Menachem Begin’s upheaval victory in the 1977 Israeli elections was the beginning of revolutionary change for the Jewish State, not the end. Some who rejoiced will be bemused, others who were skeptical will be surprised. This episode explores the aftermath of Begin’s election as it intersected fault lines within his society and within himself. Learn…
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There are few events in the history of Israel’s democracy which have had a greater impact than the elections of 1977. When all the votes were counted three decades of Labor Zionist rule had come to an end and Menachem Begin and his Likud party was victorious. It is known in Israeli history as ‘the…
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Many people look at the world today and feel the foundations of American power shaking – and most are afraid. Here is an episode about empires, made in the spirit of Hanukkah. Rav Mike takes a look backward to seek wisdom for survival in imperial transitions Am Yisrael has weathered in the past, touches on…
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Have you ever wondered why exactly Hanukkah lasts eight days? You may be familiar with the ‘jar of oil’ answer, but this interlude will give you a lot more to think about. Tune in to Rav Mike’s annual class on Hanukkah in honor of the yarzheit of his father, Charles Feuer, obm.
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Heroism is a precious quality, and one strong enough to change the world. Here is the story of the Israeli mission to free hostages held by Arab terrorists in Entebbe, Uganda perhaps the most heroic mission of its time. At its heart lies a person who in many ways embodies the qualities of his generation…
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Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in the 1970s faced conflicts on all three fronts of Jewish history – within Am Yisrael, between Israel and the nations, and as a people in their land. This episode focuses on the third, as the Arab/Israeli war shifts into the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. This new phase of struggle will see the…
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When most people think about Yitzhak Rabin as Israel’s Prime Minister they focus on the Oslo Accords and his tragic murder, but many are unaware that Rabin’s assassination ended his second term. Here is an episode on his opening round as Prime Minister, when Rabin’s choice as the first native born Israeli to head the…
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Many things within Israeli society were threatened with collapse in the wake of the Yom Kippur War, and perhaps the most profound danger was a loss of spirit. This episodes explores the rise of the ‘bloc of the faithful,’ vanguard of today’s “settlement movement” who moved to inherit the pioneering spirit of Israel in this…
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Historian and author Gil Troy joins me for a follow up to the ‘Zionism is Racism’ episode. We talk ‘Moynihan’s Moment,’ the rise of the PLO, the mental health crisis on American campuses and much more. Tune in also for a fascinating discussion that lays out ‘Identity Zionism,’ a vision which offers hope for Am…
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If Israel is meant to be a light to the nations, then how they see us offers illuminating insights. In this episode we meet the Non-Aligned Movement, Israel’s relationship with Africa, President Mobutu of Zaire, Ugandan leader Idi Amin, US ambassador to the UN Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Israeli delegate to the UN Hadassa Ben-Itto….
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