Ordinary Jews. Talking

About Ordinary Jews. Talking

This podcast is about us, you and I, talking. To each other. About how we are being Jewish in the world today and our relationship to Israel. Each episode starts with a bit of Jewish Geography – where and how did we grow up Jewish and how has that changed – or not – over time? And then we dig in to how we are feeling in this post October 7 world – how has it affected us and our relationship to Judaism and to Israel?

Publisher

Liora Alschuler

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Aug 2025

Latest episode

25 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Aug 2026

   S4 Episode 5: Josh Neirman

   Recorded February 28, 2026   Photo: Liora I caught up with Josh Neirman, a son of the Upper Valley, inDC when I was there for the JStreet Convention in late February. A fellow advocate for open conversation and diverse perspectives, it was a pleasure to connect with him and hear about his journey. Josh is working with young people here and in Israel who are struggling to find community and “Jewish joy”. His commitment to dialog and expanding the boundaries of what’s acceptable is clear from thisconversation (and these extensive notes). Notes: Roth Center for Jewish Life on the campus of Dartmouth College which houses the Upper Valley Jewish Community (UVJC) (https://www.uvjc.org/). See also Season 3, Episode 2, Miki Hertog-Raz (https://open.spotify.com/episode/0vtMjKKVMWQxvNkbk7yIaM?si=a429bc9ca29f4f6c) for a conversation with another UVJC bar mitzvah. Birthright Foundation (https://birthrightisrael.foundation/): Founded to help give Jewish young adults the gift of a transformational and educational trip to Israel. See also Season 1, Episode 2, Daniel Intraub (https://open.spotify.com/episode/30HzgHQ2cH8n7VUw0bVQTh?si=1c01766e1a0c4fc4). Vermont Students for Israel, and the campus socialist organization mentioned by Josh appear to be no longer active. Stand With Us: (https://standwithus.com/about/) “Our mission is to fight antisemitism, educate about Israel, empower others to inform their communities, and foster reasonable, informed discussions on campuses and in communities worldwide about Israel’s history, policies, and humanitarian work.” Hasbara Fellowships: (https://hasbarafellowships.org/) “Hasbara (Hebrew (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_language): הַסְבָּרָה) is the public diplomacy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_diplomacy) of Israel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel).” True to its name, the fellowships “inspire, empower and connect our community of Jewish and Pro-Israel student activists.’ Arava Institute for Environmental Studies: (https://arava.org/) From the website: “Together, we can build a more peaceful and environmentally sustainable future for the Middle East and the world.” Check out their reports and support for Jumpstarting Hope in Gaza, (https://jumpstartinghopegaza.org/)Palestinian-led, on the ground support. B’Tselem: (https://www.btselem.org/)Named after Genesis 1:27: “And God created humankind in His image. In the image of God did He create them.” Since 1989, the organization has “been documenting, researching and publishing statistics, testimonies, video footage, position papers and reports on human rights violations committed by Israel in theOccupied Territories.” Their film Raj’in (We Shall Return) has been accepted for screening at the Venice Film Festival, 2026. Avodah: (https://avodah.net/)“Avodah develops lifelong social justice leaders whose work is informed by Jewish values and who inspire the Jewish community to work toward a more just and equitable world. iCenter: (https://theicenter.org/our-impact/)Has closed its doors. Site has link to where the work continues and retains information on the mission, “to nurture in young Jews a meaningful bond with Israel and Israelis…” Mem Global (https://memglobal.org/)(Moishe House): Is of and about young adults, “…creating a Jewish life that’s vibrant, authentic, and meaningful.” If Not Now (https://www.ifnotnowmovement.org/) per website, “…a movement of U.S. Jews organizing our community to end U.S. support for Israel's apartheid system and demand equality, justice, and a thriving future for all Palestinians and Israelis.” Jewish Voice for Peace (https://www.jvp-vtnh.org/): “… the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world.” Link is tothe Vermont/New Hampshire chapter. See also Season2, Episode 4, conversation with Fran Miller (https://open.spotify.com/episode/18B4DiN5BGDI9phHlz2f6s?si=25c98a30fa23417f). Resetting the Table (https://www.resettingthetable.org/): “…equips and activates leaders from all corners of American life to transform toxic political divides and build a shared future.” The People’s Supper: (https://onbeing.org/the-peoples-supper-resources/)A bridge-building organization that “…offers wisdom for creating space to deepen relationships across difference.” This, according to a page from On Being with Krista Tippet (linked). For the Sake of Argument: (https://www.forthesakeofargument.org/) “Harnessing the power of passionate disagreement”, a non-partisan educational initiative founded and directed by Abi Dauber Sterne and Robbie Gringras (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Gringras).

2. 

