Balagan

Explaining Temple Mount tension with Dr. Harel Chorev

 

הר הבית or Temple mount is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. For Jews, it is the pick of Mount Moriyah, where the 1st and 2nd temples were built, while for Muslims it is known for the musks of Al-Aksa and Tomb of the Rock, and where based on Muslim belief priest Muhammad's ascent to heaven.

For years the Temple Mount serves not only as a holy place but also as a source of tension and ongoing clashes over religion and control. Who is fighting and for what? For answering these questions I am glad to host Dr. Harel Chorev,  Head of the Middle Eastern Network Analysis Desk at Tel Aviv University and author of Networks of Power in Palestine: Family Society and Politics since the 19th Century

Are we going to a 5th round of election w. Jeff Becker

On Wednesday, April 6^th Israelis found out they may stand in front of what may look like another round of election when MK Idit Silman of Yamina (PM Bennets’ right-wing party) announced she is leaving her role as a de facto government whip and exiting the coalition due to “Hametz” observance in Israeli hospitals disagreement with Minister of Health, Nitzan Horovitz of Meretz, left-wing party.

Are we really facing a new round of elections? How can the coalition work in such a deadlock and what the future will bring? For that, I have my dear friend, our lost boy who comes back – Jeff Becker.

#IditSilman #NaftaliBennet #Israel #IsraeliPolitics #YairLapid

Episode 57 - ”Ladies and gentlemen—a revolution!” part 1 with Dr. Moshe Fuksman-Sha’al

The night of May 17th, 1977 will be always remembered as the night of the “Ma’Hapach”, when after 29 years of ruling, the left-wing Labor party lost the election to the right-wing Likud party and a new era in Israel had begun.

Under the leadership of newly elected prime minister Menachem Begin, the state of Israel changed direction dramatically. Along with my guest today we will dive deep into the years of transition from labor to the Likud.

Dr. Moshe Fuksman-Shal is a lecturer in the Department of Communications and Political Science at Hadassah Academic College in Jerusalem, the former vice president of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, and author of “Ladies and Gentleman – Revolution”.

#Begin #Likkud #Israelipolitics

Episode 56 - Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty w. Dr. Roy Peled

Israel does now have a constitution but a series of Basic Laws that are supposed to be the foundations of a future constitution. Most Basic laws are not drawing so much attention but one is unique. Since enacted on March 17th, 1992, This Basic Law is upsetting mainly two big factions in Israeli society - The Ultra-Orthodox (Haredim) and the nationalistic right-wing. Why? How? And who else?

To Discuss this law I am glad to have with me, once again, my friend, Prof. Roy Peled.

#Israel #Israelilaw #Humanrights

A Humble Jew - The story of Menachem Begin w. Dr. Avi Shilon

Just the way he lived, Menachem Begin, Israel’s 6th Prime minister was buried in a modest, simple, and traditional Jewish ceremony, on March 9th, 1992.

Begin, the 1st prime minister who did not come from the labor party was also the most JEWISH prime minister, who did not try to shy the new Zionist Jew image that the labor was trying to embed in Israel, but embraced a strong Jewish essence and had his Jewishness be his lighthouse.

With our guest we will hear more about who was Israel’s 6th prime minister, what path he took leading the “Irgun”, forming Herut, and then the Likud and what milestones he left behind.

Our guest today is Dr. Avi Shilon, a political scientist and Historian at New York University and the author of “Menachem Begin – A life”, Menahem’s Begin biography.

To check out Avi’s book click here

 

#Begin #Likkud #Israel #Zionism #IsraeliPolitics

Episode 54 - English in the Start-up nation with Alon Futterman

For almost a decade the state of Israel was branded as THE Start-up nation with the highest ratio of tech companies per capita. But in order to maintain this achievement Israel needs to make sure that it is minimizing the gaps in education, mainly around math and English. Our guest today stands In the front of the effort to narrow the gaps and make sure Israel's future generation will excel in English. What are the gaps? What are the barriers and what is the government doing in order to ensure the next generation's education? For that, we have our following guest to explain.

With a track record of social entrepreneurship in the fields of education, government, and non-profit orgs, Mr. Alon Futterman is the CEO of TALMA: The Israel Program for Excellence in English.

