Matan Rudner

Immigrant, former Lone Soldier, Progressive Zionist

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Oct 31, 2023, 12:31 AM

The sun has set here in Jerusalem and the Simchat Torah War enters its 25th day. We inhabit now a harsher reality- thousands are dead, hundreds of hostages remain in chains, over a million Gazans and a quarter of...

Oct 10, 2023, 5:42 AM

This column originally appeared in the Texas Jewish Post. On Friday night I ate a small Shabbat dinner with my roommate and played with my cat. My friend Moshe came over and we had some wine on the balcony overlooking...

Oct 29, 2020, 10:58 AM

American Zionists must vote for Biden

As a dual citizen of Israel and the United States, I am fortunate to have the right and the responsibility to vote in both countries' elections. And as a fierce Zionist and former Lone Soldier in the Israel Defense...

Oct 2, 2020, 2:59 AM

A Zionist coming to terms with the Nakba

Like so many others in the Jewish community, I grew up hearing a simple narrative about Israel. I learned of the miraculous return of our people to our homeland and of the state we had built. And I learned...

Aug 26, 2020, 1:31 PM

A Lone Soldier’s reflection on military service

It’s been a month since I finished my military service and I’d be lying if I said it’s been anything but utter bliss. I’ve gone to bed without setting an alarm clock, I’ve excavated clothing from my long-forgotten wardrobe,...

Aug 25, 2020, 8:01 PM

Aspiring to a Progressive Foreign Policy

Here in Israel we are blessed with a strong civil society that keeps our democratic institutions accountable to the people. Our political parties, over a dozen of which are currently represented in the Knesset, reflect a wide range of...

May 26, 2020, 8:55 AM

Navigating a Gay Identity in Israel

In the almost three years that I've lived in Israel, I've found that being gay here isn't so different from being gay in America. Though there are differences in the status and rights of the LGBT community in each...

May 9, 2020, 10:57 PM

10 Books on Israel for Quarantine

Ten Books To Read Throughout the intense distress caused by this unprecedented global health crisis, quarantine has actually been something of a blessing. It's given many of us the opportunity to connect with ourselves, our friends and family, and with...

Apr 26, 2020, 6:12 PM

Long Term Planning Necessary for National Success

One of the things Americans come to notice upon socialising with Israelis is that there’s a cultural gap in the way we plan things. Whereas generally Americans plan trips and big events many months in advance and small things...

Apr 21, 2020, 6:41 PM

Hebrew: the Jewish people’s operating system

I began learning Hebrew as a toddler in Jewish day school. We began with the letters and then over the years dedicated more and more time to learning the ins and outs of language we used in prayers and...

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About Me

Matan made Aliyah from Dallas, Texas and served as a Lone Soldier in the IDF. He is a tour guide and lives in Jerusalem with his cat, Baruch.

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