From the Yarra River to the Mediterranean Sea

In the increasingly fractured landscape of contemporary Jewish life, few subjects trigger as visceral a reaction as the rising tide of anti-Zionism among young Jews.For many in the mainstream community, this shift is viewed with a mixture of bewilderment, betrayal, and deep-seated alarm. Seeking to move beyond the high-decibel rhetoric of social media and op-ed pages, Robbie Gringras and Abi Dauber Sterne of the organisation For the Sake of Argument embarked on an ambitious qualitative research project. Their report, “The Journeys and Destinations of Young Jewish Anti-Zionists,” offers a sobering yet necessary look at the internal schisms threatening communal coherence. While specifically focused on the schism happening in the US, based on interviews with 30 self-described anti-Zionist Jews, the report contains many insights that may be relevant for Australian Jewish families struggling with this question.In an interview with Robbie Gringras, an Israel educator with over two decades of experience in the field, he unpacked the complexities of the report and addressed the sharp criticisms directed at any attempt to engage with those who reject the Jewish state. One of the most provocative aspects of the report is its systematic dismantling of common assumptions held by the pro-Israel mainstream about anti-Zionist Jews. Gringras emphasised that these were not assumptions the researchers set out to prove, but rather findings that emerged from the lived experiences of the participants.

This episode was recorded on October 7, 2025. A reflection of words and music, it explores what has been, the opportunities and challenges of the 20-point plan, and what can be. Feedback is welcome at: [email protected]

This episode is a conversation that took place on August 10, 2025 as part of the Torah 2020 series established by Tamra Aviva Wright. Ittay was interviewed by Dr Lindsay Simmonds, a Research Fellow at the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) where she has lectured, written, and convened courses for over 20 years, focusing on women in Biblical narrative, the Talmud, and Jewish Law. In 2024, Lindsay completed a three-year project at the Religion and Global Society Unit at the London School of Economics (LSE), UK, where she led research on Women of Faith and Peacebuilding, examining the work of Israeli and Palestinian women peacebuilders.The conversation touches on a range of issues from empathy and humanisation to social media and hope. Feedback is welcome at [email protected] more resources on facilitating dialogue or deepening knowledge, visit https://www.ittay.au/what-can-i-do

Jerusalem Book Launch for The Holy and the BrokenDr. Sari Nusseibeh and Ittay Flescher in conversation at the Albright Institute on the evening of July 7, 2025.Introduction by Lana Ikelan from Kids4Peace, with closing remarks by Mahmoud Muna. The Educational Bookshop and the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research sponsored the event. Feedback is welcome at: [email protected] more info on upcoming book events in the UK, visit ittay.au 

This episode features a Dvar Torah for Parshat Mishpatim shared by Ittay at Kehilat Kolenu in Melbourne on February 21, 2025  It deals with issues of hostage-taking, revenge, justice and peace.

This is a live recording of the Melbourne Book Launch of 'The Holy and the Broken,' hosted by the ACJC and TJI. It features music from Beth Riordan and Or Sagiv followed by a conversation between Sidra Kranz Moshinsky and Ittay Flescher. Thanks to John Circosta for arranging the sound setup at the Malvern Town Hall on February 9, 2025. 'The Holy and the Broken' is now on sale in bookshops across Australia and online. For more information on the book, see www.ittay.auFeedback is welcome to [email protected] 

One year on from October 7, Hannah and Ittay reflect on the past year, expressing their fears, hopes and disappointments. And a very exciting announcement: Ittay has written a book! "The Holy and the Broken: A cry for peace from a land that must be shared" is now available for pre-order at ittay.au 2025 Australian Book Tour Dates:Perth - February 2Sydney - February 6Melbourne - February 9Podcast feedback is always welcome at [email protected] more updates and special events, follow us at @fromtheyarra  

