In this special ‘War Edition’ of the show, Dan and Benny take a deep dive into the geopolitical context of the October 7th war with Col. (Res.) Dr. Eran Lerman. Together, they discuss the war’s progress, impact, and possible outcomes both near- and long-term.

About Col. (Res.) Dr. Eran Lerman:

Colonel (Res.) Dr. Eran Lerman is a lecturer in the Shalem College Departments of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and Strategy, Diplomacy, and Security and in the Tel Aviv University Department of Political Science. He is also the Vice President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and, since 2021, the editor-in-chief of Jerusalem Strategic Tribune.

A historian by training and the former deputy for foreign policy and international affairs at Israel’s National Security Council, Lerman has also served as director of the American Jewish Committee’s Israel/Middle East Office and in senior positions at the Israel Defense Forces’ Directorate of Military Intelligence.

He holds a PhD in Government from the London School of Economics and a mid-career MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. A third-generation “Sabra,” he is married to Annelies, the father of three, and the proud grandfather of four.

A special message from Benny & Dan:

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the thousands of victims - murdered, kidnapped, and injured - of the deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel on the morning of October 7th. This episode of the show is dedicated to the brave men and women of the IDF and Israel's security forces as they bravely serve to eliminate the destructive threats faced by Israel and the Jewish People both near and far - and to the People of Israel who are struggling at this unprecedented time.

For those interested in donating to help the Israeli people in this time of need, please check out the following resources. Your help is highly appreciated at this urgent time:

The Jewish Agency for Israel's Fund for Victims of Terror - CLICK HERE
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Emergency Campaign 2023 - CLICK HERE
Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) - CLICK HERE
JNF-USA Israel Resilience Campaign - CLICK HERE

עם ישראל חי! Am Yisrael Chai!

Additional Links:

· Follow Dr. Lerman on X @EranLerman

· Visit Dr. Lerman’s page at Shalem College HERE.

A special word about Israel travel from Kenes Tours:

Saturday, October 7th will go down in infamy. Israel was brutally and horrifically attacked by Hamas terrorists who violently infiltrated the country and penetrated southern Israeli communities. Thousands of Israelis were murdered, terrorized, and kidnapped. Deadly rockets are being fired upon southern and central Israel from the Gaza Strip and upon communities in the northern Galilee from Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces are working valiantly and strategically to secure the country’s borders and to eliminate the terrorist threat.

The entire global Jewish community is affected by this war. It has heeded the call and is expressing solidarity, unity, and support with Israel in unprecedented numbers. Massive amounts of time, energy, financial and other resources are being donated to the effort. Many of our Jewish organizational partners across North America – both from the Jewish Federation system and from synagogues of all denominations – have reached out to us to ask what they can do to actively contribute.

In a bold demonstration of support, Kenes Tours is facilitating solidarity missions to Israel throughout this challenging time. With worldwide escalating antisemitism, antizionism, and protests, Israelis feel afraid and alone. Simply “showing up” sends a strong message that this is not the case. Our missions will boost morale, help build resilience, increase understand of what has and is taking place in Israel, and will further strengthen the ties that bind us together.

Kenes Tours has the on-the-ground partners necessary to create your customized solidarity mission to Israel. These trips are designed to be short (from 36 to 72 hours), powerful, and impactful for both participants and Israelis affected by the war. Experiences might include the following:

Exclusive geo-strategic briefings with top military experts.
Visits to hospitals treating the wounded.
Meetings with evacuees and others displaced by the war.
Encounters with IDF soldiers, security forces, and reserve units.
Visits to affected areas (subject to security and safety guidelines).
Engagements with local communities and visits to Partnership communities (if applicable).
Opportunities to witness how the home front is protecting itself from threats.
Hands-on volunteer opportunities, coordinated with local partners.

Our Tel Aviv- and U.S.-based teams will work on your behalf to secure flights, transfers, security, and hotel accommodations, as well as plan community-optimized itineraries. We want to be your partner and help achieve your objectives for this mission.

Kenes Tours commits to fair, transparent, and affordable prices for interested groups, individuals, and organizations. We do not believe in price-gouging or profiting from our national tragedy. We stand ready to join you in expressions of support for those in need.

For more information and to plan your solidarity mission, contact Benny Scholder, Director of Sales – North America, at bscholder@kenes-tours.com.

#66– Swords of Iron, Day 28: Col. (Res.) Dr. Eran Lerman