Live program now completed. Watch on YouTube with links below.

Original Programming by ARZA Canada, hosted by Temple Emanu-El

Especially for parents and grandparents wanting to better converse across the generations, Josh Scharff takes us on an engaging four-part dive into the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Josh Scharff is an American-Israeli Jewish educator. He is currently pursuing rabbinical ordination at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. Simultaneously, he is completing his Master's degree in Jewish History at The Hebrew University. Josh has a Bachelor's degree in history from Yale University.

 
Sunday, January 30

Session #1 - The Origins of "the Conflict": 1880's-1948
We go back to pre-state times and consider the early origins of the conflict: days and events that are left out of the framing and narrative as it's told today. We will look at Jewish nationalism (Zionism) and Arab nationalism, the shift from Ottoman to British control over the Land of Israel, and the major events of the 1930s and '40s that shaped the birth of the State of Israel. 

Watch Session #1 on YouTube
 
 

Sunday, February 6

Session #2 - The Conflict and Statehood: 1948-1980's
With the foundation of the State of Israel, the Conflict began to take on new dimensions. We discuss the twin refugee issues that occurred in the wake of the War of Independence. Then we trace Israeli history through its wars of survival and explore how the changing realities shaped the conflict. 

 Watch Session #2 on YouTube

Sunday, February 13

Session #3 - The Conflict and the Peace Process: 1987-2010
An era of contradictions: hope and fear, optimism and terror, Intifadas and peace accords. We look back at the recent past and look at the upheavals that both Israelis and Palestinians faced during this time and the central events that are at the forefront of collective memory that influence opinion today. 

 Watch Session #3 on YouTube

Sunday, February 27

Session #4 - The Conflict Today: 2010-today  
In our last session, we trace the events of the last ten years. We focus on internal Israeli and Palestinian politics and consider the future of this conflict as Israeli's existence is normalized in the Middle East. We also look at misconceptions and misrepresentations of the conflict. 

 Watch Session #4 on YouTube