   10 Jun 2026

   S3 Episode 4: Yuval Rozanis

   Recorded February 17, 2026   Photo: courtesy Yuval Rozanis father’s family traces back to the town of Castallvi de Rosanes, near Barcelona, in the 1300s, and then migrated to Italy and Bulgaria, arriving in Mandate Palestine in 1945. He is the first Israeli “ordinary Jew” to be interviewed here. Our conversation ranged widely, covering the role of thekibbutz, previously and now; the role of religion in his life (not at all) and on the State (way too much); and the State itself – the one he grew up with and the one he lives in today.Notes: UN Partition Plan – 1947 (https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-208958/) from the UN, includes 1949 armistice borders; see also the more colorful Partition Map of Palestine, 1947 (https://share.google/2jLqu3sxkoS90G1nD) from Wikipedia Starting in the Palestinian village of Sakhnin (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/10/palestinian-citizens-israel-demand-government-do-more-stop-crime), Palestinians have been demanding police protection. The cause has been strengthened with the organizational support of Standing Together (https://www.standing-together.org/en/about-en). Guide to Israeli parties: Here are a couple of gift articles  from Ha’aretz English Edition: Field Guide to Israeli Political Parties (https://www.haaretz.com/haaretz-explains/2026-04-30/ty-article-magazine/.premium/netanyahus-last-stand-what-to-know-about-israels-upcoming-election/0000019c-212c-d5b8-ad9c-f1af69370000?) Almost Everything You Think You Know About How Israelis Vote Is Wrong (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-05-11/ty-article-magazine/.premium/almost-everything-israelis-think-they-know-about-how-israelis-vote-is-wrong/0000019e-17d0-d14f-abfe-17d4d9760000?)

3. 

   22 Mar 2026

   S3 Episode 3: Sarah Villanueva

   Recorded February 12, 2026   Photo: courtesy Sarah Villanueva is a Jew, a doula, a congregational leader, and an human with a passionate and compassionate heart. In graduate school she took a course on World Religions which the professor introduced by saying that the best case scenario would be that you want to convert every time you learn about a new one. Take a listen and you will hear how her own strong faith has shaped her path. Notes: Beth Jacob Synagogue (https://www.bethjacobvt.org/) is “… an inclusive, community-led congregation fulfilling the spiritual, educational and social needs of its members by nurturing a range of religious practices and traditions, Jewish values, and Tikkun Olam.” Learning on one foot: Sarah refers to the text While Standing on One Foot: Puzzle Stories and Wisdom Tales from the Jewish Tradition, by Nina Jaffe and Steve Zeitlin, Henry Holt and Co, 1996 which was used in her conversion class. The story of standing on one foot is this, per Chabad (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/689306/jewish/On-One-Foot.htm#:~:text=One%20famous%20account%20in%20the,not%20infrequently%2C%20and%20this%20individual): “One famous account in the Talmud tells about a gentile who wanted to convert to Judaism. This happened not infrequently, and this individual stated that he would accept Judaism only if a rabbi would teach him the entire Torah while he, the prospective convert, stood on one foot. First he went to Shammai, who, insulted by this ridiculous request, threw him out of the house. The man did not give up and went to Hillel. This gentle sage accepted the challenge, and said: " ‘What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation of this—go and study it!’" (Shabbat 31a) Death doula is defined as a non-medical companion focused on holistic, emotional, and spiritual need. Hind Rami Iyad Rajab   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Hind_Rajab)was five years old and fleeing Gaza City in their car when she and six members of her family were attacked by Israeli forces on January 29, 2025. Only Hind remained alive, calling for help, for three hours. It took 12 days for searchers to find her and the bodies of two Red Crescent paramedics killed while trying to rescue her. More at the link along with information on how her story was covered and investigated and with links to three award-winning films by Dutch-Syrian, Tunisian, and Jordanian-Palestinian filmmakers.

4. 

   17 Feb 2026

   S3 Episode 2: Miki Hertog-Raz

   Recorded January 13, 2026 Photo: Liora & Circus Smirkus courtesy photo Miki describes himself as a circus performer, specifically, an acrobat and clown. It was in that capacity that he had his first encounter with Palestinians in a Jewish/Palestinian collective in the Galilee when he was in 5th grade. Today he provides an Israeli perspective on America – and an American perspective on Israel. We spoke while he was back in Norwich, Vermont, on break from his last year as an undergrad at New York University. Notes: Circus Smirkus (https://www.smirkus.org/) Miki’s circus alma mater Roth Center for Jewish Life: home of the Upper Valley Jewish Community (https://www.uvjc.org/) Kolot Chayeinu (https://www.kolotchayeinu.org/) New York City temple where Miki and Mamdani attended Yom Kippur services this past fall. Standing Together (https://www.standing-together.org/en) is a joint Palestinian/Israeli movement that seeks ““A society in which we all enjoy real security, adequate housing, quality education, good healthcare, a liveable climate, a decent salary, and the ability to age with dignity.” See also their podcast, The Long Answer (https://linktr.ee/thelonganswer). Silent protests: where Israelis lined up insilence carrying poster-board sized photos of Gazan children killed in the war, documented in the Oscar-nominated short film Children No More (https://www.imdb.com/video/vi782879513/?ref_=tt_vids_vi_1) (link goes to trailer and it’s streaming now). You can read aboutthe protests in this story from NPR (https://www.npr.org/2025/05/07/nx-s1-5383047/israeli-protesters-against-war-draw-attention-to-children-killed-in-gaza#:~:text=ESTRIN:%20When%20Israel%20broke%20a,we%20were%20about%2020%20people.) and this article Don’tpress the button: A peaceful protest against Gaza bombings (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2025-06/gaza-israel-war-peace-protest-campaign.html#:~:text=A%20moral%20obligation%20to%20act,significant%20impact%20on%20public%20opinion.%E2%80%9D) from the Vatican News. Unapologetic: The Third Narrative (UTTN) (https://open.spotify.com/show/5CT8QicPO31pe7AX0jA4Wp?si=55aa423f12cd4737): Was this quote on taking a train from Haifa to Beirut in Season 2,Episode 8, the conversation with Sally Abed (https://www.patreon.com/posts/from-grassroots-145982759)? I asked the creators and they replied that at 1:22:34 of Episode 8! Sally Abed mused: "How does our life look like? Will we have like, I don't know, a train to like Beirut again?" And continues to say, "We need political imagination." It’s Time (https://www.timeisnow.co.il/english) They are “…over 60 peacebuilding and shared society organizations, working together with determination and courage to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a political agreement that will ensure both peoples' right to self-determination and secure lives. “Because it’s time. Now, amidst our anger, griefand pain, after long years of fear and violence, of struggle, of occupation and of terrorism. The war that broke out on October 7th must be the last war, and it can be: the war after which will come peace.”

