Unpacking Israeli History
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- 10. Nov. 2026
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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.
Folgen 207
The Bedouin Woman Challenging What It Means to Be Israeli
Hanan Alsanah grew up in a traditional Bedouin family, where becoming a lawyer and choosing her own path seemed nearly impossible. She tells Noam Weissman how she challenged expectations, helped thousands of …
Shownotes
Hanan Alsanah grew up in a traditional Bedouin family, where becoming a lawyer and choosing her own path seemed nearly impossible. She tells Noam Weissman how she challenged expectations, helped thousands of Bedouin women pursue education, and joined rescue efforts after October 7. They also wrestle with belonging, the Nakba, Hatikvah, Israel as a Jewish state, and whether Arabs and Jews can build a future together.
Connect with Noam on Instagram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
They Survived the Holocaust. Then They Were Imprisoned at Atlit
After surviving the Holocaust, thousands of Jewish refugees set out for the Land of Israel, only to be intercepted by the British and imprisoned at Atlit detention camp in Mandatory Palestine. Now, Noam …
Shownotes
After surviving the Holocaust, thousands of Jewish refugees set out for the Land of Israel, only to be intercepted by the British and imprisoned at Atlit detention camp in Mandatory Palestine. Now, Noam Weissman visits Atlit, taking us inside the camp where refugees faced harsh conditions, barbed wire, and an uncertain future. In October 1945, the Palmach launched a daring rescue, freeing more than 200 prisoners.
Here is a link to sources.
To sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History, or to be in touch, email [email protected].
Connect with Noam on Instagram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
This episode is generously sponsored by Barbara Sommer & Alan Fisher and in honor of Dr. Andrew and Marci Spitzer. It is also sponsored by, and made in partnership with, Jewish National Fund-USA.
Since 1901, Jewish National Fund-USA has strengthened the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives that secure the country’s North and South. By preserving heritage sites like Atlit Detention Camp, Jewish National Fund-USA invests in Israel’s future, driving tourism, generating jobs, and helping communities thrive. Find more information about visiting Atlit Detention Camp and other parts of Israel below.
You belong in Israel. Find your Jewish National Fund-USA tour or mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep2_atlit
Educators can explore Israel on Jewish National Fund-USA's special mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/tour/index/educators-mission-to-israel-2026?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep2_atlit
Jewish National Fund-USA's Alexander Muss High School in Israel offers semester, summer, and mini-mester academic experiences for North American teens.
Find out more: https://www.amhsi.org/?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep2_atlit
Learn more about the Jewish National Fund-USA's work preserving heritage sites in Israel: https://www.jnf.org/our-work/heritage-site-preservation?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep2_atlit
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Breaking: Who Won Israel's Election?
Who really won Israel’s election? is the Netanyahu era coming to an end or has he survived another day? Noam Weissman and political analyst Eli Kowaz break down the results, the winners and losers, the role of …
Shownotes
Who really won Israel’s election? is the Netanyahu era coming to an end or has he survived another day? Noam Weissman and political analyst Eli Kowaz break down the results, the winners and losers, the role of the Arab parties, and who could form Israel’s next government. Three years after October 7, what does the vote reveal about Israeli society—and Netanyahu’s political staying power?
You can follow Eli Kowaz's work and subscribe to The Middle Ground at Kowaz.com.
Check out Unpacking Israeli History's recent election episodes:
Eight Elections that Shocked Israel
Why Israeli Elections Never Produce a Clear Winner
This episode is generously sponsored by Andrea and Larry Gill. To sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History, or to be in touch, email [email protected].
Connect with Noam on Instagram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Is Israel Solving the Wrong Problems?
What makes Israel a startup nation, and what could take it to the next level? Venture capitalist and author Judah Taub joins Noam Weissman in Tel Aviv to explore Israel’s boldest moonshot opportunities. From …
Shownotes
What makes Israel a startup nation, and what could take it to the next level? Venture capitalist and author Judah Taub joins Noam Weissman in Tel Aviv to explore Israel’s boldest moonshot opportunities. From defense innovation and desalination to affordable Jewish education and diaspora continuity, they discuss how big ideas, Jewish peoplehood, individualism, and collective responsibility could shape Israel’s future.
