After nearly three months on reserve duty, Shaun and Ari return to the studio with fresh perspectives from the front lines and a candid conversation about the future of Israel.

The episode begins with an honest discussion about the often-overlooked transition from combat back to civilian life, exploring the emotional, professional, and family challenges faced by reservists after extended deployments.

From there, the conversation turns to Israeli politics as the country heads toward elections. Ari and Shaun examine the latest Knesset legislation, the ongoing debate over military service and ultra-Orthodox exemptions, judicial reform, and the growing sense among many reserve soldiers that the political parties they once supported no longer represent their priorities.

Despite approaching the issues from different perspectives, they ask the same fundamental question: Who represents the Israelis who both serve and carry the country's economic burden? The discussion explores ideas for recalibrating Israel's national priorities, rewarding service, encouraging broader participation, and whether a new generation of political leadership can move beyond the old "pro versus anti" divisions that have dominated Israeli politics for years.

This episode is both a personal reflection from two soldiers returning from the battlefield and a thoughtful discussion about where Israel may be headed as election season begins.

If you believe Israel needs leaders who have served, sacrificed, and are committed to reshaping our national priorities, add your name in support of Ari Kalker's potential candidacy. Your support today can help build the momentum needed for tomorrow.
Support here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeR-xaPbvxtTS4g1AeSqx9xMH07UhcjIwV8qVfMbRCtXaKQlg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105840100555100417840

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, Ari sits down with Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin for a wide-ranging conversation on Judaism, science, Zionism, and the ideological battles shaping Israel today.

They explore how the animals and plants of Tanakh reveal the Jewish people’s deep indigenous connection to the Land of Israel, unpack the argument at the heart of Slifkin’s book Lions of Zion, and examine how nature itself challenges anti-Israel narratives.

The conversation then turns to Rationalist Judaism, the clash between rationalism and mysticism, and one of the most pressing questions facing Israeli society: the growing divide over army service, civic duty, and national responsibility.

A fascinating and challenging conversation about faith, truth, and the future of Israel.

To follow R. Slifkin's work, you can go to:
The blog - https://www.rationalistjudaism.com/
The Museum - https://www.biblicalnaturalhistory.org/

In this episode, Shaun and Ari break down the latest developments in Israel's war with Iran, the growing political battle over the Haredi draft, and the increasing speculation about early elections.

They discuss the military, political, and social implications of these issues, what they mean for Israel's future, and how the country's leadership is fumblin one of the most challenging periods in recent memory.

A quick programming note: both Shaun and Ari are currently serving in reserve duty, which means new episodes may be released a bit more sporadically in the coming weeks. We appreciate your patience and support as we balance service with bringing you these conversations.

We'd like to extend our thanks to our partners at the Jerusalem Media Group and to our sponsors at BeThereIsrael.com for their continued support in helping make this podcast possible.

In Part II of this special Yom HaZikaron episode of Boots on the Ground, we sit down with Mark Levin, the father of lone soldier Michael Levin, who fell in the Second Lebanon War.

This is not just a story of loss. It is a story of conviction, sacrifice, and what it means to raise a child who chooses a life of purpose and responsibility to the Jewish people.

Mark reflects on the values that shaped Michael, the moment he chose to leave everything behind and join the IDF, and the impossible decision of a father who ultimately chose to support his son’s path, even when it meant facing his greatest fear.

He shares the final goodbye at the airport, the devastating moment of loss, and the overwhelming experience of arriving in Israel to witness a nation come together, thousands strong, to honor a soldier they had never met.

Two decades later, we explore how Michael’s legacy continues to live on through the Lone Soldier movement, impacting thousands who follow in his path.

This conversation captures the essence of Yom HaZikaron: the unbearable weight of sacrifice alongside the unbreakable spirit of a people. As Israel transitions from remembrance to independence, Mark offers a powerful perspective on resilience, national strength, and why, despite everything, he remains deeply optimistic about the future of Israel.