5. 

   29 Jan 2026

   S3 Episode 1: Alan Bern

   Recorded December 20, 2025   Photo: Shendi Copitman “ So I got an accordion, I put it on my back, and I went to Europe ... “ Do tune in to hear how Alan’s story intertwines music and speech with creativity, compassion, and being Jewish in today’s world. Listen in to hear how the “other” in Other Music Academy is not what you might think and how transcultural work is more about mycelium than bridges. Alan and I met in the courtyard of Etz Hayyim Synagogue (https://www.etz-hayyim-hania.org/) and this episode was recorded in the city of Chania (https://www.google.com/search?q=chania%2C+crete&rlz=1C1RXQR_enUS1147US1147&oq=chania%2C+crete&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIKCAEQLhixAxiABDINCAIQLhivARjHARiABDIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiABDIGCAUQRRg9MgYIBhBFGD0yBggHEEUYPdIBCDI4OTZqMGo3qAIIsAIB8QU2VzhHQPON2Q&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)on the island of Crete. It is the first of this  3rd “season” with the tagline of“voices from afar (and not so far).” Give yourself a treat by checking out Alan's work in Weimar and selected music, linked below. Projects: ·      The Other Music Academy (https://othermusicacademy.eu/en/): “…an open and inclusive society which invites the most diverse kinds of people to help actively create our common culture and our roles within it.” ·      Yiddish Summer Weimar (https://yiddishsummer.eu/): “YSW is guided by a four-part mission: to research, teach, create and present traditional and new Yiddish culture in an intercultural context… In recent years, YSW has increasingly focused on creating new Yiddish culture projects with young people and renowned artists.” Music: short bites ·      The Semer Ensemble Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOXYCPzq7Ro): Forgotten music recorded by Jewish artists in Berlin in the 1930s on the Semer Label brought back to life for today by an all-star, 8-person ensemble. ·      The Other Europeans Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBUwTPTuzA): What happens when 14 musicians from 8 countries join forces to recreate the unique musical synthesis of Jewish and Roma music that once animated all weddings and celebrations in Romania and Moldova? ·      The Kadya Girls Choir (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwh1uTQGTDk&list=RDRwh1uTQGTDk&start_radio=1) – Shtern Faln (Stars are Falling): A truly unique project that brought together Jewish, Christian and Muslim girls from Israel and Germany to sing new Yiddish choir songs composed by Alan Bern based on the touching poetry for young people by Polish Jewish poet Kadya Molodovsky. Music: full feasts ·      Glikl Oratorio: A Her-Story (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8qTEayFwF8&list=RDp8qTEayFwF8&start_radio=1): A full-length New Jewish Music oratorio composed  in 2023 by Alan Bern, with a libretto by Diana Matut, based on the incredible life story of Glikl of Hameln, a Jewish woman who lived in Hamburg at the turn of the 18th century and left behind candid, fascinating memoires about her life. ·      The Kadya Trio (https://youtu.be/cvFRuv_CNp8): Alan Bern’s new songs based on the poetry of Polish Jewish poet Kadya Molodovsky, arranged for and exquisitely performed by a world-class trio with Sveta Kundish (voice), Mark Kovnatskiy (violin) and Alan Bern (piano,accordion) recorded live in concert at the 33rd Jewish CultureFestival in Krakow, Poland. ·      Brave Old World – Reunion! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXFyKYUmMa0): From 1990 to the mid-2010s, Brave Old World expanded the horizons of New Yiddish Music throughout the world. This online reunion, recorded in 2021 byToronto’s Ashkenaz Festival, looks back on 30 years of unparalleled music making and friendship. About Alan: ·      Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Bern): “In recognition of his leadership of YSW, Alan Bern was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany … in 2022, the Thuringia Order of Merit in 2017 and the Weimar Prize in 2016.” ·      See also Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/alan.bern/),Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/uravreml/) References from the interview: ·      New Israeli historiography (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Historians)“The New Historians[a] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Historians#cite_note-1) area loosely defined group of Israeli (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel) historians who have challenged traditional versions of Israeli history and played a critical role in refuting some of what critics of Israel consider Israel's foundational myths (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundational_myth),[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Historians#cite_note-2) including Israel's role in the 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Palestinian_expulsion_and_flight) and Arab willingness to discuss peace.” While subject to criticism today, their work punctured the myth that Palestinians themselves, along with Arab nations, were responsible for the Nakba (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakba). [Wikipedia] ·      Martin Buber, I and Thou, 1923, English translations in 1937 (Smith) and 1970 (Kaufman), 36th edition, Charles Scribners, 1970.

