Voices of Our Nation, brought to you by the Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi Mizrachi USA

The capital city of Yerushalayim is constantly in our hearts and in our prayers- and in the news...  Yerushalayim plays a central role politically, spiritually, culturally and aspirationally for  Jews all over the world. Today’s guest, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum holds a special relationship with the city, currently serving as its Deputy Mayor.  She is also a candidate to lead the Jewish Agency, an important organization that cultivates and molds the relationship between Israeli and diaspora Jews.

Tell us your story at voices@rza.org.

Brought to you by the Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi.

From the early days of the State of Israel and even pre- State- the religious zionist community has been at the forefront of shaping the Jewish identity of the country.  Much of this work was done through religious zionist parties in the knesset, going all the way back to the formation of the State when Mizrachi and Hapoel haMizrachi sat in the government, continuing through 1956 when the two parties merged to form Mafdal, the National Religious party. Throughout that time, a religious zionist party has been a partner in coalition governments for most of Israels history, placing them as an important character in the history of the State.

This work continues today.  The recent election of a religious Zionist, shomer shabbat Prime Minister, Naftali Bennet, is a proud milestone in this story.  But the story is far from over.  The Religious Zionist community continues to play a leading role in shaping the future identity of the State of Israel.   Which brings us to today's conversation with Gilad Katz and a discussion of what this next stage may look like.

Gilad Katz, a tzanchan paratrooper while in the IDF,  spent time as an advisor and speechwriter for Bibi Netanyahu.  During his tenure in the Office of the Prime Min​ister, he held prestigious titles as Head of the Hebrew Correspondence Department and the Public Affairs Department.He most recently served as the consul general of Israel to the southwest, based in Houston and responsible for all of its neighboring States.  He has a background in policy, communications and education.  His current project is what brings him to our podcast.

Brought to you by the Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi.

Who doesn't love ice cream? The desert that brings joy to millions of people, men, women and children, especially on a hot summer day. Ice cream is so versatile- you mix various ingredients and can come up with all types of tantalizing flavors.

But what we don't usually expect to see is a blend of ice cream and politics.

It may be true that In 1790 Dolly Madison, one of the early American ice cream fans, served strawberry ice cream at President Madison’s inaugural banquet at the White house but that has generally been the extent of the politics of ice cream.

That is why many of us were surprised to see ice cream, specifically Ben and Jerry's - in the news this summer when they made the announcement that they would no longer supply ice cream to Judea and Samaria.

The next chapter of this story has just begun as a two US States, most recently NJ,  have announced intentions to divest from Unilever - the parent company of Ben and Jerry's, whose corporate headquarters in Englewood Cliffs was just down the road from where this episode was recorded.

Rabbi Ari Rockoff and Rabbi Daniel Alter were privileged to speak with Avi Zinger, the CEO of Ben and Jerrys franchise in Israel to tell his story and give an update on the current situation with Ben and Jerry's in Israel.

Brought to you by the Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi.