Before Zionism Had A Name: The History of Israel (Part 1 of 5)

Unpacking Israeli History

Unpacked

Judaism, Religion & Spirituality, Society & Culture, History

4.8 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2026

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Zionism didn’t begin in the 19th century. It didn’t start with pamphlets, politics, or Theodor Herzl. In Episode 1 of a five-part series, Noam Weissman goes back—way back—to uncover the prehistory of an idea, tracing how Zion became more than geography or borders. Long before modern ideology, it was a promise, a memory, and a direction Jews faced even when they were nowhere near it. This isn’t a political argument—it’s the opening chapter of a much older story. And it’s only the beginning. This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Debra and Avi Naider and Jody and Ari Storch. To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media. Check out this episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand .------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey everybody, Lon Gold here, comedian, actor Pro Semite.
0:20.8	I am the host of a show called Stars of David, and I have a trustee sidekick named Eli Leonard. Anyway, last season on Stars of David, we schmooze, we joke, we ask big questions. It's going to be even better this season. Wouldn't you say, Eli? Yeah, the laughs are going to be bigger because I'm going to be talking more. So join us for conversations with the likes of Yochai Spander, Yonit Levi, Biana Golodriga, Tiffany
0:27.8	Haddish, and more. And when I say more, I mean way more. In fact, ending the season with a
0:33.5	superstar of David. So you're going to learn stuff, you're going to think about life, identity, and the joy and occasional pain of being Jewish. It's going to be what, Eli? It's going to be a Mahaya. A Mahaya. So tune in to Stars of David with Elon Gold, wherever you get your podcasts, or find us on YouTube at Unpacked Podcasts. You're going to love it.
0:54.4	I promise.
0:55.7	Good Yontif.
0:57.5	Hey, I'm Norm Weissman, and this is Unpacking Israeli History, the podcast that takes a deep dive into some of the most intense,
1:04.1	historically fascinating and often misunderstood events and stories linked to Israeli history.
1:09.9	This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Deborah and Avi Nader
1:15.1	and Jodi and Ari Storch.
1:17.7	To sponsor an episode of Unpacking's Early History, or just to say what's up, be in touch
1:22.7	at Noam at Unpacked.media.
1:25.4	Before we start, as always, check us out on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, you know, all the places.
1:30.4	Just search Unpacking is early history and hit that follow or subscribe button.
1:34.9	Okay, Yala.
1:36.1	Let's do this.
1:39.6	I'm nothrizzin, Babos.
1:42.4	Al-hamat, Medina, Yudhmer, Medina, you see, Hei, Israel.
1:46.0	We, the people of Israel, are prepared and anxious
1:52.0	to meet the representatives of our neighbors without any preconditions.
1:58.0	There are people in Israel and elsewhere say it's impossible to make peace between
2:04.2	their ups and Israel or the Jewish people.
	...

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