6. 

   5 Jan 2026

   S2 Episode 4: Fran Miller

   Recorded December 1, 2025   Photo: courtesy Fran Miller Fran moved up to Vermont from New York City in the fall of2019 to work at the Vermont Law School’s Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (https://cafs.vermontlaw.edu/). Outside her professional work she is active in pro-Palestinian causes including as a member of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). In this interview, she discusses her turnaround from seeing Israel in an ideal light to upholding the social justice ideals of her father who supported Israel yet impressed on her the Jewish value of working on behalf of the underdog. S2 E4 Notes: The Farmland Access Legal Toolkit , (http://farmlandaccess.org/) is a project of the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (https://cafs.vermontlaw.edu/)housed at Vermont Law and Graduate School.      Jewish Voice for Peace in New York City (https://www.jvpnyc.org/) and Jewish Voice for Peace Vermont/New Hampshire (https://www.jvp-vtnh.org/) The New Alliance Party is no longer active. Fran recommends this C-SPAN (https://www.c-span.org/organization/new-alliance-party/6830/) piece to hear directly from some of the party's leaders regarding its views. Timing of the First and Second Intifadas: The First started in December, 1987 and lasted six years, roughly until the signingof the Oslo Accords in September, 1993. The Second started in September, 2000 and lasted until February, 2005. Palestinian House of Friendship (https://palestinianhouseoffriendshipcom.wordpress.com/) is a “non-profit, non-governmental, politically independent humanitarian ommunity organization in the West Bank city of Nablus, dedicated to serving the needs of children, adolescents, and their families.” Voices from Palestinian Israel and from Palestinians and Jewish Israelis: GroundWork (https://groundworkpodcast.com/) The Long Answer (https://open.spotify.com/show/33c36sw8rJvqCdKtxTy2Pp?si=a94a8600c3fe4618) Unapologetic: The Third Narrative (https://open.spotify.com/show/5CT8QicPO31pe7AX0jA4Wp?si=3689bfa112db4e98) J Street (https://jstreet.org/) on Israel’s Nation-State Law per Google AI Overview: “JStreet (https://jstreet.org/press-releases/j-street-saddened-and-disturbed-by-passage-of-israels-nation-state-law/) strongly opposed Israel's 2018 Nation-State Law, expressing deep sadness, anguish, and concern that it prioritized Jewish identity over democratic equality, downgraded Arabic's status, and promoted Jewish settlement at the expense of minorities, undermining Israel'sfoundations as a democracy for all its citizens.”  For another  example, see The Two-Way Street: Reflections for Rosh Hashanah (https://jstreet.org/the-two-way-street-reflections-for-rosh-hashanah/). “1948: Creation & Catastrophe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwy-Rf15UIs)”, a 2017 documentary produced by Dr. Ahlam Muhtaseb and Andy Trimlett.  Here’s a link to a review by The Jerusalem Fund (https://thejerusalemfund.org/2023/07/1948-creation-catastrophe-documentary-review/) which praises aspects of the film yet criticizes reliance on still-limited Israeli archives, to the exclusion of direct Palestinian testimony. A more recent film, “1948: Remember, Remember Not” – has not yet aired although it was produced in 2023 by Kan 11 in Israel and has had festival showing. According to Ha’aretz (https://www.haaretz.com/life/2024-11-27/ty-article/.premium/after-previous-censorship-israeli-film-board-approves-screenings-of-1948-war-documentary/00000193-6d80-d7ae-ad9f-efa7f18c0000?gift=1a2e02bbc340491f81e5a3a13d243a09) (gift link), this film by Neta Shoshani relies on oral histories from both Jews and Palestinians, addressing the perceived failing of the earlier film. Fran’s other references: Noura Saleh Erekat (http://www.nouraerakat.com/), Linda Sarsour (https://www.lindasarsour.com/), MPower Change (https://www.mpowerchange.org/), Adalah Justice Project (https://www.adalahjusticeproject.org/) Liora’s references: JStreet (above), New Israel Fund (https://nif.org/), Alliancefor Middle East Peace (https://nif.org/) (AllMEP) – and more across other show notes and the to be published Substack. Peter Beinart, author of Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza, 2024, mentioned across several podcasts. Here’s a link to the author’s substack (https://peterbeinart.substack.com/p/my-new-book) where he talks about the book.

