Unpacked and YouTube. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and watch their latest videos on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/show/1JrBAblXuVgF7cWF2EgRRz?si=204acb3b1fca4540 Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Mijal is back, and this week we're responding to your comments! Spurred on by awesome listeners like you, our reunited hosts ponder the dynamic relationship between Zionism and Reform Judaism, the question of Jewish continuity, the hot-button issue of affordability, and more. We have the best audience in the world, and we hope you'll keep commenting and writing to us at wonderingjews@unpackedmedia.org for the next Q&A episode. Mijal's article "The Future Is Sephardic" can be read here: https://sapirjournal.org/aspiration-ii/2026/the-future-is-sephardic/ Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
To understand why Iran and Israel are fighting, you have to understand Hezbollah. Noam Weissman revisits the story of Iran's proxy in Lebanon, which has been causing trouble for Israel since its founding in 1982. Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d68bkgIiKIwWRCn75DGaiWry9N3Oi_rPh6-X1fn_i8Q/edit This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Sarala and Danny Turkel. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Jews have left an indelible mark on the fabric of America, impacting activism, music, and religion. One venue holds so many inspiring examples of these contributions: Carnegie Hall. For this episode celebrating the end of Jewish American Heritage Month, Noam joins Kathleen Sabogal (Director, Rose Archives and Museum) on-location at the famous venue. On the corner of 57th Street and 7th Avenue, great names like Leonard Bernstein, Rabbi Stephen Wise, and Isaac Stern advocated for education, women's suffrage, racial equality and more. Is there inspiration here for the next chapter of Jewish American history? The answer will be music to your ears.To learn more about Carnegie Hall's story and view their digital archives, go to https://www.carnegiehall.org/About/History Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
In 1954, a group of young Jewish idealists in Egypt were recruited by Israeli intelligence to plant bombs in Western institutions, only to be betrayed by their own double agent handler before the mission even began. Arrests, torture, a show trial, two executions, and a suicide followed. Back in Israel, the fallout was just as devastating: forged documents, cover-ups, and a bitter vendetta between Defense Minister Pinhas Lavon and Prime Minister David Ben Gurion that tore the ruling party apart. This is part two of our series on Israel's most embarrassing intelligence blunder. It reads like fiction. It wasn't. Here are links to Unpacking Israeli History's 3 Part Series on the Suez Canal Crisis. Israel's Forgotten War: The Suez Crisis (Part 1) Combustion: The secret pact that ignited the Suez War (Part 2) Fallout: How the Suez Crisis rewired the Middle East forever (Part 3) This episode is sponsored by Tony Felzen in honor of Connor, and by Andrea & Larry Gill. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
For years, the famous Philly chef Michael Solomonov has grappled with his American and Israeli identities. What can his journey teach us about American Jews and their relationship with the Jewish state? In this episode exploring Jewish American Heritage Month, Michael shares his remarkable family history, how his restaurants tell the Israeli story in America, and his take on ranch dressing. To learn more about Zahav--and the rest of Michael's restaurants--visit https://www.zahavrestaurant.com/cns-family This episode is sponsored by RootOne. Join thousands of North American Jewish teens for a life-changing experience in Israel! Find out more about RootOne trips: rootone.org Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
The scandal that changed Israel forever began with a failed secret operation in Egypt in 1954. Young Egyptian Jews, recruited by Israeli intelligence, were sent on a mission meant to protect the Jewish state. But the operation collapsed in betrayal, arrests, torture, and cover-ups. The fallout shattered public trust, ripped apart Israel's leadership, and transformed the country's politics for decades to come. Part 1 sets the stage: the fragile world of Egyptian Jewry, the fear gripping six-year-old Israel, and the catastrophic decisions that doomed a group of young idealists. Here are links to past episodes about the Mossad: The Mossad: Three Tales of Assassination Intelligence Operations That Shaped Israel's Story with Ronen Bergman, LIVE in Los Angeles This episode is sponsored by Tony Felzen in honor of Connor, and by Andrea & Larry Gill. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Israel is no stranger to self-examination. In 1948, Ben-Gurion distributed a poem accusing Israeli soldiers of murder. In 1982, hundreds of thousands demanded accountability after Sabra and Shatila. In 2016, the IDF convicted Elor Azaria. But in a post-October 7 world of delegitimization and libels leveled at the Jewish state, that tradition is under strain. Noam unpacks the controversy around Nicholas Kristof's New York Times column, explores Israel's long, remarkable history of holding itself morally accountable, and examines why, in the face of fierce global condemnation, the country has suddenly become ultra-defensive. This episode is dedicated in memory of Armand Lindenbaum, the grandson of Rav Avigdor Amiel, by his wife, Jean, and children, Felice, Amiel, and Ariel Lindenbaum-Sebag. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
