Unpacking Israeli History

This is an excellent podcast for anyone interested in a balanced, authentic, nuanced, and well presented and prepared history of Israel.

I am a culturally Christian atheist who considers herself a Zionist. That said, my in depth knowledge of Israeli history is spotty. So I am enjoying this podcast a great deal - Noam is knowledgeable and engaging and his enthusiasm is contagious.

These episodes are lessons in education whose goal (it seems to me) is understanding and hope. Don’t let the style (which can feel like the intended audience is high school) put you off—Noam is teaching a super complex and not well-known (to Americans) history in as fair a way as possible, from his own admitted POV. I learn so much each episode, but what I appreciate most is that these lessons are imbued with compassion and hope that help us work toward peace. I imagine a collaboration with Palestinian speakers would also be a good offshoot. From his website (re: workshops and curricula): “By delving into controversial aspects of Israel’s story, the workshop provides clarity to transform superficial opinions into nuanced and textured understandings that leave hope for a better future for all sides.”

For a podcast pushing the importance of facts and context, this podcast leaves out a lot of relevent history and pertainant facts. It does little in the way of giving listeners an evenhanded, sincere overview of life as a Jewish Israeli vs life as an Arab living in Israel. Suicide bombings, murdered Jewish Israelis, and the constant threat of attack by Arabs is repeatedly brought up. Whereas examples of hardships endured by Arab Israelis include long wait times at the border (which he makes clearvare justified), and feeling disrespected and humiliated by IDF soldiers who are "just doing their jobs". Seriously? Regardless of whether you view Israeli as an aparteid state or not (spoiler.. he doesn't), this ridiculous characterization of human experience in Israel should offend your sensibilities