The Critically Zionist Podcast

**The opinions and ideas expressed in this newsletter and podcast episode reflect only the personal opinions of those speaking and not any official opinion from Kibbutz Saad, or anyone else**

It’s been a while since we did a Critically Zionist episode and we wanted to share a project that we are working on.

Join us in this conversation where we begin to delve into the vibrant life and enduring spirit of Kibbutz Sa'ad. We want to explore the community's resilience through the eyes of its members, their connections, and the music that binds them together. Discover how the community of Sa'ad, once a warm and welcoming hub, is navigating the challenges of displacement. 

Today, Hilary Yom-Tov shares her personal odyssey from Aliyah to finding love and building a life in Sa'ad with the challenges as a new Oleh integrating on Kibbutz to preparing for her son Or’s wedding this week while living at a hotel in the Dead Sea.

• She opens up about the hurdles of being an outsider and how her involvement with Nativers and music helped her find her place in the community. The episode takes a serious turn as we discuss the Yom-Tov family’s experience on October 7. Hilary reflects on the strength drawn from community support during these trying times.

• Tap your feet to the stories of Sa'ad's wedding band and the ensemble that followed. Hilary reminisces about the band's evolution, their community performances, and the personal significance of music in her life as a nurse.

• Hear about the current reality of Kibbutz life in a hotel. Despite the noise and lack of privacy, Hilary finds solace in puzzles, and working as a nurse for displaced communities, maybe a metaphor for piecing together the fragmented community.

Tune in to hear how the enduring relationships and the power of music play a pivotal role in the community's journey towards healing and rebuilding. This is a story of a kibbutz not just surviving, but thriving against all odds.

We're talking about celebrating Or Yom Tov's wedding!

With the threat to dissolve the current Knesset on the table the Israeli news cycle is filled with articles about when and how the next elections will turn out. This is a two-part episode discussing the Israeli elections.

Part 1- provides an overview of the past 5 Israeli elections, dating back to 2013. It gives perspective on the major players in today's political field, the parties that are most influential, and the themes that have been at the forefront for the Israeli public.

Part 2- We delve into the issues that are facing the Israeli public as we approach another election. We discuss the question of who supports Netanyahu and who's against him, who's really confused, and how can Israel invite Israeli Arabs to be a bigger part of Israel's political life.

Make sure to subscribe to get updates when we release new episodes.

With the threat to dissolve the current Knesset on the table the Israeli news cycle is filled with articles about when and how the next elections will turn out. This is a two-part episode discussing the Israeli elections. 

Part 1- provides an overview of the past 5 Israeli elections, dating back to 2013. It gives perspective on the major players in today's political field, the parties that are most influential, and the themes that have been at the forefront for the Israeli public.

Part 2- We delve into the issues that are facing the Israeli public as we approach another election. We discuss the question of who supports Netanyahu and who's against him, who's really confused, and how can Israel invite Israeli Arabs to be a bigger part of Israel's political life.

Make sure to subscribe to get updates when we release new episodes. 

In this episode we discuss Seth Rogen's appearance on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast on July 27, 2020, to promote his film “American Pickle”.

 They showed that they are super-Jewish: Familiar with tradition, steeped in Jewish upbringing, and full of post-trauma from these experiences. The interview sets Jewish Twitter afire as the Left adopts Rogen as a spokesperson, the Right accuses him of questioning Israel's legitimacy, and many who stay silent acknowledge similar frustration with Israel. 

We ask if Seth Rogen was criticizing Israel or helping the Jewish world improve its Israel education.

• We analyze the different responses to Rogen's comments in the Jewish World
• We talk about American Jewry's challenges with Israel and Israel Education in light of Rogen's comments
• We share a response from StandWithUs Senior Educator, Charlotte Korchak

As promised, we are answering the first feedback we received from our first episode: "Remembering Yitzhak Rabin" and then you can listen for a sneak peek of an upcoming episode: "Building a Zionist Curriculum for Seth Rogen"

Thank you Susan for challenging our overly rosy memory of Yitzhak Rabin and to Noam for reminding us that there was reasonable opposition to The Oslo Accords.

Episode Description
On Saturday evening, November 4, 1995, 25 years ago: Yitzkah Rabin, the first Israeli Prime Minister born in Israel was assassinated by Yigal Amir, an Israeli law student at Bar Ilan University and a religious, right-wing extremist. It happened at the Kings of Israel Square in Tel Aviv, now named Rabin Square, after a Peace Rally under the slogan "Yes to Peace-No to Violence", with over a hundred thousand supporters in attendance.

The assassination represented the beginning of the end of one of the most hopeful, and also divisive eras in Israeli history- the peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis initiated by The Oslo Accords, a groundbreaking agreement led by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Yassir Arafat, Chairman of the Palestinian Authority with the strong support of US President Bill Clinton.

We try to remember Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin as a person, a soldier, and a statesman, delve into the Oslo Accords and the peace process and reckon with what has happened in Israeli society since the tragedy of Rabin's assassination.