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: Shavuot

The Jewish holiday Shavuot, meaning “weeks” in Hebrew, is the season of the grain harvest, specifically of the wheat, in the Land of Israel. In ancient times, the grain harvest lasted seven weeks and was a season of gladness.

This sort of feels like what’s happening in the world right now. A global harvest of optimism, positivity, and hope is beginning to take shape. People are getting outside again, working, traveling, reconnecting with the world as we knew it before the pandemic. In Israel there seems to be a new spirit or energy, compared to the somber mood of the pandemic.

While I know many parts of the world are still feeling the effects of the pandemic, I hope what’s happening in Israel can serve as some hope that it’s only a matter of time before we get back to our collective season of gladness.

Updates From IZZY

Coming this weekend to IZZY is Johnny and the Galilee Knights — produced by Dana Stern and our friends at YES, one of Israel’s leading cable TV operators, as well as Keshet Media Group.

This comedy-drama series features the story of four childhood friends from a small village in the Galilee, in the north of Israel, who stumble upon an original business idea which will make the most of their rather interesting abilities. The series features an ensemble of Israel’s leading actors, such as Oz Zehavi (“Asfur”), Oshri Cohen (“Red Lines”), Joy Riger (“Valley of Tears”), Noa Koller (“Rehearsals”), Yiftach Klein (“Fill the Void”), and Yousef Sweid (“Unorthodox”).

Also, if you’ve been following the news from Israel the past few days, then you know that tensions have risen, particularly in the south of Israel. If you haven’t already seen it, be sure to check out the 3-part documentary series Under the Iron Dome which details the revolutionary technology Israel developed to save thousands of lives in times like these.

Someone Special

Gabi Weinberg is the Senior Director of Community Development at Bnai Zion, a U.S. nonprofit dedicated to accelerating Israel’s growth and strengthening the Jewish people through building partnerships with friends and allies across the globe.

Gabi is also one of the architects of The Joshua Network, a media company that encourages serious conversations about faith.

Be sure to follow Gabi on Twitter.

One Good Thing

The Israel-Arab woman bringing diversity to Hebrew University — from our friends at ISRAEL21c.

Mona Khoury Kassabri is Hebrew University’s new VP of diversity. It’s a major milestone for the university, and she has a great deal planned.

Last week, 46-year-old Khoury-Kassabri, an Arab native of Haifa, made headlines when Hebrew University of Jerusalem named her Vice President of Strategy and Diversity.

Khoury-Kassabri’s milestone marks multiple firsts. In the history of Hebrew University, hers is an unprecedented appointment of a member of the Arab community to a vice president position. And never before has an Israeli university instituted a senior role to strengthen diversity and inclusion.

In her new role, Khoury-Kassabri is charged with broadening the ranks of both academic staff and the student body with individuals from underrepresented communities, including ultra-Orthodox Jews, Arabs, Ethiopians and people with disabilities.

She is also tasked with raising the social, economic, and environmental impact of the university, increasing the cross-disciplinary efforts among the university’s six campuses, and adapting teaching methods post-Corona.

“I believe in education as an important element for integrating and succeeding in Israeli society,” Mona says. “It is our way to improve our situation.”

Tune in every Tuesday for a new This Week From Israel episode!