This special episode of the Haaretz Podcast features voices from the September 14 conference held in Toronto jointly sponsored by the New Israel Fund of Canada and JSpace Canada.

The event brought together current and former Israeli and Canadian politicians, journalists, academics with Israeli and Palestinian peace advocates to assess the current troubling conflict in Gaza. Speakers also explore a roadmap for peace, Palestinian sovereignty, the crisis of democracy and growing authoritarianism in Israel and around the world. 

Among those included in the podcast: MKs Ayman Odeh and Naama Lazimi; former Justice Minister Dan Meridor; and Julie Dabrusin, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

In her remarks, Democrats MK Lazimi said the “profound humanitarian disaster” playing out in Gaza is “not only a Palestinian tragedy; it is also a moral stain and a security risk for Israel.” 

Calling for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza, Lazimi said that the only "alternative to terror and war are secure peace agreements.” 

Meridor paired his harsh critique of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s autocratic direction with a call to fight the government’s assault on the Supreme Court and other gatekeepers of democracy. 

All Israelis and those who care about the Jewish state, he said, “should ask himself, as I try to do every day, not only what's going to be the future, but what do I do today to stop it.” 

Read more:

Watch the full conference from Toronto on YouTube

Haaretz conference in New York explores Israel's fractured democracy during Gaza war

IDF says ground incursion into Gaza City has begun; Defense Chief: Gaza is burning

This special episode of the Haaretz Podcast features voices from the September 14 conference held in Toronto jointly sponsored by the New Israel Fund of Canada and JSpace Canada.
The event brought together current and former Israeli and Canadian politicians, journalists, academics with Israeli and Palestinian peace advocates to assess the current troubling conflict in Gaza. Speakers also explore a roadmap for peace, Palestinian sovereignty, the crisis of democracy and growing authoritarianism in Israel and around the world.&nbsp;
Among those included in the podcast: MKs Ayman Odeh and Naama Lazimi; former Justice Minister Dan Meridor; and Julie Dabrusin, Canada&rsquo;s Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
In her remarks, Democrats MK Lazimi said the &ldquo;profound humanitarian disaster&rdquo; playing out in Gaza is &ldquo;not only a Palestinian tragedy; it is also a moral stain and a security risk for Israel.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Calling for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza, Lazimi said that the only "alternative to terror and war are secure peace agreements.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Meridor paired his harsh critique of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&rsquo;s autocratic direction with a call to fight the government&rsquo;s assault on the Supreme Court and other gatekeepers of democracy.&nbsp;
All Israelis and those who care about the Jewish state, he said, &ldquo;should ask himself, as I try to do every day, not only what's going to be the future, but what do I do today to stop it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Read more:
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn6Y_JryaRU">Watch the full conference from Toronto on YouTube</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-09-11/ty-article/.premium/haaretz-conference-in-new-york-explores-israels-fractured-democracy-during-gaza-war/00000199-37d8-d336-addd-7fff5a960000">Haaretz conference in New York explores Israel's fractured democracy during Gaza war</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-09-16/ty-article/.premium/israeli-officials-to-cnn-idf-incursion-into-gaza-city-has-begun/00000199-50ff-d6e0-a7fb-dfff1a660000">IDF says ground incursion into Gaza City has begun; Defense Chief: Gaza is burning</a>

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Your audio guide to Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

Haaretz Podcast

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer. 

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

'Enough war, bloodshed, and destruction':  Israel, Gaza and what comes next 

Before October 7th, Trump’s second term and the election of Zohran Mamdani rocked New York’s Jewish community, Manhattan’s famed 92nd Street Y – like most mainstream Jewish institutions – played it relatively safe when it came to programs about Israel.

Susan Engel, executive producer of the 92nd St. Y Talks, tells the Haaretz Podcast that the famed Manhattan cultural center has undergone “a soul-searching since October 7 around our own Jewish identity and around who we are as a Jewish institution. And I think we've had to double down on our values and what it means to present different views, sometimes critical of Israel – because it's important to hear what someone else who thinks differently” has to say.

Her audiences – in-person and the millions who watch her events online – she believes, greatly “appreciate” the fact that she can bring together people who “really disagree strongly” yet can “have a conversation and be civil.” 

At the same time, she said, the Y – founded as a center for Jewish life and culture in 1874 – experienced a boycott and staff walkouts after October 7 – maintains “red lines.” They will not platform those who have expressed “homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic” views or “if we feel that someone believes that Israel should be destroyed.”

On the podcast, Engel also discusses the big-name cultural, political and Hollywood figures who have taken to the 92nd St. Y stage, including a recent appearance by Rob Reiner, who died tragically earlier this month, the art of creating an intimate space for interviews when millions are watching, and her experience as a judge at the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival. 

