PODCAST · education
Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast
by Roberto Mazza
I am Roberto Mazza and this is Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast. Jerusalem Unplugged is the only podcast dedicated exclusively to Jerusalem, its rich history, and its diverse people. Through in-depth conversations with scholars, activists, politicians, artists, journalists, religious figures, and community members, the podcast explores the complex layers of one of the world's most significant cities. Our conversations are designed to be intellectually challenging, moving beyond surface narratives to examine the nuanced realities of Jerusalem's past and present. Each episode provides substantive material for serious discussion, encouraging listeners to engage with the city's multifaceted stories from historical, political, cultural, and social perspectives. From archaeological discoveries and urban development to religious practices and daily life, Jerusalem Unplugged uncovers the Jerusalem you may never have heard of—offering fresh insights into a city where ancient his
Episodes
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Romani Kinship and Palestinian Difference
In this episode I interviewed Roy Arpan, the author of Relative Strangers, a great book shedding light on a neglected community of Jerusalem and Palestine: the Dom Romani. Examining how memory, intergenerational transmission, and kinship work together, Relative Strangers sheds light on Romani…
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Christian Zionism and the conquest of Jerusalem 1917
Today I am recasting a talk I gave at the University of Parma in May 2026 discussing Christian Zionism. Thanks to the Universita' di Parma. Today we're diving into a topic that remains stubbornly relevant to understanding the modern Middle East: Christian Zionism. And I want to start by…
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Contesting Zion: The Vatican, American Catholics, and the Partition of Palestine with Adrian Ciani
In this episode my guest is Adrian Ciani author of Contesting Zion: the Vatican, American Catholics and the Partition of Palestine. The modern relationship between the Vatican and the State of Israel is rooted in a long history of hostility between Judaism and Roman Catholicism. Through the...
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The Foundations of Zionism with Sabri and Fida Jiryis
In this new 'wheneverly' format, today my guests are Sabri and Fida Jiryis, author and translator of The Foundations of Zionism. Translated into English for the first time since its original publication by the PLO's Palestine Research Center, this book extensively details the origins of Zionism…
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Photographing Biblical Modernity with Sary Zananiri
In this first episode of 2026, the opener for season 7, I had the pleasure to interview my good friend and friend of the podcast Sary Zananiri about his latest book. This open access book offers the first in-depth appraisal of the photographic archive of Frank Scholten (1881–1942), a queer Dutch...
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Uncertain Empire with Elizabeth Imber
Following the British conquest of Ottoman Palestine, Jews across the British Empire—from Jerusalem to Johannesburg, London to Calcutta—found themselves at the heart of global Jewish political discourse. As these intellectuals, politicians, activists, and communal elites navigated shifting…
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Fiction and Jerusalem with Michael Kinnamon and Philip Graubart
Today I had the pleasure to interview two wonderful writers, Michael Kinnamon and Philip Graubart. Michael is the author of A Rooftop in Jerusalem: When Daniel Jacobs decides to spend his junior year abroad in Israel, he never dreams he'll fall in love with both Jerusalem's Old City and an…
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Orthodox Choreographies with Georgios Tsourous
With George we discuss his latest book that offers a comprehensive anthropological study of lived Christianity in Jerusalem’s Old City, with a special focus on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the Church of the Anastasis. Based on in-depth ethnographic fieldwork, the study explores the...
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Find me at the Jaffa Gate with Micaela Sahhar
I had the pleasure to engage in a very interesting conversation with Micaela Sahhar while we were sitting at the opposite end of the world. What does the daughter of a Nakba survivor inherit? It is not property or tangible heirlooms, nor the streets and neighbourhoods of a father’s childhood and...
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The Birthplace of Jesus Is in Palestine: A Memoir with Toine van Teeffelen
Here we are, the first episode after the long break. The first interview is with Toine van Teeffelen, a Dutch anthropologist and a Bethlehem resident. The Birthplace of Jesus Is in Palestine is a narrative of a Christian family in Bethlehem in the West Bank. Based on diary entries and interviews...
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The Dead Sea 10,000 Years of History with Nir Arielli
The Dead Sea is a place of many contradictions. Hot springs around the lake are famed for their healing properties, though its own waters are deadly to most lifeforms—even so, civilizations have built ancient cities and hilltop fortresses around its shores for centuries. The protagonists in its...
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Late Ottoman Gaza with Yuval Ben Bassat
Until recently, Gaza attracted little attention in historical scholarship. This book innovates by examining late Ottoman Gaza’s diverse society, its built environment, and its political dynamics. The introduction sets the stage to better understand the vital contexts impacting the role and status...