You can learn more about Judah Taub's work at judahtaub.com.
This episode is sponsored by Friedkin Philanthropies and the Koret Foundation, and is inspired by ISRAEL 21c. To sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History, or to be in touch, email [email protected].
Connect with Noam on Instagram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
-------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
8 Elections That Shocked Israel
Israel votes on October 27th, and Noam couldn’t think of a better way to count down than by ranking Israel’s eight biggest political earthquakes. He covers the most dramatic moments; Menachem Begin’s …
Shownotes
Israel votes on October 27th, and Noam couldn’t think of a better way to count down than by ranking Israel’s eight biggest political earthquakes. He covers the most dramatic moments; Menachem Begin’s earth-shaking 1977 upset, Netanyahu’s razor-thin 1996 debut and the four-elections-in-two-years chaos of 2019 to 2021. It’s all here: upsets, rivalries, one speech that rewrote Israeli politics, and Noam’s own prediction about what happens next.
This episode is sponsored in memory of Melvin S. and Blanche E. Bernstein.
If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History, email [email protected]. Connect with Noam on Instagram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
Here's a link to sources.
Link to Menachem Begin's 1981 speech (in Hebrew).
How Iraq’s nuclear program forged Israel’s “Begin Doctrine”
Why Israeli Elections Never Produce a Clear Winner
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Blood and Honey: The Incredible Story of Kibbutz Yad Mordechai
Named for a hero of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Kibbutz Yad Mordechai embodies the story of Jewish resistance and renewal. From its desperate stand against Egyptian forces in 1948 to its survival on October 7 …
Shownotes
Named for a hero of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Kibbutz Yad Mordechai embodies the story of Jewish resistance and renewal. From its desperate stand against Egyptian forces in 1948 to its survival on October 7, 2023, the kibbutz has repeatedly faced destruction and chosen to rebuild. Its bronze statue of Mordechai Anielewicz symbolizes enduring defiance, while its thriving beehives and honey represent the sweetness of life reclaimed from tragedy, a powerful testament to resilience, solidarity, and hope.
Links to Unpacking Israeli History's series on Masada.
Masada: The siege that became a legend (Part 1)
Masada: The making of a myth (Part 2)
This episode is generously sponsored in honor of Dr. Andrew and Marci Spitzer. It is also sponsored by, and made in partnership with, Jewish National Fund-USA. If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History email [email protected]. Connect with Noam on Instagram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
Since 1901, Jewish National Fund-USA has strengthened the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives that secure the country’s North and South. By preserving heritage sites like The Yad Mordechai "From Holocaust to Revival" Museum, Jewish National Fund-USA invests in Israel’s future, driving tourism, generating jobs, and helping communities thrive. Find more information about visiting The Yad Mordechai "From Holocaust to Revival" Museum and other parts of Israel below.You belong in Israel. Find your Jewish National Fund-USA tour or mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep5_yad_mordechai
Educators can explore Israel on Jewish National Fund-USA's special mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/tour/index/educators-mission-to-israel-2026?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep5_yad_mordechaiJewish National Fund-USA's
Alexander Muss High School in Israel offers semester, summer, and mini-mester academic experiences for North American teens. Find out more: https://www.amhsi.org/?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep5_yad_mordechai
Learn more about the Jewish National Fund-USA's work preserving heritage sites in Israel: https://www.jnf.org/our-work/heritage-site-preservation?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep5_yad_mordechai
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Can Israel Have All the Land and Still Have Peace?
What do Israelis who live in the West Bank really believe, and what do outsiders misunderstand about them? Noam Weissman sits down with Rabbi Yehuda HaKohen, a West Bank rabbi and settler, for a candid …
Shownotes
What do Israelis who live in the West Bank really believe, and what do outsiders misunderstand about them? Noam Weissman sits down with Rabbi Yehuda HaKohen, a West Bank rabbi and settler, for a candid conversation about Religious Zionism, Jewish identity, the settler movement, Palestinian identity, and competing visions for Israel’s future.
