Unpacking Israeli History

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Latest Episodes:

Facts vs. Feelings: Rethinking How We Talk About Israel with Toba Hellerstein Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

What wins hearts and minds — facts, or feelings? This week, Noam Weissman sits down with Toba Hellerstein, author of American Perceptions of Jews and Israel and a leading expert on antisemitism, diplomacy, and narrative strategy. Together, they unpack why Israel advocacy so often falls flat. From the meaning of Zionism to the archetypes of “king,” “victim,” and “antihero,” this conversation reframes how Jews (and their allies) should talk about Israel in a world flooded with images, emotions, and outrage.

Here is a link to Toba Hellertsein's article in the Sapir Journal that inspired this episode: Actually, Feelings Don’t Care About Your Facts.

Go to Attunenow.org to download the full study on Perceptions of Jews and Israel.

Here is a link to Unpacking Israeli History: Sabra and Shatila: What happened and why it matters.

Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. Your questions might be included in part 2 of this episode.

Check us out on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Hilltop Youth and Settler Violence with Yirmiyahu Danzig (Part 2) Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

In Part 2 of a series on settler violence, Noam Weissman talks with Yirmiyahu Danzig (@that_semite) about the Hilltop Youth, Palestinian life in Area C, and the narratives behind the headlines. From Gaza disengagement trauma to price tag attacks, this episode explores why this “fringe of a fringe” matters for Israel’s future.

You can watch Yirmiyahu's videos on Unpacked's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube channel⁠.

Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media.

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

-------------------

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Settler Violence: Hard Truths with Haviv Rettig Gur (Part 1) Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Noam Weissman sits down with journalist Haviv Rettig Gur to tackle one of the most heated topics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: settler violence. Who are the “Hilltop Youth,” the fringe group accused of a kind of terrorism targeting Palestinian civilians? And is settler violence a widespread threat or a statistically small — but politically explosive — phenomenon? Noam and Haviv break down the history, the impact, the numbers and the narratives, offering context you won’t find in the headlines.

Credit for the quote from Rabbi Soloveitchik goes to Rabbi Bernie Fox in his book, Chidushim on Sefer Bamidbar.

Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. Check us out on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

-------------------

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Fallout: How the Suez Crisis Rewired the Middle East Forever (Part 3) Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

In the explosive finale of our 3-part series on the Suez Crisis, Noam Weissman unpacks the hidden aftershocks of Israel’s most underrated war. This episode reveals how the 1956 Sinai Campaign reshaped global alliances and Middle East power dynamics; from a swift IDF victory to a humiliating Anglo-French retreat, from Soviet nuclear threats to America’s diplomatic power play. Listen to first-hand accounts of the brutal expulsion of Egyptian Jews triggered by the Suez Crisis. This is not just a war story—it’s a turning point in Jewish, Israeli, and world history.

Here's a link to Jean Naggar's memoir ⁠Sipping from the Nile: My Exodus from Egypt.

Click here for the sources used in this episode.

Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. Check us out on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

-------------------

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Combustion: The Secret Pact that Ignited the Suez War (Part 2) Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

This week, Part 2 of our Suez Crisis trilogy dives into the explosive events of 1956: Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, enraging Britain and France. Behind closed doors, the three powers—Israel, Britain, and France—draft a secret plan to launch a war on Egypt. From daring Israeli paratrooper raids in the Sinai to the storming of Sharm el-Sheikh, this episode unpacks the bold, complex, and controversial campaign that reshaped the region. Featuring secret diplomacy, battlefield drama, and the high-stakes politics of empire, "Combustion" is a story you won’t forget.

Click ⁠here⁠ for the sources used in this episode.

Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. Check us out on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠⁠⁠

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

-------------------

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Israel’s Forgotten War: The Suez Crisis (Part I) Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

Unpacking Israeli History kicks off a gripping 3-part series on the 1956 Suez Crisis—Israel’s most overlooked war. In Part I, Noam Weissman unpacks the roots of this conflict: from Nasser’s pan-Arabism and fedayeen attacks to Israel’s bold doctrine of “escalation dominance.” But this isn’t just a Cold War drama. It’s the war that set the stage for the Six-Day War and forged the stormy yet defining alliance between Israel and the United States; a turning point in Israeli and Middle Eastern history that still echoes today.

Here is a link to Arabs and Israelis: Conflict and Peacekeeping in the Middle East.

Click here for all the sources used in this episode.

Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. Check us out on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠⁠

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

-------------------

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Live from Chicago with Michael Oren: Reimagining Israel’s Story Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Unpacking Israeli History goes live in Chicago! Join host Noam Weissman and historian, statesman, and bestselling author Michael Oren for an extraordinary conversation on Israel’s Rubicon moments, missed opportunities, and the decisions that shaped the Jewish state. From 1948 to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, discover the pivotal stories behind Israeli history—recorded live with a packed audience.

Click here to check out our latest merch.

Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media. Check us out on ⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

-------------------

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠

1948 Exodus: The Birth of Israel and the Refugee Crisis (Part 2) Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

This week, host Noam Weissman explores the heated debate over the right of return in part 2 in a series on the origins of the Palestinian refugee crisis. Noam traces how the 1948 War of Independence created a massive exodus that still fuels conflict today. The episode covers key historical events and examines the moral and historical complexities Israelis and Palestinians rarely confront. Discover why six million Palestinians are still considered refugees—and why this unresolved chapter shapes the struggle over Israel’s identity and survival.

Click ⁠here ⁠for sources used in the episode.

Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media.

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

-------------------

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠

Who Has the Right to Return? The History of Palestinian Refugees (Part 1) Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Host Noam Weissman dives into one of the most emotionally and politically charged topics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: the Right of Return. Noam breaks down key historical events and grapples with tough questions: Was the Palestinian exodus of 1947–1948 a planned expulsion or a tragic byproduct of war? The first installment in this two-part series on the rise of Palestinian refugees explores the power of language, national narratives, and competing historical traumas with both facts and nuance.

Click here for sources used in the episode.

Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media.

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

-------------------

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠

Dreaming of Iran: A Conversation with Writer Roya Hakakian Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

Host Noam Weissman sits down with acclaimed Iranian-American writer Roya Hakakian to trace the complex and often misunderstood history of Persian Jewry. Roya shares her personal story growing up Jewish in Iran before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, explores why the country shifted from relative tolerance to theocratic repression, and reflects on why millions of Iranians today remain deeply secular despite their fundamentalist regime. Noam and Roya discuss why Iranian society feels poised for change—and why history teaches us that no regime lasts forever.

Here is a link to Roya Hakakian's homepage, bio and work.

Here is a link to Roya Hakakian's memoir, Journey from the Land of No: A Girlhood Caught in Revolutionary Iran.

Please get in touch at noam@unpacked.media.

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

-------------------

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