Unpacking Israeli History

Unpacked
  • 4.7 (100)
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Unpacking Israeli History

Join self-confessed history nerd Dr. Noam Weissman on a journey through the fascinating and sometimes controversial events and personalities that have shaped Israel’s past and present. Each week, Noam explores the layers of Israeli history, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the cultural forces at play—drawing on a variety of sources and perspectives. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking to better understand this complex region, you’ll find a nuanced, authentic, and thought-provoking take on Israel—free from oversimplification and political spin.

  1. 5D AGO

    Live from Chicago with Michael Oren: Reimagining Israel’s Story

    Unpacking Israeli History goes live in Chicago! Join host Noam Weissman and historian, statesman, and bestselling author Michael Oren for an extraordinary conversation on Israel’s Rubicon moments, missed opportunities, and the decisions that shaped the Jewish state. From 1948 to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, discover the pivotal stories behind Israeli history—recorded live with a packed audience. Click here to check out our latest merch. Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. Check us out on ⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠ 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

    1h 21m

  2. JUL 8

    1948 Exodus: The Birth of Israel and the Refugee Crisis (Part 2)

    This week, host Noam Weissman explores the heated debate over the right of return in part 2 in a series on the origins of the Palestinian refugee crisis. Noam traces how the 1948 War of Independence created a massive exodus that still fuels conflict today. The episode covers key historical events and examines the moral and historical complexities Israelis and Palestinians rarely confront. Discover why six million Palestinians are still considered refugees—and why this unresolved chapter shapes the struggle over Israel’s identity and survival. Click ⁠here ⁠for sources used in the episode. Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. 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

    1h 8m

  3. JUL 8

    Who Has the Right to Return? The History of Palestinian Refugees (Part 1)

    Host Noam Weissman dives into one of the most emotionally and politically charged topics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: the Right of Return. Noam breaks down key historical events and grapples with tough questions: Was the Palestinian exodus of 1947–1948 a planned expulsion or a tragic byproduct of war? The first installment in this two-part series on the rise of Palestinian refugees explores the power of language, national narratives, and competing historical traumas with both facts and nuance. Click here for sources used in the episode. Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. 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

    54 min

  4. JUL 1

    Dreaming of Iran: A Conversation with Writer Roya Hakakian

    Host Noam Weissman sits down with acclaimed Iranian-American writer Roya Hakakian to trace the complex and often misunderstood history of Persian Jewry. Roya shares her personal story growing up Jewish in Iran before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, explores why the country shifted from relative tolerance to theocratic repression, and reflects on why millions of Iranians today remain deeply secular despite their fundamentalist regime. Noam and Roya discuss why Iranian society feels poised for change—and why history teaches us that no regime lasts forever. Here is a link to Roya Hakakian's homepage, bio and work. Here is a link to Roya Hakakian's memoir, Journey from the Land of No: A Girlhood Caught in Revolutionary Iran. Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. 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

    59 min

  5. JUN 26 · BONUS

    Israel vs. Iran: A War of Ideas with Dr. Tal Becker

    As a ceasefire takes tentative hold, host Noam Weissman sits down with Dr. Tal Becker — former Israeli peace negotiator and legal advisor — to unpack the complex war between Israel and Iran. Dr. Becker offers critical insight into Iran’s theology, the distinction between preemptive and preventive strikes, and why this war is less about bombs and more about values, narratives, and identity. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the deeper stakes of the Israel-Iran conflict. Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. 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

    1h 10m

  6. JUN 24

    Dimona: Israel’s “Secret” Nuclear Option [Updated]

    As tensions erupt between Israel and Iran, we revisit one of our most powerful episodes: the secret story of Dimona, Israel’s nuclear program. In this updated re-release, Noam Weissman explores how Israel became a covert nuclear power, the role of France and the U.S., and the enduring policy of amimut—nuclear ambiguity. Why has Israel never officially confirmed it has the bomb? And how does that decision shape today's existential threat from Iran? This episode offers vital context for understanding the current war, Zionism’s survival logic, and the ethical and strategic dilemmas that come with nuclear power in the Middle East. Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. 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

    45 min

  7. JUN 19 · BONUS

    Living Through History: Zionism, War, and Jewish Destiny

    In this special episode of Unpacking Israeli History, Noam Weissman breaks from the usual format to reflect on what it means to live through history as a Jew, a Zionist, and an Israeli ally. With biblical insight, historical depth, and cultural clarity, he unpacks the meaning of Zionism amidst war with Iran, rising global antisemitism, and media distortion. From Operation Am K’Lavi (“Rising Lion”) to the legacy of Jewish resilience, this episode is a meditation on Jewish survival, pride, and the sacred responsibility to write—not just endure—our own history. Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. 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

    26 min

  8. JUN 17

    Israel Under Fire: Rivky’s Dispatch & The Birth of the Begin Doctrine (updated)

    In this special episode of Unpacking Israeli History, host Noam Weissman shares a conversation with producer Rivky Stern, who unexpectedly finds herself in Israel with her young family as war with Iran breaks out. Rivky reflects on the emotional and psychological toll of daily life under rocket threat, offering a raw and deeply personal perspective from inside a conflict zone. Then, Noam revisits the legendary 1981 Israeli strike on Iraq’s nuclear reactor—Operation Osirak—and explores the moral dilemmas, strategic brilliance, and long-lasting impact of what became known as the Begin Doctrine. Together, these two stories—one unfolding in real time, the other historic—highlight the enduring challenges and guiding principles behind Israel’s defense of its people. Ronen Bergman's Rise and Kill First Israel’s 2007 submission to the Eurovision competition: Push the Button Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. 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

    53 min
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out of 5
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Join self-confessed history nerd Dr. Noam Weissman on a journey through the fascinating and sometimes controversial events and personalities that have shaped Israel’s past and present. Each week, Noam explores the layers of Israeli history, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the cultural forces at play—drawing on a variety of sources and perspectives. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking to better understand this complex region, you’ll find a nuanced, authentic, and thought-provoking take on Israel—free from oversimplification and political spin.

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