Unpacking Israeli History

5.0 (1)
JUDAISM
UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

3 DAYS AGO

Unpacking Israeli History is taking a short break

Unpacking Israeli History is taking a short break. But we are continuing to work on new episodes, including some based your questions, so keep your ideas coming and get in touch at noam@jewishunpacked.com. We will be back in a few weeks. See you in 2025. Thanks for listening. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. 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. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews

1 min
17 DEC

The Complex Identity of Arab Citizens of Israel: Part 2

This week, we continue our two-part series on the complex story of Arab citizens of Israel, from 1967 to October 7, 2023. We explore the evolving identity of Israeli Arabs, focusing not only on challenges of the past, but also looking ahead at paths to peace, equality, and mutual understanding. Click here for the sources used in this episode. This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. 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. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews

39 min
10 DEC

The Complex Identity of Arab Citizens of Israel: Part 1

Host Noam Weissman explores the intricate, often misunderstood story of Arab citizens of Israel in the first episode of a two-part series. Noam delves into their journey from the Ottoman Empire to 1967 with honesty and nuance, grappling with themes of identity, nationality, and integration. Please tune in next week for Part 2, focusing on 1967 to today. The series invites listeners to consider the compromises and efforts needed to build a truly inclusive and equitable society. Click here for the sources used in this episode. This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. 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. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold Wondering Jews

35 min
2 DEC

Is Israel an Apartheid State? Part 2

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. ------------------- 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

42 min
25 NOV

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

55 min
18 NOV

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! ------------------- 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

40 min
11 NOV

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. ----------------- This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Marci and Andrew Spitzer. ------------ 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

42 min
4 NOV

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 ----------------- 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

55 min

See All (95)

Noam Weissman

Host

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.