In the wake of our Denominations series, many of you wrote to us asking "what about Chabad?" As a leading resource for all Jews, it makes perfect sense to consider how Chabad fits into the denominational puzzle of America. We're off this week, but Noam kicks us off with a fresh greeting and a few words about Chabad before re-introducing our episode from last summer with Rabbi YY Jacobson. We're getting ready to respond to more of your letters about the denominations series (as well as some other recent episodes). If you'd like to have your question considered for a special mailbag episode, don't forget to write to us at wonderingjews@unpacked.media or comment on our Instagram/YouTube pages. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
Journalist Haviv Rettig Gur joins Noam to respond to Nicholas Kristof's New York Times column alleging sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces. They examine the sourcing, the suspicious timing relative to a major Hamas sexual violence report, and ask the hardest question: how do Jews stay morally serious about real problems within Israeli society when the world holds them to a standard applied to no one else? Listener note: this episode contains strong language. Read and listen to Haviv Rettig Gur's response here: The Paper Trail of Nicholas Kristof's Smear Is Nicholas Kristof Right? The Civil Commission's Report on Oct 7th Sexual Violence - Silenced NO More This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Andrea and Larry Gill and Jody and Ari Storch. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
America has enjoyed a golden age of Jewish comedy: Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, and Amy Schumer are just some of the luminaries that have graced our stages and televisions. But with antisemitism on the rise and Israel becoming more divisive than ever, can Jewish comedians still thrive? For our second episode honoring Jewish American Heritage Month, Noam is in conversation with Raanan Hershberg, a brilliant comedian who tackles questions of identity and ideology in his latest special, Morbidly Jewish. With Noam, Raanan opens up about his childhood as a Conservative Jew in Kentucky, his concerns about antisemitism masquerading as anti-zionism, and why the Old Testament might explain Jewish humor. Be sure to check out Raanan's latest special, Morbidly Jewish, here: https://youtu.be/2Kc6151SE1U?si=KCetUPtHiGtJUWsgFor more on Raanan, visit https://www.raananhershberg.com/ Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
How did an ancient story of mass suicide become the cornerstone of Israeli national identity? In Part 2, Noam traces Masada's unlikely revival, from forgotten footnote to rallying cry in the shadow of the Holocaust. But the story rests on a single source: Josephus, a man who surrendered to Rome and wrote under Roman patronage. That's the power of myth. And Noam explores: should Masada remain a national icon?" Masada – In the Light of Halakhah by Dov I. Frimer Ari Shavit, My Promised Land Yael Zerubavel, Recovered Roots: Collective Memory and the Making of Israeli National Tradition This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by the Zalik Foundation Junior Board. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
The story of Zabar's--a NYC foodie fixture--is bigger than bagels: it includes a horrifying pogrom, a narrow escape to America, and success in the face of countless setbacks. For Jewish American Heritage Month, Noam asks: what does does this story mean to American Jews, and America at large? In a rare interview, David Zabar, a senior executive and third-generation family member, tells us the incredible story of Louis and Lilly Zabar, how Zabar's sees itself in the American tapestry, and yes... his bagel order. To check out Zabar's (they ship!) go to zabars.comYou can order Zabar's: A Family Story With Recipes here: www.zabars.com/zabars-a-family-story-with-recipe-book-by-lori-zabar/ Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
A mountaintop. A siege. A mass death that became legend. But what if the story of Masada isn't what we think it is? In this episode, we go back 2,000 years to the final days of the Jewish revolt against Rome, where a group of rebels made a choice that would echo through history. Along the way, we unpack the factions, the violence, and the devastating collapse of Judean society, and we ask a simple but unsettling question: How much of this story is history, how much is myth, and what does it mean to us, today, as we think about the development of Israeli history? For more about Josephus, see this episode of Jewish History Nerds. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
