Pottery, Prayer, and Life on an Itamar Hilltop with Batya Erdstein

Proof the Book of Joshua Really Happened With Aaron Lipkin

What if one of the most debated archaeological discoveries in Israel points directly back to the Book of Joshua? In this episode, Franny Waisman welcomes Aaron Lipkin, founder of Lipkin Tours, for a fascinating conversation about biblical archaeology in Judea and Samaria, the Israelite settlement period, Mount Ebal, and the controversial “curse tablet.” Together, they explore how archaeology, geography, Tanach, and academic debate all intersect in one of the most significant biblical sites in the land of Israel. Aaron Lipkin is the founder of Lipkin Tours, where he leads educational tours throughout Judea and Samaria with a focus on biblical archaeology, Jewish history, and the physical geography of Tanach. His work helps visitors connect the stories of the Bible to the actual places where they unfolded. Time Stamps: 00:00 Why Evidence Feels Fragmentary 11:29 Academia vs Bible Debate 19:53 Covenant Ceremony Explained 22:49 Drone Tour of Shechem 25:03 Proofs of Joshua’s Altar 30:52 The Cursed Tablet Find 36:03 Why Visit Judea Samaria Tune in to the full episode for a powerful conversation on biblical archaeology, Mount Ebal, Joshua’s altar, and the enduring significance of Judea and Samaria.

What’s Really Happening in Judea & Samaria? with Naomi Kahn of Regavim

What is really happening on the ground in Judea and Samaria, and why does it matter for Israel’s future? Franny Waisman sits down with Naomi Kahn, Director of Regavim’s International Division, for a powerful and highly political conversation about illegal building, land use, archaeology, environmental damage, Oslo, sovereignty, and the battle over Israel’s heritage. Key Questions Explored in the Episode: What does Regavim actually do? How is illegal building changing the map of Judea and Samaria? Why are archaeological and religious sites under threat? What environmental dangers are affecting Israelis and Palestinians alike? What did Oslo really create legally? Where can people go to better understand the reality on the ground? Naomi Kahn explains how Regavim monitors land-use issues across Israel, maps changes on the ground, and uses legal action to push the Israeli government toward enforcement and policy clarity. The conversation explores the political, historical, archaeological, and environmental challenges facing Judea and Samaria, including threats to ancient sites, illegal construction, pollution, and the long-term implications of Oslo and Area C. Time Stamps: 00:00 Mapping Land and Court Battles 07:07 Archaeology Under Threat In Israel 10:47 Systematic Heritage Erasure 16:52 Environmental Crisis and Pollution 21:57 Personal Wake Up Call 25:24 Must See Vantage Points 31:27 Oslo and Legal Reality Check 40:02 Biblical Lens and Hope ---------------- Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria. [https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.]

Pottery, Prayer, and Life on an Itamar Hilltop with Batya Erdstein

Batya Erdstein lives on a hilltop near Itamar, where she creates pottery inspired by the Land of Israel itself. In this episode, Franny Waisman discuses Batya’s ceramic studio, Mud on the Mountain, to explore how clay, prayer, motherhood, birth, war, and the rugged beauty of Judea and Samaria all come together in her work. Timestamps: 00:00 Why Itamar Hilltop 05:22 Daily Life and Prayer 08:56 Land-Inspired Ceramics 19:02 Pottery and Ancient Roots 24:35 Potter Metaphor in Faith 35:25 The Torah of Pottery 41:21 Jeremiah Potter Lesson 44:22 Becoming Vessels of Light ---------------- Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

The Biblical Plants Coming Back to Life in Israel | Guy Erlich

Reviving biblical plants in the Judean Desert, Guy Erlich is bringing the Balm of Gilead, frankincense, myrrh, and ancient perfume plants back to life. This episode explores why so many Tanach-era spices feel almost mythical today, how their plants and growing knowledge disappeared from the Land of Israel, and what it means to revive them in the very region where they once grew. Guy Erlich is a farmer in Almog, who has spent 17 years rebuilding a living collection of biblical medicinal and perfume plants, including Balm of Gilead, frankincense, and myrrh. Together, they discuss the mystery of the ancient balsam, the connection to ketoret and the Beit Hamikdash, desert agriculture, healing oils, Ein Gedi’s lost secrets, and the deeper spiritual idea of resurrection in nature. 00:00 Mythic Bible Spices 01:10 Lost Balm of Gilead 01:52 Meet Guy Erlich 02:27 Farm of Frankincense 04:50 Balsam Identity Mystery 07:04 How Revival Began 11:05 Building a Plant Collection 13:52 Healing Oils and Covid 17:56 Smell, Soul, and Temple 21:20 Miracles in Desert Farming 24:50 Past, Future, and Temple Talk 29:33 Funding, Support, and Visits 33:19 Rapid Fire Wrap-Up 37:06 Resurrection and Prophecy ---------------- Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

What Trauma Does to the Body (And How to Start Healing) with Nava Fuchs

What happens when fear, stress, and trauma don’t get processed—especially in a reality shaped by ongoing war? In this episode of Live the Land, host Franny Waisman shares her experience at a weeklong somatic healing retreat and sits down with Jackie “Nava” Fuchs, a yoga therapist and somatic healer based in Tekoa. Together, they explore how the body holds onto unprocessed experiences—and what it actually looks like to begin releasing them. From practical grounding tools (like breathwork, yoga nidra, and vagus nerve regulation) to deeper ideas about connection, vulnerability, and healing through the land itself, this conversation bridges somatic therapy with the lived reality of Israel today. They also connect these ideas to timeless TaNaK narratives—offering a powerful lens on disconnection, transformation, and what it means to truly return to oneself. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or constantly “on edge,” this episode offers a grounded, honest look at what healing can look like—without bypassing the pain. Timestamps 00:00 Somatic Retreat Awakening 00:34 How Unprocessed Stress Lives in the Body 02:21 Meet Nava Fuchs 04:35 Tekoa’s Landscape & Healing Environment 14:02 Meditation & Releasing Inner Constriction 19:23 Three Daily Grounding Practices 21:39 What Is Somatic Healing, Really? 23:54 Trauma-Sensitive Yoga for Resilience 32:00 Why Healing Requires Connection 33:26 The Human Need for Connection 35:08 Understanding the Vagus Nerve 35:32 5-Minute Tools to Calm the Body 37:07 Healing Through Connection to the Land 46:55 Healing as “Returning” 48:42 The Torah of Healing: The Root of Disconnection