One of the more provacative titles for a panel at the 2014 JFN Conference was "Israel's Internal Ticking Time Bomb."

The title, unfortunately, is anything but hype. There are very real internal threats in Israel due to poverty and inequality. Couple that with an education system that has lost its way and a portrait of a nation in trouble--even without the difficulties of negotiations with the Palestinians--begins to emerge. JFN interviewed Dan Ben-David, executive director of the Taub Center in Jerusalem, who has been intensively studying this issue. He outlines what's at stake and how funders and philanthropists can play a role. The interview and accompanying blog can be found here.