7. 

   11 Dec 2025

   S2 Episode 3: Sandra Gartner

   Recorded November 20, 2025   Photo: Sandy withbook, by Liora Among her many role, Sandra Gartner has been co-producer of Vermont Actors’ Repertory Theatre (https://vtactrep.org/) for 20 years, an actor with the company, and is co-producer with filmmaker Nora Jacobson (https://www.offthegridproductions.com/) on her latest project. Sandra also writes for RutlandMagazine (https://www.rutlandmagazineonline.com/) and other publications. Not surprisingly, she has a wonderful way of telling stories. In this conversation she picks up threads of her life in Vermont and New York City; her life in theatre, journalism, and the Rutland, VT Jewish community. Sandra was a Youth Ambassador to Israel in 1966, at 16 years old, and “came back a changed person”. She maintains great affection for the land and people not withstanding that the current situation “doesn’t sit well” with her. The book she is holding in this photo is To Life: A Celebration of Vermont Jewish Women (https://jwa.org/blog/to-life), based on an oral history project she undertook with Ann Zinn Buffum and which was contributed to the Jewish Women’s Archive (https://jwa.org/). S2 E3 Notes:       NFTY (https://nfty.org/) (NationalFederation of Temple Youth) is based on the tradition of European youth movements and pursues “tikkun olam [repair of the world], personal growth, youth empowerment, and deep connections, all rooted in Reform Judaism.” AIPAC (https://www.aipac.org/) (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is the heavy weight political lobby for Israel maintaining unwavering support for the Israeli government. Peace Now (https://peacenow.org.il/en), established in 1978 by 348 Israeli senior reserve army officers is “the largest and oldest movement in Israel that works to promote peace through a two-state solution for two peoples”.  Three years later, Americans for Peace Now (APN) was established to support it. With century old ties to labor movements and progressive causes, Ameinu, (Our People) “was founded in 2005 to reimagine the role of a progressive Zionist voice in the American Jewish community.” Ameinu perceived the need to strength ties with their Israeli counterparts via The Third Narrative (https://thirdnarrative.org/). While Peace Now remains active in Israel, in 2024, APN and Ameinu merged forming the New Jewish Narrative (https://www.newjewishnarrative.org/) promoting peace, justice, and a progressive Israel. Jewish Women’s Archive/To Life: A Celebration of Vermont Jewish Women (https://jwa.org/blog/to-life) Follow the link to see Sandy’s work.

8. 

   30 Nov 2025

   S2 Episode 2: Irit Librot

   Recorded November 12, 2025 Courtesy Photo: Irit Irit Librot takes us through her early years in Haifa immediately following the creation of the State and the subsequent move to the US where “the streets are paved with gold” (spoiler: didn’t turn out that way). We get a strong andinspiring picture of Irit’s mother, Rachel Dziecholska Rotkovitch, who lived, studied, and worked in Poland, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, and the US. You can read aboutRachel in the alumni magazine of the American University in Beirut (https://www.aub.edu.lb/maingate/Documents/MainGate_Fall_09.pdf), photos p.51, write up p.64. Irit’s own experience of October 7 and the war is temperedby her time in Israel and the reactions of those in her close community here, where, as you can see from the show notes, her life is infused with music and dance. S2 E2 Notes: UVJC (https://www.uvjc.org/) Healing Circles, discussed in Season 1 Episode 4: Gene Kadish (https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Phpxc4XKThqOSOpzRwxpp?si=e060de1338d64c20). Mussar: The book Irit refers to is Everyday Holiness (https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/book/everyday-holiness-the-jewish-spiritual-path-of-mussar), by Alan Morinis, Trumpeter, 2007, and the course is from the Mussar Institute (https://mussarinstitute.org/everyday-holiness-course/). Vivian Silver: Here’s a link to the GroundWork episode “Vivian Silver’s Legacy: From Grief to Action (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3bFnDQQjp8C2QJk4nzTXAU?si=135b7d122bae4948)”, an interview with her son, Yonatan Zeigen. Holding Liat (https://www.meridianhillpictures.com/holdingliat), the film referenced on the captivity and release of Liat Beinin Atzili. The orchestra referenced is Firqat Alnoor (https://www.fln.co.il/en/about-2/) (“Orchestra of Light/Fire”) “an Arabic classical music orchestra composed of Jewish and Arab musicians from diverse social and geographical backgrounds across Israel.” Enjoy. Umm Kulthumm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umm_Kulthum). Can’t say enough. Check her out on Wikipedia and I dare you not to listen to The Voice. The singer Irit references is Ziv Yeheskel and here’s a link to him singing Sawaah (https://youtu.be/zzaD3IcsI8o?si=yVHytJm4crj7gxMB) with The Jerusalem Orchestra East & West (https://tjo.co.il/en/).       And the dance is the Dabka (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabke). Looks simple enough. And then (https://youtu.be/szFtMzxJ6fA?si=V2sjUa2oyu9ehGIe)… (first link is Wikipedia, second one is a lesson) Times of Israel (https://www.timesofisrael.com/) is, indeed, both a publication and a podcast. I’ve heard it critiqued from more than one perspective, so, maybe it is, as Irit, claims, presenting all sides.

