Hosted by IZZY co-founder Josh Hoffman, This Week From Israel is a podcast that publishes new episodes every Tuesday!

Listen directly below, as well as on Spotify, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic, Breaker, and Pocket Casts.

Episode Rundown

Topic of the Week: Jewish Lives Matter

In the wake of recent anti-Semitic attacks in the USA, you might have seen the Jewish Lives Matter trend popping up on your social media feeds.

Certainly antisemitism is an uncomfortable threat, but since renewing my engagement with the Jewish world when I moved to Israel in 2013, I’ve come to realize that antisemitism is no longer the biggest threat to worldwide Jewish culture, religion, and heritage. Our biggest threat today and moving forward is us Jews ourselves. More specifically: the growing divide between religious and secular Jews, between Israeli and “Diaspora” Jews, between progressive and conservative Jews, et cetera.

There’s a joke I learned in Israel: two Jews, three opinions. Perhaps Jews are not shy of sharing their opinions, which can often lead to debates and disagreements, but here’s the thing: We don’t need to agree on everything. It’s okay if we as Jews manage different lifestyles, hold different religious beliefs, actively study or don’t study the Torah, live in different parts of the world, et cetera.

There is one thing, however, I believe we must agree on, or at least fundamentally appreciate: that the State of Israel is our Jewish capital, regardless of its current leaders, geopolitical affairs, societal norms, and so forth. In other words, unconditional appreciation for Israel as the Jewish capital.

The State of Israel doesn’t have conditions for which Jews can and can’t move here, yet far too many Jews today have seemingly endless conditions for how they think and feel about Israel. I’m not saying don’t be a critic or have an opinion. I’m saying just because you might think that things in Israel or things the State of Israel does aren’t always kosher or acceptable in your eyes, doesn’t discount the fact that Israel is both a refuge and opportunity for Jews of all kinds to live their best lives — even if it means being here just a few days, weeks, or months out of the year.

We will probably never be able to eradicate anti-Semitism, but we can create bridges among Jews to come together despite differences of opinions, lifestyles, and beliefs — with the goal of creating a stronger, more appreciated Israel, both in Israel itself, and its global brand image.

A stronger Israel, a Jewish state after all, means a better life for all Jews around the world — not to mention, a better world, thanks to the fundamental Jewish principle of “tikkun olam” (Hebrew for “repairing the world”), which uncoincidentally is so widely predominant in Israeli culture.

Updates From IZZY

We’ll soon be introducing a new approach to supporting Israel through the production of new, pre-vetted Israeli movies, TV shows, and documentaries — alongside Israel’s top producers, directors, writers, actors, and actresses. And best of all, you get to own a piece of the action!

Israeli entertainment is quickly becoming the new type of Israeli startup — and the crown jewel of Israel’s relationship with the world, thanks to the incredible talent coming out of the local industry, and new streaming technology that allows us to deliver unlimited programming to global audiences!

But the fact is: The Israeli entertainment industry is tiny (a combined $30 million per year). This means most Israeli filmmakers, actors, actresses, writers, editors, and others — despite their tremendous talent — haven’t had the opportunity to work on productions made for global audiences. That is, until now!

Thanks to our scaling subscriber base and direct ties to the local industry, we’re in a prime position to produce tons of Israeli movies, TV shows, and documentaries across a variety of formats and topics. And you’re invited to be a part of it from the very beginning!

The IZZY Entertainment Fund allows people around the world who are passionate about Israel and Israeli entertainment to support new Israeli movies, TV shows, and documentaries with global appeal, high-revenue potential, and positive impact on Israel’s global brand!

Look at for an email in a few weeks with our formal introduction of and more information about the Fund!

Someone Special

David Yarus grew up in Miami Beach, Florida, went to Babson College in Boston, and now lives in Brooklyn. He is the founder of JSwipe, the largest Jewish dating app with more than a million users worldwide, which has successfully led to thousands of Jewish marriages and a whole lot of millennial Jewish love.

He has recently stepped into the role of global ambassador at Jdate, which acquired JSwipe, broadening his focus to think about Jewish love for our parents and grandparents generations as well! David is also the founder of MLLNNL, a creative social agency focused on the Jewish world, whose recent clients include Taglit-Birthright Israel, Hillel International, JFNA, and the Israeli Consulate in New York.

Follow David on Instagram.

One Good Thing

Tel Aviv’s Museum of the Jewish People gets $100-million makeover — from our friends at ISRAEL21c

The newly expanded and reimagined ANU – Museum of the Jewish People opened March 10, becoming the world’s only museum dedicated to celebrating and exploring the experiences, accomplishments and spirit of the Jewish people from biblical times to today.

Its new brand identity adds “ANU” — Hebrew for “we”— to embrace inclusion and reflect the diversity and collective spirit of the Jewish people everywhere.

Located on the campus of Tel Aviv University, the Diaspora Museum was founded in 1978 and was later renamed The Museum of the Jewish People.

The decade-long, $100 million expansion tripled gallery space to 72,000 square feet across four wings spanning three floors. Visitors of all faiths and ages are guided on a multimedia, multisensory journey through the 4,000-year history of the Jewish people.

“Every nation deserves a place that tells its story and makes people proud of who they are and their heritage and roots,” said Museum Board Chair Irina Nevzlin. “It is a privilege to realize the transformation of this institution, which now becomes the largest and most comprehensive Jewish museum in the world. The museum will serve as a beacon of Jewish identity and culture, celebrating our unique history and future.”