Our Podcast
Our conversations on Israeli Bytes explores the nuance and complexity of Israel today.
About the Hosts:
- Prof. William Kolbrener, Executive Director
Bill, a religious American, lives in Jerusalem, is a professor of English Literature at Bar-Ilan University. - Ronit Eitan, Creative Director
Ronit, a secular Israeli novelist, lives in Tel Aviv, is a PhD in the English Dept at Bar-Ilan University.
Bill and Ronit disagree on most everything, except that fighting antisemitism starts with joining our different voices together through poetry and art. Our diversity is our strength – giving voice to the complexity and layered reality of Israel today.
Tune in Now:
Ep. 5: “The Aftermath” with Prof. Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan
Prof. William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan reflect on the aftermath of the October 7th attacks one year later, discussing how the events profoundly changed them, reshaping their identities, and how it inspired the creation of Writing on the Wall.
Ep. 4: “Iranian Nights” with Ronit Eitan and William Kolbrener
Ronit Eitan and William Kolbrener come together for an impromptu conversation on the missile attack from Iran on Israel just hours ago, sharing stories from the miklat (shelter) and reflecting on the challenges of moving forward during the Rosh Hashana holiday and beyond.
Ep. 3: “Hiding in Closets Again” with Prof. Vered Tohar
In Episode 3 of Israeli Bytes, we speak with Vered Tohar, a professor in the Department of the Literature of the Jewish People at Bar-Ilan University. As a third-generation Holocaust survivor, Prof. Tohar reflects on her poem “Miklat,” dedicated to her grandmother, and discusses the devastating events of October 7th, drawing parallels to history repeating itself.
Ep. 2: “Similes and Sacrifices” with Geula Geurts
In her discussion of her poem, ‘Jerusalem Caesarean,’ dedicated to Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the poet Geula Geurtz talks about language, identity, the creative process of writing, and the sacrifices of a mother since October 7th.
Ep. 1: “From a Face to a Story” with Dr. Yaakov Mascetti
Dr. Yaakov Mascetti, Chair of the Comparative Literature Department at Bar-Ilan University, reflects on presence—both human and divine in his poem ‘Tell Me,’ dedicated to the memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American-Israeli hostage killed in captivity in Gaza.