9. 

   18 Nov 2025

   S2 Episode 1: Kesha Ram-Hinsdale

   Recorded November 7, 2025  Courtesy Photo: Keshaand baby, VT Statehouse Kesha Ram-Hinsdale, as we establish at the outset, is ourVermont Senate Majority Leader, and yet here, she is not talking state politics – she’s just an ordinary Jew. Her story, as a self-proclaimed HinJew, is awash with streams of migration and displacement on both sides of her family. Looking at the origins of Israel, we focus often on the fallout from the mid-century dissolution of the British Empire. At the same time, Kesha’s family was uprooted by the divisions left on the Indian subcontinent by the British exit. She speaks movingly about the legacy of her grandfather, Sir Ganga Ram (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganga_Ram), the role of art in giving her a sense of place (https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/about/pages/building/chagallhall.aspx) in Israel, and how her dual legacy has shaped her thinking on democracy and human rights.

10. 

    18 Nov 2025

    Season 2 Episode 0

    Hi! I’m happy to be back with a second season of OJT. Here, in Episode 0, I have a few words about the "why” of the podcast and some thoughts on this season in the short S2E0 audio. And let me tease Episode 1 – we start out with a great conversation with VT Senator Kesha Ram-Hinsdale. I’ve been asked a few times why I’m doing this podcast and I'd be glad to tell you. I felt from the beginning of the Gaza War that I needed a better connection with other Jews. I had been part of the Upper Valley Jewish community, and then I wasn't.And it was, and still is, such a fraught time and so confusing with the rise in antisemitism, the rise in pro-Palestinian sentiment, and no end to conflict in sight. I was trying  to sort out my own history and my own feelings, and I started going back to the UVJC and what I realized was that it wasn't just me – a lot of people just really needed to sort things out. And it’s not because there is a shortage of analysis andexpertise. There's great stuff online, really knowledgeable people from a historical perspective, theological, social perspective. But I feel that it isn’t just the experts who need to have these conversation – it’s also us ordinary Jews. Moreon this topic, including online resources, with a soon-to-be-linked Substack. Happy listening, and please, do, subscribe! Thank you.

11. 

    5 Oct 2025

    Episode 6: Roberta Berner

    Recorded September 3, 2025  Courtesy Photo: Roberta Berner, with her husband, Rich Abel Roberta has accomplished so much, one would think she lived three lives rather than lived in three places: the deep South, Midwest, and for 27+ years, here in the Upper Valley.  She didn’t mention, but I will, that she was awarded a Shem Tov award this year from the NH Jewish Federation. Roberta is a Board Trustee and the immediate past President of the Upper Valley Jewish Community (https://www.uvjc.org/) (UVJC) where she leads the Caring and Chesed (loving kindness) Committee and reportedly makes the best Saturday morning coffee. Her remarks on Israel and being Jewish at this moment are touching, difficult, and central to what so many of us are experiencing. For my part, I’m taking a pause here after Episode 6 to reflect on where OJT can go from here, line up a new season of guests, and enjoy the glorious Vermont fall. Happy New Year, Shanah Tova u’Metuka – an even better year and a sweeter year – to you all. Episode 6 Notes: DAR (https://www.dar.org/) (Daughters of the American Revolution): According to an AI Overview on Google, “The DAR has evolved to be open to all races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds.” Roberta’s reference reflects what was a truism for us growing in mid-century – that Jews need not apply. Shir Shalom, Woodstock VT (https://www.shirshalomvt.org/) A Reform Congregation       The Parents Circle Families Forum (https://www.theparentscircle.org/en/homepage-en/) (PCFF) Israeli Palestinian Bereaved Families for Peace. “Those who have paid in blood cry out: WE MUST end this war. …there is no other way. Stop the killing. Stop the cycle of revenge…It is time to choose peace and reconciliation.” Dr. Meron Medzini (https://en.asia.huji.ac.il/people/meron-medzini), Professor Emeritus at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, gave classes at Shir Shalom;his son was a tour guide when Roberta visited in 2019. “Israel: A Lesson in Democracy” (https://osher.dartmouth.edu/get_involved/study_leaders/meet_study_leaders/hanahmiron/hananmiron.php) taught by Hanan Miron about Israeli “judicial reform” in 2024. Military leaders on the conflict (https://x.com/UnxeptableD/status/1952130031784001791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1952130031784001791%7Ctwgr%5Eab468fce1084ee0f662686389ea8d89ef50e32e7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesofisrael.com%2Fliveblog_entry%2Fwe-are-on-the-precipice-of-defeat-former-idf-chiefs-of-staff-intel-chiefs-demand-end-to-gaza-war%2F) in Gaza, mid-2025. See also Episode 5. It’s Time (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=603754403410605), seealso reference in Episode 3. UVJC Healing Circles, discussed in Episode 4:Gene Kadish.

12. 

