An Orthodox Jewish Religious Zionist reads Palestinian narratives, literature, history and more. The implications of Anti-Zionist and and Anti-Israel narratives for Israel and Zionism will be explored. Have question or want to continue the discussion. Follow and comment on the podcasts facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Looking-at-Palestine-From-Zion-106211334892420
The past few weeks I have been on a mission to meet and hear from Palestinian and Jewish voices. The angst, ambivalence, and longings associated with this journey found catharsis and resonance for me in a comment of Rashi to this weeks Parashah. This is from my heart.
27 Oct 2025
1938's October 7
An explotation of the backdrop to the Tiberias massacre of Oct. 7 1938 and its similarities to Oct. 7
Transcript of my notes for the episode:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YZ-HW_Z_OcGkI0OuYdDEVzKBuM8dOYwpPmKCG6YjhLI/edit?usp=sharing
Bibliography:
1929 Ground Zero by Hilel Cohen
Palestine 1936 by Kessler
ספר תולדות ההגנה (https://rosetta.nli.org.il/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE135942165&_ga=2.254735112.1872950798.1592722659-1411014891.1585654575)
Oriental Neighbors by Jacobson and Naor (https://pal.k0de.org/Jacobson%2C%20Abigail%2C%20and%20Moshe%20Naor%20-%20Oriental%20Neighbors_%20Middle%20Eastern%20Jews%20and%20Arabs%20in%20Mandatory%20Palestine%20-%20Brandeis%20%282016%29.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Hebrew Article in Ha'aretz about the Assasination of Zaki Alhadif (https://www.haaretz.co.il/science/2008-10-30/ty-article/0000017f-eab0-dc91-a17f-febdcfeb0001)
Sept. 9th 1938 Article in Davar about the assasination of an Arab civil servant (https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/?a=is&oid=dav19380911-01&type=staticpdf&pdfaccesscode=PdiKFdxfhYELhR9ZGhaO%2BuoUAjQZhmLBNXdevETejTZto%3D&submitted=1&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxTI--------------1&g-recaptcha-response=0cAFcWeA4nkzU4qJHaIG9Yz8T77-zzvM4u9o64DLGOQWjoQUyjbZ0k2y1wmueAqY3j6idjM17za-9uW_Yy2cGd3C5Y0WKqYbNtPm1qnm1LIas9lY5O0L3m10SHqKbsIbtecb-L2wpfHVvDtc6frLB3dzwqUJZPxH-dOHNys8BpOMDgvuSPWMGoBAUjCcclFtTD7AG_5ta-rUMSzlvDHyDMtTLLd8zngeTdmK2O3_xbNsPM_tsNP8B45t3mC5VZAWGauHz0nfqvyUvXu4Cdm9DVQZwjKe6x_eQTWUF3J5OnBYD77vOJa6saMXSA-jh13Rj-E2NUV78KoSZ0oL_pEw1ZbBfyJxWx0f7KuyzTbp9dsq7apCbIghy9fipsfG3DeeUhJIxg9lX7lMeS4fRD-H5yj7D0k_kbXruz4ZHBx4RzkgSSc98asK5lm3_StycPrSTrp1v4lijoTu6exbTWM4TV8bBcVM6_TnYxtAsTFAv2H8MvGOATJmvcXFWu0wt8X1UQ9bsfha4ExFypEW-aPe709Fk52V6NmlZMfhLOBYMax8YrOLEyh0-ycrpwch4PkcK4y1U6HtltQC6pwlvB8tMx4XghGGWprLPn67xcBt9sJVWBCehUL2QHQC8T8HZJgfQzZuUmAJ-vHxunjKj-973ket3dnXfQexwJnnnkNRwV_biLBb-sya1miXi6cLsga1qT95GO06xtLdp2sY8PGpybsODqXu8yml8TRkUPiBCpwjbgTiK3lfOc26Yu3t3Ofghmf0H6-97H_abBMJ9qkQbxiZlExY636x0KKryI23LAxZ_DqgidVRfWRaQ)
