A Conversation with Yishai Fleisher
in celebration of
Is "Settler" a Bad Word?
According to much of the media, the Jewish State is stealing someone else's land and continuously promises a Two State solution that never seems to arrive. On campus, Israel is delegitimized and accused of a growing occupation in the "West Bank". But for most Israelis, Jewish presence in these areas is a natural and organic part of Jewish history - and blocking a future Palestinian state is key for Israeli security. So is Israel doomed to an eternal impasse and Balkanization with its neighbors? Or is there a way forward? Moreover, can the Jewish State survive the attacks on its narrative and legitimacy?
Rabbi Yishai Fleisher is the International Spokesperson for the Jewish Community of Hebron. Hebron is the site of Tomb of the Forefathers and Mothers, and a Middle East hotspot. Yishai is also an Israeli broadcaster on the Land of Israel Network and a frequent columnist for Breitbart, Jerusalem Post, and the NYTimes, and has been featured on CNN, Al Jazeera, Fox, Vice, BBC, and more. He holds a JD from Cardozo Law and rabbinic ordination from Kollel Agudat Achim.
Yishai is the founder and director of 'Kumah', a nonprofit organization that works to enhance the world's connection to Israel and strengthen Israel’s national character. From 2003 to 2011 he was Director of Programming at Israel National Radio, establishing it as one of the largest independent providers of English-language radio content on Israel and the Middle East. Yishai also served as Director of Programming at Voice of Israel and was Contributing Editor at JewishPress.com.
Yishai continues to serve as a Paratrooper in an IDF battlefield reserve unit. He speaks Hebrew, English, and Russian, and lives in the Judean mountains outside of Jerusalem.
A partnership of the Bureau of Jewish Education and Makor of Scottsdale