In our tenth episode, Ittay speaks with Ahmed Fouad Al-khatib, a U.S. citizen from Gaza and a Middle East political analyst.  Ahmed has a master’s degree in intelligence studies from American Military University and has written and contributed extensively to publications on Gaza’s affairs in U.S., Israeli, Jewish, and Arab outlets.In this episode, Ahmed speaks to Ittay about his childhood experience attending the UNWRA schools of Gaza, which is a timely discussion as we have been hearing and seeing a lot about UNWRA in the news. ( For those unaware, UNWRA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees).Both Ittay and Ahmed touch on the many challenges facing Jewish-Palestinian dialogue groups at this time, and provide some suggestions as to how we can learn to build bridges so that we can move forward together.We hope you enjoy the conversation.Further reading:https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/as-a-gazan-i-still-believe-israelis-and-palestinians-must-talk/Comments welcome at [email protected] or follow us on Instagram at @fromtheyarra

In this episode, we have teamed up with the incredible Ibrahim and Amira, co-hosts of the podcast "Unapologetic - The Third Narrative" to bring you "Unapologetically, From the Yarra River to the Mediterranean Sea".  Ibrahim and Amira are Palestinian-Israeli Citizens, who are unapologetic about their views and vision for a better future for all those who live between the river and the sea.In this episode we have honest conversations about what the term "resistance" means, the Boycott Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Zionism, Justice and so much more. We are so proud of this episode and extremely grateful for Ibrahim and Amira sharing their thoughtful, kind and empathic views for the future of this land. We know it's a long one but it is SO worth the listen!A big thank you to Ben Levitt for his support in editing this episode.Feedback is welcome at [email protected]

It’s the episode we know many of you have been waiting for. Welcome to episode 8 of From the Yarra River to the Mediterranean Sea: “Strong Opinions, Weakly Held with Elica Le Bon”. Elica is an Iranian attorney, activist and artist who is currently living in LA. She has over 150,000 followers on Instagram which is where we discovered her in the weeks following October 7 sharing content from “both sides”. In this conversation, we explore Elica’s experience of looking through the current war through the eyes of an Iranian who wants justice, freedom and equality for all. We also discuss identity politics, the Truth vs Harmony spectrum and social media activism. We want to acknowledge that Hannah recorded this podcast episode on unceded Wurundjeri land and we pay our deepest respect to elders, past and present.  RESOURCES: Dr Emily - Truth Vs Harmony on the Imperfects podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/7iXjJ8EO9jsDk17biWHV5m?si=-Xrg9Vp7QKGYx79ip33oKg  Questions and feedback are welcome via email to [email protected] or on Instragram @fromtheyarra  Elica can be found on Instagram @elicalebon

Following on from our conversation with Moaz Inon in the previous episode, Hannah and Ittay closely examine the various "solutions" that currently exist in the public domain that can help us move from a state of war to a state of peace.RECOURCESHaaretz Video featuring maps of all solutions explored: "The Israeli-Palestinian conflict: One state, two states and other possible solutions"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpBHYkra_qsNot Two States, Not One State: A New Way Out of Disaster for Israelis and Palestinians, By Dahlia Scheindlin, Nov 30, 2023http://tinyurl.com/5n7vjbssQuestions and comments are welcome at [email protected] us on Instagram for episode updates at @fromtheyarra 

In this episode,  we welcome Israeli peace activist Maoz Inon onto the podcast. Maoz lost both his beautiful parents, Bilha and Yakovi Inon on October 7. They were two of the first people killed on that horrific day when a Hamas rocket landed directly on their house in Moshav Nativ Ha’asara. Since suffering the pain of their loss, Maoz has been campaigning against revenge and for reconciliation.Maoz speaks about his life before the war as a successful entrepreneur and founder of the Abraham Hostel’s network and shares how he saw his whole life as preparation for what happed on October 7.  Maoz now sees himself as a "naive man with a plan" which is one of the most powerful forces known to humanity.Resources:Two States, One Homelandhttps://www.alandforall.org/english/?d=ltrA Guide for Hosting a Together for Humanity Peace vigil in your cityhttps://togetherforhumanity.co.uk/resources/