This episode is sponsored by Andrea & Larry Gill. If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History email [email protected]. Connect with Noam on Instagram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
-------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
After the Massacre: Remembering October 7
Three years after October 7, Noam Weissman visits the Tkuma car graveyard, Kibbutz Be’eri, and Netiv Ha’Asara to ask how Israelis remember tragedy while rebuilding their homes and lives. Through conversations …
Shownotes
Three years after October 7, Noam Weissman visits the Tkuma car graveyard, Kibbutz Be’eri, and Netiv Ha’Asara to ask how Israelis remember tragedy while rebuilding their homes and lives. Through conversations with survivors and community members, this episode explores grief, resilience, Zionism, Jewish memory, and the responsibility to tell the stories of those who were lost, as well as those determined to carry on.
Here are links to episodes about the October 7th massacre by Hamas from our archive.
Behind October 7: Gaza’s History from 1967 to 10/7
The Nightmare of October 7, 2023 (part 2)
The Aftermath of October 7 (part 3)
This episode is sponsored by Andrea & Larry Gill. If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History email [email protected]. Connect with Noam on Instagram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
-------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
What Would Rav Kook Think of Religious Zionism Today?
In the third and final episode of our series on religious Zionism, Noam Weissman explores how every major debate within religious Zionism, from West Bank settlements and the Haredi draft to the relationship …
Shownotes
In the third and final episode of our series on religious Zionism, Noam Weissman explores how every major debate within religious Zionism, from West Bank settlements and the Haredi draft to the relationship between faith, ethics, and nationalism, leads back to Rav Abraham Isaac Kook.
Noam is joined by scholar Yehudah Mirsky, author of Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution, to discuss the mystic, chief rabbi, and foundational thinker whose complex legacy continues to shape Israeli religious and political life.
This episode is sponsored by Jewish Lives, a prize-winning series of biographies from Yale University Press. To learn more about Rav Kook's life, identity, and legacy, you should check out Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution by Yehudah Mirsky at www.jewishlives.org and you can use the special promo code KOOKPOD to get 30% off.
If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History email [email protected]. Connect with Noam on Istragram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
The Fight for the Soul of Religious Zionism
UPDATED: In part 2 of his series on Religious Zionism, Noam traces a movement as it moves from the sidelines to the center of Israeli life, and asks what happens when religious certainty collides with political …
Shownotes
UPDATED: In part 2 of his series on Religious Zionism, Noam traces a movement as it moves from the sidelines to the center of Israeli life, and asks what happens when religious certainty collides with political reality. The story moves through the founding of Gush Emunim, the theological rupture of Oslo, the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, and the earthquake of the 2005 Gaza disengagement. It ends by examining where the movement stands today. This is a story about land, redemption, and the danger of being too certain you know God's plan.
Here is a link to sources.
Special thanks to Yair Ettinger, author of Frayed, for his help with this episode.
This episode is sponsored in memory of Leo M. Bernstein. Thank you to The Bernstein Foundation for their generous support and partnership.
If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History email [email protected]. Connect with Noam on Instagram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
-------------
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
What Actually is Religious Zionism?
In Part 1 of our series on Religious Zionism, Noam Weissman traces how Jewish longing for Zion evolved into a religious movement that reshaped Zionism. From early rabbinic thinkers to Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook …
Shownotes
In Part 1 of our series on Religious Zionism, Noam Weissman traces how Jewish longing for Zion evolved into a religious movement that reshaped Zionism. From early rabbinic thinkers to Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the founding of Israel, and the Six-Day War, this is the story of how religion and Zionism became intertwined. What happens when a dream of redemption collides with the realities of a modern Jewish state, and what does that mean for Israel today?
Here is a link to sources.
Special thanks to Yair Ettinger, author of Frayed, for his help with this episode.
This episode is sponsored in memory of Leo M. Bernstein. Thank you to The Bernstein Foundation for their generous support and partnership.
