In this wide-ranging and deeply human conversation, Stephen Bauman welcomes educator, peace-builder, and longtime Jerusalem resident Jared Goldfarb to explore what it truly means to live “in the meantime” in Israel-Palestine today.Jared shares the story of his unlikely journey from New Hampshire to Jerusalem, where a search for Jewish identity turned into a 30-year life shaped by study, faith, and profound interfaith relationships. Together, he and Stephen dig into the layered realities of Israeli and Palestinian life—religion, nationalism, identity, military service, trauma, resilience, and the daily struggle to hold onto hope amid conflict.Jared speaks candidly about October 7th and the two years that followed: the shock and fear within Israeli society, his simultaneous concern for Palestinian friends, the collapse of his work, and the unexpected path that led him into deeper peace activism. He outlines the extraordinary grassroots work happening behind the headlines—environmental partnerships, human-rights advocacy, and interfaith encounters—and why he remains hopeful despite everything.An honest, nuanced, and grounded glimpse into life on both sides of one of the world’s most complicated places, this episode invites listeners to consider what it means to pursue peace, humility, and courage in the face of seemingly impossible odds.Chapters00:00:00 — Welcome & introduction: Stephen meets Jared
00:01:10 — Who is Jared? From New Hampshire to Jerusalem
00:02:20 — A search for Jewish identity becomes a lifelong home
00:04:30 — Learning the land: history, religion, neighbors
00:05:55 — Seeing Israel-Palestine as shared space
00:07:10 — Jewish learning, teaching, and interfaith encounters
00:08:35 — Raising a family in Jerusalem
00:09:50 — Military service, choice, and identity
00:12:00 — The ethics and tensions of mandatory service
00:15:20 — Judaism, peace, and challenging the tradition
00:17:10 — Constructive disagreement (Machloket)
00:20:15 — What “religious” means in Israel
00:21:50 — October 7th: trauma, shock, and national grief
00:23:45 — Holding both Israeli and Palestinian suffering
00:25:50 — Work shuts down; volunteering begins
00:28:00 — Teaching abroad and finding purpose
00:29:30 — Why education and activism matter more than ever
00:32:20 — Being an outlier in Israeli society
00:34:00 — Raising children toward peace
00:36:00 — Faith, identity, and generational shifts
00:37:20 — The current reality in the West Bank
00:39:40 — Restrictions, fear, and rising violence
00:41:10 — “Are you hopeful?” — Jared’s answer
00:44:15 — Resilience, community, and sacred texts
00:47:20 — Teaching in the U.S. and returning home
00:50:00 — Organizations doing real peace-building work
00:55:20 — Closing reflections: gratitude & the season of light
00:57:10 — Farewell and next steps
