Israel Radio Podcast with Yishai Fleisher

He is fallible, yet the most amazing man ever - Moses, our great teacher, is born in this week's Torah portion. Rav Mike Feuer joins Rabbi Yishai to start on the hard road to redemption with the most humble man who ever lived. Then, Malkah Fleisher on another great man, Binyanim Netanyahu, upcoming elections, El Al to Vegas, and Jewish birth.

The Book of Genesis - the foundation of it all - ends with Jacob, AKA Israel, admonishing his son's to take his body and bury him in Hebron. So do you think Hebron might be important to the Jewish people? Yishai is in Brooklyn, it's late, and he's having a beer and talking Torah! Lechaim!

At the terror attack at the Ofra Junction in the Benjamin region, a young pregnant mother was shot. Her child was born through emergency C-section and was fighting for his life until succumbing to his wounds. In honor of his young memory, Rav Mike Feuer joins Rabbi Yishai to talk about Joseph's revelation of his identity to his brothers. Then, Malkah Fleisher on Israeli anger at the murder of the baby and on true German regret.

Deep in the Negev Desert, amongst ruins of a massive Byzantine city, Yishai talks about Hanukkah and the battle that continues to rage for Jewish cultural independence as well as Israeli sovereignty in the Holy Land. The latest challenge to the Jewish presence in the ancestral homeland is the discriminatory boycott policy of Airbnb and the fallout that could come if we don't respond correctly to this challenge. Will darkness beat out the light or will the Maccabee's once again be victorious?

The son's of Jacob are united in the land of Israel - should be a great time, no? However, there are fractures in the family of Israel and they come out in this weeks Torah portion. Rav Mike joins Rabbi Yishai to talk about the sale of Joseph and his descent into imprisonment through the false allegations of Mrs. Potifar. And his dream interpretations there, plus Judah consorts with his daughter-in-law to protect the seed of Messiah? Finally, Malkah Fleisher joins the show to talk about her incredible trip to the Ukraine and to the Tomb of the Baal Shem Tov.

Can a seething hate be overcome? Is Esav’s kiss to Jacob real – or is it a cynical ploy? Should Jacob’s sons sack a city that raped their sister? Should today’s Israel strike Gaza with overwhelming force? Rav Mike Feuer joins Rabbi Yishai to hash it out. Then Rabbi Steven Pruzansky on the heroic life and harrowing times of Rabbi Meir Kahane.

Evil Hamas rockets are coming down from the sky on Israel, but the Jewish people are dreaming of Jacob's ladder connecting between heaven and earth. Rav Mike Feuer joins Rabbi Yishai to walk with the Forefather Jacob on his adventures, dreams, family life and strife, and the birth of the Tribes of Israel. Then, Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, Senior Rabbi at Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation ("The BAYT") join Yishai to talk about Pittsburgh and the Israel-Diaspora divide.

The titanic twin forces of Jacob and Esav begin their epic battle which rages till today. Three times does Jacob nip at the heal of Esav his brother - at the birth, at the soup, and at his father's blessings. Is Jacob a trickster, or does he learn a thing or two from his hunter brother? Rabbi Yishai is in Brooklyn, on the way to Toronto, on the way to the Land of Israel. Join him on the road for the war's play by play!

The first purchase of the Jewish people in the land of Israel is Sarah's burial site. It was Abraham who negotiated for the Machpela out of love for her. Join Rabbi Yishai for some ancient Middle Eastern land haggling in Hebron, and for the mass pilgrimage to the Tomb of the Mammas and the Pappas on Chaye Sarah.

Should Abraham pray for Sodom? Should he feel bad about ousting Yishmael from his household? Should he listen to God when He commands him to sacrifice Isaac? Rabbi Mike Feuer joins Rabbi Yishai to discuss a Torah portion full of moral challenges. Then, Risa Rotman's husband was murdered in the infamous Har Nof Massacre. She joins Yishai to talk about her book "Terror and Emunah in Har Nof."

Cutting animals in half for a covenant, the first circumcision, Pharaoh taking Sarah, the Egyptian handmaiden, and the first world war of empires - all in one Torah portion!!! Rav Mike Feuer joins Rabbi Yishai for Lech Lecha and together we begin Abraham's journey. Then, Malkah Fleisher on bleeding sore of Gaza.

Quiet on the set! Creation movie - take two! Cue the torrential downpour! Rabbi Mike Feuer joins Rabbi Yishai for a wet and wild ride with Noah's Ark featuring the rainbow and the Tower of Babel. Then, Malkah Fleisher on thanking Ambassador Nikki Haley and the never-ending history-erasing lies of UNESCO and their ilk.

In the Beginning, God created a beautiful world, but the minute man got there things began to mess up! Join Rabbi Yishai for the first Torah portion, Bereshit, and see if redemption can be found in the chaos. Then Malkah Fleisher on hearing Yehoram Gaon, Israel's bard, and on John Bolton's declaration against the International Court of Justice.

The mega-holiday of Sukkot is upon us! Rabbi Mike joins Rabbi Yishai to talk about the dichotomies of the holiday like the universal call for humanity to pray in Jerusalem and the particular post-party of God and the Jews. Then, Malkah Fleisher on building the Sukkah and filling it with a national family love. And, of course, remembering Ari Fuld.

Yishai is in Boston airport on the way to Florida. He reflects on professional sports, on Moses passing the baton to the next generation, on accepting dichotomies, and on the Swiss-precision work of the high priest on Yom Kippur.