Jonny Gould's Jewish State

When it comes to Israel, there’s no more powerful a journalistic voice across the Arab world than Edy Cohen. This is his one-man story. You likely won’t have heard of Edy, but note the name, because he tweets mostly in Arabic. Edy has half a million X followers, almost exclusively in the Middle East and North Africa. Educating, informing, entertaining, even mocking Arabs in the colloquial language of the street - his mother tongue. He was born in Beirut in Lebanon, as were his parents and grandparents. fluent in Arabic, French and fine in English as you’ll hear, his engaging style gets him loads of airtime across MENA. The Israeli Ministry of Exterior find his outreach powers annoying and exclude him from their work. Perhaps his less than diplomatic approach to reportage is the key reason. But the truth is he exists in this social media era and he cuts through into Arab eyes and ears. Listen now to this serious BUT unofficial Hasbara giant. Help support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State (including Gift Aid) at https

This unique Jewish and Israeli podcast goes from strength-to-strength, attracting a worldwide audience in all four corners. Jonny's upped the pace of episode releases since the turn of the year. Have you listened recently? Time for a catchup! Subscribe and listen at http://www.linktr.ee/Gould Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Tuvia Tenenbom’s in London, it’s always a pleasure to catch up with him. The Taming of the Jew, Tuvia’s book on British antisemitism and Anglo Jewry’s approach to it was showcased at London’s Jewish Book Week. And while his dim view of British Jewish leadership is pretty much the same as when he was finalising his findings back in 2019, the world has moved on and he has plenty of new observations to make. His view of progressives and woke culture, the standard of journalism across the western world and the sudden outbreak of war in the Ukraine are all covered in another gripping and vital conversation. Listen here to the one and only, Tuvia Tenenbom. Jonny Gould’s Jewish State is brought to you with UK Toremet. Help support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State (including Gift Aid) at https://www.donorbox.org/jgpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What an excitement to have a very sudden opportunity to talk to Professor Dershowitz. My friend Lawrence Ryz dropped him an email on my behalf, he said “yes”, I sent him a Zoom and off we went. And the conversation was as vibrant as it was rich in anecdotes. Just need to talk to him again after this. Among the Jeffrey Epstein/Prince Andrew trial, we discuss how free speech is being imperilled on university campus and he accuses BBC News of “advocacy not journalism”. He also tells a great golf joke about the Lubavitcher rebbe! All human life is here, listen now to Professor Alan Dershowitz. Help support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State (including Gift Aid) at https://www.donorbox.org/jgpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support Jonny and buy him a coffee. Yosef Haddad and Emily Schrader educate the world and rebut the lies told about the State of Israel. They’re an Israeli couple who are engaged to be married, but that doesn't mean they're a Jewish couple. Yoseph is an Arab Israeli from Nazareth while Emily, who’s Jewish is originally from Seattle, Washington in the US. They are both implacably committed to the Jewish and democratic State of Israel. Yoseph volunteered three years of his life to serve in the IDF (in the elite Golani battalion) and Emily made Aliyah when she was 23. They are highly regarded throughout the world for confronting the misinformation that libels the Jewish state in media, parliaments and educational elites every day. They came to London, where they met the Israeli ambassador, Tzipi Hotovely and headed to London’s Speaker’s Corner to take on antizionists and terrorist supporters. They then flew to Ireland and Yoseph spoke in the Irish parliament. This is an in-depth conversation in which we talk mov

“I’m a proud Babylonian Jew”. Carol Isaacs is an author, cartoonist, accordionist and keyboard player. This is a wonderful creation matched by a wonderful conversation with Carol. And she’s poured every part of her extraordinary musical and graphic gifts into recounting her family‘s history in Babylon across 2,600 years. “The Wolf of Baghdad” is a vivid, vital recollection of Jewish life and culture stretching back generation after generation in what is now modern day Iraq. Jews lived there long before Christianity and Islam spread among its people. Our episode includes the stirring music, created and performed by Carol in a conversation detailing her inspirations and the drive behind creating it. Both the Wolf of Baghdad and Jonny Gould’s Jewish State are proudly supported by Dangoor Education. All the music in today’s episode is performed and composed by Carol Isaacs. Buy the

