Tag: Jesse

Yishai discusses the tide of performers coming to Israel, and the tide of anti-Iran deal Democratic senators rising up. It takes guts to overcome the anti-Israel bias and to fly in to perform in Israel. But that is exactly what some performers are doing, like pop superstar Mariah Carey, who performed in front of 12,000 fans at Rishon LeZions’s Live Park Amphitheater. Elie Pieprz, Founder of the International Division of the Counsel of Judea & Samaria and VOI’s Knesset Insider Jeremy Saltan join Yishai to discuss the tide of performers coming to Israel, and the tide of anti-Iran deal Democratic senators rising up.

Yishai is joined by David Isaac Simpkins, a convert and former US soldier. Meet David Issac Simpkins, who spent ten years in the US military, including fighting in Afghanistan, and four years becoming an officer in West Point where he became interested in Judaism and subsequently converted. Hear Simpkins along with Rabbi Kenny Cohen, the founding rabbi of the Young Israel Century City, Los Angeles ( who helped Simpkins convert) tell Yishai about David’s remarkable journey.

Mideast expert Mordechai Kedar joins Yishai to talk about some odd political developments and alliances in the region. Dr. Kedar, research associate at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and lecturer in the department of Arabic at Bar-Ilan University, offers his insights about Russia’s talks with Syria, Israel’s and Hezbollah’s shared interest in stopping ISIS and the nuclear deal’s unexpectedly negative ramifications for Iran.

Yehuda Hakohen, leader of the Zionist Freedom Alliance, tells Yishai about being an 'alternative' peace activist. He explains why prioritizing peace is an integral part of the Zionist dream, and discusses his goal to circumvent the rhetoric, bring together the extremes and push a meaningful peace forward — one based on each side having things about which they are unwilling to compromise.

Israeli-Japanese Jew Dr. Kenichi Hartman talks with VOI's Yishai Fleisher about the similarities -- and economic ties -- between Japan and Israel. Dr. Hartman, who converted to Judaism at the age of 12, has a doctorate in neuroscience from Harvard and is today a patent agent. He writes about Japan-Israel economic cooperation for the Times of Israel and is a mentor at Samurai House Israel, a Japanese investment fund. He shares the story of his remarkable life, as he crisscrossed continents, got in touch with his Jewish father’s heritage and ultimately ended up in Israel. He offers his unique perspective on the religious, cultural and philosophical similarities between the states of Japan and Israel.

Randol Schoenberg, renowned attorney and president of the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, discusses explosive issues with Yishai. Schoenberg, the prestigious Jewish lawyer recently portrayed in the popular movie, “Woman in Gold,” and Yishai discuss the US Supreme Court’s refusal to allow Jerusalem to be identified as part of Israel on official documents, and its recent decision to recognize same-sex marriage. Then, they debate the Iran deal, coming to very different conclusions. Schoenfeld shares his thoughts on recent developments emerging from the Obama administration.

Baruch Widen, interfaith dialoguer and Arabist, joins Yishai to discuss the pro-Israel trend taking hold among the capital's Arab population. The community is applying for Israeli citizenship in unprecedented numbers. Baruch and Yishai consider why.

Nationally syndicated US radio show host Ethan Bearman describes for Yishai the average American's perspective on the Iran deal. According to Bearman, author of “Liars & Whores: How Big Government and Big Businesses Are Working to Save Their Assets, Not Yours,” many Americans take umbrage with their administration’s marked step away from Israel.

Likud party member Ze'ev Jabotinsky, namesake and grandson of the famous Zionist leader, discusses his grandfather's legacy with Yishai. On the 75th anniversary of the original Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s death, his descendent — the CEO of Tagar Computer Systems and an advocate for Israel’s rights under international law — talks with Yishai about the man and the legend.

Rabbi Mike Feuer joins Yishai to discuss Pinchas and other biblical figures. Though a zealot who killed the immoral Zimri, unlike most zealots, Pinchas was completely in line with God’s will. The daughters of Zelaphchad, five righteous biblical women, were zealous for the land of Israel, and they were rewarded for it.

Yishai is joined by political correspondent Raoul Wootliff and Tamir Druz, director of Capra Energy — an independent, Israel-based energy advisory firm — to discuss and diagnose the controversy surrounding the natural gas reserves found off the coast five years ago. That the gas is there is good news; that the Leviathan field has yet to be developed is cause for concern. Then, Yishai is joined by Dr. Seth Frantzman, op-ed editor of the Jerusalem Post, to talk about the world of jihadists, such as the ISIS terrorists killings Egyptian troops in the Sinai and threatening Israel.

Yishai is joined by cyber-security expert Pinchas Orbach and terror-funding expert Dr. Mattew Levit. First, Yishai reads and responds to e-mails from listeners, which touch on a range of issues, such as American support for the Kurds and Israel; the faculty of courage; and pushing back on efforts to normalize homosexuality. Then, following questions about the source of the Duqu computer virus found in the hotels where nuclear negotiations with Iran took place, Orbach talks about the quiet cyber-war in which Israel is engaged. Afterwards, Levitt, director of the Washington Institute's Stein Program on Counter-terrorism and Intelligence, explains how terrorist organizations fund their massive operations.

Yishai is joined in-studio by political activist Nadia Matar, co-chair of Women in Green, to talk about the concept of Israeli sovereignty over territory talked about by those favoring a "two-state solution." She also discusses a new political journal called "Sovereignty." Then, Yishai is joined by his wife, Malkah, to talk about efforts to have a "normal" life where they live. After three nights of Ramadan, the Jewish community on the Mount of Olives has suffered three consecutive terror attacks. Finally, Yishai uses the secret of the biblical "priestly blessings" to reflect on the goals of the Jewish state.

Yishai deals with modern-day and ancient battles. First he is joined by political activist and commentator Pamela Geller, president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative and author, among other books, of "Stop the Islamization of America: A Practical Guide to the Resistance." She sponsored the "Draw the Prophet" cartoon contest in Garland, Texas, which was attacked by jihadists, who were killed in a shootout. She tells Yishai about the challenges involved in fighting jihad in the US and Israel. Then, Yishai is joined in-studio by Rabbi Mike Feuer to talk about the internecine Jewish political battles in the Book the Numbers. Was the biblical character Korach a communist or a man of the people? A fighter for democracy or a jealous would-be leader? Why did he pick a fight with Moses? And why did he merit having the Prophet Samuel as his progeny.

Yishai is joined by 95-year-old Jerusalem resident Dan Nadel, a five-time decorated WWII hero, who led troops in the Battle of the Bulge and in the liberation of France from the Nazis. In honor of VE Day, commemorating the Allied victory over Nazi Germany (marked on May 8), Nadel, tells the tale of fighting across Europe, and eventually fulfilling his Zionist dream. Then, Yishai is joined in-studio by foreign correspondent Anne-Marie O’Connor to talk about her award-winning book, "The Lady in Gold," that chronicles the fight for restitution of Gustav Klimt's iconic "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer," confiscated by the Nazis in Vienna just prior to World War II.

David Swidler, whose satire blog PreOccupied Territory pokes fun at daily life in Israel, joins Yishai to talk about bureaucracy, Israeli drivers and other topics that beg to bear the brunt of humor. Then, students from the Golda Och Academy in West Orange, New Jersey, visit Yishai in-studio. Finally, David Friedman -- a kippa-wearing Israeli who works for the Major League baseball team the Cincinnati Reds as a global associate in its international scouting staff -- joins Yishai in-studio to talk about how his love for Israel and baseball go hand-in-hand.