The Jewish Story

TJS S6 interlude: The Crisis of Israeli Sovereignty

A live webinar on behalf of for Fuel For Truth: Israel Education & Advocacy Training, on “The Crisis of Israeli Sovereignty.” First Rav Mike lays out his innovative approach to three dimensions in which sovereignty is exercised – territorial, economic and cultural. Then in the question and answer he engages the judicial reform protests, the…

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The Jewish Story: Interlude – Hanukkah: Who Knows Eight?

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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TJS S5E8 Yoni Netanyahu and the Raid on Entebbe

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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TJS S5E7 Yitzhak Rabin’s first term – part II

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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TJS S5E6: Yitzhak Rabin’s first term

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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TJS S5E5 – Gush Emunim

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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TJS S5 Interlude – interview with Gil Troy

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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TJS S5E4 -Zionism is Racism

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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TJS S5 Interlude – Sukkot 5782 Seeking joy

Sometimes its seems that joy is the most desirable and least available aspect of human experience. In this episode Rav Mike seeks out some insights from Sukkot, the festival of joy, on how we can enhance this aspect of our lives.

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TJS S5E3 Feminism and American Judaism

The feminist movement and Jewish American life came together in the 1960s and 70s – each influencing the other. In this episode we touch on Betty Friedan’s Feminine Mystique, the religious activism of women like Sally Priesand and the Ezrat Nashim organization. We will also explore how feminism and antisemitism intersect, from Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s…

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