To learn more about TALMA - https://www.talmaisrael.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TALMAadmissions 

Instagram - @talma.israel (https://instagram.com/talma.israel)

YouTube - https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCuW66gqnD2gCbOUGvRSfl4g  

#talmaisrael #teachwithtalma #eslteacher

Episode 53 - What’s the story in Sheikh Jarrah? With Noa Pinto

Episode 53 - What’s the story in Sheikh Jarrah? With Noa Pinto

 

* The episode was recorded prior to Israel's Supreme court's decision to postpone the eviction of the families.

** Shimon Ha'Tzadik (Shimon the just) was a high priest who was buried where is now located Sheikh Jarrach.

There is never a dull moment in Israel and it seems that the place that ignited the last round of violence in May, the small neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah is once again a place of a clash between hard right-wing Jews and the local Palestinians. What is happening there and why? For that, we have Noa Pinto to explain. Noa is a Jerusalemite social justice, climate, and peace activist, a part of “Free Jerusalem” group activists, and a former associate at “Ir Amim”, a not-for-profit organization for an equitable and stable Jerusalem with an agreed political future.

#SheikhJarrach #IsraelPalestine #Jerusalem

Building bridges in mixed cities - Ajyad & Tzedek Centers

Last May in Israel, the streets of Arab and shared cities were ablaze. The fabric of shared life in Israel was under an attack, fueled by extremists, locally and nationally. Indeed, most Israelis — Arab and Jewish — oppose the raging violence, as the entwined reality of life is stronger than these destructive forces. Nevertheless, the damage was overwhelming. The wave of anger and violence that swept the country indicates the crucial importance of public action and community organizing, and its urgence in places where it is absent.

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness, said Eleanor Roosvelt. Some people who share this vision are creating a new opportunity for both Jewish and Arab societies living together to set a new path of common life. The Tzedek Centers are working to open many centers across the country, home to any gender, ethnic group or socioeconomic status. For them, establishing centers in Arab and shared cities is an acute and primary goal. Arab and Jewish activists work together at their center in Haifa, and the new center has just opened at Ramla, and is set to be followed by Acre, Jaffa, Lod and Nazareth.

I am glad to host Amit Ben Ami, Ahlam Kasim Ali & Lev Littman, of Ajyal & Tzedek Centers to discuss what happened and how we can create an Arab-Jewish alliance, and empower the Arab society in Israel from bottom to top, so that the voice calling for peace, equality and solidarity will be heard.

https://merkazim.org/en/  #Israel #Israeliarabs #JewsandArabas

What is going on in the West Bank with Avi Dabush

The hilltop youth phenomena has become a real problem that in a way It seems Israeli governments don’t really want to deal with. The hardline extremists set outposts all across the west bank and look like they are eager to confront the Palestinians, while the IDF is standing still with their hands tied.

But, while it seems that the Israeli authorities are incompetents dealing with the pogromists there are Israelis who do not stand still in silence.

On January 21st of 2022, some Masked settler extremists assaulted Palestinians and left-wing activists in the West Bank again by the village of Burin. What is going on?!

I am glad to host Mr. Avi Dabush, CEO of Rabbis for human rights to discuss what is happening in the west bank and how while some choose to ignite the west bank, others choose to work toward building a better future.

Avi is a social and political activist and the author of “The rebel of the periphery” that we will discuss in another episode that we will dedicate to discuss the Israeli periphery.

 

To read more about Rabbis for Human Rights - https://www.rhr.org.il/eng

 

#AviDabush #Rabbis4HumanRights #Burin #Settlers #Israel #רבניםלמעןזכויותהאדם 

Between Jerusalem & New York – What are we blindsided about (With Moshe Samuels)

Between Jerusalem & New York – What are we blindsided about

 

When gaps between Israel & Israelis to American Jewry grow, one Jew wanted to expand the conversation and alter the dialogue. Moshe Samuels, CEO of Shazur & co-creator of the acclaimed Israeli TV miniseries “The New Jew” is one of those people working to bring Israeli point of view to Americans and American Jews POV to Israelis. The New Jew starred Guri Alfi, one of Israel’s most acclaimed comedians, and was aired on primetime on Kan 11, Israel’s National Broadcasting Network. I am excited to have him as our guest today to discuss The New Jew, why it was important to create it and what Israelis & Americans are blindsided to.

 

Shanna Tova from Balagan. We are taking a short break and will be back after the holidyas!