8 Sep 2025
Calling a Spade a Spade
Amos Goldberg, a Holocaust historian, discusses his controversial stance that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide. He explains the socio-political context of genocide as a historical phenomenon and critiques the interpretation and responsibility Jews and Israelis have regarding Holocaust memory.
18 Aug 2025
The Wicked Witch of the East: Introducing Iran to Israelis (Preview)
Lior Sternfeld discusses his book "Iran: Life itself," which aims to provide Israelis with a deeper understanding of Iran beyond common stereotypes and media portrayals. Sternfeld highlights how discourse about Iran, especially in Israel, is often shallow and influenced by biases rather than based on comprehensive understanding.
11 Aug 2025
Netanya 5-0: Police and Citizenship in Israel
The episode delves into the complex dynamics between minority communities and the police in Israel, highlighting the unique situation of Arab citizens who, despite facing police abuse, demand more policing due to rampant crime. It also discusses broader issues such as the influence of political ideologies on policing strategies and the challenges of balancing security with democratic oversight.
28 Jul 2025
When Decolonization Is a Metaphor
Adam Kirsch discusses the use of the term 'settler colonialism' in framing Israeli-Palestinian relations, emphasizing its transformation from an academic theory into a political ideology. He argues that this perspective affects perceptions of legitimacy and sovereignty while cautioning against its simplification of complex historical realities.
14 Jul 2025
Time and Space in the Thousand-Year Reich
Guy Miron delves into the spatial and temporal experiences of German Jews under Nazi persecution, analyzing how the reordering of time and space affected their lives and identities. Based on his book 'Space and Time Under Persecution', he explores how diaries and newspapers reveal the non-neutral roles of these dimensions during crises.
8 Jul 2025
Patron Exclusive: Syria at a Crossroads
Gilad Halpern hosts Dr. Ido Yahel to discuss the pivotal transition in Syria's leadership from Bashar al-Assad to Ahmad al-Shahra, known as al-Julani, and the implications of this shift. The conversation explores the surprising and rapid collapse of Assad's rule amidst various internal and external pressures and the reorganization of factions within Syria.
9 Jun 2025
Twentieth-Century Russia, a Microcosm of Jewish History
Prof. Jonathan Dekel-Chen explores the complex history of Jews in 20th-century Russia, highlighting their evolution from marginalized subjects to significant participants in Soviet society. The episode delves into the impact of World War II, Soviet policies, and later the Zionist movement on Russian Jewry, culminating in the mass emigration in the late 20th century.
26 May 2025
How Do You Say Orientalism in Hebrew?
Dr. Amit Levy delves into the history of Oriental studies in Israel, highlighting the significant influence of German Orientalism transplanted by Jewish scholars who fled Nazi Germany. These scholars attempted to maintain academic detachment from the politics of the time, fostering key relationships with Arab intellectuals, despite underlying tensions and criticisms over the exclusion of Middle Eastern Jews from academia.
19 May 2025
The Specter of a Judicial Coup Is Still Haunting Israel (Preview)
Despite initial setbacks, the Israeli government's pursuit of judicial overhaul has resumed, adopting a new, more covert approach. Suzie Navot emphasizes Israel's lack of comprehensive checks and balances, contrasting it with other democracies and highlighting the judiciary's crucial role as the only restraint on government power.
12 May 2025
Wikipedia and the Politics of Knowledge
Dr. Rona Aviram and Omer Benjakob explore Wikipedia's journey as a primary source of knowledge, highlighting its transparency and reliance on collective input while examining its inherent challenges, particularly in controversial topics. They discuss Wikipedia's evolving impact on the perception of expertise and the implications of AI technology on knowledge dissemination.
28 Apr 2025
Resistance by Entrepreneurship
Dr. Anna Kushkova explores how Jewish underground entrepreneurial networks flourished in the Soviet Union, defying socialist norms and aiding in the survival of Jewish communities. These clandestine economies provided necessities that the Soviet planned economy could not meet, highlighting a complex interplay between tradition, adaptation, and economic necessity.
21 Apr 2025
Writing - The Remedy?
William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan discuss their platform Writing on the Wall and their magazine Balagan, aiming to foster diverse conversations in literature and art, especially in response to crises like those following October 7th. The focus is on creating a dialogue through English-language publications that reach an international audience, providing a new cultural narrative grounded in Israeli and Jewish identity.
14 Apr 2025
1948: Open Wounds
Filmmaker Neta Shoshani discusses her documentary, "1948: Remember, Remember Not," which explores Israel's foundational War of Independence and its subsequent historical and public memory challenges. Despite its completion, the film remains unaired due to claims of defamation by right-wing groups, prompting a discussion on historical acknowledgment and its implications on contemporary Israeli society.
31 Mar 2025
Between Diplomacy and Commemoration: The Origins of the Study of Antisemitism
Tom Eshed, a postdoctoral fellow, explores the evolution of antisemitism research post-World War II, emphasizing its complex relationship with Zionism and Israeli diplomacy. He highlights the role of Jewish organizations in the diaspora and shifts in Israeli attitudes towards antisemitism as influenced by political and international dynamics.
17 Mar 2025
On Censorship
Professor Adam Shinar discusses the historical and modern implications of Israel's Film and Theatre Review Board, highlighting its colonial roots and role in governmental censorship. He addresses the board's evolution, ongoing influence, and its place within broader issues of free speech and governmental regulation.
3 Mar 2025
Chronicles of Destruction
Dr. Lee Mordechai, a Byzantine historian, shifts his focus to collecting detailed evidence of alleged atrocities in the ongoing Gaza War, ultimately concluding Israel's actions in Gaza amount to genocide. His work highlights the international discourse divergence on the events post-October 7, 2023, leading to a viral discussion of his findings.
17 Feb 2025
“It Is the Crown Jewel of My Career in Public Service”
Elyakim Rubinstein details his pivotal role in negotiations between Israel and its neighbors, particularly highlighting the historic peace treaty with Jordan, which recently marked 30 years. Reflecting on the complexities and dynamics of diplomatic relations, Rubinstein illustrates the intricacies of boundary agreements and the evolution of Israeli-Jordanian ties, underlining their strategic importance.
3 Feb 2025
The ‘Big Data’ of Israeli Literature
Dr. Yael Dekel discusses the innovative use of digital methods in studying Israeli literature, focusing on a project that blends traditional close reading with distant reading techniques to capture a broader literary canon. This interdisciplinary approach, utilizing public participation, re-evaluates canonical boundaries and reflects societal shifts in themes such as space and identity.
20 Jan 2025
Where Water Is Scarce and History Is Rich
Prof. Nir Arielli explores 10,000 years of history at the Dead Sea, highlighting its environmental challenges and historical significance. He discusses the unique cultural, spiritual, and geological features that have shaped its past and present.
6 Jan 2025
Israel’s Legal Quagmire: An Appraisal
Dr. Eran Shamir-Borer discusses Israel's precarious legal situation in the international arena, focusing on its actions in Gaza and the broader context of Israeli-Palestinian relations. He highlights the significant legal and diplomatic challenges posed by the International Criminal Court and other international bodies and discusses internal Israeli legal mechanisms and global political dynamics affecting Israel's legal standing.