Sept 7th article in Davar about Tiberias Shooting in a store (https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/?a=is&oid=dav19380907-01&type=staticpdf&pdfaccesscode=PdX87AjfRgVsmI9BBqLnnXI%2BpHXxJd5n25AQMo2Oq8NcE%3D&submitted=1&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxTI--------------1&g-recaptcha-response=0cAFcWeA5Gzx_m0Ssun2tePKeoc21h05fWV15R8akcH0eNHPyhXq9RNq0uA4QENd-nnKkqJ03V6onvEdPvs29EldX0dn_b9LDXzfF4PvpTKLuQQU3nz911vZqrh87I5pdltneMsjBT-5ES-LSZTufgPhdiTZ_cNkviaFGGm71bkufFRm8tbB-J_QkkAWDrnh6StX2Bbik-QWd78aWeFlR0Q1hYisr0MPEpI2P8Bjy_JGvWHC1kJeeiC9r6eWjDi2pzlFKEsusoKD_ajxwU_Gs7CVmFFcOBMbc1vqEcSqVSWzCZ_dAgzxCwd_R72bxZvjh23R2A1Kf6nUzew8z7WeYTdglmPLZl6ofu51zmyQiaejkeRdsORMr4MYt71fS9ALYYxcNOAanZNb89OsTMFM2iMBBFsNJlAFmZuelc3ww-4Pmfmpgbph888mHTmnEJxGxLlxeQUhnOhTaGg_jWYLIJCwjgNBz0MunpPyyO10j8TAjDhBtMhN-CtFmuazg1VlV0PucmsInsiZXgiaFWftPzJ7PxK4U3ShzgOd8Cf-6Sz1xaCxdxvRgqQWN4N1tF0Nej8JACHFV6f_9jPiFJjldg-4gDZh-3f1vMfJ_6S_SHm3n0HVO7FzbFo-LkEGHQ6Vb3iMLt5zZ95ztfptoTorwYOSIA2uPUxGpbus-ZZtz8UxCAKFkm0u2_EwQYlgTuR1C1OubEXDj9OiOe_4mFCGrN-gRAhVuqaOabIJDIKmeSUhMX-FuX0Cws_F76qKARj78eGHUR1UuVbiNoFr2MpImfm2LseB9eNfsADg)
Rabbi Jacob Beirav's Zimrat Ha'Aretz (https://hebrewbooks.org/36689)
TIberias and Its Arab Residents during the British Mandate by Mustafa Abbasi (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363366122_tbryh_wtwsbyh_hrbym#page=129)
JTA article about the assasination of Arab city council member (https://www.jta.org/archive/tiberias-deputy-mayor-killed-in-arab-drive-on-moderates-jewess-dies?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
22 Jun 2025
Ben-Gurion's Relationship to the Palestinians: Status Update -- Its Complicated
The episode analyzes David Ben-Gurion's historical statements and plans regarding transfer in the context of his relationship with Palestinians, exploring the motivations of his interpreters and the conflict's implications.
27 Dec 2024
Repatriation For Gazan Refugees?!?
In the Spring and Summer of 1949 Israel offered repatriation of Gazan refugees. This episode includes that story and a critique of Ilan Pappe's recounting this historic episode.
Links
Time Magazine story
https://time.com/archive/6602801/middle-east-no-talk-no-peace/
Walter Eytan's letter to the chairman of the conciliation committee.
https://ecf.org.il/media_items/358?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1fCnUEgTYscYUUhH_5mdUgRRMXb3dsZV1oBsZcyRuVhh6uea0NU5PiNW8_aem_Hh0tTZeobsjwNpnlSvr7hA (https://ecf.org.il/media_items/358?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1fCnUEgTYscYUUhH_5mdUgRRMXb3dsZV1oBsZcyRuVhh6uea0NU5PiNW8_aem_Hh0tTZeobsjwNpnlSvr7hA)
Survey of Proposals to the Conciliation Committee
https://ecf.org.il/media_items/358?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1fCnUEgTYscYUUhH_5mdUgRRMXb3dsZV1oBsZcyRuVhh6uea0NU5PiNW8_aem_Hh0tTZeobsjwNpnlSvr7hA (https://ecf.org.il/media_items/358?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1fCnUEgTYscYUUhH_5mdUgRRMXb3dsZV1oBsZcyRuVhh6uea0NU5PiNW8_aem_Hh0tTZeobsjwNpnlSvr7hA)
Review of Neil Caplan's work on the Lausanne Conference:
https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/JCS/article/view/15205/16274
Lessons of the Failed Gaza Initiative from the Begin-Sadat Center:
https://besacenter.org/lessons-from-the-failed-gaza-initiative-of-1949/
9 Dec 2024
Thoughts On Rashid Khalidi's Iron Cage
Rashid Khalidi shares his thoughts on the concept of the Iron Cage, offering a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding Palestine and its people's struggles.
4 Nov 2024
An Anti-Anti Israel Story: The Jews of Urfa
The Amazing Story of the Jews of Urfa and their place in Israel's story.