When Rachel Goldberg-Polin buried her son Hersh, she heard part of herself go into the ground with him. She joins host Noam Weissman to discuss her new memoir, sharing how writing became a way to survive unbearable grief and asking what it means to keep going when the person who was your whole world is gone. Drawing on Jewish theology, Viktor Frankl, and a prophetic journal entry Hersh wrote as a teenager, Rachel wrestles with how hope and despair can coexist. When We See You Again, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Jon Polin https://whenweseeyouagainbook.com/ This episode was sponsored by Neil and Pam Weissman. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Do the words that once categorized Jews--reform, conservative, orthodox--still matter today? And if they don't... then what's next? To answer these questions and close out our series on denominations, Noam and Mijal speak with Rabbi Avi Killip, the executive vice president of Hadar. In this can't-miss conversation, Rabbi Killip makes the case for Hadar as a movement that is ready to meet the the challenges of contemporary Jewish life. Learn more about Hadar at https://www.hadar.org/ To hear Hadar's podcasts, including Ta Shma and Responsa Radio, check out https://www.hadar.org/torah-tefillah/podcasts Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. This episode is sponsored in memory of Leo M. Bernstein. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
Scott Galloway is one of the most influential voices in the world. He's a professor, bestselling author, and podcaster with millions of followers. What most people don't know: he's also proudly Jewish. Recorded live in London, Noam sits down with Galloway for a rare, unfiltered conversation about his Jewish awakening after October 7th, why Israel keeps losing the story war, and why he's no longer staying quiet. Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Notes-on-Being-a-Man/Scott-Galloway/9781668084359 No Mercy/No Malice Newsletter, May 2023 https://www.profgalloway.com/storytelling/ How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, by David Brooks https://www.amazon.com/How-Know-Person-Seeing-Others/dp/059323006X This episode was sponsored by Carol and Adam Reich. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Hasan Piker weaponized Albert Einstein on Pod Save America to condemn Zionism. But he left out most of the story. Noam addresses Piker's troubling statements about Einstein by tracing his full relationship with Zionism, exposing how a confident but incomplete portrait collapses under the weight of the full historical record. The Problem with Hasan Piker's Einstein Story, by Yair Rosenberg: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/deep-shtetl/ Check out our past episodes of Unpacking Israeli History on topics including Deir Yassin, Hamas, Sabra and Shatila and the Right of Return. https://unpacked.media/podcast-series/unpacking-israeli-history/ For more on the topic, listen to Jewish History Nerds' recent episode Albert Einstein: Was he a Zionist? https://unpacked.media/albert-einstein-was-he-a-zionist-part-2/ This episode was sponsored by Travis Terry and Cathy and Barbara Malamut. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Will Reform Judaism be defined by the past, or the future? Does it emphasize the Jewish community, or the community at large? Does it feature personal choice, or obligation? Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, joins Noam to explore these queries, and the meaningful tension they create. Plus: Reform Judaism's evolution on Zionism, and uplifting stories from congregations that were attacked in Mississippi and Michigan. Learn more about the URJ by visiting urj.org Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. This episode is sponsored in memory of Leo M. Bernstein. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
Why did Israel's enemies, Sinwar, Khamenei and Nasrallah, all believe Israel was on the verge of collapse? Israeli philosopher Micah Goodman joins Noam to reveal the deep misreading of Israeli society at the heart of that miscalculation. They unpack why Israel's hybrid of radical individualism and fierce collectivism is its greatest strategic asset, and why the world keeps getting it wrong. Here is a link to Micah Goodman's work: https://micahgoodman.com/en/books/ Note: This episode was recorded on April 7, 2026, one day before the region reached a fragile ceasefire. This episode was sponsored by Barbara Sommer & Alan Fisher and Andrea & Larry Gill. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
What is Conservative Judaism? Why is its share of American Jews shrinking? Can you take a Waymo to Shabbat services? Here to explore these questions is a married rabbi team: Erez Sherman and Nicole Guzik, from Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. Together with Mijal and Noam, they discuss the beautiful nuances of Conservative Judaism, and what its future might mean for all Jewish denominations. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
