Listen Now

Veterans Day is not a memorial of the fallen; rather, it is a day of recognition of those who fought valiantly in service of their country, ideals, and values. On a very special Veterans Day edition of IsraelCast, host, Steven Shalowitz, sits down with Alon Wald, the son of Rami Wald, an Israel Defense Forces captain and war hero who fell at Ammunition Hill. Listen to Alon, who is currently Head of Operations at Ammunition Hill, speak on the impact of the Battle of Ammunition Hill and how it remains a staple for Israeli history and current day teachings.

Some countries protect its borders through tanks or checkpoints, but is it possible to do it through activism? By volunteering in local communities, participants at Kedma Student Villages are doing just that. Tune in as Tirael Cohen, Kedma’s founder and CEO, joins host Steven Shalowitz on this week’s episode of IsraelCast to discuss how the young generation of Israel has found meaning and belonging through volunteering on Israel’s borders.

From Zionist pioneer, Leon Pinsker, to the Father of Modern Zionism, Theodor Herzl, to the first President of Israel, Chaim Weizmann, the story of Zionism has been filled with controversy, misunderstanding, and astonishing feats. Author of Zionism: The Concise History, Alex Ryvchin sits down with host, Steven Shalowitz, to tell the story of Zionism and the impact it has on modern Jewish identity and to war and peace in the Middle East. 

Growing up as an Israeli Muslim in a Bedouin family, Ishmael “Ish” Khaldi wanted to be a farmer. After two of his close friends were killed during their police service, Ish made a personal commitment to serve the country of Israel. Listen to Ish as he sits down with Steven Shalowitz to discuss his upbringing, values, and career as a diplomat.

September 15, 2020 was a historic day for Israel and United Arab Emirates - signing a peace treaty normalizing their relations. This week on IsraelCast, Steven Shalowitz welcomed on Lior Haiat, the Israel Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, who was part of the official delegation that visited the UAE for this momentous event. Listen to Lior speak about the visit and what this means for the future of the Middle East.

Half a century ago, a 6-year-old Roni Raab visited his grandparents, who had made Aliyah, in Israel. On Sunday, Sept. 6, 1970, he, his mother, and 4 siblings boarded a TWA flight to return home to New York. A week later, Roni and his family finally deplaned after a tense, harrowing experience on an airplane that had been hijacked by the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine). Find out how Roni made it through this dangerous time and how it impacted the rest of his life on this week’s episode of IsraelCast with host Steven Shalowitz.

Ever since he was a little kid, Yonatan Winetraub wanted to go to Mars. Find out how he went from a kid with a dream to the co-founder of SpaceIL, running a robotic mission to the moon, on this week’s episode of IsraelCast. Host Steven Shalowitz talks to Winetraub about the importance of motivating students to be interested in science and engineering, not just being a YouTube star. Hear about the time capsule of hopes and dreams, Beresheet, left on the moon - including a small Bible, letters from communities around the world, and a picture painted by his grandmother.

Courage. Gratitude. Connection. These words are bantered around often enough, but it is rare to find someone with so many stories of simple acts, making connections, and saying thank you. Tune in to this week’s episode of IsraelCast as host Steven Shalowitz sits with Israel advocate and former diplomat Shahar Azani, who relays stories from Kenya, Israel, Yemen, and the United States – and who reminds us of the value and importance of finding commonalities with others and appreciating the simple things in life.

Elhanan Brown’s passion for Israel is contagious. Whether he is teaching in a classroom, touring the country with his students, or guiding groups online, his knowledge of history and love of country come through. This week on IsraelCast, join host Steven Shalowitz as he sits down with Elhanan, an Alexander Muss High School in Israel educator and licensed tour guide, to discuss archeology, if there was even a King David, and everything in between.

How do you build a house in the desert? How do you grow a community when there’s no pipe underground to get the water in for plumbing? Find out in this week’s episode of IsraelCast, when host Steven Shalowitz sits down with real estate exec Jeff Schwartz and JNF-USA’s Chief Development Officer Rick Krosnick, to talk about how they identified the challenges facing those who wanted to move to Israel’s periphery, and figured out how to solve it with the Housing Development Fund.

Is COVID-19 causing a re-envisioning of the world order? In this week’s episode of IsraelCast, we welcome back Ambassador Ido Aharoni, who tackles this question and others. What is the virus’ impact on international collaboration? Why are 100,000 people trying to move to Israel in the next 18 months? How is the travel industry impacted? Listen now to this fascinating conversation.

"Laughter is the best way to take medicine". During these difficult times, listen to an uplifting conversation between Steven Shalowitz and Nimrod Eisenberg, an actor, circus artist, and clown. They dive into the remarkable work done by Dream Doctors, an organization that helps patients with the medical coping process through humor and entertainment. Hear about the history of the "Red Nose", the "Clownbulance" turning dreams into a reality, and the world’s first bachelor’s degree in "Medical Clowning" at Haifa University.

This week on IsraelCast, we travel to the Central Arava and visit with Hanni Arnon, the Executive Director at the Arava Institute Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT). Hanni discusses agriculture in the middle of the desert and the country-wide impact AICAT students have had during COVID-19.

This week on IsraelCast, Steven Shalowitz has a conversation on survival, strength, and resilience with former Soviet Refusenik, Marina Furman. In this sit down, Marina speaks on her ten year struggle with the Soviet government and the “hell” she went through to immigrate to Israel. Listen to Marina elaborate on the importance of fighting for what you believe in and why Israel has a special place in her heart.

Did you know? The Arava Region produces more than 50% of Israel’s fresh vegetables. This week on IsraelCast, Steven Shalowitz speaks with Noa Zer, the Central Arava Regional Council’s Director of Resource Development, from her home in the Central Arava. Listen to Noa address the challenges of growing produce in an area with no water and the impact that the Arava Region has worldwide.

What does the Torah have in common with ecology? This week on IsraelCast, Steven Shalowitz sits down with Rabbi Yonatan Neril to discuss 18 essential Jewish lessons on the environment. Listen to Rabbi Neril examine the connection of the teachings of great rabbis and the practices of environmentalists today.

This week on IsraelCast, Hen Mazzig, an Israeli speaker and writer, joins host Steven Shalowitz to discuss growing up in the Mizrahi community, his work in Israel advocacy, and the rise of anti-Semitism. Hear Hen elaborate on being “politically homeless” and ways to fight hate speech.

This week on IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz celebrates World Water Day by welcoming back recurring guest, Seth Siegel. Siegel discusses the debate of whether water regulation should fall under an environmental issue or a public health issue. Listen in to hear what’s really in our drinking water and why it’s not being fixed, even though there are solutions out there.

This week on IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz sits down with Lt. Col. Oshrat Bachar, the first female combat-battalion commander in the Israel Defense Forces. Lt. Col. Bachar now serves as the commander in charge of gender equality in the IDF, where she has assisted in efforts to integrate women, shape sexual harassment strategy, and change the narrative for LGBTQ soldiers. Tune in to learn about gender in the IDF and what other international armies can learn from Israel.