Teller From Jerusalem

  Once Israel declared her independence, she was attacked by all of her neighbors.  The Hagana, which will become the Israel Defense Forces, mobilized any able-bodied man or woman and this amounted to barely 30,000. The Arabs had significant manpower and far greater firepower and air forces. The Jews had nothing comparable. Lacking defense in depth the Jews could not afford to give ground on any o...

Declaring independence was a daring move, for Israel knew that the very declaration was an invitation to immediate war against five organized armies. Ben Gurion understood that it was now or never. Israel's Declaration of Independence assured that Israel would be open for Jewish immigration, and for the ingathering of the exiles. It would foster the development of the country for the benefit of al...

Following the UN vote for partition in November 1947, the British informed that they would not carry out on the policy voted on by the General Assembly, and they would remain in Palestine until May 1948. The British would no longer intervene in any fighting between Arabs and Jews, but they would still steadfastly enforce the ban on weapons for Jews.  The Hagana was planning its attack to liberate...

TFJ Season 2: Episode 9  Character Workshop  Criticizing constructively is an act of friendship and concern. You can help someone, especially if you catch the problem early on before it becomes too ingrained in the conduct of the offender to alter their behavior.  But if a relationship does not exist, the critique will be rejected and resented. Several experts will be sharing their advice how to b...

TFJ: The Birth of Israel Series 2 Episode 9 There was no secure area in the section of the land allocated to the Jews where the Israelis had a geographic and demographic advantage.  The embargo of weapons to Palestine made it difficult for the Haganah to arm its troops while the Arab armies had resources in Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Because of the fragility of the situation, and fear that the Unite...

TFJ: The Birth of Israel Series 2: Episode 8   It is unlikely that had FDR been the president that he would have recognized Israel. Truman was the first to recognize the Jewish State 11 minutes after her independence had been declared. There are two primary reasons as to why Truman contradicted his State department on this thorny issue, but there is no dispute that were it not for quick-witted and...

TFJ: Season 2: Episode 7: Character Workshop   Comparing to others and dealing with the past are no nos. Harsh words cannot be retracted, and even if the offender is forgiven, the offended party will not forget what was said. When you offer an explanation with criticism, it is often not viewed as an attack. Learn how to use the "Power of the Preface" which enables one to say nearly anything and re...

TFJ: The Birth of Israel   Series 2: Episode 6 The Relief Column sent to the Etzion Block were buried in a hasty, shallow grave. When Israel liberated the Etzion area in the Six Day War the remains were brought to Jerusalem and miraculously identified.  As the first stage of the War of Independence was not going well for Israel, there was fear that the United States would renege on its commitment...

TFJ: The Birth of Israel  Series 2 Episode 5   The Partition Plan which would have enabled the creation of a Jewish State was not looking promising.  The American State Department was adamantly opposed, dampening President Truman's support. The Soviet's were in favor of partition, which presented a rare opportunity as with the Soviets came their satellite countries. It would take Dr. Chaim Weizman...

If you care for your fellow person you will wish to correct them when they are erring. This is not just the domain of parents, but of any loving and considerate individual – yet a challenge in a society deeply entrenched in the belief of "mind your own business." Criticism will only work if it is properly dispensed and TFJ takes a look at effective methodology.   Edited and Produced by Alex Drucke...

TFJ Series 2: Episode 3 The British convened conferences to quell the Arab revolt and seek a lasting solution between the Arabs and the Jews. But unless the Arabs received everything they demanded, they were unwilling to negotiate. This created a pattern that was still being followed over sixty years later to the frustration of President Bill Clinton.  Because of Palestinian violence and fear that...

TFJ Series 2: Episode 2 The Arab revolt resulted in widespread violence across the land aimed at both Jewish and British targets. British officer and Christian Zionist, Orde Wingate trained Hagana fighters how to defend themselves. These troops assisted the British in quelling the Arab Revolt. These very same troops instructed by the British would become members of a Jewish revolt against the Brit...