If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History email [email protected]. Connect with Noam on Istragram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
-------------
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Don’t Leave Zionism to the Extremists – with Yossi Klein Halevi
What does it mean to be a Zionist? Yossi Klein Halevi has asked, and lived that question in radically different ways. He tells Noam Weissman about his journey from the Jewish Defense League and the Zionist …
Shownotes
What does it mean to be a Zionist? Yossi Klein Halevi has asked, and lived that question in radically different ways. He tells Noam Weissman about his journey from the Jewish Defense League and the Zionist right to the settler movement and political center, and explains how his views on Israel, the Palestinians, democracy, and Jewish identity have evolved.
If you like this podcast, you’ll love SAPIR, the quarterly journal of ideas edited by Bret Stephens. Subscribe for FREE at sapirjournal.org/noam.
If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History email [email protected]. Connect with Noam on Instagram at Noamlweissman_. And check out our episodes on Youtube.
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
-------------
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Tel Hai: Rethinking Israel's Founding Myth
Tel Hai is a small historic site in the Galilee where, in 1920, a tense standoff between Jewish farmers and Arab fighters erupted into a deadly firefight. Among the dead was Joseph Trumpeldor, a one-armed war …
Shownotes
Tel Hai is a small historic site in the Galilee where, in 1920, a tense standoff between Jewish farmers and Arab fighters erupted into a deadly firefight. Among the dead was Joseph Trumpeldor, a one-armed war hero already legendary before Tel Hai. Within days, the battle became one of the founding myths of the State of Israel, immortalized by Trumpeldor's famous last words and a national narrative of sacrifice. Noam Weissman unpacks what actually happened at Tel Hai, how the myth was built and fought over, and why Yitzhak Rabin once stood at the same site decades later to argue for a very different lesson.
This episode is sponsored in memory of the very special Melvin S. and Blanche E. Bernstein. If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History email [email protected]. It's also sponsored by, and made in partnership with, Jewish National Fund-USA.
Since 1901, Jewish National Fund-USA has strengthened the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives that secure the country’s North and South. By preserving heritage sites like Tel Hai Courtyard, Jewish National Fund-USA invests in Israel’s future, driving tourism, generating jobs, and helping communities thrive. Find more information about visiting Tel Hai Courtyard and other parts of Israel below. You belong in Israel.
Find your Jewish National Fund-USA tour or mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep4_tel_hai_courtyard
Educators can explore Israel on Jewish National Fund-USA's special mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/tour/index/educators-mission-to-israel-2026?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep4_tel_hai_courtyard
Jewish National Fund-USA's Alexander Muss High School in Israel offers semester, summer, and mini-mester academic experiences for North American teens.
Find out more: https://www.amhsi.org/?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep4_tel_hai_courtyard
Learn more about the Jewish National Fund-USA's work preserving heritage sites in Israel: https://www.jnf.org/our-work/heritage-site-preservation?utm_source=partner_opendor&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=boruchin&utm_content=ep4_tel_hai_courtyard
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
-------------
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Special Crossover: Can Israelis And Palestinians Ever Live In Peace? With Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib
Will the war ever truly come to an end? Can two populations with so much pain find common ground? Or is the hurt too deep, too vast to overcome? There are no questions more urgent than these, and there is no …
Shownotes
Will the war ever truly come to an end? Can two populations with so much pain find common ground? Or is the hurt too deep, too vast to overcome? There are no questions more urgent than these, and there is no better guest to wonder with than Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian activist and author of Hamas And Its Two Million Hostages.
In this special crossover episode originally aired on Wondering Jews, Ahmed shares with Noam his own own tragic story of loss, why he holds Hamas responsible for the plight of the Palestinian people, and what Israel--and the world at large--can do to truly bring about peace.
Follow Noam on Instagram: noamlweissman_
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Good Jews Only? Confronting New York Magazine's Habibi City Story
Noam Weissman unpacks the firestorm around New York Magazine’s "Habibi City" issue and traces the deeper historical pattern behind it: the demand that Jews prove they belong by disavowing Zionism, Israel, and …
Shownotes
Noam Weissman unpacks the firestorm around New York Magazine’s "Habibi City" issue and traces the deeper historical pattern behind it: the demand that Jews prove they belong by disavowing Zionism, Israel, and sometimes each other. From Poland’s 1968 “anti-Zionist” purge to today’s SWANA purity tests, this episode is about the seductive pull of belonging, and the old politics of exclusion dressed up in today’s language of identity, justice, and solidarity.