Read more:

How October 7 Is Impacting Jewish Cultural Life in America

ADL Accuses Mamdani Transition Members of Engaging in 'Antisemitic, anti-Zionist' Activities

Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival coverage: From NYC to Jerusalem, This Radical Artist Asks 'After the Revolution, Who's Going to Pick Up the Garbage?'

Before October 7th, Trump&rsquo;s second term and the election of Zohran Mamdani rocked New York&rsquo;s Jewish community, Manhattan&rsquo;s famed 92nd Street Y &ndash; like most mainstream Jewish institutions &ndash; played it relatively safe when it came to programs about Israel.
Susan Engel, executive producer of the 92nd St. Y Talks, tells the Haaretz Podcast that the famed Manhattan cultural center has undergone &ldquo;a soul-searching since October 7 around our own Jewish identity and around who we are as a Jewish institution. And I think we've had to double down on our values and what it means to present different views, sometimes critical of Israel &ndash; because it's important to hear what someone else who thinks differently&rdquo; has to say.
Her audiences &ndash; in-person and the millions who watch her events online &ndash; she believes, greatly &ldquo;appreciate&rdquo; the fact that she can bring together people who &ldquo;really disagree strongly&rdquo; yet can &ldquo;have a conversation and be civil.&rdquo;&nbsp;
At the same time, she said, the Y &ndash; founded as a center for Jewish life and culture in 1874 &ndash; experienced a boycott and staff walkouts after October 7 &ndash; maintains &ldquo;red lines.&rdquo; They will not platform those who have expressed &ldquo;homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic&rdquo; views or &ldquo;if we feel that someone believes that Israel should be destroyed.&rdquo;
On the podcast, Engel also discusses the big-name cultural, political and Hollywood figures who have taken to the 92nd St. Y stage, including a recent appearance by Rob Reiner, who died tragically earlier this month, the art of creating an intimate space for interviews when millions are watching, and her experience as a judge at the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival.&nbsp;
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2024-01-04/ty-article-magazine/.premium/too-raw-right-now-how-october-7-is-impacting-jewish-cultural-life-in-america/0000018c-d491-d4e1-ad8f-fcb176030000">How October 7 Is Impacting Jewish Cultural Life in America</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2025-12-22/ty-article/.premium/adl-accuses-mamdani-transition-members-of-antisemitic-anti-zionist-activities/0000019b-47e0-d034-ab9b-c7ef110b0000">ADL Accuses Mamdani Transition Members of Engaging in 'Antisemitic, anti-Zionist' Activities</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/life/2025-12-11/ty-article-magazine/.premium/in-nyc-and-jerusalem-an-artist-asks-after-the-revolution-who-will-pick-up-the-garbage/0000019a-e9f1-d0ea-afff-fbfbc6ef0000">Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival coverage: From NYC to Jerusalem, This Radical Artist Asks 'After the Revolution, Who's Going to Pick Up the Garbage?'</a>

Boycotts and 'red lines': A famed NY Jewish institution grapples with tough post-Oct. 7 questions

Over the past two years, many filmmakers have hesitated or refrained from bringing their films to Israeli film festivals as part of cultural boycott of Israel over the Gaza war.

But for Joshua Zeman, the decision to bring his powerful new documentary “Checkpoint Zoo” to the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival was “merely part and parcel of the whole experience of making a film about something that's been politicized that shouldn’t be politicized.”

Zeman’s film tells the dramatic story of the 2022 rescue of nearly 5,000 animals from the Feldman Ecopark zoo in Ukraine located on the Russian border outside the city of Kharkiv – on the front lines of the war – lovingly built and maintained by an animal-loving Orthodox Jewish oligarch, Oleksandr Feldman.

“There has been a lot of backlash against Ukraine here in the States, even though the film is just about people rescuing animals, so the film was already complicated for me in terms of getting distribution,” Zeman said on the Haaretz Podcast. 

“Checkpoint Zoo” chronicles the efforts of Feldman, a handful of zoo workers who did not flee Kharkiv during the war and four idealistic volunteers as they risked their lives under fire from drones and bombs to remove lions, tigers, monkeys, ostriches and other animals out of from harm’s way in a modern-day Noah’s Ark. 

“War by definition is brutality created to strip away your humanity. But in rescuing these animals, these volunteers not only refound their humanity, but found this unbelievable well of courage.”

Zeman sees Feldman – who allowed his luxurious mansion to be taken over by the rescued animals  – as “a Schindler-esque character.” 

