Live The Land

About Live The Land

Live the Land is a podcast hosted by Franny Waisman, tour guide, educator, and lifelong explorer, where ancient Hebrew texts come alive through the land of Israel. Through conversations with people whose stories and spirit illuminate Israel’s past, present, and future, the show invites you into a deeper connection. Whether you are planning your next trip to Israel or seeking inspiration from afar, Live the Land is your place to journey, learn, and connect.

Publisher

Franny Waisman

Category

religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Dec 2025

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

30 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Life on the Hilltops with Yehuda Twersky

   What does it take to build a new Jewish community in the hills of Binyamin, and why are some Israelis choosing to establish their homes on remote hilltops despite the security challenges? On this episode of Live the Land, host Franny Waisman sits down with Yehuda Twersky, CEO of the Binyamin Fund, reserve officer, and resident of the newly established community of Ma’oz Tzur (Ma’ale Shomer), overlooking the area near Ramallah and Ben Gurion Airport. After serving 582 days in the IDF reserves, including fighting in Gaza and Lebanon, Yehuda shares how a powerful moment in Sajaiya changed his perspective from fighting to protect Israel to actively building its future. Together, they explore the realities of establishing new communities in Judea and Samaria, the strategic role of agricultural farms, the controversies surrounding settlements and land ownership, and what it means to raise a family in a region facing significant security challenges. Yehuda also introduces the Binyamin Fund's ambitious healthcare initiative, the Nanasi Medical Center, and explains how it could transform access to medical care throughout the region. Key Questions Explored in the Episode - What motivates families to establish new communities on the hilltops of Judea and Samaria? - How did Yehuda's experiences fighting in Gaza and Lebanon influence his decision to build a community? - Why do many new communities begin as agricultural farms? - How does Yehuda respond to accusations of land grabs and settler violence? - What is it like raising children in a community facing ongoing security threats? - How could the Nanasi Medical Center change healthcare access for residents of Binyamin? Ready to discover what it takes to establish a new community in Judea and Samaria and understand the people working to shape Binyamin's future? Tune in to the full episode of Live the Land for a firsthand look at military service, community building, regional development, and the challenges of life on Israel's hilltops. ---------------- Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ (https://judeasamariaexperience.com/) to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

2. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Recreating the Lost Bread of the Beit HaMikdash with Eliezer Seidel

   What if one of the greatest mysteries of the Beit HaMikdash could be rediscovered inside a bakery in the Shomron? On this episode of Live the Land, Franny Waisman sits down with Eliezer “Leslie” Seidel, a former high-tech professional who left a 25-year career to pursue baking, Jewish bread history, and eventually one of the most fascinating culinary mysteries in Jewish tradition: recreating the Lechem HaPanim, the Temple showbread. Seidel shares how his research for The Jewish Bread Bible led him to conclude that the most uniquely Jewish breads were those of the Beit HaMikdash. That realization launched a decade-long effort, together with Prof. Zohar Amar, Machon HaMikdash, and other experts, to reverse-engineer a bread whose original method disappeared nearly 2,000 years ago. From ancient coins and forgotten Rashi manuscripts to durum wheat, archaeology, laboratory testing, and the halachic challenge of creating bread that rises without becoming chametz, this conversation explores what it takes to bring an ancient Temple tradition back to life. Time Stamps 00:00 – Temple Bread Mystery 03:26 – Meet Eliezer Seidel 11:50 – Workshops and Jewish Bread 16:23 – The Only Truly Jewish Bread 19:09 – The Lost Secret of Beit Garmu 24:36 – The Professor Amar Breakthrough 27:40 – Reverse Engineering the Loaf 32:04 – Ancient Coins and Rashi Clues 34:57 – What the Coins Reveal About Its Shape 35:30 – Hunting for Early Rashi Manuscripts 37:16 – The Vatican Digitized Manuscript Mystery 39:11 – The Firkovich Manuscript Breakthrough 42:51 – Making Bread Rise Without Yeast 46:49 – The Halachic Solution and the Secret 51:09 – Workshops and the Temple Mission 54:08 – The Growing Temple Movement ---------------- Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ (https://judeasamariaexperience.com/) to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

3. 

   25 Aug 2026

   Walking Through the Bible in Ancient Shomron with Dr. Yair Almekeyas, PHD

   What can archaeology reveal about the kings, cities, and events described in the Bible? Franny Waisman sits down with Dr. Yair Almekeyas, head of Midreshet Shomron, for a journey through the biblical history and archaeology of the Shomron. Together, they explore Sebastia—the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Israel—along with Mount Ebal, Mount Gerizim, Joseph’s Tomb, and other sites where the biblical story can still be encountered on the ground. Franny recalls studying Sebastia during her tour-guide training and the frustration of learning about an extraordinary archaeological site that was often difficult to visit. Dr. Yair Almekeyas explains how access is gradually improving as permits, infrastructure, and organized tourism expand. Yair introduces the work of Midreshet Shomron and explains how field schools combine education, hiking, research, and a direct encounter with the land. He discusses efforts to create new walking routes, including an ambitious 500-mile trail through Judea and Samaria, allowing visitors to experience biblical geography on foot. The conversation then turns to the rise of the Northern Kingdom. Yair explains why Omri selected Shomron as his capital and explores how the city’s location, terrain, and surroundings made it an ideal political and strategic center. Franny and Yair compare the Bible’s moral judgment of Omri and Ahab with archaeological and historical evidence showing that their kingdom possessed significant wealth, military strength, and international influence. They also examine the Samaria ivories, Assyrian depictions of conquest, Samaritan origins, Joseph’s Tomb, Mount Ebal, and the challenge of telling the story of a site containing many layers of history. Throughout the episode, Yair emphasizes that the Shomron should be understood not only through modern politics, but also through its biblical, archaeological, and cultural significance. About the Guest: Dr. Yair Almekeyas is the head of Midreshet Shomron, a field school dedicated to teaching the history, geography, archaeology, and natural landscape of the Shomron. He holds a PhD and works to make the region’s biblical sites more accessible through education, guided tours, hiking trails, and tourism initiatives. Time Stamps: 00:00 Dr. Yair Almekeyas 05:53 What Is Midreshet Shomron? 07:51 Walking Through the Bible 09:39 Mount Ebal and the New Trail 14:20 Why Yair Loves the Shomron 16:29 Understanding the Region Beyond Politics 18:59 Joseph’s Tomb Trivia 24:51 Reconsidering Omri and Ahab 27:59 Samaria Versus Jerusalem 33:01 Jerusalem and Samaria Compared 34:11 The Origins of the Samaritans 35:40 Meeting the Samaritan Community 39:30 Revisiting the Legacies of Omri and Ahab 42:27 The Ivory Palace of Samaria 46:31 Evidence of the Assyrian Siege 47:58 How to Tour Sebastia’s Historical Layers 50:49 Politics and Archaeology 52:19 Shomron’s Major Sites Ready to walk through the places where biblical history unfolded? Tune in to the full episode and discover the archaeology, stories, and landscape of ancient Shomron.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact Live The Land

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  The Israel Guys

• 

  Ark News Daily

• 

  Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

• 

  Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

• 

  The Glenn Beck Program