Shows
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Israel vs. IranSend us a textFor this special episode, Esti Zenati is joined by Beth El's Ben Kreshtool and Jill Suffel. They talk about the current war between Israel and Iran, the surprising support for Israel from the Middle East and what to do if you're currently stranded in Israel as a tourist and may be feeling a little scared. Have any questions about the current war? Please ask us on our social media platform, we're happy to answer!
2025-06-1831 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Israeli Ambassador - Dr. Yechiel LeiterSend us a text In this episode, Esti Zenati interviews Dr. Yechiel Leiter, the 21st Israeli Ambassador to the United States. Ambassador Leiter reflects on his return to public service after the tragic loss of his son, Major Moshe Leiter, who was killed leading IDF forces into Gaza on November 10, 2023. He outlines his key goals as ambassador, including defending Israel’s legitimacy during a seven-front war, strengthening bipartisan U.S. support, and uniting the diverse American Jewish community. The conversation also touches on the May 21st shooting of two Israeli diplomats, Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, and the...
2025-06-1139 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: I Survived the Nova Festival Attack - Mazal TazazoSend us a textIn this episode of the Israel Connection, Esti Zenati interviews Mazal Tazazo, a survivor of the brutal terrorist attacks at the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023. Mazal, a 35-year-old mother from Southern Israel, recounts her life before the incident, the harrowing details of the attack, and how she survived while losing her two close friends. She shares her journey towards healing and resilience, driven by the need to provide a better future for her son and tells all about the dear friends she lost and what they meant for her. Mazal also discusses her...
2025-05-2832 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Matan Peretz - Influencing through ComedySend us a textEsti Zenati interviews Israeli stand-up comedian, content creator and IDF reservist, Matan Peretz. They discuss Matan's comedy journey, the therapeutic role of comedy - particularly during the war, and his rise to global recognition. Matan also shares insights from his recent visit to concentration camps in Poland, his thoughts on Joe Rogan's comments on Israel and his plans for future performances in the U.S.
2025-05-1841 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Rabbi Dana Saroken, Back by Popular Demand!Send us a textIn this episode of the Israel Connection, Esti Zenati revisits with Rabbi Dana Saroken, Beth El's own rabbi and founder of the Soul Center. They explore her inspiring journey from aspiring doctor to spiritual leader, discuss her efforts to connect Israel and America, and the importance of making Judaism relevant for all ages. They also delve into the power of storytelling in Jewish identity and the challenges faced by Jewish students on college campuses.
2025-05-0857 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Erin MolanSend us a textEsti Zenati sits down with a very special guest, Erin Molan—renowned Australian TV and radio presenter, and former host of the prime-time show Erin on Sky News. Widely recognized for her unwavering support of Israel and the Jewish community, Erin shares the story behind her viral monologue that not only captured global attention but deeply moved hearts in Israel. She opens up about life after Sky News, her steadfast commitment to standing with Israel and the Jewish people, and her resolve to remain on the right side of history. Erin also offers a...
2025-04-2844 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Israel's Story with Guy Flavian and Iris HillelSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by two special guests straight from Israel: Guy Flavian and Iris Hillel, co-heads of the Israel's Story initiative. Israel's Story was a hasbara project launched immediately after the October 7 attacks, rapidly growing to involve over 200 volunteers and spreading across social media platforms in multiple languages. The initiative’s goal was to advocate for Israel and promote its perspective during a particularly turbulent time. In this conversation, Guy and Iris share their experiences within the world of hasbara, offering insights into the challenges they faced while managing such an urgent an...
2025-04-0938 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Yuval DavidSend us a textEsti Zenati speaks with Yuval David, an Emmy-winning Israeli-American journalist, actor, and LGBT activist. They discuss Yuval’s advocacy for Israel, the Jewish community, and LGBT rights, as well as his role in promoting Jewish representation in media. The conversation explores his experiences in the entertainment industry as a Jewish Israeli-American, particularly after the events of October 7, 2023, and the impact on perceptions of Israel.
2025-03-3051 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Elkana CohenSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by guest, Elkana Cohen, author of the book OCT 7: The War Against Hamas Through the Eyes of an Israeli Commando Officer, which is based on Elkana's diary entries during the war in Gaza. Esti and Elkana talk about his personal experience of what it's like serving in the IDF since October 7, 2023 and being on the battlefield in Northern Gaza for over a year, experiencing major losses of close friends and becoming a father for the first time. Elkana's book mentioned above is available f...
2025-03-2036 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: AJ EdelmanSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by Israeli-American Winter Olympian AJ Edelman for an insightful conversation about his journey to Israel and his path to the Winter Olympics. AJ shares his experience making aliyah to Israel in 2016, his journey to the 2018 Winter Olympics, and his preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics with his Bobsled team, BobTeam Edelman. The discussion also delves into AJ's advocacy for Israel over the past year and a half, highlighting the personal and professional impact his advocacy has had on his life and career. To support BobTeam Edelman and learn...
2025-03-1036 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Moran Stela YanaiSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by special guest, Moran Stela Yanai. Moran was held hostage by Hamas for 54 days, after being kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023, and released on November 29, 2023, during the first hostage release deal. They talk about Moran's October 7, her experience in captivity and her hopes and dreams for the near future, for herself and for the remaining hostages.