Follow Noam on Instagram: noamlweissman_
https://www.instagram.com/noamlweissman_/
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Durban 2001: How Zionism Became a Dirty Word
In August 2001, Jewish delegates arrived at the UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban expecting to fight bigotry. Instead they walked into what Tom Lantos called the most sickening display of hatred for …
Shownotes
In August 2001, Jewish delegates arrived at the UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban expecting to fight bigotry. Instead they walked into what Tom Lantos called the most sickening display of hatred for Jews since the Nazi period. Noam traces how Durban revived "Zionism is racism," seeded the modern BDS movement, and still shapes how the world sees Jews and Israel today, closing with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and his question of whether the Jewish people are alone or simply apart.
Follow Noam on Instagram: noamlweissman_
This episode is sponsored by Andrea & Larry Gill. If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History, or to be in touch, email [email protected].
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
-------------
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Why Israeli Elections Never Produce a Clear Winner
How do Israeli elections actually work? Israelis don't vote directly for prime minister, no party has ever won a majority, and a party with just a handful of Knesset seats can sometimes hold the keys to …
Shownotes
How do Israeli elections actually work? Israelis don't vote directly for prime minister, no party has ever won a majority, and a party with just a handful of Knesset seats can sometimes hold the keys to government.
Noam Weissman sits down with former Knesset member Rachel Azaria to unpack coalition building, the 3.25% electoral threshold, the power of Haredi and Arab parties, and why Israeli politics can look so confusing from an American perspective. They also explore the biggest divides shaping Israel's next government, and what to watch as the 2026 election approaches.
If you like this podcast, you’ll love SAPIR, the quarterly journal of ideas edited by Bret Stephens. Subscribe for FREE at sapirjournal.org/noam.
Follow Noam on Instagram: noamlweissman_
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
-------------
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Live from Camp Tel Yehudah: Teens Talk Antisemitism, Identity, and Israel
What do Jewish teens really think about Israel? Noam Weissman takes the podcast to Camp Tel Yehudah for a special live episode, exploring Israel, October 7, Jewish identity, and the future of peace. Their …
Shownotes
What do Jewish teens really think about Israel? Noam Weissman takes the podcast to Camp Tel Yehudah for a special live episode, exploring Israel, October 7, Jewish identity, and the future of peace. Their answers might surprise you.
Listen to this raw, honest conversation about Israeli history, Jewish identity, and the questions shaping the next generation of Jewish leaders.
This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is sponsored by the Marcus Foundation. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
If you like this podcast, you’ll love SAPIR. Subscribe for free at sapirjournal.org/noam
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Israel's Eurovision story: Boos, ballads, and breaking up with Europe (Part 2)
A little Israeli boy from a poor Yemenite family grew up, transitioned, and became the most scandalous, fabulous Eurovision winner in history: meet Dana International. In part 2 of our Eurovision series, the …
Shownotes
A little Israeli boy from a poor Yemenite family grew up, transitioned, and became the most scandalous, fabulous Eurovision winner in history: meet Dana International. In part 2 of our Eurovision series, the story continues through PingPong's Syrian-boyfriend fever dream, Netta's chicken-noise feminist anthem, and the raw, post-October 7th performances of Eden Golan, Yuval Raphael, and Noam Bettan. Even with low jury scores and boycotts, Israeli songs keep winning the public's heart. Eurovision was never about the trophy. It's about the power to sing your own story, boos and all.
Unpacking Israeli History is hosted by Noam Weissman. It's produced by Rivky Stern. This episode was written by Adi Elbaz and edited by Rob Pera.
Special thanks to Tzvi Joffre for researching the episode.
Click here for links and sources:
Watch: Teapacks - Push The Button (LIVE) | Israel | Semi-Final | Eurovision 2007 (mentioned in the episode).
This episode is sponsored by Friedkin Philanthropies and the Koret Foundation, and is inspired by ISRAEL 21c If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History, or if you just want to say what’s up, email [email protected].