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Gaza with Mkhaimar Abusada
My guest in this episode is Dr Mkhaimar Abusada, He received his PhD from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1996 and is an associate professor at Al-Azhar University of Gaza and the former chair of the university's political science department. He has authored one book, and many academic...
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Palestine's Christians and the Nationalist Cause with Erik Freas
In this episode I have interviewed Erik Freas that recently has edited a volume published by Routledge looking at Palestinian Christians and the nationalist cause through the late Ottoman and Mandatory periods. This book provides an historical overview of Palestine's Christian communities and…
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Ronald Storrs, the man and Jerusalem with Christopher Burnham
Today I had the pleasure to talk to Christopher Burhnham who recently published Sir Ronald Storrs Personality and Policy in Mandate Palestine, 1917-1926 with Routledge. While some may say that we already know enough on Storrs, the reality is that his legacy in Jerusalem is not only fully…
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Christian Zionism and the Israel Lobby A Conversation with Awad Halabi and Ilan Pappe
Today it's with great pleasure that I recast and interview that took place on October 2024 between Hawad Halabi and Ilan Pappe, both friends and guests of Jerusalem Unplugged. Ilan Pappe discussed his latest publication Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic. A special thanks goes to...
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Israel and Turkey with Howard Eissenstat
In this first episode of the new year, I had the opportunity and pleasure to talk to Howard Eissenstat who currently is is an Laurentian Associate Professor of Middle East history and History Department Chair at St. Lawrence University and non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute in...
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Palestinian Politics with Dana El Kurd
There is so much talking about Israel, the war on Gaza, Lebanon and now Syria, but what about Palestinian politics? In this episode I talked to Dana El Kurd a Palestinian political scientist with a deep knowledge and understanding of Palestinian politics. We started our conversation discussing…
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Peace Now with Mauricio Lapchik
In the first episode of season 6 I have interviewed Maurcio Lapchik, the Director of External Relations at Peace Now (Shalom Akshav), the largest and longest-standing Israeli movement advocating for peace through public pressure. While we briefly introduced Peace Now to those who don't know yet...
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Daybreak in Gaza with Mahmoud Muna and Matthew Teller
This is Gaza – a place of humanity and creativity, rich in culture and industry. A place now utterly devastated, its entire population displaced by a seemingly endless onslaught, its heritage destroyed. Daybreak in Gaza is a record of an extraordinary place and people, and of a culture preserved…
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American Jews and the Movement for Justice in Palestine with Oren Kroll-Zeldin
In this season 5 finale episode I had the pleasure to interview Oren Kroll-Zeldin, the author of Unsettled: American Jews and the Movement for Justice in Palestine. Unsettled digs into the experiences of young Jewish Americans who engage with the Palestine solidarity movement and challenge the...
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Stranger in My Own Land with Fida Jiryis
In this very moving and heartwarming interview I had the opportunity to discuss with Fida Jiyris her work, a beautifully written memoir that tells the story of her and her family journey, which is also the story of Palestine, from the Nakba to the present—a seventy-five-year tale of conflict,...
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Dwelling on The Past: Memory and Dispossession with Yair Agmon
What is cultural memory? How do settlers use it in East Jerusalem to dispossess Palestinians? In this episode I interview film maker and scholar Yair Agmon. Known for short movies like Once Upon a School (2023), Like a Beating Heart (2022) and Our Heroes (2016), Yair is now working on his PhD at...
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Israel's Black Panthers with Asaf Elia-Shalev
Today the guest of Jerusalem Unplugged is Asaf Elia/Shalev the author of I*srael's Black Panthers* that tells the story of the young and impoverished Moroccan Israeli Jews who challenged their country's political status quo and rebelled against the ethnic hierarchy of Israeli life in the 1970s....
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Give Peace a Chance with John Lyndon and ALLMEP
For the series dedicated to current events, today we have the privilege of speaking with John Lynden, executive director of ALLMEP - the Alliance for Middle East Peace. ALLMEP is an impressive coalition, bringing together over 160 organizations and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and...
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The pulse of Israeli politics and society with Gilad Halpern
Welcome to the first episode exploring the current war on Gaza. In today's episode with Gilad Halpern we'll be taking an in-depth look at the current situation within Israel itself - examining the state of Israeli society and the complex political dynamics at play. Israel remains a deeply divided...
