Mael Time With Daniel Mael

In this episode of the Mael Time Podcast, Gon Soussana and Rona Epstein share firsthand testimony from October 7, when terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz of Kfar Aza and turned a place that felt deeply safe into a battlefield. Gon recounts waking up with his wife and infant son before taking up arms to defend his community, while Rona reflects on the devastating personal loss her family endured that day. Together, they describe the chaos, fear, and courage that defined the hours of the attack, and the responsibility they now carry to rebuild what was nearly destroyed. This is Part I of a two-part conversation documenting what happened inside Kfar Aza, and why its survival matters not only to its residents, but to Israel’s future.

In this conversation, Sagiv Asulin, a former Mossad operative, argues that the Iranian regime is entering a clear and accelerating phase of collapse driven by internal decay rather than external military pressure. He points to unprecedented nationwide protests, a young generation that is increasingly secular and openly hostile to clerical rule, and a regime that is steadily losing legitimacy, cohesion, and fear-based control. Reflecting on the lessons of October 7, Asulin discusses how intelligence blind spots forced Israel to reassess long-held assumptions, while also correcting misconceptions about Mossad’s role and limitations. He highlights Qatar’s influence as a major driver of regional propaganda and instability, and concludes that shifts in leadership and strategic thinking are essential as Iran’s old order weakens and the end of the regime moves from speculation to a near-term reality.

At a time when grief is too often turned into spectacle, the Widows of Warriors project offers a radically different model—one rooted in listening, restraint, and respect. In this conversation, Rabbi Moshe Rothschild explains why every decision begins with what the widows themselves ask for, not what looks compelling to donors or cameras. The project prioritizes dignity, mental health, and community, creating space for widows to share the stories of their heroic husbands on their own terms while building sustainable support for their children well into the future. It is a quiet, deeply human approach to healing and remembrance—proving that resilience is not built through display, but through care that lasts.

This episode examines why transparency and accountability are essential to the moral credibility of Jewish charitable organizations. Drawing on public financial filings and documented statements, it explains why asking hard questions is neither smearing nor anti-Jewish, but a necessary responsibility to the community. The discussion challenges the notion that good intentions excuse misleading practices, highlights the lack of consistent oversight in parts of the nonprofit world, and addresses the media’s reluctance to scrutinize influential charities. Ultimately, it argues that true tzedakah depends on honesty, clear governance, and accountability, because trust in charitable giving must be earned through facts, not assumed.

It's the right thing to do.