After Feldman’s businesses in Kharkiv were destroyed by the war, he was forced to “basically sell everything to care for these animals,” Zeman recounted. “Whenever we talked about the animals, he immediately cried. He's a big crier – he is a fascinating character who espouses a lot of values from the Torah.”

Read more:

Meet Oleksander Feldman, the Lonely Ukrainian Jew Fighting His Country’s New Fondness for Nazis

'It Is a Fascist Project': The Ukrainian Filmmaker Who Withdrew From a Prestigious Amsterdam Film Festival Because of the Israel Boycott

Read all of Haaretz's film coverage

Russian Strikes Destroy Centers of Jewish Life in Kharkiv as Community Members Flee

The Tragic End of the Ukrainian Community in Gaza

Over the past two years, many filmmakers have hesitated or refrained from bringing their films to Israeli film festivals as part of cultural boycott of Israel over the Gaza war.
But for Joshua Zeman, the decision to bring his powerful new documentary &ldquo;Checkpoint Zoo&rdquo; to the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival was &ldquo;merely part and parcel of the whole experience of making a film about something that's been politicized that shouldn&rsquo;t be politicized.&rdquo;
Zeman&rsquo;s film tells the dramatic story of the 2022 rescue of nearly 5,000 animals from the Feldman Ecopark zoo in Ukraine located on the Russian border outside the city of Kharkiv &ndash; on the front lines of the war &ndash; lovingly built and maintained by an animal-loving Orthodox Jewish oligarch, Oleksandr Feldman.
&ldquo;There has been a lot of backlash against Ukraine here in the States, even though the film is just about people rescuing animals, so the film was already complicated for me in terms of getting distribution,&rdquo; Zeman said on the Haaretz Podcast.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Checkpoint Zoo&rdquo; chronicles the efforts of Feldman, a handful of zoo workers who did not flee Kharkiv during the war and four idealistic volunteers as they risked their lives under fire from drones and bombs to remove lions, tigers, monkeys, ostriches and other animals out of from harm&rsquo;s way in a modern-day Noah&rsquo;s Ark.&nbsp;
&ldquo;War by definition is brutality created to strip away your humanity. But in rescuing these animals, these volunteers not only refound their humanity, but found this unbelievable well of courage.&rdquo;
Zeman sees Feldman &ndash; who allowed his luxurious mansion to be taken over by the rescued animals &nbsp;&ndash; as &ldquo;a Schindler-esque character.&rdquo;&nbsp;
After Feldman&rsquo;s businesses in Kharkiv were destroyed by the war, he was forced to &ldquo;basically sell everything to care for these animals,&rdquo; Zeman recounted. &ldquo;Whenever we talked about the animals, he immediately cried. He's a big crier &ndash; he is a fascinating character who espouses a lot of values from the Torah.&rdquo;
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/2018-12-06/ty-article/meet-the-lonely-ukranian-jew-fighting-his-countrys-new-fondness-for-nazis/0000017f-f452-d47e-a37f-fd7ee25a0000">Meet Oleksander Feldman, the Lonely Ukrainian Jew Fighting His Country&rsquo;s New Fondness for Nazis</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/life/2025-12-01/ty-article-magazine/.premium/it-is-a-fascist-practice-the-filmmaker-who-withdrew-from-idfa-because-of-israel-boycott/0000019a-d466-d557-a7df-dfeeb3270000">'It Is a Fascist Project': The Ukrainian Filmmaker Who Withdrew From a Prestigious Amsterdam Film Festival Because of the Israel Boycott</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/life/film">Read all of Haaretz's film coverage</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/2022-03-03/ty-article/.premium/russian-strikes-destroy-centers-of-jewish-life-in-kharkiv-as-community-members-flee/0000017f-dba1-df9c-a17f-ffb983830000">Russian Strikes Destroy Centers of Jewish Life in Kharkiv as Community Members Flee</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2024-03-20/ty-article-magazine/.premium/the-end-of-the-ukrainian-community-of-gaza/0000018e-5c88-d43f-a99f-ff8d8bbd0000">The Tragic End of the Ukrainian Community in Gaza</a>

‘Schindler for the animals’: How a Jewish oligarch rescued 5,000 zoo animals from the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war

Australian Jews are “shocked but not surprised” by the “horrific” mass shooting on Bondi Beach, which turned a Hanukkah celebration into a tragic massacre, Australian Jewish leader Lynda Ben-Menashe said on the Haaretz Podcast. 

In the two years since the October 7 attack in Israel, the Australian Jewish community “begged” their government officials to enforce laws against incitement and hate speech, which has led to an unprecedented spike in antisemitic violence. But, she said, the government’s response has been “lip service” but “no real consequences.”