TFJ: Series 2: Episode 1 Character Workshop Welcome to our second season of Teller From Jerusalem.    We are kicking things off with an episode on Character Development, focusing on Anger.    Anger is a very destructive emotion, and accordingly we must implement a plan to ensure that rage does not usurp us from the driver's seat, lest we say words that can destroy relationships and even marriages....

TFJ: Special Episode! The Haganah launched a floating underground railroad to bring immigrants into Israel after the conclusion of WW II. The British enforced their White Paper which forbade Jewish immigration to Palestine, so Holocaust survivors who were caught trying to run the blockade were incarcerated under cruel conditions in Cyprus. In a daring move, the Haganah retrofitted an old steam lin...

Rerelease TFJ Series 1: Episode 41: Character Workshop  You may have noticed that Teller from Jerusalem has been on a break for the past few weeks, while we put the finishing touches to our incredible new season which will be in your feed next week.  We will launch Season Two with an unmissable special episode... make sure you subscribe so that it is ready for you to listen as soon as it launches...

TFJ Series 1: Episode 41: Character Workshop  Teller From Jerusalem is very honored to host ever-wise and insightful Dr. Rona Novick, the Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School at Yeshiva University.   Dr. Novick is the only one who can sound like your mother, a graduate school professor and a very astute therapist all at the same time. Everyone loves to hear her speak about effective parenting and e...

TFJ: Series 1 Episode 40: The Birth of Israel    With fear that Rommel's conquest of Africa may bring the German Army to Palestine, the Hagana, the prelude to the Israel Defense Forces, created an elite strike force called the Palmach. Menachem Begin assumes the leadership of the Irgun underground militia and becomes the most Wanted Man by the British in Palestine. In order to terminate the White...

TFJ: Series 1 Episode 40: The Birth of Israel The very week that the British rounded up 2700 suspected  Jewish underground members, the Kielce pogrom broke out in Poland.   Despite the millions and millions  murdered and maimed  during the Holocaust,  over a year after World War II had come to its completion, a medieval blood libel was unleashed upon scores of innocent Jewish survivors  from  the...

TFJ:Series 1: Episode 39 In these fraught times we are honored to be joined by such an prestigous and influential guest. Former member of Knesset (Israel's parliament) Rabbi Dov Lipman joins Teller From Jerusalem to share the work that he is doing to enable those from abroad get into the often sealed borders of Israel due to Covid 19. In the course of the interview, he shares a heartwarming contem...

TFJ Series 1: Episode 38: The Birth of Israel    Just as the British excused their heartless behavior by offering an excuse that no one believed, that spies might have infiltrated among the refugees and then would commit espionage against His Majesty's Government; the United States State department, with the fullest cooperation of President Roosevelt shamelessly employed the same lame and false ex...

TFJ Series 1 Episode 37 - The Birth of Israel  When the British refused to allow 10,000 Jewish children to escape Europe and come to Palestine, it could not be that that they did not understand that barring their entry meant subjecting them to their annihilation. Images from Kristallnacht had been broadcast across worldwide media. And still Britain issued the White Paper agreeing to all of the Ara...

TJF The Birth of Israel: Series 1: Episode 36 Just as Neville Chamberlain bought shame to himself and the British government by his policy of appeasement a the  Munich Conference;  likewise  the British Mandatory Authority foolishly engaged in a policy of appeasement with the Arabs in Palestine. The policy intended to calm the Arabs and curb further violence did nothing of the sort and the untold...

TFJ:  Series 1: Episode 35   Teller From Jerusalem is very proud to host one of the most dynamic and compelling inspirational speakers of our time, Mr. Charlie Harary. As always, Charlie brings on to the show his poignant and contemporary examples of how each person can unlock the greatness within themselves. Moving from the United States Hockey Team which beat the undefeatable USSR in 1980, to ho...