The Jerusalem Post Podcast

Virgin Atlantic‘s value added plus historic Jewish Charleston

The Jerusalem Post Podcast - Travel Edition, Episode 21

Virgin Atlantic has proved extremely popular with Israelis and Americans via its London hub. We hear how the airline creates remarkably-different flying experiences and take in its Clubhouse lounges.

Then it's over to Charleston, South Carolina to learn about one of the United States' oldest Jewish communities.

Photo credit: Courtesy

 

Shifting sands in the Middle East?

This week on The Jerusalem Post Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Yaakov Katz and Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov take a moment to discuss the shifting sands in the Middle East as Israeli generals have recently been photographed chatting alongside their Arab counterparts - scenes typically described as a rarity within the geopolitical landscape.

While the details of their conversations are left up to interpretation, Katz and Harkov give their own interpretations on what the interactions mean for the security of the Jewish State and Israel's standing throughout the Middle East, with regard to the views of its Arab neighbors.

Later on in the episode, Katz and Harkov discuss Israel's request for donor countries to restore their financial contributions to the Palestinian Authority, which have dropped by 85% over the last 13 years, and the effect it would have on the country with regard to the status quo and its status in the international arena.

To wrap up the episode, they speak with Israel's Ambassador to United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely to discuss Israeli and British relations, as well as her brush with violent extremism, after she was evacuated from the London School of Economics (LSE) as students and other pro-Palestinian activists tried to attack her following a speaking engagement just last week.

Photo credit: Flash90 as seen on jpost.com

What‘s the story with Israel‘s COVID-19 vaccine? And does mental illness effect your work?

In this week's edition of The Jerusalem Post Health & Wellness podcast, Senior Health Analyst Maayan Hoffman and Health Correspondent Rossella Tercatin gather 'round the mics to take on the latest coronavirus news from Israel and beyond.

The Jerusalem Post got access to new data on the country's Brilife vaccine and it is looking very promising. The duo breaks down how the Israeli vaccine is made and why Brilife might last longer and even be more effective for inoculating individuals in poorer countries than the Pfizer jab

They then leave the topic of COVID and shift to diabetes. World Diabetes Day was Sunday and Hoffman reviews just how fast the disease is spreading in Israel and the world. They highlight a new project in Israel's North that hopes to help solve the crisis.

Finally, they look at the impact of mental health on work and question whether the new administration in general, and specifically Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, will really tackle the issue in Israel. 

All this, and more, on this week's edition of the The Jerusalem Post Health & Wellness podcast.

Photo credit: Hadassah

Kanye West, the Israeli state budget and a Gaza war

This week on The Jerusalem Post Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Yaakov Katz and Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov talk about the State Budget.

The team discusses the highlights of the budget and how ministries across the state now have more money to do the things that they are supposed to.

Later on in the episode, Katz and Harkov talk with Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, whose new book takes a deep look into Operation Guardian of the Walls, discussing it's successes and faults, and the ever-repeating cycle of violence that occurs between allied Palestinian terror groups in the Gaza Strip and Israel every so often.

Katz and Harkov then speak with CEO of Bnai Zion and host of the Good Faith Effort Podcast Rabbi Ari Lamm to discuss his organization's missions and goals. They talk about Kanye West's most recent interview discussing kibbutzim and Judaism, as well as Lamm's podcast, which has brought on some fascinating guests to break down ideas from the weekly Torah portion.

All that, and more, on this week's edition of The Jerusalem Post Podcast.

Photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT

How will Israel address the climate crisis? Behind the scenes at COP26

Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Yaakov Katz and Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov put on their climatology hat, following Harkov's trip to Glasgow where she took part in the international COP26 climate conference, alongside Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

The duo breakdown Israel's role in combatting climate change, as well as the technologies and renewable energy sources Israel is currently forwarding to directly address the problem. Harkov also gives her own personal takeaways from the conference.

She said that world leaders have promised to directly address the issues that are exacerbating climate change within their own borders in the years and decades to come.

Later in the episode, Harkov sits down with Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg, who was part of the Israeli delegation for the international conference, to discuss some behind-the-scenes takes from the conference, as well as further details about Israel's efforts to protecting the climate and what the future holds for its use of renewable energy sources.

Finally, Harkov speaks with Michael Shellenberger, author of the book Apocalypse Never, to discuss his case against raising the alarm when it comes to climate change and what solutions he would implement to address the issue.

 

Photo credit: Reuters as seen on jpost.com

Who died from COVID-19 in Israel? And what‘s up with Israel‘s oral vaccine?

In this next edition of the Jerusalem Post Health & Wellness podcast, Senior Health Analyst Maayan Hoffman and Health Correspondent Rossella Tercatin tackle travel once again.

