
Advertise on podcast: Unpacking Israeli History
Rating
4.8from
This podcast has
205 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
UnpackedExplicit
No
Date created
2020/08/26
Latest episode
2026/10/29
Average duration
52 min.
Release period
6 days
Description
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.
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Check latest episodes from Unpacking Israeli History podcast
Breaking: Who Won Israel's Election?
2026/10/29
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.
This episode is generously sponsored by Andrea and Larry Gill. To sponsor an episode of Unpacking Israeli History, o 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?
2026/10/27
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
2026/10/20
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
-------------
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
2026/10/13
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)
Link to sources.
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
-------------
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?
2026/10/08
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
2026/10/06
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?
2026/10/01
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.
-------------
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
2026/09/30
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?
2026/09/22
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
2026/09/15
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.
Yossi Klein Halevi
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
2026/09/08
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.
Here's a link to sources.
Check out Noamlweissman_.
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
2026/09/03
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.
-------------
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
2026/09/01
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.
Here's a link to sources.
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.
-------------
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
2026/08/25
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.
Here's a link to sources.
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
2026/08/18
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
Podcast reviews
Read Unpacking Israeli History podcast reviews
American Scientist 2026/10/10
Excellent Podcast
Very informative. Noah keeps objectivity by bringing facts from all sides
nj j/hu 2026/08/13
Fascinating and informative
Noam is easy to listen to, well-researched and works hard to share all sides of the story of Israel. I have learned so much history from this podcast.
Benzbooks 2026/07/28
Accurate, in-depth, forward thinking
I love podcast because as the title says, they’re accurate, in depth, and forward thinking. They’re presenting the facts about subjects that for most ...
BBQ JR subscribe to the name 2026/07/23
Amazing podcast
Noam gives an amazing recount of history, the show has great topics and he’s funny to boot! A great listen for the whole famt!
RoMarMy 2026/07/14
Zionism
Haviv Rettig Gur is hands down the most down to earth explainer of Israeli history I have ever run across… I Love listening to him!! His grasp of his...
BlueCollarJew 2026/06/01
Shameless Israel apologia
This podcast lies on the central idea that Israel has a whole is great and Jews should have a relationship with Israel. Making excuses for apartheid a...
Ballet Barbarian 2026/05/29
Solid info & very enjoyable
Low-key presentation is still dense with real information. I always learn a lot & enjoy every minute of it. I wish this presenter had taught all my ...
KLM0709 2026/05/19
Not Really History Anymore
Liked the first few seasons but has lost the thread more recently with the focus on current events portrayed in a very one sided way without looking a...
Earth_alien 2026/04/29
Informative
I have been tuning in now for a while and I have enjoyed every listen. I would love to see more collaboration, co-creativity in some of the story tell...
Taptapppy 2026/04/29
Outstanding podcast!
Love the reasoned approach. Thanks!!!!
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