Jerusalem TalksND is a series of conversations organized and recorded by Notre Dame Jerusalem with the purpose of amplifying the unique encounters that are made possible through the University’s diverse initiatives in the city of Jerusalem. Moderated by Avraham (Avrum) Burg, former speaker of the Knesset and adjunct faculty member at ND Jerusalem, this podcast offers audiences a window into the nuances - and questions - that define Jerusalem’s past, present and future.
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Episode 1: Father David Neuhaus
In Jerusalem TalksND’s inaugural episode, Avrum Burg and Fr. David Neuhaus discuss the role of Christians and Christianity in a holy city that is predominantly inhabited by Jews and Muslims.
Fr. David Neuhaus is a Jesuit priest, scholar and professor of Theology. He was superior of the Jesuit community of the house of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem. Previously, he assumed the office of Patriarchal Vicar for Hebrew-speaking Catholics in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Episode 2: Professor Sari Nusseibeh
In episode two, Professor Sari Nusseibeh shares his experiences as a Palestinian growing up in East Jerusalem, engagement between Israeli and Palestinian communities in the city since 1967, and how the city has changed in the last 50 years.
Prof. Sari Nusseibeh served as President of al-Quds University 1995-2014. He is the author of several books - including The Story of Reason in Islam and Once Upon a Country - and articles in both Arabic and English. He is currently an adjunct faculty member at Notre Dame Jerusalem.
Episode 3: Shira Ben-Sasson Furstenberg
In episode three, Avrum Burg and Shira Ben-Sasson Furstenberg reflect on the evolution of Judaism within their family over the last few generations, and where in a contested city one can find points of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.
Shira Ben-Sasson Furstenberg is the Associate Director at NIF (New Israel Fund) Israel and Director of the Development and International Relations Department. She previously served as the director of the Jewish Pluralism Watch, iRep- Israel Religious Expression Platform at the Jewish Federations of North America, and worked at the Knesset's Research and Information Center.
Episode 4: Professor Mona Khoury-Kassabri
In episode four, Avrum Burg and Professor Mona Khoury-Kassabri discuss the role of education and identity in Jerusalem and how diversity fits into the broader social framework of the city's future.
Professor Khoury-Kassabri is the Vice President of Strategy and Diversity and Dean of the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prof. Khoury-Kassabri is responsible for determining and implementing the University's overall policies, strategies, and models for promoting diversity and inclusion, specifically increasing the accessibility of groups currently underrepresented in Israeli academia.
Episode 5: Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari
In episode five, Avrum Burg and Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari address the Israeli government's proposed judicial reform as well as the polarized public debate surrounding the proposed legislation.
Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari is an expert on family law and international women's rights, and is the Founding Director of the Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women at Bar-Ilan University Law Faculty in Israel, where she serves as a Full Professor. In December 2018 she completed three terms (twelve years) on the UN Committee on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), during which she also served twice as the Vice-Chair of the Committee, and as the first Chair of the Working Group on Inquiries.