Jew Oughta Know
Jason Harris
From ancient history to current events, take yourself on a journey through the story of the Jewish People, from someone who has led hundreds of Jewish young professionals on trips throughout Israel. From the beginning of creation to modern Israel, each short episode is geared to appeal both to someone looking for the Jewish 101, as well as to those looking to go a bit beyond the basic story they already know. Check out the website at https://jewoughtaknow.com/. Enjoy!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 13, 2020 • 24min
102. Israel 1948-1967: The Waiting Period
For three weeks, known as "hamtanah," Israelis waited as military, diplomatic, and political forces drove them towards war with the Arabs.
Aug 30, 2020 • 22min
101. Israel 1948-1967: Israel & America
A short primer on Israel's relationship with American Jews and America's presidents in the 1950s and 1960s. Ben Gurion and American Jewry have a little argument, while Kennedy and Johnson develop better relations with the Jewish State.
Aug 24, 2020 • 24min
100. Israel 1948-1967: Meet Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat starts Fatah, a Palestinian militia, to attack Israel. The Arab countries form the Palestinian Liberation Organization (the PLO) to counter Fatah's influence. And Israel finds itself facing a familiar conundrum: what to do about terrorism? A retaliation operation goes awry.
Aug 16, 2020 • 17min
99. Current Events: Israel-UAE Peace Deal
On August 13, 2020, Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced a peace agreement. This is only the third time an Arab country has made peace with Israel. Here's what you oughta know!
Aug 16, 2020 • 23min
98. Israel 1948-1967: The Spies
From stealing fighter jets to stealing secrets, Israel's spies are the stuff of legend. Some ended in triumph, and others tragedy. They all played a critical role in Israel's security during the 1960s.
Aug 9, 2020 • 23min
97. Israel 1948-1967: Water, Water!
Israel’s innovations in water use spread around the world, helping to lift millions out of poverty and famine. The National Water Carrier brought water to every corner of the country. But water was also a source of conflict with its Arab neighbors, as Syria tries to cut off Israel’s access and border tensions rise to dangerous levels.
Jul 13, 2020 • 25min
96. Israel 1948-1967: The Events of Wadi Salib
The police shot an unarmed member of a discriminated group, riots followed, and a social change movement spread throughout the country. Not the United States in 2020, but Israel in 1959. In the ongoing miracle that was Israel, the Mizrahi — Jews from the Middle East and North Africa — were falling behind. It exposed a fault line in relations between “two Israels.”
Jul 5, 2020 • 24min
95. Israel 1948-1967: The Teenage Years
Hebrew, the kibbutz, the military, and politics were achieving big things and undergoing big changes, as Israel entered its teenage years in the 1960s. And David Ben Gurion, the man who personified the Jewish State, made a huge decision.
Jun 29, 2020 • 24min
94. Current Events: Are Jews White?
Are Jews “white” here in America? The extreme right says no, the radical left yes. The American Jewish experience has been multifaceted. And there are Jews of Color.
Jun 15, 2020 • 27min
93. Current Events: Black-Jewish Relations
What does Judaism "say" about the racial justice protests of 2020? And what is the history of black-Jewish relations in the United States?
