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Live The Land

Live The Land

Written by: Franny Waisman
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About this listen

Live the Land is a podcast hosted by Franny Waisman, tour guide, educator, and lifelong explorer, where ancient Hebrew texts come alive through the land of Israel. Through conversations with people whose stories and spirit illuminate Israel’s past, present, and future, the show invites you into a deeper connection. Whether you are planning your next trip to Israel or seeking inspiration from afar, Live the Land is your place to journey, learn, and connect.Copyright 2025 Franny Waisman Judaism Social Sciences Spirituality Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Knowing The Land: Begin Your Israel Journey Here
    Dec 16 2025

    What does it really mean to know the Land of Israel—not just to visit it, but to understand it deeply, historically, and spiritually? In this debut episode of Live the Land, host Franny Waisman explores how intimate knowledge of the land shapes identity, courage, and connection.

    Franny Waisman introduces listeners to the idea of “Knowing the Land,” a unique field of study in Israeli universities that integrates history, geography, archaeology, and natural sciences.

    True connection to Israel comes through learning, experience, and presence.

    Franny is joined by Eve Harrow, a veteran tour guide and senior advisor to the Judea Samaria Experience. Eve shares personal stories of courage, advocacy, and life on the front lines of Israel’s contested regions, offering an unfiltered look at the realities of Judea and Samaria beyond headlines.

    They discuss ancient and biblically significant sites, the meaning of courage in modern Israel, and how walking the land fosters a profound historical and spiritual bond.

    About The Guest:

    Eve Harrow is a highly respected tour guide, educator, and senior advisor to the Judea Samaria Experience. With decades of experience guiding visitors through Israel’s most historically and biblically significant regions, she is known for her deep knowledge, fearless advocacy, and commitment to connecting people to the land of Israel through lived experience.

    In this episode:

    1. “Knowing the Land” is both an academic discipline and a lived philosophy in Israel.
    2. Physical presence and walking the land create a deeper historical and spiritual connection.
    3. Judea and Samaria are complex regions best understood through firsthand experience.
    4. Courage is an essential part of engaging honestly with Israel’s story.
    5. True understanding of Israel emerges from learning, context, and personal encounter.

    Ready to deepen your connection to Israel beyond the map and the headlines?

    Tune in to the full episode and begin exploring the land—step by step, story by story.

    Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit judeasamariaexperience.com to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

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    59 mins
  • Hebron, where it all began
    Dec 22 2025

    What does it really mean to encounter Hebron—not as a headline or a controversy, but as an eternal city that anchors the Jewish story from its earliest beginnings? In Episode 2 of Live the Land, host Franny Waisman explores why Hebron remains one of the most powerful places to understand Jewish history, identity, and destiny.

    Franny opens with a personal story about her children’s education in Israel and the profound spiritual connection they are building to Torah through lived experience. That story becomes the doorway into Hebron: a place where text, land, and legacy meet in real time.

    True connection to Israel comes through learning, experience, and presence.

    Franny is joined by Yishai Fleischer, the international spokesperson for the city of Hebron, who unpacks Hebron’s central role in Jewish history and spirituality. Together, they explore Hebron as the burial site of the patriarchs and matriarchs, a city that has always been contested, and a place that is also secure and evolving in the present.

    They discuss archaeological discoveries, the Biblical Highway Project that highlights Israel’s ancient routes, and the power of simplicity in building a lasting connection to the land. Through scripture, history, and personal insight, the episode frames Hebron not only as a memory of the past, but as a living link to the Jewish future.

    About The Guest:

    Yishai Fleischer is the international spokesperson for the city of Hebron and a leading advocate for sharing Hebron’s story with the world. He is a communicator, educator, and guide who brings biblical literacy, historical depth, and present-day perspective to one of Judaism’s most foundational cities.

    In this episode:

    1. Hebron is a foundational city in Jewish history and spiritual identity.
    2. Ma’arat HaMachpela ties the Jewish people to the Avot and Imahot in a tangible way.
    3. Hebron today is both contested and secure, with growing opportunities for tourism and education.
    4. Archaeology and scripture together deepen the experience of “knowing the land.”
    5. Identity and self-perception shape how we relate to Israel’s past and future.

    Ready to deepen your connection to Israel beyond the map and the headlines?

    Tune in to the full episode and discover Hebron—where it all began.

    Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit judeasamariaexperience.com to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

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    56 mins
  • Arugot Farm - A place for healing
    Jan 12 2026

    What happens at the edge of the desert—where civilization fades and purpose becomes clear? In this episode of Live the Land, we explore why the Judean Frontier has always been a place of spiritual transformation, resilience, and revelation.

    Franny sits down with Ari Abramowitz to unpack the meaning of the Judean Frontier—a region where history, spirituality, and daily life intersect. Ari explains how this landscape has served as a testing ground and meeting place between the physical and the divine throughout Jewish history.

    The conversation weaves together personal stories from life at the Arugot Farm, encounters with volunteers from around the world, and reflections on how presence on the land itself becomes an act of protection and nurturing. Ari highlights how simplicity and isolation strip away distractions and open space for inner clarity.

    The episode closes with a powerful reflection on why the Jewish people were formed in the desert: not despite its barrenness, but because of it. The desert, Ari explains, remains a timeless setting for revelation, purpose, and renewed connection to Hashem.

    About The Guest:

    Ari Abramowitz is a pioneer and educator living on the Judean Frontier, where he co-founded the Arugot Farm. His work centers on land stewardship, Jewish identity, and creating immersive experiences that reconnect people to Torah, history, and the Land of Israel.

    Key Takeaways:

    The desert is a catalyst for spiritual growth and revelation

    Physical presence on the land is both meaningful and protective

    Simplicity can deepen faith and clarity of purpose

    Jewish history and identity are inseparable from the Judean landscape

    The edge of the desert invites a return to essentials—faith, mission, and connection

    Time Stamps:

    00:00 Introduction to the Judean Frontier

    05:30 The meaning of living at the Edge of the Desert

    12:40 Founding the Arugot Farm

    21:15 Volunteers, healing, and transformation

    30:10 Why the Jewish nation was formed in the desert

    38:45 Spiritual purpose through simplicity

    Ready to rethink what the desert represents?

    Tune in to the full episode of Live the Land hosted by Franny Waisman featuring Ari Abramowitz for a profound conversation on land, faith, and spiritual clarity.

    Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

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    40 mins
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