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Ep. 333 • The Israeli Bond with Gal Swisa Cohen & Guest Lauren Chizner

In this powerful episode of The Israeli Bond on hmTv, host Gal Swisa Cohen sits down with longtime Jewish educator Lauren Chizner, Director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Sid Jacobson JCC. With nearly three decades of experience in synagogues, camps, and community leadership, Lauren offers a candid look at how Jewish education in America has evolved, the realities facing today’s families, and why nurturing Jewish identity, pride, and a meaningful connection to Israel is more essential than ever.

Gal and Lauren dive into the big questions shaping Jewish life today:

Why has after-school Jewish education shifted so dramatically?
How do we build Jewish pride when kids only meet two hours a week?
Can you have a strong Jewish identity without a connection to Israel?
How did October 7th transform students, parents, and educators alike?

From “flags and falafel” childhood memories to the complex conversations kids are now asking about war, hostages, and rising antisemitism, Lauren speaks honestly about the challenges—and the opportunities—facing the next generation.

The episode closes with grounded, practical guidance for parents and caregivers seeking to help their children form a deeper bond with Israel, whether through travel, meaningful relationships, thoughtful media consumption, or community programs.

This is an episode filled with insight, heart, and real talk about who we are as Jews—and how we pass that identity forward.

Tune in, share with your community, and keep strengthening the bond.

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