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
If you like this podcast, you’ll love SAPIR. Subscribe for free at sapirjournal.org/noam
-------------
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Israel's Eurovision story: How a Middle Eastern country crashed Europe's biggest party (Part 1)
Why does Israel compete in Eurovision if it's not even in Europe? In Part 1, Noam Weissman unpacks how Israel went from Eurovision newcomer to music powerhouse, exploring the songs, stars, and surprising …
Shownotes
Why does Israel compete in Eurovision if it's not even in Europe? In Part 1, Noam Weissman unpacks how Israel went from Eurovision newcomer to music powerhouse, exploring the songs, stars, and surprising moments that put the Jewish state on Europe's biggest stage. It's a story of glitter, geopolitics, and Israeli identity. And the biggest Eurovision moment was still to come.
Unpacking Israeli History is hosted by Noam Weissman. It's produced by Rivky Stern. This episode was written by Adi Elbaz and edited by Rob Pera.
Special thanks to Tzvi Joffre for researching the episode.
Click here for links and sources:
Link to Munich Olympics: When terrorism won (mentioned in the episode).
Links and sources:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ndVmuFXPBltSDIId47xG_1sRajQ3iMnThBmOyUdrBAo/edit?usp=sharing
This episode is sponsored by Friedkin Philanthropies and the Koret Foundation, and is inspired by ISRAEL 21c If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History, or if you just want to say what’s up, email [email protected].
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
If you like this podcast, you’ll love SAPIR. Subscribe for free at sapirjournal.org/noam
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Live from Camp Lavi: Teens Take on Israel's Toughest Moments
It's summer. Where else do you want to be? Sleepaway camp, obviously. Unpacking Israeli History packed its bags and went to camp. Noam Weissman fielded questions from hundreds of Jewish teens at Camp Lavi, in a …
Shownotes
It's summer. Where else do you want to be? Sleepaway camp, obviously.
Unpacking Israeli History packed its bags and went to camp. Noam Weissman fielded questions from hundreds of Jewish teens at Camp Lavi, in a live show like no other. Real questions from real campers on the moments in Israeli history that spark the fiercest debates: the Altalena Affair, the Entebbe rescue, Zionism, where criticism of Israel crosses into antisemitism, and the moral weight of war.
Listen to this raw, honest conversation about Israeli history, Jewish identity, and the questions shaping the next generation of Jewish leaders.
This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is sponsored by the Marcus Foundation. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Israel Open Mic: Is the Palestinian flag Illegal in Israel?
A man is detained over a kippah bearing both the Israeli and Palestinian flags. Was it legal? Noam unpacks the surprising history of the Palestinian flag, why Israel once banned it, and why it remains one of …
Shownotes
A man is detained over a kippah bearing both the Israeli and Palestinian flags. Was it legal? Noam unpacks the surprising history of the Palestinian flag, why Israel once banned it, and why it remains one of the country's most contested symbols.
Here are pictures of Alex Sinclair's kippah:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/keeping-his-head-educator-detained-for-dual-israeli-palestinian-flag-kippa-dons-replacement/
Check out our episode Oslo: The Peace That Wasn't https://unpacked.media/oslo-the-peace-that-wasnt-2/
Here's a link to sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17R5PM2yXabVEqMKD465pAxKSGVxNINXPwzDLUFWg3VQ/edit?usp=sharing
This episode is sponsored by Karen and Mark Holzberg in recognition of the important work OpenDor Media’s ConnectEd program is doing with independent private schools. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Should We Retire the Word ‘Zionism’? With Haviv Rettig Gur
Noam sits down with Haviv Rettig Gur in Jerusalem to unpack why Israel feels like a tinderbox, whether it's time to retire the word "Zionism," the debate over Palestinian identity, and what the future holds for …
Shownotes
Noam sits down with Haviv Rettig Gur in Jerusalem to unpack why Israel feels like a tinderbox, whether it's time to retire the word "Zionism," the debate over Palestinian identity, and what the future holds for the US Israel alliance. Fresh off three intense days traveling the country, from the Gaza border to Jerusalem's Old City, Haviv challenges assumptions on the left and the right, offering a provocative look at where Israel is headed.