Welcome back to From the Yarra River to the Mediterranean Sea  - Episode 5: Building Trust  Lana Ikelan is a Palestinian Journalist and graduate of the Tomorrows Women peace building dialogue program.  In this episode, she speaks about her experiences growing up in Jerusalem, how this war has shaped her relationships with Jewish friends, and her hopes for the future.RECOURCES:For more information about Tomorrow's Women: https://tomorrowswomen.orgVideo on the status of East Jerusalem https://www.timesofisrael.com/state-of-jerusalem-the-maqdasyin/Comments and feedback are welcome at [email protected]

In this episode of "From the Yarra River the Mediterranean Sea", we interview Israeli map designer and peace builder Mushon Zer Aviv.  We first came across Mushon after reading a powerful article he wrote called “Your Empty is Killing us” which explores the importance of holding space for YES AND statements during this war.In the second half of the episode, we have a discussion between ourselves about what it means to be connected to land and the links we have seen between Palestinians, Israelis and Australia's First Peoples. We also discuss the Australian Left and how we feel their advocacy has been, at times, somewhat one-sided. In what has been a particularly tragic week for both Israelis and Palestinians, we hope this conversation again gives our listeners hope that another way is possible.

This episode will likely comfort the troubled and trouble the comfortable, so have a listen to it in a space where you can breathe, process and reflect.In this episode, we discuss:A brief history of the disengagement from Gaza and the seige that has been in place since Hamas' rise to powerIttay's experience of October 7 in JerusalemHannah's experience of October 7 in MelbourneHow October 7th broke Israel's "conception" of Hamas and how Israel's response has broken Hamas' "conception" of IsraelRESOURCESFor further reading, we recommend looking at this piece by Adam Raz about the legacy of the 2005 Gaza Disengagement on our current situationhttps://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-23/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/it-wasnt-the-gaza-disengagement-but-netanyahus-policies-that-led-to-disaster/0000018b-fcf1-de73-a9bb-fef7ab240000In the lead up to our next episode with Mushon Zer Aviv, please read:https://medium.com/@mushon/your-empathy-is-killing-us-1a50a4fc0488We welcome feedback, comments and questions at:[email protected]

Welcome to part 2 of Where did this all begin?In this episode we discuss:what the Nakba is;whether Israel is an apartheid State and what that actually means; andprevious offers for peace since 1947.For more resources:Letter from Dr. Theodore Hertzl to M. Youssuf Zia Al-Khalidi, Mayor of Jerusalemhttps://aldeilis.net/english/letter-from-herzl-to-mayor-of-jerusalem-1899/Maps showing peace offers made by both Israeli and Palestinian negotiators over the past 30 years.https://www.shaularieli.com/en/maps/negotiations/More information about breaking the silence can be found here: https://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/Please send any questions, feedback, or comments to us at: [email protected] thanks to our sound engineer Benjamin Levitt for all your work bringing this together.

Welcome back to From the Yarra River to the Mediterranean Sea.This is the first of a two part episode where we deep dive into the history of Israel/Palestine.In part 1, we discuss:why we were only taught one half of the Israeli/Palestinian narrative at our Jewish day schools and the impact that has had on this current war;who is "indigenous" to the land; the first wave of Jewish immigration to Palestine from Russia in the 1880s and how those settlements were established;the term "colonialism" and whether or not Zionism should be considered a colonialist movement; andthe establishment of the Israeli State in 1948 and the fact that to the Palestinians, this is called the Nakba.For those who'd like to read more about the history of both nations, we recommend reading Israel/Palestine by Alan Dowty. Is Zionism a form of settler colonialism?https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/herzls-troubled-dream-origins-zionismhttps://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/theodor-herzl-and-trajectory-of-zionism/Please send any questions, feedback, or comments to us at: [email protected] thanks to our sound engineer Benjamin Levitt for all your work bringing this together.

Welcome to From the Yarra River to the Mediterranean Sea.In this first episode, we explore what motivated us both to create this podcast.We also discuss where we are getting our news from and how you can differentiate between what is most likely real news and what is most likely fake news.We finish by explaining the reasoning behind the name of this podcast.For those who want to inform themselves through other news sources, podcasts, books etc. here is a list put together by Ittay: https://thesocialblueprint.org.au/ittayflescher/Comments and questions are always welcome - please email us at [email protected]