    29 Sept 2025

    OJT E5: Pinkson(-Burke) Sisters

    Recorded August 6, 2025 Ilsa Pinkson-Burke and Briane Pinkson grew up going to “shula”, a Cooperative Jewish Children’s School teaching Jewish history, ethics, art, music, and politics – everything except Hebrew, liturgy, or religion. The school was in the tradition of their parents and grandparents, Yiddish-speaking “left-wingers from the twenties and thirties”. Most weekends they all went to political demonstrations, andonce – once – they made a field trip to a synagogue. Today, both sisters feel a need to reenforce their sense of Jewish community and to learn more about the history of Israel, while distancing themselves from Zionism.Episode 5 Notes: ·      Rabbi Dov Taylor leads Chavurat ki-tov and canbe reached at rabbit@mymakom.org (mailto:rabbit@mymakom.org) ·      Jewish Voice for Peace, New Hampshire/Vermont Chapter (https://www.jvp-vtnh.org/): “We envision a world where all people — from the U.S. to Palestine — live in freedom, justice, equality, and dignity.” o  A Letter from Over a Thousand Rabbis Worldwide (https://www.ljs.org/1000rabbis) o  Organizational responses to the suffering andstarvation in Gaza: Statement from the Reform Movement (https://urj.org/press-room/reform-movement-statement-israels-expansion-war-against-hamas) Statement from the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly (https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/statement-humanitarian-aid-gaza-and-freeing-hostages) Statementfrom 80 Orthodox Rabbis (http://www.toratchayimrabbis.org/gazahumanitariancrisis.html) (unlike the other statements, this one was international and signed by individuals) Israeli military and security leaders (https://x.com/UnxeptableD/status/1952130031784001791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1952130031784001791%7Ctwgr%5Eab468fce1084ee0f662686389ea8d89ef50e32e7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesofisrael.com%2Fliveblog_entry%2Fwe-are-on-the-precipice-of-defeat-former-idf-chiefs-of-staff-intel-chiefs-demand-end-to-gaza-war%2F) strongly denounce government-directed military action in Gaza, demand an end to pointless death and destruction, and a deal to return the hostages Artists and intellectuals: much reporting on statements, overt or covert boycotts, and reactions from within Israel. Hard to trace back to the statements by artists and intellectuals. Camp Kinderland (https://www.campkinderland.org/) “Summer camp with a conscience since 1923”

13. 

    16 Sept 2025

    OJT E4: Gene Kadish

    Recorded August 12, 2025  Photo: by LA Being a Jew is central to Gene’s identity. He seeks to be abetter Jew as a way to be a better person, practices kyudo, goes to sabbath services as a way of meditation, and attends to the little things. In this interview, he contrasts what was worth dying for prior to the nation state, and what is so valued today. Gene is also one of the organizers of the Healing Circles held by the Upper Valley Jewish Community (https://www.uvjc.org/) since October 7. Episode 4 Notes: Peter Beinart appearing on Jon Stewart show (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5kXCdzt_us) Books referenced: Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza, by Peter Beinart, 2024. Here’s a link to the author’s substack (https://peterbeinart.substack.com/p/my-new-book) where he talks about the book. The Necessity of Exile: Essays from a Distance, by Shaul Magid, 2023. Here’s a link to a discussion with Magid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WoasxulH2I)at Harvard Divinity School. Impossible Takes Longer – Israel at 75, by Daniel Gordis, 2023. Here’s a link to a discussion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrT7ZS4r_A4)on the book. See also Gordis’s Substack where he surfaces media from across the Israeli spectrum that reflect the national discourse: Israel from the Inside (https://substack.com/@danielgordis/posts)  including this 22 minute standup routine on PTSD by Udi Kagan (https://substack.com/@danielgordis/p-172459144). Newspapers: Ha-aretz (https://www.haaretz.com/), English Edition Times of Israel (https://www.timesofisrael.com/) Organizations supporting a shared future: (just those mentioned in this Episode) New Jewish Narrative (https://www.newjewishnarrative.org/) Standing Together (https://www.standing-together.org/en)New Israel Fund (https://www.nif.org/)

14. 

    10 Sept 2025

    OJT E3: Joy Gaine

    Recorded July 29, 2025  Photo: Courtesy, Joy Gaine Joy defines herself as a teacher, musician, and mother. Hersense of herself as a Jew rose post October 7th with questions on whether being Jewish makes her think differently about the conflict than her progressive friends? And why should that be true? Isn’t it enough to be pro-peacewith good will for all who believe in human rights for all? She challenged me greatly on where to see a good outcome, all the while probing where and why “the Jews” are so often at fault. It was a great conversation, do tune in! Episode 3 Notes: ·      Out of Egypt, 1994, is a memoir and the first book published by André Aciman, better known for his fiction. “Out of Egypt is a love letter to the Jewish diaspora  (https://www.heyalma.com/andre-acimans-out-of-egypt-is-a-love-letter-to-the-jewish-diaspora/)in its portrayal of a Jewish society that has now practically .” Here’s a fabulous short interview with Aciman (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=603754403410605) where he talks about his enduring love for Alexandria and for Egyptians, “...the nicest human beings I have ever met in my life and will ever meet.”  (Oh, and the correct title of the novel he is best known for is Call Me By Your Name.) ·     It's Time (https://www.timeisnow.co.il/english), “… a coalition of over 60 peacebuilding and shared society organizations, working together with determination and courage to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a political agreement that will ensure both peoples' right to self-determination and secure lives.” ·      Status of IDF soldiers: Can’t find a link to the interview mentioned in the podcast. This article, also from July 29 (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-07-29/ty-article/.premium/netanyahus-forever-war-in-gaza-is-crushing-israels-soldiers-and-their-families/00000198-5614-d669-a99d-7eb79eab0000), anticipates the current (September) wave of refusals to serve and points out the poor fit of the iDF for protracted combat.