This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is sponsored by Andrea & Larry Gill and is in memory of Leo M. Bernstein. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
50 Years Since Entebbe: Operation Thunderbolt
Fifty years ago, Air France Flight 139 took off from Tel Aviv on the morning of June 27, 1976. No one could have suspected that the soon-to-be-hijacked flight was about to lead to one of the world's most daring …
Shownotes
Fifty years ago, Air France Flight 139 took off from Tel Aviv on the morning of June 27, 1976. No one could have suspected that the soon-to-be-hijacked flight was about to lead to one of the world's most daring and risky rescue missions. To mark 50 years since the raid, we're bringing back one of our favorite episodes: Noam unpacks Operation Thunderbolt, Israel's secret operation to rescue the hostages at Entebbe, and asks whether this story has enduring lessons for us today.
This episode is generously sponsored by Marci and Alex S. Kaufman. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Nas Daily: The Identity Crisis October 7 Forced Me to Face
Does identity define us or limit us? Noam searches for answers with Nuseir Yassin, better known as internet personality Nas Daily. Nas Daily, has 68 million followers and a media company reaching 300 million …
Shownotes
Does identity define us or limit us? Noam searches for answers with Nuseir Yassin, better known as internet personality Nas Daily.
Nas Daily, has 68 million followers and a media company reaching 300 million people a month. He is also Israeli and Arab, and the world keeps telling him to pick one. This is not a political episode. It's a conversation about identity, belonging, and what it costs to hold complicated truths.
This episode is dedicated in memory of Armand Lindenbaum, the grandson of Rav Avigdor Amiel, by his wife, Jean, and children, Felice, Amiel, and Ariel Lindenbaum-Sebag. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
The Battle for Jerusalem: Ammunition Hill
In June 1967, Israeli paratroopers fought one of the Six Day War's bloodiest battles to reunify Jerusalem. Ammunition Hill, a fortified Jordanian stronghold carved into the limestone hills of East Jerusalem …
Shownotes
In June 1967, Israeli paratroopers fought one of the Six Day War's bloodiest battles to reunify Jerusalem. Ammunition Hill, a fortified Jordanian stronghold carved into the limestone hills of East Jerusalem, became the key to the Old City. What followed was four hours of chaos, courage, and carnage in a maze of narrow trenches. This episode unpacks the battle, its heroes, and the complicated legacy of a city reunified.
Here are the sources used in this episdoe.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WIB04rolWgTnfCW-puSaNhXkQzBzS1LxABMU1pEFUKo/edit?usp=sharing
Here are links to the Unpacking Israeli History's 3-Part series on the '67 War.
6 days that Changed Israel Forever: Lead-up to the 1967 War (Part 1)
6 days that Changed Israel Forever: The Middle East at War (Part 2)
6 days that Changed Israel Forever: The Aftermath (Part 3)
This episode is generously sponsored in honor of Dr. Andrew and Marci Spitzer. It is also sponsored by, and made in partnership with, Jewish National Fund-USA.
Since 1901, Jewish National Fund-USA has strengthened the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives that secure the country’s North and South. By preserving heritage sites like Ammunition Hill, Jewish National Fund-USA invests in Israel’s future, driving tourism, generating jobs, and helping communities thrive.Find more information about visiting Ammunition Hill and other parts of Israel below. You belong in Israel. Find your Jewish National Fund-USA tour or mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/
Educators can explore Israel on Jewish National Fund-USA's special mission: https://www.jnf.org/travel/tour/index/educators-mission-to-israel-2026
Jewish National Fund-USA's Alexander Muss High School in Israel offers semester, summer, and mini-mester academic experiences for North American teens. Find out more: https://www.amhsi.org/
Learn more about the Jewish National Fund-USA's work preserving heritage sites in Israel: https://www.jnf.org/our-work/heritage-site-preservation
To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
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Check out our episodes on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Yitzhak Rabin: Not the Peacenik You Think He Was (Special Crossover)
Noam Weissman joins Yael Steiner and Jonathan Schwab over at Jewish History Nerds for a special crossover episode on Yitzhak Rabin through the lens of Itamar Rabinovich's Yitzhak Rabin: Soldier, Leader …
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Noam Weissman joins Yael Steiner and Jonathan Schwab over at Jewish History Nerds for a special crossover episode on Yitzhak Rabin through the lens of Itamar Rabinovich's Yitzhak Rabin: Soldier, Leader, Statesman from the Jewish Lives series.
