Balagan Kobi Cohen

Between Jerusalem & New York – What are we blindsided about


 


When gaps between Israel & Israelis to American Jewry grow, one Jew wanted to expand the conversation and alter the dialogue. Moshe Samuels, CEO of Shazur & co-creator of the acclaimed Israeli TV miniseries “The New Jew” is one of those people working to bring Israeli point of view to Americans and American Jews POV to Israelis. The New Jew starred Guri Alfi, one of Israel’s most acclaimed comedians, and was aired on primetime on Kan 11, Israel’s National Broadcasting Network. I am excited to have him as our guest today to discuss The New Jew, why it was important to create it and what Israelis & Americans are blindsided to.


 


Shanna Tova from Balagan. We are taking a short break and will be back after the holidyas!

On a hot day of July 14th 2011, a small group of young Tel-Avivians left their overpriced rented apartments and set their new place in tents on Rothschild boulevard in Tel Aviv. This act made a huge wave and pushed hundreds of thousands of citizens to become activists and join them in tent “cities” within cities across the state, demanding the government to solve the high costs of housing in Israel. The pick of the protest was on September 3rd when the “1 Million March” gathered hundreds of thousands of citizens to rally.


I am honored to be joined by Shir Nosatzki, a social activist and founder and CEO of “Have you seen the horizon recently”, who was one of the leaders of the largest protest ever seen in Israel to tell us more.

A tale of Ice cream and strong hypocrisy – What is going on with Ben & Jerry’s decision around the West Bank and who benefits from it?

This week’s episode is a throwback to last years one of the most DEFINING EVENTS, which led to the political shift in Israel, later on.


The 1st large scale rally, by the official residence of Israel’s Prime Minister in Jerusalem, occurred on July 14th, and was called the Bibistillia, an homage to the French Bastille Day, named after the famous Prison in Paris, that has become a symbol to the French revolution.


Why were the people protesting, who was behind it and more was told by Nitzan Waisberg, an Israeli patriot and a social activist, who took part in the rallies against former PM Netanyahu. The episode was originally aired on July 19th 2020. Enjoy!

Netanyahu's rule in the last couple of years was a roller coaster ride not just for his opposition but also to his allies and even to his own party - the Likud.   


Bibism, just like Trumpism, has become a term used often in Israel to explain the blind support Netanyahu got from many of his supporters.


BUT, not all Likudniks were big fans of his ways.


I am happy to host my friend Binyamin Lachkar. Binyamin made Aliyah from France in 1996 and he had been a Likud member for more than 20 years. He is a former member of the Likud central committee and leader of the « liberalim ba'likud » the free market caucus of the party. He lives in Jerusalem, married + 3, and is the owner of a branding and graphic design firm

Darom Adom Festival was a spinoff for the name given by the IDF to the alarm system that alerts the residents of the Gaza border every time a rocket launches from Gaza, called Tzeva Adom (Red Color). First rocket, fired in 2001, and after 20 years of constant rockets fired from Gaza, it seems that the only thing changed is the Hamas capabilities and abilities.


How is it like to live in the Northern Negev, under ongoing rocket launches, without knowing when Hamas will fire next and where it will fall? Does the Iron Dome allow the residents to sleep in peace?


Hila Fenlon who lives in Netiv Ha’Asara, an Israeli Moshav located less than 300 meters from the northern border with Gaza, is a tough farmer who is here to tell us more about life in the south and how she sees the future.