Go behind the scenes of Israeli history with self-confessed history nerd Noam Weissman. Each week, he offers a fresh perspective on some of the most controversi...
This week, we continue our two-part series on one of the most the challenging questions about Israel today: Is Israel an Apartheid state? In the second-part of the series, we’ll dig deeper into East Jerusalem and address the broader historical, political, and social context of this fraught and heated topic.
Click here for the sources we used in this episode.
UNPACKED is growing and we need your help! From now through December 31 you can make history with us by contributing to our podcast expansion project. Join us in raising $150,000 to transform Unpacking Israeli History into a multi-platform experience, providing more episodes in both audio and video formats, more interesting guests, live events and more! If you've already contributed, thank you! If you haven't yet, now's your chance to be a part of something amazing.
Please click here to donate today.
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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
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42:10
Is Israel an Apartheid State? Part 1
This week, we’re diving into one of the most heated and challenging questions about Israel today: Is it an apartheid state? Yeah, it’s uncomfortable—and complicated. In this first part of a two-part series, Noam Weissman unpacks the history of apartheid, walks us through the situation in the West Bank, and lays out the daily realities for both Israelis and Palestinians.
No slogans, no “talking points,” just an honest look at the facts—and the feelings—that shape this conversation. Whether you’re yelling “of course not!” or “absolutely yes!” (or somewhere in between), this episode will challenge what you think you know.
Stick around for Part 2 next week, where we’ll dig even deeper into East Jerusalem and what this debate means for Israelis, Palestinians, and the rest of us.
Click here for the sources we used in this episode.
UNPACKED is growing and we need your help! From now through December 31 you can make history with us by contributing to our podcast expansion project. Join us in raising $150,000 to transform Unpacking Israeli History into a multi-platform experience, providing more episodes in both audio and video formats, more interesting guests, live events and more! If you've already contributed, thank you! If you haven't yet, now's your chance to be a part of something amazing.
Please click here to donate today.
-------------------
This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Soulful Jewish Living
Wondering Jews
Soulful Jewish Living
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55:26
Special Crossover: Navigating Israel, Identity, and Empathy—How to Talk to Kids About Israel
In this special crossover episode, Noam Weissman shares an insightful conversation from his other podcast, Wondering Jews With Mijal and Noam, co-hosted with Dr. Mijal Bitton. Together, they tackle one of the toughest questions Jewish parents face today: how to approach the complex topic of Israel and antisemitism with children. Noam and Mijal dive into the nuances of Israel education, offering reflections on how their perspectives have evolved over the past year and practical ways to discuss difficult subjects. Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone deeply engaged with Jewish issues, this episode offers thoughtful guidance for fostering understanding and resilience in the next generation.
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam for more thought-provoking conversations!
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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Wondering Jews
Soulful Jewish Living
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39:57
Israel Open Mic: Anti-Zionism, Iran-Contra, and Why Empathy Matters
In this special Israel Open Mic episode of Unpacking Israeli History, host Noam Weissman is answering your questions! Noam dives into some of the most fascinating and tricky topics in Israeli history—like why some Jews are anti-Zionist, how Israel got tangled up in the Iran-Contra affair, and what the deal is with Jerusalem. He also takes on conspiracy theories, gives a shout-out to Palestinian peace advocates, and shows why empathy can go a long way in understanding tough issues.
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This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Marci and Andrew Spitzer.
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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Wondering Jews
Soulful Jewish Living
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41:50
What is Zionism? Part 2: Challenges, Education, and What’s Next
In part two, Noam and Haviv tackle the tough questions about Zionism today. They dig into how Zionism is viewed around the world, how it’s taught, and what this means for Israelis, Palestinians, and people everywhere. Noam and Haviv consider whether Zionism has achieved its original goals and how understanding stories of the Other can help build a bridge between communities.
Book recommendations:
A History Of Zionism, Walter Lacquer
The Zionist Ideas, Gil Troy
Europe Against The Jews, Gotz Aly
Israel, A History, Anita Shapira
Go behind the scenes of Israeli history with self-confessed history nerd Noam Weissman. Each week, he offers a fresh perspective on some of the most controversial and interesting events in the country’s history. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about what Israel is all about -- from multiple angles and viewpoints -- this is the podcast for you.