Host Noam Weissman sits down with Ittay Flescher, educator and education director at Seeds of Peace in Jerusalem, for an honest conversation about whether Israeli Palestinian peace is still possible after October 7th. Ittay, author of The Holy and the Broken, walks Noam through the major frameworks for resolving the conflict, from the two state solution to his preferred model, a confederation. Noam presses on trust, polling trends, and the enormous risks any peace proposal carries. Ultimately, this is a conversation that grapples with whether hope, in the face of devastating loss on both sides, is naive or necessary. Resources for readers of The Holy and the Broken, including where to purchase the book, how to read news from multiple sources, and build communities of dialogue and empathy, are available on Ittay's website at:https://www.ittay.au/what-can-i-do This episode is dedicated in memory of Armand Lindenbaum, the grandson of Rav Avigdor Amiel, by his wife, Jean, and children, Felice, Amiel, and Ariel Lindenbaum-Sebag. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
We're revisiting one of our most important episodes: the story of Operation Opera, Israel's 1981 surprise airstrike on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor, because the questions it raises feel more urgent than ever. As Israel confronts Iran, what do you do about a threat that isn't fully here yet but you believe is coming? Begin faced that exact dilemma, defied the entire world, and established the Begin Doctrine in the process. With Passover approaching, a holiday about the courage to act before it's too late, this one hits differently right now. Ronen Bergman's Rise and Kill First Israel's 2007 submission to the Eurovision competition: Push the Button Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist... where do these religious practices come from? What do they even mean? Zev Eleff, the president of Gratz College, is here to lay out the fascinating origins of denominations, and how they intersect with Protestantism and American culture. Plus: Zev, Mijal, and Noam reflect on the rich tapestry of Orthodox Judaism, and what its future might be. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
In this special live episode from Atlanta, Noam Weissman sits down with journalist and author Yardena Schwartz to explore two of the most contested places on earth: Al-Aqsa and Hebron. Drawing on Yardena's book Ghosts of a Holy War, they unpack six pivotal but underknown moments in the conflict's history, from the 1903 Kishinev pogrom to the 1977 Mahapach. Along the way, they trace how disinformation, religious identity, and competing claims to sacred ground shaped the crisis we see today. Please follow Yardena Schwartz's website and learn more about Ghosts of a Holy War. https://www.yardenaschwartz.com/ https://www.instagram.com/yardenas Filmed live at The Dupree: www.thedupree.org Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
For this special Passover episode, Mijal and Noam open their door to actor and comedian Michael Rapaport (Friends, Only Murders In The Building, The Traitors). If the conversation had only been about the holiday, dayenu. But there's plenty more on the seder plate, including that viral meal from The Traitors and Michael's campaign to become the next mayor of New York City. Careening between moments that are funny, irreverent, wistful, and poignant, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
In this episode, Noam and Mijal begin their multi-part exploration of Jewish denominations in America with one of the most influential rabbis in history: Mordecai Kaplan. Kaplan is known as a trailblazer who emphasized community over kashrut and gave the very first bat mitzvah to his own daughter. But what was Kaplan's inner life? The conversation becomes a joyous family affair as Noam welcomes in his aunt, Jenna Weissman Joselit, author of the new book Mordecai M. Kaplan: Restless Soul. This episode is sponsored by Jewish Lives, a prize-winning series of biographies from Yale University Press. To learn more about Mordecai Kaplan's life, identity, and legacy, you should check out Mordecai M. Kaplan: Restless Soul by Jenna Weissman Joselit at www.jewishlives.org. Use the special promo code KAPLAN to get 25% off. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
A listener question about Israel's currency sends Noam on a fascinating journey through Jewish history. From secretly printing Israel's first bills in New York to battling hyperinflation to the surprising decision to put poets on today's shekel. Four currencies, 78 years, and one remarkable story about what a country's money says about its soul. Here is a link to Jewish History Nerds: The Roman Coins that Celebrated the Fall of Judea https://unpacked.media/juda-capta-the-roman-coins-that-celebrated-the-fall-of-judea/ Here is a link to the sources used in this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fNCJv2670mWNDgHz5JbLEbgT1MqH4v9yr_CgEH2SxDQ/edit?usp=sharing This episode was generously sponsored by the Zalik Foundation Junior Board. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