This episode is about more than memory. It is about legacy, responsibility, and the enduring strength of Am Yisrael.

Learn more about Michael Levin’s story and legacy, and watch the documentary here:
https://michaellevinlonesoldier.org/documentary-film/

How do you remember a war that hasn’t ended yet?

In this special Yom HaZikaron episode of Boots on the Ground, we confront that question head-on. Instead of trying to process the present while still living it, we look back, finding clarity, meaning, and strength in the stories that shaped Israel’s past and continue to define its present.

In Part I, Ari sits down with Michael Rabibbo, a lone soldier and combat veteran of the First Lebanon War, to tell the story of his childhood friend, Avi Grogan. Avi was more than a soldier, he was a medic who ran into artillery fire again and again to save others. After rescuing three comrades, he returned for a fourth, ultimately giving his life in the process. His final moments were not spent in fear, but in guiding others on how to save another wounded soldier.

But this episode is not just about how Avi fell. It’s about how he lived. From a small, tight-knit Jewish community in Phoenix to the battlefields of Lebanon, this conversation explores the values, upbringing, and sense of purpose that shaped a generation of fighters and what we must pass on to the next.

As Israel moves from Yom HaZikaron into Yom HaAtzmaut, this episode wrestles with the tension between grief and gratitude, loss and independence. It asks what it truly means to build a nation—and what it costs.

This is a story of friendship, sacrifice, faith, and the unbreakable link between those who fell and the future they helped secure.

Part II, featuring Mark Lavine, father of fallen lone soldier Michael Lavine, follows next.

Listen, reflect, and remember.

For Yom HaShoah, we step away from our usual conversations on war, politics, and identity to do something far more personal.

In this special episode, I sit down with my mother, Sharon Spira, to tell the story of my grandparents, Holocaust survivors whose lives shaped everything I understand about resilience, faith, and what it means to be part of the Jewish people.

We speak about my grandmother’s survival, from forced labor to a 470 kilometer death march where only a handful lived. We speak about my grandfather’s journey through Auschwitz, the impossible choices he was forced to make, and the quiet strength that defined the rest of his life.

But this is not only a story about the past. It is about what comes after. What it means to rebuild. What it means to raise children in the shadow of unimaginable trauma. And what it means for us, today, as a nation still fighting for our future.

This conversation is about memory, but more importantly, it is about continuity. About the responsibility to carry these stories forward. And about the unbreakable spirit of a people who refuse to disappear.

On this Yom HaShoah, we remember. And we continue.

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, Ari sits down with Alex Traiman, CEO of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), for a behind-the-scenes look at the media battlefield, Israel’s leadership, and the shifting global order since October 7th.

Alex shares what it’s really like to be “in the room” with decision-makers—from Prime Minister Netanyahu to President Trump—and unpacks how Israel’s strategic posture has transformed during the war. The conversation dives into media bias, the role of JNS in countering global narratives, and the growing influence of Israel on the world stage.

They explore bold ideas shaping the future of the Middle East, including regional alliances, energy corridors, and the potential for historic economic cooperation. Along the way, they tackle the internal culture war within Israel, the resilience of Israeli society, and why—despite the challenges—there’s real reason for optimism.

As Pesach approaches, the episode closes with a powerful message about strength, purpose, and the possibility of a new era of peace in Israel.

In this episode of Shaun and Ari Discuss Israel, Shaun and Ari break down the latest developments in the ongoing war with Iran. As Israel and the United States deliver major blows to Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure, missiles are still falling on Israel, though at a noticeably slower pace.
They examine what this shift could mean for the next phase of the conflict, whether American ground troops could become involved, and the emotional and economic toll the war is taking on Israeli society.
As always, the episode ends with hope. Shaun and Ari reflect on Israel’s extraordinary resilience, the strength of its people, and why, despite the hardships of war, the future of Israel still looks incredibly bright.
Thanks to our partners at the Jerusalem Media Group and our sponsor bethereisrael.com.