As Israel's skies reopened to the world, it was time to reacaquaint ourselves with Israel's national airline, El Al. This is the story of two torrid years for the airline industry, just as things were getting really good for air travel in early 2020. So how did El Al deal with the darkest days of Covid lockdown, what lessons did they learn from this unprecedented business crisis - and what's in store for passengers now we're all invited back on board? Meet El Al Israel Airline's Oranit Bethalachmi, regional manager for Western Europe and Africa as Israel's skies reopen. Book your flight now at elal.co.uk And help suppport Jonny's podcasts by buying him a coffee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the Prime Minister fended off opposition derision and revolt from a few of his own backbenchers with his statement on Sue Gray’s pandemic partying, I was upstairs awaiting our guest who was in the chamber listening to Boris’ party piece. But it was peace of quite another kind I’d come to Parliament to talk about - with The Right Honorable Dr Liam Fox MP, chair of the UK Abraham Accords Group. The Abraham Accords is a pact which normalises relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. We discuss the rapid pace of change it’s bringing to the Middle East, how Dr. Fox explains Britain’s role "on the front foot" and speaking as a former Trade and Industry Secretary in charge of negotiating new trade arrangements, how strategic it is to Britain in the post-Brexit era. Jonny produces these podcasts for free. You can help support the show with Gift Aid at https://www.donorbox.org/jgpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Saul Singer and Dan Senor imagine their best-selling book, Start-up Nation, would reframe Israel’s brand - even its perception - right across the world? The book describes our guest today as “one of Israel’s legendary business ambassadors… whose taken on a role that anywhere else, would typically belong to the Chamber of Commerce, Minister of Trade, or Foreign Secretary.” But what is it that drives Israel’s extraordinary economic miracle and investability? And what extra dividends will peace and normalisation with the Arab world bring to the Middle East? Welcome to Jonny Gould’s Jewish State, Jon Medved, CEO of Our Crowd. This episode is not sponsored by Our Crowd, but you can support Jonny here if you like his insights and interviews about Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a member of a mainstream Orthodox Jewish community? Do you regard yourself as a “liberal” whether your political views are left or right? How should we include Jewish LGBTQ+ people in our communities? At the moment, they live on the fringes of the mainstream, neither included or excluded. Is that fair? Would it be so difficult to accommodate or recognise a union of two Jewish people of the same sex? Or would it bring the whole tent of Jewish values down with it? Is it the job of Judaism to resist secular trends - or is acceptance of same sex unions permanent societal progress? I’m putting this out there because the life choices presented to people in society clash with traditional, mainstream Jewish organisations, if not the values of the Jewish people who make up their membership. Ben M Freeman is a thoughtful, respectful, proud Jew and Zionist, who’s adding a key voice and ideas to the community. This is also about every Jew expressing pride in themselves and to resist non-Jewish perceptions of who

What has happened to American foreign policy since Joe Biden took the presidency from Donald Trump? Is every despot in the world emboldened by the shocking withdrawal from Afghanistan? And what does this mean to Israel as it faces the existential threat of Iran edging closer to nuclear capability? As the latest round of JCPOA talks between Iran and the US continue in Vienna, Israel correspondent James Marlow brings his latest “Israel Briefing 4” to Jonny Gould’s Jewish State. Help support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State (including Gift Aid) at https://www.donorbox.org/jgpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Help support Jonny with a coffee right here. He’s been the youngest ever chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee with a military career served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tom Tugendhat MBE MP is an Arabic speaker and a fervent supporter of Israel who names of one the Jewish state’s Prime Ministers as a political hero(ine), Golda Meir. He takes this opportunity to pay tribute to the small band of Jewish soldiers serving in the British military. This episode remembers Lieutenant Paul Mervis from the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, who was killed near Sangin in northern Helmand, Afghanistan in June 2009. He’s campaigning for the Law of Treason to apply to terrorist atrocities committed at home by British citizens after the unspeakable murders of fellow MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox and according to our mutual friend, Nick Timothy, former chief of staff at number 10, he’d make a great Foreign Secretary. I met Tom for the first time a few months before this interview as he helped launch EMAN, the Extremist Monitori

Help Jonny make these podcasts: buy him a morale boosting coffee here! A crowd of around 250 gathered to hear Gideon Falter of the Campaign Against Antisemitism demand of the BBC, “Where is the proof? Tell the truth”. This is about a bus load of Jewish people heading down London’s Oxford Street in high spirits, dancing and singing celebrating Chanukah - only to be attacked by an aggressive group of men shouting anti-Zionist jibes, banging their shoes against the bus windows and panels, performing Nazi sieg heil salutes and then chasing the bus down the road. But the BBC covered the incident claiming they’d heard conclusive proof of an anti-Muslim slur which had come from inside the bus. All this from a video recorded by someone in the vehicle. BBC London TV went further and broadcast speculation that the slur might’ve even triggered the group of men into attacking the bus in the first place. Joining Gideon on the stage was Fiyaz Mughal OBE of Muslims Against Antisemitism who reminded the crowd that bias again

Beatie Deutsch, elite marathon runner, Israel’s three-time national champion, Olympic and World Championships hopeful, face of the Adidas “Impossible is Nothing” campaign - and Orthodox Charedi mother of FIVE. She won the Tiberias Marathon, which she called “a useful practice run”. Her running style and extraordinary pace isn’t the first thing one notices. She wears modest clothing and covers her hair while she runs. Her values attracted Adidas to seek her out, joining Lionel Messi, David Beckham and Beyoncé on the roster. For a multinational corporate that usually shies away from G-d and spirituality, this is quite the departure. In this extraordinary episode, Beatie also discusses manifestation as part of spiritual and psychological race preparation.