An anti-semitic attack in Michigan. War with Iran. The news cycle is spinning so rapidly that it's hard to make sense of it all. This week, Noam and Mijal turn to Bret Stephens (New York Times Opinion columnist and Editor-In-Chief of Sapir) to help them understand the big picture. How should Jews—and Americans in general—be responding to conflicts at home and abroad? Plus: Bret discusses his latest article for Sapir, and how academia can set the record straight on Israel. Read Bret's latest article in Sapir: https://sapirjournal.org/aspiration-ii/2026/israel-studies-can-redeem-academia/ Program note: this episode was taped on March 13th, 2026 Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
In Part 2 of our series on the history of the kibbutz, Noam Weissman explores how these communal villages helped shape Israel's borders, identity, and culture. From frontier defense and the battles of 1948 to privatization and change, the kibbutz movement evolved dramatically, yet its core ethos of community and collective responsibility still endures. Here is the link to learn more about Kibbutzim: https://kibbutzvolunteers.org.il/program Here is a link to sources used in the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iROxgkVz-65IRT_DVfmBNEfmxaZLh4V4EbDLXHlPeOg/edit?usp=sharing This episode was generously sponsored by Friedkin Philanthropies and the Koret Foundation, and is inspired by ISRAEL 21c. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
As war between Israel and Iran intensifies, Noam Weissman sits down with journalist Haviv Rettig Gur to unpack what's really driving the conflict. Is this about stopping Iran's nuclear program, American strategy, or Israeli politics? Using a “Pick Your Theory” framework, they examine the biggest explanations, and what this historic moment means for Israel and the Middle East. This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored in memory of Leo Bernstein and also by Andrea and Larry Gill. If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History or just say hey, be in touch at noam@unpacked.media. Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Perhaps the only thing more contentious than the definition of antisemitism is the definition of antizionism; when is criticism of Israel legitimate, and when is it hateful? In this episode, Noam and Mijal look to Adam Louis-Klein for answers. In the aftermath of October 7th, Adam committed himself to defining and fighting antizionism, using the tools of academia. But is it working? Adam Louis-Klein is a writer, philosopher, and anthropologist completing a PhD in Anthropology at McGill University. He is a Postgraduate Fellow at the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism and founder of the Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ). Be sure to check out Adam's latest piece for Sapir Journal: https://sapirjournal.org/aspiration-ii/2026/defeating-antizionism/ This episode is in memory of Leo M. Bernstein. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
What is a kibbutz, and why did it play such an outsized role in Israeli history? In Part 1 of this two-part series, Noam Weissman traces the origins of the kibbutz movement back to Degania, the first kibbutz, founded in 1910 by young Jewish pioneers of the Second Aliyah. He explores the ideals that shaped early kibbutz life—socialism, egalitarianism, collective labor, and a deep connection to the land—along with radical experiments in communal living. This episode examines how the kibbutz helped forge the Zionist “New Jew” and why its legacy still resonates today. This episode was generously sponsored by Friedkin Philanthropies and the Koret Foundation, and is inspired by ISRAEL 21c. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Here is a link to sources used in the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iROxgkVz-65IRT_DVfmBNEfmxaZLh4V4EbDLXHlPeOg/edit?usp=sharing Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Note: this episode was recorded before the latest developments in Iran. What can incidents of antisemitism from America's past tell us about its future? For Mijal and Noam, there's no one better to answer this question than Professor Emeritus Jonathan Sarna. Professor Sarna--a legendary scholar and author of the essential book American Judaism--takes our hosts on a tour of the late 19th century, when Jews found themselves excluded from a variety of spaces. Together with Mijal and Noam, he finds hope in the Jewish community's response--both then and now. This episode is in memory of Leo M. Bernstein. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
In the finale of our five-part series on the Jewish people's ancient relationship to the Land of Israel, we move into the modern era, when Israel's deepest challenges emerged not only from its borders but from within its own society. Noam traces the political, social, and moral upheavals that reshaped the country, carrying the story into the tensions of recent decades and the trauma and solidarity of October 7th. Noam reflects on Zionism as an unfinished project; one that calls for renewed purpose, shared responsibility, and the courage to begin again. Note: This episode was created prior to the start of the current conflict with Iran. This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Debra and Avi Naider and Jody and Ari Storch. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