“Our prime minister has said that he was distressed and shocked,” said Ben-Menashe, the head of Australia’s National Council of Jewish Women. “The Jewish community has been distressed for the past two years at the lack of action from the government, and also at the growing lack of safety that we have felt. And so we weren't shocked that this happened.”

Also on the podcast, Haaretz senior defense analyst Amos Harel reports on the numerous warnings passed by Israeli intelligence agencies to the Australian government, warning of the growing terrorist threats in their country. 

Harel also commented on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s reaction to the Bondi Beach attack – namely blaming Australia’s leaders for their failure to prevent it. 

Harel said it was “hard to resist noticing [the] paradox regarding the fact that Israeli ministers were so quick to blame the Australian government for its failures and note their responsibility for what has happened, while they're insisting that Netanyahu holds no blame whatsoever for what happened two years ago” on October 7.

Read more:

Analysis by Amos Harel | After the Deadly Attack at Bondi Beach, Israel Warns: Sydney Won't Be the Last Target

The First Deadly Attack Against Jews in Australia Follows Two Years of Unprecedented Antisemitism

Albanese Rejects Netanyahu Linking Palestinian State to Deadly Bondi Beach Attack

The Victims of the Bondi Beach Hanukkah Celebration Shooting

From March 2025: 'It Will Only Get Worse': Why These Australian Jews Are Leaving Down Under

Australian Jews are &ldquo;shocked but not surprised&rdquo; by the &ldquo;horrific&rdquo; mass shooting on Bondi Beach, which turned a Hanukkah celebration into a tragic massacre, Australian Jewish leader Lynda Ben-Menashe said on the Haaretz Podcast.&nbsp;
In the two years since the October 7 attack in Israel, the Australian Jewish community &ldquo;begged&rdquo; their government officials to enforce laws against incitement and hate speech, which has led to an unprecedented spike in antisemitic violence. But, she said, the government&rsquo;s response has been &ldquo;lip service&rdquo; but &ldquo;no real consequences.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Our prime minister has said that he was distressed and shocked,&rdquo; said Ben-Menashe, the head of Australia&rsquo;s National Council of Jewish Women. &ldquo;The Jewish community has been distressed for the past two years at the lack of action from the government, and also at the growing lack of safety that we have felt. And so we weren't shocked that this happened.&rdquo;
Also on the podcast, Haaretz senior defense analyst Amos Harel reports on the numerous warnings passed by Israeli intelligence agencies to the Australian government, warning of the growing terrorist threats in their country.&nbsp;
Harel also commented on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government&rsquo;s reaction to the Bondi Beach attack &ndash; namely blaming Australia&rsquo;s leaders for their failure to prevent it.&nbsp;
Harel said it was &ldquo;hard to resist noticing [the] paradox regarding the fact that Israeli ministers were so quick to blame the Australian government for its failures and note their responsibility for what has happened, while they're insisting that Netanyahu holds no blame whatsoever for what happened two years ago&rdquo; on October 7.
Read more:
Analysis by Amos Harel |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-12-15/ty-article/.premium/after-the-deadly-attack-at-bondi-beach-israel-warns-sydney-wont-be-the-last-target/0000019b-1e5c-d93d-a5fb-3e5ff8cb0000">After the Deadly Attack at Bondi Beach, Israel Warns: Sydney Won't Be the Last Target</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2025-12-14/ty-article-magazine/.premium/the-first-deadly-attack-against-australian-jews-follows-two-years-of-spiking-antisemitism/0000019b-1d79-d93d-a5fb-3f7b0a070000">The First Deadly Attack Against Jews in Australia Follows Two Years of Unprecedented Antisemitism</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/2025-12-15/ty-article/.premium/albanese-rejects-netanyahu-linking-palestinian-state-to-deadly-bondi-beach-attack/0000019b-2186-d93d-a5fb-33dfd3b10000">Albanese Rejects Netanyahu Linking Palestinian State to Deadly Bondi Beach Attack</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/asia-and-australia/2025-12-14/ty-article/.premium/these-are-the-victims-of-the-bondi-beach-hanukkah-celebration-shooting/0000019b-1e3b-d964-a59f-3f7babfd0000">The Victims of the Bondi Beach Hanukkah Celebration Shooting</a>
From March 2025: <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/asia-and-australia/2025-03-02/ty-article-magazine/.premium/it-will-only-get-worse-why-these-australian-jews-are-leaving-down-under/00000195-5616-d965-a395-5637595f0000">'It Will Only Get Worse': Why These Australian Jews Are Leaving Down Under</a>

'Enough war, bloodshed, and destruction': Israel, Gaza and what comes next

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