Mael Time With Daniel Mael

In this episode of the Mael Time Podcast , Gon Soussana and Rona Epstein share firsthand testimony from October 7, when terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz of Kfar Aza and turned a place that felt deeply safe into a battlefield. Gon recounts waking up with his wife and infant son before taking up arms to defend his community, while Rona reflects on the devastating personal loss her family endured t...

In this conversation, Sagiv Asulin, a former Mossad operative, argues that the Iranian regime is entering a clear and accelerating phase of collapse driven by internal decay rather than external military pressure. He points to unprecedented nationwide protests, a young generation that is increasingly secular and openly hostile to clerical rule, and a regime that is steadily losing legitimacy, cohe...

At a time when grief is too often turned into spectacle, the Widows of Warriors project offers a radically different model—one rooted in listening, restraint, and respect. In this conversation, Rabbi Moshe Rothschild explains why every decision begins with what the widows themselves ask for, not what looks compelling to donors or cameras. The project prioritizes dignity, mental health, and communi...

This episode examines why transparency and accountability are essential to the moral credibility of Jewish charitable organizations. Drawing on public financial filings and documented statements, it explains why asking hard questions is neither smearing nor anti-Jewish, but a necessary responsibility to the community. The discussion challenges the notion that good intentions excuse misleading prac...

It's the right thing to do.

In this episode, Rabbi Mark Wildes reflects on the mission of the Manhattan Jewish Experience and why Jewish engagement is resurging in the wake of October 7. He explores how moments of crisis have pushed many young, less-affiliated Jews to ask deeper questions about identity, tradition, and belonging, and why education—not slogans—is the key to meaningful connection. Wildes discusses the enduring...

Rabbi Shai Graucher joins the Mael Time podcast for an unfiltered discussion about his war efforts and the public nature of giving charity.

Turning Mourning into Mission is not a slogan for the Goodman family; it is a lived commitment forged in loss. After the death of Yosef Goodman while serving in the Israeli army, his family confronted a question that haunts so many bereaved families: what comes after the shiva ends and the world moves on. Their answer became Just One Simcha , a quiet but powerful movement dedicated to ensuring tha...

On this episode of the Mael Time Podcast, Daniel Mael sits down with Ruby Chen, the father of fallen IDF soldier Itay Chen, for a raw, unsparing conversation about grief, truth, and moral responsibility after October 7. This is not a political talking-point episode. It is a reckoning. Ruby speaks with clarity about what hostage families endured, how political interests distorted their fight to bri...

A quick note on the attempt to investigate 10/7.

In this episode of the Mael Time Podcast , Rabbi Yaakov Menken joins Daniel Mael for a wide-ranging and unflinching conversation about Jewish values, political power, and the limits of unity in an age of rising anti-Semitism. Menken explains the mission of the Coalition for Jewish Values, critiques the ideological drift of legacy Jewish institutions, and argues that communal solidarity built on di...

Chesed Shel Emes should be private.

In this episode of the Mael Time Podcast, Noam Buskila reflects on his experience as an Israeli soldier and musician navigating war, loss, and recovery. He speaks candidly about bringing his guitar with him to the front lines, using music as a lifeline amid grief, trauma, and the lasting effects of PTSD. Buskila explores how community support, diaspora donations, and a shared Jewish identity help...

Naomi Kahn and Meir Deutsch of Regavim join the Mael Time Podcast for a clear-eyed conversation about one of Israel’s most urgent and least discussed crises: the state’s refusal to enforce its own laws. Drawing on Regavim’s on-the-ground work, they explain how selective enforcement has eroded sovereignty, undermined the rule of law, and created facts on the ground that no government statement can...

In this explosive Mael Time Podcast episode, Sean Burstyn delivers one of the most honest, unfiltered conversations about Jewish life in America today. From the surge of anti-Semitism on college campuses to the radical forces—left and right—that are shaping public discourse, Burstyn breaks down what’s really at stake for the Jewish community. He shares raw personal stories, sharp legal insights, a...

Shaul Magid joins Mael Time for a thoughtful and challenging conversation about Jewish identity, Zionism, and how October 7th reshaped both Israeli and American Jewish life. Together, he and Daniel Mael explore the shifts taking place inside the Jewish community, the questions emerging around nationalism, and the evolving relationship between Judaism and the State of Israel. It’s a nuanced, honest...

Magen David Adom’s Deputy Director, Raphael Herbst, explains how Israel’s national emergency service responded to the unprecedented challenges of recent years, especially the events of October 7th. He highlights how strong leadership, clear vision, and strategic preparedness enabled MDA to operate effectively under extreme pressure. This included building a protected blood facility before the cris...

There's a case to be made that Nick Fuentes is a gifted troll but not anti-Semitic. What do you think?

The killing of Yasser Abu Shabab exposes a truth about Gaza that the world refuses to confront. Behind the slogans of “resistance” and “liberation” is a society ruled by fear, intimidation and violent enforcement of loyalty to Hamas. Anyone suspected of speaking to Israelis, even for survival, is branded a collaborator and marked for death. Martyrdom is celebrated, dissent is crushed and ordinary...

In this conversation, Daniel Mael and Yonatan Green delve into the complexities of Israel's legal system, exploring its historical context, the absence of a constitution, and the evolution of judicial power. They discuss how cultural isolation and limited information contribute to misunderstandings about Israel's legal framework. Green emphasizes the significance of Aharon Barak's infl...

In this episode of the Mael Time Podcast, host Daniel Mael interviews Alon Leichman, an Israeli Olympian and assistant pitching coach for the Miami Marlins. They discuss Alon's journey from playing baseball in Israel to making a name for himself in American baseball, the challenges he faced with injuries, and his experiences representing Israel on the international stage. Alon shares insights...

The Jewish community is facing a defining test of integrity in the aftermath of October 7th. As misinformation, fabricated stories, and unethical fundraising continue to surface, the real danger isn’t only the fraud itself—but the silence that enables it. If we want credibility on the world stage and trust within our own ranks, we must demand transparency, correct false narratives, and insist on b...

Speaking the truth about Rami Davidian and his fraudulent tales from October 7th in Israel.

On this episode of The Mael Time Podcast, Elkana Federman—the head of security at the Nova Music Festival—recounts his harrowing experience on October 7. Federman walks through the security preparations before the event, the moment he realized the attack unfolding was far beyond anything anticipated, and the life-or-death decisions he made to evacuate unarmed staff and festival-goers under fire. H...

This conversation offers a rare, unfiltered look at how Hamas supporters inside Gaza justify violence, reject peaceful solutions, and deny the basic facts of the conflict. Rather than acknowledge Hamas’ role in triggering wars, using civilians as shields, or holding innocent hostages, Motasem Dalloul doubles down on the same narratives that have kept Gaza trapped for decades. The interview lays ba...