Support thirsty Jonny's podcasting when you buy him a coffee here. President of Israel Isaac Herzog’s visit to Great Britain in November 2021 set a new high mark in the nation-to-nation relationship. His Excellency met the Prince and Princess of Wales, who themselves just returned from a Royal tour of the Middle East in Jordan and Egypt and an exhibition at Chelsea FC, honouring elite Jewish athletes murdered in the Holocaust, President Herzog departs the chair of the Jewish Agency to become Israel’s head of state, pledging to strengthen diaspora ties to his nation. As you’ll hear his family spent over a century in the UK before moving to Israel and says his British-Jewish heritage shapes his identity and his mission as President. Support thirsty Jonny's podcasting when you buy him a coffee here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonny's podcast is thirsty work. Help by buying him a coffee here! Today’s guest is the UK Ambassador to Israel, His Excellency Neil Wigan. Britain and Israel have never been closer. Values are converging in the post-Brexit and the Abraham Accords eras: two nation states with common values, industries and defence challenges. And Ambassador Wigan is the embodiment of that; he’s married to an Israeli, Yael and they have two children. There’s some straight talk coming up in this episode, like when is the British embassy joining the US in Jerusalem? But he’s under no illusion of the existential threat posed by Hamas and others in the south and Hezbollah in the north.

Ambassador Dr. Michael Oren: solider, diplomat, ambassador, politician, author, journalist, opinion leader. Dr. Oren was Israel’s ambassador to the US for four years until 2013, during fraught years where allies felt a personal enmity to one other, President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Born into small town upstate New York in 1955, young Michael swapped the wealth and confidence of post-war America for a front seat in what he calls the nation of miracles. His childhood was influenced by his father and uncle’s US Army service in World War II and the terrible discovery of what the Nazi enemy had done to the Jews of Europe. But young Michael set about mapping out his life ambition to be Israel’s ambassador to the States, making Aliyah at 24. And for all the challenges Israel faces, Michael’s arch-optimism is based on lessons from Jewish history.

In this special Israel Briefing number 3, Jonny Gould’s Jewish State Israel Correspondent, James Marlow joins us to talk about the race to become the next Jewish Agency chair. The Jewish Agency is the bridge between the diaspora and Israel and prospective candidates are keener than ever to build and sustain relationships between Jews at home and abroad. You’ll hear the latest from James as the race hots up and from two frontrunners for Israel’s most important job behind that of the country’s President and Prime Minister. Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur Hassan Nahoum and His Excellency Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013. Isaac Herzog stepped down as chairman in July 2021 to be sworn in as the 11th president of the State of Israel. Support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is Jonny Gould’s Jewish State live on stage at JW3. Had it not been for the pesky pandemic, live shows would’ve been a far more frequent occurrence for yours truly. So it’s with great pleasure that we present this show in aid of Jewish Blind and Disabled with Robert Rinder LIVE in the main theatre at JW3. In this frank and funny conversation, Rob reveals how his hit daytime show, Judge Rinder was originally pitched as a remake of 70s courtroom drama, Crown Court. He also discusses his lifechanging attitudes from his deeply moving episode of “Who Do You Think You Are”, which told the story of his grandfather’s miraculous escape from a Nazi death camp. And there's more than a smattering of Yiddish in our exchanges - and the customary debate over their precise meanings! It’s not too late to make a donation to Jewish Blind & Disabled. On the night we raised a phenomenal £95,000 in the room. Donate now at https://www.jbd.org/donate And you can support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State too (including Gift Aid) at htt

March 2025: I am very sad to hear of Dore Gold’s passing and as tribute, here is a re-release of our discussion as way of remembering his sharp mind and sizeable place in Israel’s history. Ambassador Dr. Dore Gold has spent his professional life as a diplomat and trusted senior prime ministerial advisor pursuing peace and security for Israel with willing Arab partners. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, he lives in Jerusalem with his wife and family. Dore Gold was Israel’s ambassador’s to the UN in the late 90s. He advised on the Madrid peace conference in 1991 before leading Likud’s dialogue with the Hashemite kingdom in Jordan which led to peace in 1994. This was a direct response to the ruling Labour Party’s dialogue with the PLO. Ambassador Gold was also a key figure in the closure of the PLO’s office in East Jerusalem, a concession insisted upon as Israel opened talks with Yasser Arafat as part of the Oslo Accords. Since the turn of the millennium, he’s been president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Aff