Jonny Gould's Jewish State

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and articles on his Substack.

Menachem Begin remains one of the least understood giants of the twentieth century.

A freedom fighter, a terrorist, a liberator of Jewish people, his own and subsequent generations, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a champion of Jewish dignity after the Holocaust, and Israel’s sixth Prime Minister,

Begin transformed the country’s politics forever. He brought peace with Egypt, welcomed Soviet and Ethiopian Jews home, ordered the destruction of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear reactor, and gave voice to Israelis who had long felt ignored by the political establishment.

Yet behind the history books was a deeply principled, intensely private man whose moral convictions shaped every decision he made.

Our guest today has dedicated much of his life to preserving that extraordinary legacy.

Herzl Makov is the CEO of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, the national institution entrusted with safeguarding Begin’s archives, museum, educational programmes and research. For decades he worked closely with Begin himself, offering a rare personal insight into the man behind the statesman.

In a distinguished career in public service Herzl was also Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir.

We’ll discuss how Begin’s ideas continue to influence Israel today, why his life story still matters to democracies around the world, and the work of the Heritage Center in bringing his values to new generations.

We’ll also explore the acclaimed documentary Upheaval, which tells the remarkable story of Begin’s rise from persecution in Europe, through the underground struggle for Jewish statehood, to the office of Prime Minister.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and articles on his ⁠Substack.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find more of Jonny's podcasts and articles on his Substack.

Our Young Podcaster of the Year series is presented in partnership with Dangoor Education.

This is now the fourth year of the competition, and each year I’m
reminded of one of the most valuable resources we have – the next generation.

I visit schools to meet young people with curiosity, enthusiasm,
and a willingness to ask the questions that adults sometimes are inhibited to ask.

Just as importantly, they’re supported by parents and teachers who encourage them to explore the world around them.

This episode features our latest winners, two outstanding Year 6
pupils from Independent Jewish Day School in Hendon, north London: 10-year-old Talya Sacks-Goldstein and 11-year-old Amalie White.

Talya and Amalie impressed me with their intelligence, confidence, and thoughtful approach to interviewing. As winners, they earned the opportunity to co-host an episode with me – and they certainly made the
most of it.

Together, they secured time with an exceptional guest: Ambassador
Daniel Taub.

Born in London, Daniel is an Israeli diplomat, international
lawyer, author, and accomplished public speaker. He served as Israel’s
Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2015, helping to strengthen diplomatic, technological, and trade relations between the two countries. He has also played significant roles in international legal affairs and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Educated at Oxford and Harvard, Daniel has written extensively on
diplomacy, Jewish thought, and the art of constructive disagreement. Few people are better placed to offer insights into international relations and the challenges facing today’s world.

The Young Podcaster of the Year programme, supported by Dangoor
Education, aims to encourage young people to think seriously about journalism, to show that thoughtful reporting and careful research still
matter.

Have a word with your headteacher and put them in touch with us if you want to take part next year.

This Talya Sacks-Goldstein and Amalie White as with Ambassador Daniel Taub.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and writings on Substack.

Help support Jonny with a monthly chai latte at buy me a coffee.

My guests today are Michael and Lisa Marlowe, the parents of Jake Marlowe, who was murdered at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023.

Playing it back brings tears to my eyes as a parent.

Jake was a 26-year-old British-Israeli musician and security guard. Known to many as the bassist for the hardcore band Desolated, he had toured the world before building a life in Israel.

On the morning Hamas terrorists attacked the festival, Jake was working as part of the security team. Witness accounts say he spent his final moments helping others escape to safety. He died as he lived — looking after other people.

When I met Michael and Lisa, they had already spent hours recounting the worst day of their lives to journalists from around the world. Michael had just completed an especially emotional interview and needed a moment to compose himself. In the brief time we had together, I was able to offer my condolences and a hug before speaking with Lisa, who courageously continued the conversation.

It takes extraordinary strength to relive such loss in public. I hope these conversations offer something meaningful — a chance to honour Jake’s memory, to ensure his story is heard, and perhaps, in some small way, to contribute to the tribute he deserves.

Of course, no interview can lessen the pain of losing a son. Some losses are simply carried forever.

You’ll first hear a short conversation with Michael Marlowe, followed by my fuller interview with Lisa.

Baruch Dayan HaEmet. May the memory of Jake Marlowe be a blessing.

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and writings on ⁠Substack⁠.

Help support Jonny with a monthly chai latte at ⁠buy me a coffee.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his Substack channel. Support his efforts by buying him a coffee here.

Our guest today is Almog Meir Jan — one of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.

Almog was taken from where he hid in woods near the Nova Music Festival, where hundreds of young people were either murdered or abducted.

For months, his mother Orit campaigned tirelessly around the world for his release. I interviewed her on TalkTV back in November 2023, and I remember telling her then that I believed her son would come home.

Today, I have the privilege of sitting opposite Almog himself — here in London — alive, free, and ready to tell his story. Tragically, just hours before Almog was rescued and reunited with his family, his father died, never getting the chance to see his son return home.

We’ll talk about October 7, the terror of captivity inside Gaza, the moment of rescue, what kept hope alive, and what he wants the world to understand now about the hostages still being held.

This is a remarkable conversation — and one I’ll never forget.

Jonny Gould is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet.

Find the rest of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his ⁠Substack⁠ channel. Support his efforts by ⁠buying him a coffee here⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find all of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his Substack channel. You can support him by buying a coffee here.

With thanks to the Anglo-Israel Association and ELNET UK, it was a pleasure to hear Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus. A former international spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, where he served for 24 years as a combat commander, military diplomat and strategic communications officer, Conricus is now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, specialising in Middle East security and regional affairs.

As he often points out, he now speaks as an independent voice rather than on behalf of the Israeli government or military.

In this concise briefing, Conricus gives a sobering yet at times cautiously hopeful assessment of the region.

Gaza, despite the terrible bloodshed and the sacrifices being made by IDF forces, remains bleak and unresolved.

On Lebanon, he noted signs that the weakening of Hezbollah may be allowing some Lebanese voices to express a very different attitude towards Israel.

On Iran, he suggested there are still grounds for cautious optimism that internal pressure could eventually bring change.

He also addressed the alarming worldwide surge in antisemitism since October 7th, which he described as having grown far beyond what many imagined possible.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education.

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