Yitzhak Rabin's life is the story of Israel itself. But who was the real Rabin? Two Unpacked shows, three hosts, one conversation you don't want to miss.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and watch their latest videos on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/show/1JrBAblXuVgF7cWF2EgRRz?si=3ecd5b9fb1274b67 .
Check out Jewish History Nerds on Unpacked and YouTube
This episode is sponsored by Jewish Lives, a prize-winning series of biographies from Yale University Press. To learn more about Yitzhak Rabin's life, identity, and legacy, check out Yitzhak Rabin, Soldier Leader Statesman by Itamar Rabinovich at www.jewishlives.org. Use promo code RabinPod for 30 % off. That's R-A-B-I-N-P-O-D.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
Hezbollah Revisited: The Origins of Iran's Most Powerful Proxy
To understand why Iran and Israel are fighting, you have to understand Hezbollah. Noam Weissman revisits the story of Iran's proxy in Lebanon, which has been causing trouble for Israel since its founding in …
Shownotes
To understand why Iran and Israel are fighting, you have to understand Hezbollah. Noam Weissman revisits the story of Iran's proxy in Lebanon, which has been causing trouble for Israel since its founding in 1982.
Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d68bkgIiKIwWRCn75DGaiWry9N3Oi_rPh6-X1fn_i8Q/edit
This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Sarala and Danny Turkel. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
The Scandal That Changed Israel Forever: The Rotten Business (Part 2)
In 1954, a group of young Jewish idealists in Egypt were recruited by Israeli intelligence to plant bombs in Western institutions, only to be betrayed by their own double agent handler before the mission even …
Shownotes
In 1954, a group of young Jewish idealists in Egypt were recruited by Israeli intelligence to plant bombs in Western institutions, only to be betrayed by their own double agent handler before the mission even began. Arrests, torture, a show trial, two executions, and a suicide followed. Back in Israel, the fallout was just as devastating: forged documents, cover-ups, and a bitter vendetta between Defense Minister Pinhas Lavon and Prime Minister David Ben Gurion that tore the ruling party apart. This is part two of our series on Israel's most embarrassing intelligence blunder. It reads like fiction. It wasn't.
Here are links to Unpacking Israeli History's 3 Part Series on the Suez Canal Crisis.
Israel's Forgotten War: The Suez Crisis (Part 1)
Combustion: The secret pact that ignited the Suez War (Part 2)
Fallout: How the Suez Crisis rewired the Middle East forever (Part 3)
This episode is sponsored by Tony Felzen in honor of Connor, and by Andrea & Larry Gill. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
The Scandal That Changed Israel Forever: The Lavon Affair (Part 1)
The scandal that changed Israel forever began with a failed secret operation in Egypt in 1954. Young Egyptian Jews, recruited by Israeli intelligence, were sent on a mission meant to protect the Jewish state …
Shownotes
The scandal that changed Israel forever began with a failed secret operation in Egypt in 1954. Young Egyptian Jews, recruited by Israeli intelligence, were sent on a mission meant to protect the Jewish state. But the operation collapsed in betrayal, arrests, torture, and cover-ups. The fallout shattered public trust, ripped apart Israel’s leadership, and transformed the country’s politics for decades to come. Part 1 sets the stage: the fragile world of Egyptian Jewry, the fear gripping six-year-old Israel, and the catastrophic decisions that doomed a group of young idealists.
Here are links to past episodes about the Mossad:
The Mossad: Three Tales of Assassination
Intelligence Operations That Shaped Israel’s Story with Ronen Bergman, LIVE in Los Angeles
This episode is sponsored by Tony Felzen in honor of Connor, and by Andrea & Larry Gill. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email [email protected].
Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
-------------------
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
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