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Zionism: from the Mandate to the present with Arie Dubnov
Welcome back for part two of our comprehensive exploration of Zionism on Jerusalem Unplugged. In our previous episode, Arie Dubnov provided invaluable insights tracing the diverse ideological currents and forces that shaped the Zionist movement from its origins through the tumultuous events...
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Zionism(s): the early period with Arie Dubnov
In this first installment of a special two-part series, Jerusalem Unplugged takes a deep dive into the origins and development of Zionism leading up to the establishment of Israel in 1948. I am joined by Professor Arie Dubnov, an expert on the histories of this influential nationalist ideology....
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Palestinian Chicago with Loren Lybarger
For this episode I had the pleasure to interview Loren Lybarger, a long time resident of Palestine who devoted a few years studying the Palestinian community of Chicago which is home to one of the largest, most politically active Palestinian immigrant communities in the United States. For…
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The Balfour Declaration: part 2 with Avi Shlaim and Salim Tamari
In this second episode dedicated to the Balfour Declaration I have republished the presentations made by Professor Avi Shlaim and Salim Tamari at: 'The British Legacy in Palestine: Balfour and Beyond' conference held at the Palestinian National Theatre on 2 November 2017. This was a joint event...
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The Balfour Declaration: part 1
Cherished and hated by many, the Balfour Declaration is certainly considered one of the most controversial documents in recent history. In this first episode of a series dedicated to this document, I will discuss the origins of the Declaration and offer several explanations in the attempt to...
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Country of Words with Refqa Abu-Remaileh
*Country of Words* taps into the power of Palestinian literature to defy conventional linear, chronological, and artificial national frames of representation. Despite the fact that an unprecedented number of the world's population live as refugees, exiles, or stateless people, the logic of the...
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Palestina - Israele Dal sionismo delle origini al 1948: eventi, documenti, interpretazioni
(Episodio in Italiano) In questa puntata di Jerusalem Unplugged ho il piacere di pubblicare il mio intervento insieme a quello di Maria Chiara Rioli e Arturo Marzano come relatori del seminario Palestina - Israele Dal sionismo delle origini al 1948: eventi, documenti, interpretazioni che ha avuto...
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Our Palestine Question with Geoffrey Levin
American Jews began debating Palestinian rights issues even before Israel’s founding in 1948. Geoffrey Levin recovers the voices of American Jews who, in the early decades of Israel’s existence, called for an honest reckoning with the moral and political plight of Palestinians. These…
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Aspects of History: Israel Palestine
This is an edited recast of the podcast I recorded with Oliver Webb-Carter, founder of Aspects of History home - Aspects of History. After the horrific attacks of 7th October our editor discussed the long running Israel Palestine conflict with historian and author Roberto Mazza. Covering the...
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The Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem under threat with Bedross Der Matossian
In the Old City of Jerusalem, 80 kilometres from the war in Gaza, another religious conflict is taking place. An Australian property developer, aided by a group of armed Jewish settlers, has attempted to occupy a prized piece of land in the Armenian Christian quarter. Even though a deal to build…
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Settler Colonialism with Arnon Degani
What is settler colonialism? How does this concept relate to Israel and Palestine? What about other countries? These are all great questions which I discussed in this episode with Arnon Degani. Arnon is currently a Fellow at Molad – Center for the Renewal of Israeli Democracy, specializing in the...
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Israel, Palestine, and Turkey in the post Oct 7th Reality: A historical look toward the Future with Louis Fishman
I'm thrilled to bring you a thought-provoking talk by my good friend and friend of the podcast Louis Fishman. Our conversation today delves deep into the complex dynamics of the Middle East, focusing on "Israel, Palestine, Turkey in the post-Oct. 7th reality: A Historical Look Toward the Future."...
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The Life and Death of the Mughrabi Quarter 1187-1967 with Vincent Lemire
As the war keeps raging in Palestine, thousands have been killed, thousands are living under threat of immediate death, hundreds of hostages are still held somewhere in Gaza, the West Bank is on the brink of exploding, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are on the rise, polarized views leave no room...
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Ripercorrendo le Pagine del Conflitto Israele-Palestina: Contesto Storico e Attualità
Dopo tante richieste personali, ho pensato di organizzare un webinar non-accadmeico dedicato alla questione israelo-palestinese e ad Hamas, un'occasione unica per esplorare il contesto storico che ha plasmato gli eventi contemporanei che hanno portato all'attacco del 7 Ottobre e la conseguente...
