Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

• Where Was God?: Purim and Post-Holocaust Theology

  This week, host Mijal Bitton kicks off a new mini-series, “Faith on Faith,” by diving deep into Jewish theology, post-Holocaust faith, and the story of Purim with renowned educator and theologian Dr. Tanya White. Together, they explore profound questions: What does it mean to believe when God seems hidden? How do we make sense of divine absence in the face of suffering, from the Holocaust to today’s crises? And what lessons can Purim—often seen as a lighthearted holiday—teach us about faith, agency, and moral courage? Drawing on Rabbi Yitz Greenberg’s “dialectical faith”, Tanya shares her personal and academic journey into post-Holocaust theology and her reflections on Esther’s transformation from hidden figure to Jewish savior. Click here for Dr. Tanya White's bio and podcast. Co-host Noam Weissman will be back in two weeks. In the meantime, get in touch at our new email address: [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold

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• The Weaponization of International Law with Natasha Hausdorff

  Mijal and Noam sit down with barrister and legal expert Natasha Hausdorff to explore the weaponization of international law, the ICC and UN's stance on Israel. They discuss the challenges of lawfare in the modern world. In their conversation, Natasha breaks down complex legal frameworks, debunks myths about genocide allegations and proportionality in war, and clarifies misconceptions surrounding the West Bank and occupation debate. Get in touch at our new email address: [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. Natasha Hausdorff's bio: Natasha Hausdorff is a barrister and expert commentator on international law, including the law of armed conflict, foreign affairs and national security policy. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on lawfare and the weaponization of international law against Israel. She regularly briefs politicians and international organisations and has spoken at Parliaments across Europe and at the United Nations. Natasha is a frequent contributor on legal matters for international media, including the BBC, Sky News, CNN, GB News, Talk TV and Fox and has written for publications including the Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, The Times, The Mail and Law Society Gazette. She holds law degrees from Oxford and Tel Aviv Universities and was a Fellow in the National Security Law Programme at Columbia Law School in New York. Natasha previously worked for American law firm Skadden Arps, in London and Brussels, and clerked for the President of the Israeli Supreme Court, Chief Justice Miriam Naor, in Jerusalem. She serves as legal director of UK Lawyers for Israel Charitable Trust. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold

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• Exploring Religious Zionism with Yair Ettinger

  Mijal and Noam dive into the complexities of religious Zionism in Israel with renowned journalist, Yair Ettinger. They explore the historical roots of the movement, from the pragmatic vision of Rabbi Reines to the messianic approach of Rabbi Kook and discuss how these ideologies helped shape modern Israeli society. They ask tough questions, including why figures such as Meir Kahane are resurfacing in popular discourse. With the rise of hardline religious Zionist factions, Mijal and Noam delve into what religious Zionism means today, its diversity and its role in Israel’s security, politics, and peace efforts. Frayed by Yair Ettinger Click here for Yair Ettinger's full bio. Yair Ettinger is a former Kogod Research Fellow at Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and an Israeli journalist whose work focuses primarily on religious affairs, the religious and Haredi communities, and their politics. Previously, he covered issues relating to Palestinian citizens of Israel and was a foreign affairs correspondent in Paris. Until 2017, he served as a journalist with Ha’aretz for 20 years. Get in touch at our new email address: [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold

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• Should Jews Move to Israel?: Zionism, Aliyah, and Jewish Identity

  This week, Mijal and Noam dive into the existential question of Diaspora Jews: Should Jews move to Israel? Mijal and Noam engage in a thought provoking conversation about Zionism, Aliyah and Jewish identity. They explore historical, religious, and philosophical debates about Aliyah, which literally means ascent or rise and refers to Jewish immigration to Israel. Mijal and Noam share their personal stories, experiences of cognitive dissonance and insights from great Jewish thinkers. Together, they unpack some of the complexities of living in the Diaspora versus embracing life in Israel. Here are some of the sources referenced in the episode: Unpacking Israeli History: Does Israel Represent All Jews?: The Great Debate Blaustein/Ben Gurion exchange Lubavitcher Rebbe’s response to Ariel Sharon Programming note: Next week, Wondering Jews will release its new episode on Thursday. Get in touch at [email protected], and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold

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• Is "Zionism" Dead?: Re-Defining Identity in 2025

  Mijal and Noam are back with a provocative conversation about the term Zionism and what it means to be a Zionist today. They explore whether the term itself does more harm than good and discuss why it’s so polarizing. Listen to Mijal and Noam grapple with questions about Zionism's relevance by drawing on research, insight and personal reflections about language, history, and identity. Report by Matthew Boxer: What is Zionism? Assessing the Diversity of Discourse in a Charged Environment Programming note: Next week, Wondering Jews will release its new episode on Thursday. Get in touch at [email protected], and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold

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