War with Iran is unfolding days before Purim, so Mijal and Noam step back from the news cycle to process this moment emotionally and theologically. Joining them is Tarlan Rabizadeh, a rabbi, activist, and Persian Jew who is deeply imbedded in LA's "Irangeles" community. With wit, passion, and humor, rabbi Tarlan breaks down what the media has been missing, and the sights and sounds that are filling her with hope. Follow Rabbi Tarlan on Instagram: instagram.com/rabbitarlan/ Learn more about Rabbi Tarlan on her website: https://www.rabbitarlan.com/about Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
In this special episode, Noam Weissman sits down with Middle East expert and former Israeli intelligence official Avi Melamed to unpack the forces driving the Israel–Iran–U.S. confrontation. From the Sunni–Shiite split to Iran's 1979 Islamic takeover, Avi explains how theology, grievance, and ideology shaped the Islamic Republic. He explores how Tehran's proxy network, from Hezbollah to the Houthis, turned the Israeli–Palestinian conflict into a driver of regional escalation. They also confront the urgent question: What happens next? The New York Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/02/25/opinion/iran-protests-doctors.html Inside the Middle East: https://insidethemiddle-east.com/intelligence-experiences-meet-avi-melamed/ This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is sponsored by Jean Lindenbaum and her children, Felice, Amiel, and Ariel. Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- Visit jewishlives.org/ to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Joy and pain. Clarity and confusion. Each year--but especially now--the holiday of Purim inspires a wide array of emotions. In this special crossover episode of Wondering Jews and Jewish Insights with Justin Pines, Mijal reflects on what Purim teaches us about the fight against anti-semitism. How can we interpret the actions of legendary figures like Mordecai and Esther, and what inspiration do they have to offer us in today's uncertain world? This episode was produced in collaboration with the Jewish Broadcasting Service. To learn more about JBS and Jewish Insights with Justin Pines, visit https://jbstv.org/archives/category/jewish-insights-with-justin-pines Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
The dream came true. And then reality arrived. In the 4th episode of our epic series tracing the Jewish relationship to the Land of Israel, Zionism shifts from vision to governance as Israel fights to survive. Noam Weissman explores the country's turbulent early decades, absorbing waves of immigrants, forging a new national identity, and confronting wars that reshaped the region and tested the dream. This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Debra and Avi Naider and Jody and Ari Storch. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- Visit jewishlives.org/ to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
In this episode, Mijal invites Noam to talk about his most ambitious project yet: a 5-part epic series on the history of Zionism, from biblical beginnings to modern Israel. Years in the making and deeply personal to Noam, this sweeping series on Unpacking Israeli History traces the 3,000-year story of Zionism. Mijal and Noam's conversation touches on collective memory, the cyclical fracturing of the Jewish people, and how an ancient dream finally materialized as a sovereign state. This episode is in memory of Leo M. Bernstein. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History
As the modern world takes shape, the Jewish longing for Zion turns political. In Part 3 of this five-part series on the history of Israel, Noam Weissman explores how Zionism becomes a bold answer to an ancient question: what would it mean to go home? By 1948, that question becomes a state, reshaping history. This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Debra and Avi Naider and Jody and Ari Storch. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
After the Second Temple falls in 70 CE, the Jewish story shifts from sovereignty to survival--and Zion becomes a memory, haunted by absence and carried through exile. In Part 2 of this five-part series on the history of Israel, Noam Weissman traces the path from the Bar Kokhba revolt and Rome's crushing response to the rise of rabbinic Judaism, the Talmud, and the rituals that kept Jerusalem alive in daily Jewish life. From Jewish life under early Islam through the trauma of the Crusades and centuries of persecution, a radical idea quietly takes hold: Zion is not only a direction of prayer, but a destination—first imagined by mystics and dreamers This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Debra and Avi Naider and Jody and Ari Storch. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Zionism didn't begin in the 19th century. It didn't start with pamphlets, politics, or Theodor Herzl. In Episode 1 of a five-part series, Noam Weissman goes back—way back—to uncover the prehistory of an idea, tracing how Zion became more than geography or borders. Long before modern ideology, it was a promise, a memory, and a direction Jews faced even when they were nowhere near it. This isn't a political argument—it's the opening chapter of a much older story. And it's only the beginning. This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Debra and Avi Naider and Jody and Ari Storch. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