Israel rolled out new travel rules and there is a lot of chaos and confusion and tourists aim to enter the country.

They celebrate the decreasing number of COVID cases in Israel, but take a detailed look at who actually died from the virus and why some of those people became COVID victims.

The duo talks about the potential for Israel to approve vaccines for children ages 5-11, just like the US, as the country prepares for its first public vaccination debate. 

They celebrate the upcoming Phase I trial of Israel's oral vaccine in South Africa, talk to Dr. Ronen Arbel about how more than 4,750 Israeli lives were saved in three months by vaccination, and help readers figure out how to tell the difference between the flu and corona.

Enjoy the show. 

Photo credit: Flash90 as seen on jpost.com

Vilnius: Step back in time to Jewish Vilna and marvel at modern-day Lithuania

The Jerusalem Post Podcast - Travel Edition, Episode 20

Mark and David lead a magical tour of Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, located in Eastern Europe but with a strong Scandinavian vibe. They take you back hundreds of years to the Jewish heyday, enter a little-known independent republic within Vilnius and then head for the skies in what Mark describes as "a picnic basket."

This time:

• An intro to Vilnius, Vilnus or is it Vilna?
• A 360-degree tour of the city
• Turn thrice and your dream may come true
• The old Jewish quarter
• The Genius of Vilna - the Vilna Gaon
• Digging into our Jewish history - literally
• Sitting in the middle of a river
• Learning more of the Jewish past, present and future of Vilnius
• A different country within Lithuania? With the BEST constitution EVER
• A trip to the geographical center of Europe
• A live view into yet another state
• To the skies we go in a picnic basket
• Join in a traditional hair-burning ceremony
• Magical Trakai castle
• The Karaites of Trakai
• An artistic farewell

Do Palestinian NGOs support terror?

Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Yaakov Katz and Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov sit down this week to discuss the upcoming international 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and two other minutes will attend.

In the build-up to the conference, Katz and Harkov take a moment to reflect on the importance of discussing climate change and what Israel and its government are doing to address the problem.

Earlier this week, Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced that the country was designating six Palestinian NGOs as terror organizations. Katz and Harkov speak with the founder and president of NGO Monitor Gerald Steinberg to discuss whether the decision was valid.

They speak with Gerald Steinberg from NGO Monitor to discuss the decision and share insight into how NGOs support terror.

Photo credit: Flash90 as seen on jpost.com

How much does it matter if an Israeli politician speaks English?

Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Yaakov Katz and Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov take a moment to reflect this week on the events of The Jerusalem Post's 10th Annual Conference that took place just last week.

In reflection, an interesting discussion arises surrounding the parallels between the effectiveness of a politician and their ability, or inability, to speak English, after Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked received a bit of taunting from the opposition for turning to the conference moderator to clarify the word for "appreciate."

Following the discussion of languages, and the diversity it creates in Israel, Katz and Harkov sit down with the Danny Ayalon, who served as Israel Ambassador to the United States from 2002-2006 during the Bush Administration, and take a look back on the life of former US Secretary of State Colin Powell. He passed away earlier this week from COVID complications. 

Next, they speak with president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies Efraim Inbar about Israel-India relations and the significance of a number of high-level Indian diplomats visiting the country.

Additionally, the duo talk to Inbar about India's long-existing defense relationship with Israel.

All that and more, on this week's edition of The Jerusalem Post Podcast!

Photo credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO

Is Israel delaying tourism because US doesn’t have a Green Pass?

The Jerusalem Post's Head of Strategy and Senior Health Analyst Maayan Hoffman together with Health and Archeology Correspondent Rossella Tercatin are back again this week for another edition of The Jerusalem Post Health and Wellness Podcast.

In this week's edition, the duo dive into the state of the Delta variant as Israeli health officials believe that the country is wrapping up its fourth wave. 

As cases go down, tourism is supposed to go up. Health and Tourism Ministry officials have said that the country could re-open to individual tourists as early as next month. Israel recently joined the European Union’s digital COVID passport program to ease travel. As part of the deal, visitors are supposed to be able to enter Israel more easily from countries in the consortium.

But what about US travelers who have paper vaccination certificates? Rossella and Maayan analyze whether it is this reason that opening up tourism continues to be delayed. 

Maayan and Rossella also speak to Check Point Software's Gil Messing to discuss the most recent cyber attack on an Israeli hospital. Messing says these attacks are not the first and likely won’t be the last. 

Finally, this week’s health tip ties to alcohol and cancer. Does even a few beers increase your chances of developing a tumor? Listen to find out. 

Photo credit: Michael Dimenstein as seen on jpost.com