2025-02-2741 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Ran Bar-YoshafatSend us a text Esti Zenati hosts attorney Ran Bar-Yoshafat, who also serves in the IDF reserves as a combat Special Forces soldier. Ran shares his experience fighting in Gaza, Northern Israel, and Judea & Samaria since October 7, 2023, all while balancing life as a newlywed and a first-time father, having spent over 250 days on the battlefield. They also discuss Ran's role as a speaker on US college campuses, focusing on his experience at UC Berkeley, where rioters interrupted and shut down his event.
2025-02-1142 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Here's Modi!Send us a textEsti Zenati is joined by guest co-host, Ben Kreshtool, and special guest, comedian Modi Rosenfeld! They talk about Modi's career in comedy, his favorite places to perform in Israel and his current US tour, Pause for Laughter.Modi will be performing in Baltimore at The Lyric on Sunday, March 2. Get your tickets at modilive.com.
2025-01-2829 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Dalia ZiadaSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by Dalia Ziada, Egyptian award-winning writer and political analyst specializing in governance, geopolitics, and defense policy in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. They discuss Dalia's support for Israel and its fight against radical Islam, the Arab world's relationship with Israel, Dalia's partnership with Hillel International and more.
2024-10-2932 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Jonah PlattSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by special guest, Jonah Platt. Jonah is an actor, artist, Jewish advocate for Israel and the Jewish people, and the host of his newly released podcast, Being Jewish with Jonah Platt. Jonah and Esti talk about being Jewish in today's climate, Hollywood's silence when it comes to Israel & the "ceasefire" letter debacle, and Jonah's new podcast and how it came to be.
2024-10-0130 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Meet Blake FlaytonSend us a textSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by Jewish writer, activist and co-host of the We Should All Be Zionists podcast with Dr. Einat Wilf. They talk about Blake's activism experience and why he has chosen to be active in the fight against antisemitism, Zionism, his recent aliyah and more!
2024-09-0536 min
The Beth El Podcast NetworkThe Israel Connection: Meet Blake FlaytonSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by Jewish writer, activist and co-host of the We Should All Be Zionists podcast with Dr. Einat Wilf. They talk about Blake's activism experience and why he has chosen to be active in the fight against antisemitism, Zionism, his recent aliyah and more!
2024-09-0536 min
The Beth El Podcast NetworkThe Israel Connection: Dr. Einat WilfSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by a special guest, Dr. Einat Wilf. They discuss the importance of Zionism, the right path to peace in the Middle East, and her latest book, We Should All Be Zionists.
2024-08-0728 min
The Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Dr. Einat WilfSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by a special guest, Dr. Einat Wilf. They discuss the importance of Zionism, the right path to peace in the Middle East, and her latest book, We Should All Be Zionists.
2024-08-0628 min
The Beth El Podcast NetworkThe Israel Connection - Idan TzameretSend us a textEsti Zenati and Ben Kreshtool talk to our special guest, Idan Tzameret, owner of Kitchen Design by Idan on Falls Rd in Baltimore and Beth El member, about the experience he had with antisemitism in early May, his life as an Israeli, including his years in the IDF, and the current war.
2024-05-2341 minThe Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Idan TzameretSend us a textEsti Zenati and Ben Kreshtool talk to our special guest, Idan Tzameret, owner of Kitchen Design by Idan on Falls Rd in Baltimore and Beth El member, about the experience he had with antisemitism in early May, his life as an Israeli, including his years in the IDF, and the current war.
2024-05-2341 minThe Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Ongoing College Campuses in CrisisSend us a textEsti Zenati and Ben Kreshtool discuss the ongoing antisemitism crisis on college campuses, the Israeli hostages and more.
2024-04-2526 min
The Beth El Podcast NetworkThe Israel Connection - Ongoing College Campuses in CrisisSend us a textEsti Zenati and Ben Kreshtool discuss the ongoing antisemitism crisis on college campuses, the Israeli hostages and more.
2024-04-2526 min
The Beth El Podcast NetworkThe Israel Connection - Dan RozettSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by friend and past co-worker in Israel, Dan Rozett, Director of Community Relations & Israel Engagement at the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey. They talk about Dan's current experience at his job, his past as an IDF combat, and the alarming rise in antisemitism throughout the USA and the world.
2024-03-2728 minThe Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Dan RozettSend us a textEsti Zenati is joined by friend and past co-worker in Israel, Dan Rozett, Director of Community Relations & Israel Engagement at the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey. They talk about Dan's current experience at his job, his past as an IDF combat, and the alarming rise in antisemitism throughout the USA and the world.
2024-03-2728 min
The Beth El Podcast NetworkThe Israel Connection - Dr. Larry WeissSend us a textDr. Larry Weiss spent several months in Israel, serving as a medical volunteer with Magen David Adom. This week, Dr. Weiss joins Esti Zenati on The Israel Connection to discuss his experience.
2024-02-2218 minThe Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: Dr. Larry WeissSend us a textDr. Larry Weiss spent several months in Israel, serving as a medical volunteer with Magen David Adom. This week, Dr. Weiss joins Esti Zenati on The Israel Connection to discuss his experience.
2024-02-2218 min
The Beth El Podcast NetworkThe Israel Connection - "52 hours in Israel"Send us a text52 hours in Israel - Rabbi Dana Saroken discusses her recent trip to Israel and Esti Zenati reflects on life in the United States since October 7.
2023-12-1220 minThe Israel ConnectionThe Israel Connection: 52 hours in IsraelSend us a text52 hours in Israel - Rabbi Dana Saroken discusses her recent trip to Israel and Esti Zenati reflects on life in the United States since October 7.
2023-12-1120 min