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Displacement and Erasure in Palestine: the Politics of Hope with Noa Shaindlinger
We open season 5 without any celebration. The current war on Gaza, the brutal killings of civilians perpetrated by Hamas and the equally brutal response by the State of Israel carpet-bombing Gaza indiscriminately and essentially pushing Palestinians towards a second Nakba could not be a good time...
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Palestinian Citizenship and licit and Illicit Mobility along the Borders of Palestine, 1920-1950 with Lauren Banko
In this fast moving conversation with Lauren Banko we discussed her first book 'The Invention of Palestinian Citizenship 1918-1947' and the question of Palestinian citizenship as a product of colonial rule, but also adopted by local Palestinians. We also discussed hew new projects like 'Medical...
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The Merits of Jerusalem with Fadi Ragheb
The Holy Land was the destination for many Muslim pilgrims during the late medieval and early modern period. In addition to worshipping on Jerusalem’s Haram al-Sharif, Muslim pilgrims in the Holy Land also visited important Christian holy sites, such as the Mount of Olives, the Tomb of Mary, and...
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Ronald Storrs 1918-1926 a Forgotten Legacy: Part II - the Pro-Jerusalem Society
On September 6, 1918, twelve individuals met at the residence of the military governor of Jerusalem.1 The room was filled with tension as the governor was trying to win the confidence of those who were still skeptical and suspicious of British rule. A few months earlier, in December 1917, General...
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Ronald Storrs 1918-1926 a Forgotten Legacy: Part I
This is the first episode of a short series dedicated to the British Military rule of Jerusalem between 1917 and 1920 introducing the almost forgotten figure of Ronald Storrs. Following the conquest of the city, the British established military rule which lasted until 1 July 1920. From the...
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"Dwelling on the Green Line with Gabriel Schwake
In this episode I discussed with Gabriel Schwake his latest book Dwelling on the Green Line, looking at the question of Israeli settlements built around the Green Line separating Israel and Palestine. Concealed within the walls of settlements along the Green-Line, the border between Israel and…
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Sacred Cuisine with Izzeldin Bukhari
Izzeldin Abdul Aziz Bukhari is the self-taught chef and founder of SacredCuisine; a culmination of Izzeldin’s life experiences that are deeply embedded in his Sufi roots. It embodies everything he values and aspires to instill. Originating from Bukhara – Uzbekistan, his family migrated to the Old...
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The Nabi Musa Festival - part III
Led by General Allenby, British troops entered Jerusalem in December 1917, ending Ottoman rule and opening a new and crucial era in the history of Jerusalem and Palestine. The history of Jerusalem has traditionally been depicted as the quintessential history of conflict and strife, of ethnic and...
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The Nebi Musa Festival part II
Following the first conversation with Awad Halabi (episode 49) as we discussed his work on the Nabi Musa festival, we are glad to celebrate and discuss in more details his latest book Palestinian Rituals of Identity. In this second part dedicated to the Nabi Musa Festival we will focus on the...
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From the Iron Age to the age of Covid with Chandler Collins
Chandler is a Ph.D. candidate at Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel. He holds two M.A. degrees in the fields of Semitic languages, Hebrew Bible, and archaeology from Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL. He is a faculty member and the former Dean of Administration at Jerusalem...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
I am Roberto Mazza and this is Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast.
Jerusalem Unplugged is the only podcast dedicated exclusively to Jerusalem, its rich history, and its diverse people. Through in-depth conversations with scholars, activists, politicians, artists, journalists, religious figures, and community members, the podcast explores the complex layers of one of the world's most significant cities.
Our conversations are designed to be intellectually challenging, moving beyond surface narratives to examine the nuanced realities of Jerusalem's past and present. Each episode provides substantive material for serious discussion, encouraging listeners to engage with the city's multifaceted stories from historical, political, cultural, and social perspectives.
From archaeological discoveries and urban development to religious practices and daily life, Jerusalem Unplugged uncovers the Jerusalem you may never have heard of—offering fresh insights into a city where ancient his
HOSTED BY
Roberto Mazza
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast have?
Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast currently has 139 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast about?
I am Roberto Mazza and this is Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast. Jerusalem Unplugged is the only podcast dedicated exclusively to Jerusalem, its rich history, and its diverse people. Through in-depth conversations with scholars, activists, politicians, artists, journalists, religious figures, and...
How often does Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast release new episodes?
Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast publishes regularly with 139 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast?
Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast is created and hosted by Roberto Mazza.
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