In Part 2 of this two-part Unpacking Israeli History series on Israeli humanitarian aid, Noam Weissman follows IsraAid as it responds to the trauma and displacement inside Israel after October 7—building emergency schools, delivering psychological first aid, and supporting devastated communities. Then the story turns to an unprecedented chapter: IsraAid quietly helping facilitate aid and essential services for civilians in Gaza, navigating Israeli security concerns, international NGO bureaucracy, and the moral complexity of war. It's a revealing look at Israeli civil society at work—and what it means to try to save lives when politics can't. Here are sources used for this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zx3FMR5-i_LU68qikZXnhU-8lOkV2jAspDU5Fyix2PE/edit?tab=t.byua9hckht This episode was generously sponsored by Friedkin Philanthropies and the Koret Foundation, and is inspired by ISRAEL 21c. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
After October 7, stories about Israeli humanitarian aid can sound like hasbara—a Hebrew term for public diplomacy or advocacy meant to improve Israel's image. So in Part 1 of this two-part series, Noam Weissman asks a harder question: why does Israel keep rushing into disaster zones, often at real risk and with little strategic payoff? The episode traces Israel's early “soft diplomacy” under Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir, then turns to IsraAid, Israel's leading humanitarian NGO, through its work in drought-stricken Kenya and a daring evacuation during Afghanistan's 2021 collapse. Next week, the story continues when Noam explores what happens when Israeli aid enters Gaza—and the moral and societal tensions that follow. Here are sources used for this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zx3FMR5-i_LU68qikZXnhU-8lOkV2jAspDU5Fyix2PE/edit?tab=t.byua9hckht This episode was generously sponsored by Friedkin Philanthropies and the Koret Foundation, and is inspired by ISRAEL 21c. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
In this follow-up conversation, Noam Weissman and emotional attunement expert Toba Hellerstein move from theory to practice—using real-world case studies to explore how people are actually talking about Israel right now. Drawing on listener emails and educator questions, they tackle common scenarios like responding to social media posts about “ending the occupation,” navigating influential podcasts, addressing concerns about Gaza without triggering antisemitic labels, and supporting Jewish students under campus pressure. The focus isn't on winning arguments, but on emotional regulation, trust, and creating space for nuance in conversations where people are really asking: am I safe, do I belong, and do I matter? https://sapirjournal.org/authors/toba-hellerstein/ This episode is in memory of Leo Bernstein. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check us out on Youtube. This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Complete our 2025 survey: https://unpacked.bio/uihsurvey Book for the Jerusalem Marathon "Return, Reconnect, and Run for Resilience" tour: sababatravel.com In this Open Mic episode, Noam responds to a listener, Aviva's question: what does it even mean to say “Israel has a right to exist”—and who gets to decide that “right”? Noam argues that the debate is really about Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. He makes the case that the more urgent conversation is about how Israel exists, not whether it exists. The episode uses the 2025 NYC mayoral debate as a jumping-off point to explore Jewish peoplehood, modern self-determination, and double standards. This episode is generously sponsored by Debra and Avi Naider and Andrea & Larry Gill. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check us out on Youtube. This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
Complete our 2025 survey: https://unpacked.bio/uihsurvey Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025 Noam revisits one of the most devastating episodes in Israeli history—the 1974 Ma'alot school hostage massacre—and explains why, after October 7, this story feels more urgent and unbearable than ever. What began as a joyful field trip marking Israel's 26th birthday—over a hundred religious high school students exploring northern Israel—turned into a nightmare when three Palestinian terrorists crossed in from Lebanon. This episode tells the story of Ma'alot in all its horror and bloodshed, but also in its defiance and resilience—a reminder that even in the darkest moments, every hour of life matters. This episode was generously sponsored by Pam and Neil Weissman. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