15. 

    28 Aug 2025

    OJT E2: Daniel Intraub

    I knew Daniel solely through a series of graphics projects, both professional and protest-related, that he supported at Gnomon Copy in Hanover, NH. It was the latter type of project that got us talking about the conflict in Gaza where he mentioned that he was Jewish and we quickly fell into a discussion that led straight to this episode of the podcast. Recorded July 19, 2025  Photo: LA Episode 2 Notes: Birthright Foundation (https://birthrightisrael.foundation/): Founded to help give Jewish young adults the gift of a transformational and educational trip to Israel. Dates of the Second Intifada: roughly September 2000 through February 2005. Clip of President Obama (https://x.com/yonahlieberman/status/1720816170792562947?s=46&t=sCDPxzf5wseqsVXPcLT3AQ) that starts, “If there’s any chance of us being able to act constructively to do something…” Take a listen. And here’s the link to the full episode of Pod Save America (https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=IkKr0mqDYDa5WE8b&v=W7lgXXH__v4&feature=youtu.be). American Friends of the Parents Circle – Families Forum (https://parentscirclefriends.org/), Palestinian and Israeli Bereaved Families for Peace fosters a peace and reconciliation process and is affiliated with the corresponding Parents Circle in Israel. Standing Together (https://www.standing-together.org/en): A grassroots movement organizing Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel against the occupation, for full equality for everyone in this land, where true social, economic, and environmental justice are possible. What’s So Funny ‘bout Peace, Love, and Understanding (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdgj8OEeIQs): Links to a video of the David Broza version of the Nick Lowe song, recorded in East Jerusalem with Palestinian, Israeli, and American musicians and the Palestinian & Israeli Jerusalem Youth Chorus (https://www.jerusalemyouthchorus.org/) – which itself is a pretty interesting find!

16. 

    28 Aug 2025

    OJT E1: Susan Russo

    Susan is a émigré, coming to Claremont in 1975 from Brooklyn where being Jewish was an effortless part of life, ethics, culture, and family politics. Finding herself and raising her children in a profoundly non-Jewish Upper Valley, her identity has been expressed in friendships, noodle puddings, and the rugelach she bakes and gives out at Christmas time. Her exposure to Israel and the contradictions of that society were shaped by visits with a childhood friend who moved there to marry a Tunisian Jew. We discuss her experience of October 7, her shifting relationship to Judaism and to the post-October 7 conflict, and we fantasize together about where we might find the light. Listen to the stories that are the sign posts of this journey and you’ll also learn the secret identity of “Moe Levine”, the Catholic priest of Claremont, NH. Recorded July 8, 2025  Photo: Susan Russo Episode 1 Notes: The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, by Sandy Tolan. Here’s a link to the author’s website (https://sandytolan.com/the-lemon-tree) where he writes about the origins of the book. Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza, by Peter Beinart, 2024. Here’s a link to the author’s substack (https://peterbeinart.substack.com/p/my-new-book) where he talks about the book.

17. 

    28 Aug 2025

    OJT E0: Liora Alschuler

    To geo-locate me, Jewishly, I grew up in a WASPy suburb of Chicago, touched down in Pittsburgh for a couple years, then, at age 17, fled this country, my family, and lived in Israel for four and a half years, mostly in Jerusalem with the last year living in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, returning in December, 1972. These years colored my experience of Israel, and all who live there, and in an oblique way – since I don’t recall ever setting foot in a synagogue – broadened immensely my experience of being a Jew. Since returning, I have found it profoundly difficult to talk about Israel, about being a Jew, inside or outside the country, with just about anyone, no less with my fellow Jews. Until now, and now, while not always easy, I think it’s time. The three pillars that anchor my Jewish life today: • Chavurat ki-tov: a small group convened by Rabbi Dov Taylor who can be reached at rabbit@mymakom.org (mailto:rabbit@mymakom.org) • Upper Valley Jewish Community/Kol Ha’Emek: “ (https://www.uvjc.org/)An eclectic, welcoming, egalitarian congregation providing Jewish spiritual, educational, social and cultural opportunities.” • Etz Hayyim:  (https://www.etz-%20hayyim-hania.org/)The only synagogue today in Crete, lovingly revived decades after the Nazi destruction of a 2000 years-old Jewish community. Photo: Liora, back then, with Haj Baidun

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