Jewish Story

TJS S3E32 Six-Day War part VI The power of determination

There are certain qualities which, when they manifest, define one’s story -determination is one of them. Here is the story of the conquest of the Golan and the close of the war, events which will determine much of the chapters to come. Image By Government Press Office (Israel), CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59598576

Read More

TJS S3E31 Six-Day War part V – something miraculous

What do you see as the greatest miracles in Jewish History? In many ways, how you answer indicates your understanding of history altogether. This episode deals with the first three days of the war, including the return of Am Yisrael to Jerusalem – I leave it up to you to decide where the miracle lies.

Read More

TJS S3E30 Six-Day War IV The waiting

Going into battle may take bravery, but waiting demands a certain type of courage as well. This episode lays out the final steps of the build up to war, known in Israeli history as “the waiting, and the tension which builds in these three weeks will soon explode into war.

Read More

TJS S3 Interlude – George Floyd and the burden of history

I can’t watch what is happening in silence, but nor am I willing to simply be a cheerleader for chaos. Here are some thoughts on structural violence and what can all learn from the murder of George Floyd.

Read More

TJS S3E29 Six Day War III Israel dwells alone

The countdown to war is progressing, and the pieces are almost all in place. As the pressure mounts, some of the fundamental flaws which lie at the heart of the Zionist project are exposed. The question which arises in this episode is – will Israel go it alone? Picture from: By Government Press Office (Israel),…

Read More

TJS S3E28 The Six Day War II – The point of no return

The causes of war may be many and the road to its outbreak long, but every conflict has a tipping point. In this episode the noose seems to close around Israel. As Egypt’s re-militarizes the Sinai and the UN forces evaporate, we seem to have reached the point of no return.

Read More

TJS Interlude – Yom Haatzmaut Interview 2020

Here is an interview of me by Rabbi Yonatan from the RRG Beit Midrash at Hebrew University in which we reflect on Israel Independence day from the historical and spiritual perspectives. If you want some insight into the potential depth of this day, and how the strange circumstances of this pandemic year actually offer us…

Read More

TJS S3E27 Six Day War I – beginnings near and far

Who can say when historical events like the Six Day War actualy began, and what were their causes? It is a daunting task, but not one which we can shirk, nonetheless. Here is the first episode in our lead up to war – a look at a new personality, a battle and some broader context.

Read More

TJS S3 Interlude – Making every day count

The exodus from Egypt was only the first step on the road to Sinai. The bridge between Egypt and Sinai, between liberation and revelation, is embodied in the practice of counting the Omer. Here is a reflection on the biblical narrative, the calendar and our current situation – all with an eye to making every…

Read More

SPECIAL LIVE! Pesach 5780 The Haggadah as narrative therapy

We tell stories to make sense of our lives, to give them meaning and direction, and the more challenging life is – the harder it is to craft a believable plot. The Sages taught us that “in every generation one is obligated to regard themselves as though they personally had gone out from Egypt,” and…

Read More