Nov 8, 2021
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Daniel Levin has traveled a wide ranging and fascinating path in his lifetime. Having grown up in several different cultures in the Middle East and Africa, he has devoted his life to working in geopolitical spheres to help governments navigate their way through political reform and economic development.
Ari and Daniel discuss modern power dynamics and their use and misapplication by our own government in our efforts at nation building in the Middle East. By drawing on contacts and relationships he’s fostered worldwide, Daniel has used his experience in the realm of hostage negotiation. He details a gripping series of events in his one man search to find a missing person, lost in the chaos of Syria, in his latest book, “Proof of Life”. The lessons learned over those twenty tense days resonate in many events in our current times.
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EPISODE TIME STAMPS
2:58 Daniel’s background
4:27 Growing up a Jew in Switzerland
11:16 Impacts felt by the 1982 war with Lebanon
14:31 Daniel’s parents’ influence on his life
17:58 Reconciling personal religious beliefs with Israeli politics and society
24:49 Working for Barak, and it’s impacts on Daniel’s worldview
27:44 Transitioning to working with countries on constitutional and economic reforms
32:49 Lessons learned by the U.S. in the Middle East
42:17 The evolution to working in hostage negotiation
43:40 Describing the events in Syria leading up to the situation written about in “Proof of Life”
49:30 The emotional toll of hostage negotiations
52:37 Lessons learned, and applying those principles to life in general
61:02 Information on how to learn more about Daniel Levin and “Proof of Life”
CONNECT WITH Daniel Levin
For more information about Daniel Levin and to learn more about “Proof of Life”, as well as Daniel’s other books, visit his website at: https://www.daniellevinauthor.com/
“Proof of Life” is available at many fine bookstores, or from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Contact Daniel on his website
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Jews You Should Know introduces the broader community to interesting and inspiring Jewish men and women making a difference in our world. Some are already famous, some not yet so. But each is a Jew You Should Know.
The host, Rabbi Ari Koretzky, is Executive Director of MEOR Maryland (www.meormd.org), a premier Jewish outreach and educational organization. MEOR operates nationally on twenty campuses and in Manhattan; visit the national website at www.meor.org.
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