For a virtual tour of Abraham's cave in Urfa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vz5RGw9H_I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vz5RGw9H_I)
For the full interview of Harun Bozo from Centropa's Library of Rescued memories:
https://www.centropa.org/en/biography/harun-bozo (https://www.centropa.org/en/biography/harun-bozo)
21 Oct 2024
Special Succot Episode
A look at one of the Succot liturgy's prayers and its longing for restoration and redemption of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.
7 Aug 2024
The Full Meaning of the Fast Days
This episode explores an 11th century Western European scholar's take and a 12th century Spanish/North African scholar's understanding
of Jewish morning on the four yearly fast days.
We see that aspirations for Jewish self-determination and autonomy were ingrained in Jewish discourse a millennium before Zionism.
The passage from the Talmud around which this episode revovles is Tractate Rosh Hashanah 18b. Rashi's comments are to that passage.
The passage quoted from Maimonides/Rambam is from his commentary to the Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:3.
13 Jun 2024
Ashkenazi Scholars in Sefardi Scholarship
Critics of Israel are claiming that Ashkenazi Jews are illegitimate and therefore Israel is illegitimate too. But Sefardi Jewish Scholars don't see it that way.
15 May 2024
Arab Jew or Mizrachi Israeli: Meditation on a Letter from R. Yosef Messas
The Letter quoted her comes from Rabbi Messas' three volume collection of his letters known at Otzar HaMichtavim אוצר המכתבים. The letter cited is in volume three, page 163 letter #1,769.
18 Apr 2024
Of Siege and Starvation: Gaza 2024 vs Jerusalem 1948
Here is a link to the facebook post which I based this episode upon. (https://www.facebook.com/ross.singer.180/posts/pfbid02MuMVfpC2Cn3hZioPJoXtmmgEBBQLFDmPW4KoXEtoGPboHTcvdCbaFeLAX89XzmjDl)
The reading from O Jerusalem was collected from scattered passages in a number of places from the book.
9 Nov 2023
Jews Under Islam and Arab Rule
This episode takes on the claim that Jews were tolerated and thrived under Islam and therefore there is no need for a Jewish state in the region.
3 Nov 2023
Oct. 7's Context
For citations of the quotes you can see the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065086977184
The passages from Hillel Cohen and Rashid Khalidi and Abu Iyad can be found:
Abu Iyad: My Home My Land pg. 33-34
Khalidi: The Iron Cage pg. 60-62
Cohen: 1929 (Hebrew Version) pg. 152-155
18 Oct 2023
Cleansing Pappe's Distortions
I share my response to Pappe's claim that population transfer was a deeply embedded pillar of the Zionist program and ideology. He leaves out major figures and important works to reach his conclusions that I find libelous.
6 Oct 2023
Tearing up the Narrative
An exploration of the discussion of the practice of tearing (קריעה) upon seeing the cities of Judah in their destruction as a contra to the common anti-Zionist claim that Jewish communal identity was solely religious before the end of 19th century. In fact we can see longing for Jewish sovereignty in classic works of halachah (Jewish law) hundreds of years before the advent of modern Zionism.
17 Mar 2021
Another Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine
This episode begins an analysis of Ilan Pappe's book The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. It documents the ethnic cleansing of Jews that took place during the three decades that preceded Israel's War of Independence (which Palestinians commonly call the Nakba) and during the war itself.
Selected Bibliography:
Shabtai Zecharia, Unkown Jerusalem (Hebrew Book)
Reuven Gafni: A Hebrew Spot in Beit Shean (Hebrew Book); Lone Jewish Medical Personnel in Arab Towns; The Jewish Presence in Jericho during the British Mandate Period (Hebrew Article); The Jewish Presence in Nazareth (Hebrew Article); Jewish Communities on the Periphery (Hebrew Article); Emek Arazim (Hebrew Article).
Elad Ben Dror, The Last Guardian of the First Hebrew Village, Yitzchak Ben Tzvi and Peki'in (Hebrew Article)
Hillel Cohen, 1929 (I used the Hebrew Book though there is an English translation)
25 Nov 2020
Soul Searching and Truth Seeking: An Introduction
An introduction to a podcast that explores Palestinian narrative, history, literature, and more from a religious Zionist perspective.
Articles and Books quoted:
Facing the Truths of History by Rabbi Dr. J.J. Schacter
Revising or Devising Israel's History by Prof. Shlomo Slonim (http://ou.org.s3.amazonaws.com/publications/ja/5760summer/israelih.pdf)
Righteous Victims by Benny Morris (https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Victims-Zionist-Arab-Conflict-1881-2001/dp/0679744754#:~:text=April%2017%2C%202015-,Righteous%20Victims%3A%20A%20History%20of%20the%20Zionist%2DArab%20Conflict%2C,have%20faced%20in%20modern%20times.)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
3.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
28
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
67
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