This Week Unpacked – Details, episodes & analysis

This Week Unpacked introduces another podcast from Unpacked: Unpacking Israeli History. Season 4 just launched, and we're running the first episode here, entitled Ma'alot: 30 Seconds That Devastated A Nation. It was supposed to be a fun field trip. A little celebration in honor of Israel’s 26th birthday. Over a hundred religious high school students, exploring northern Israel and sleeping under the stars. But the three Palestinian terrorists who sneaked in from Lebanon had other plans. This is the story of the Ma’alot massacre. It’s a story of horror and blood. But it’s also a story of hope and resistance. A reminder that every hour of our lives matters.

This Week Unpacked introduces another podcast from Unpacked: Unpacking Israeli History. Season 3 just launched, and we're running the first episode here, entitled Hebron: When Tensions Erupt.   In the summer of 1929, Jews and Arabs alike found themselves caught in an unbearably bloody battle. The aftermath of a deadly riot showed the Jews of British Mandatory Palestine that the British couldn’t protect them, leading them to unite under the banner of Zionism. In this episode, Noam unpacks the 1929 Hebron Riots and considers why it may be considered “Year Zero” of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Benny Gantz, Israel’s Defense Minister, recently declared that the country was designating six Palestinian NGOs (or “nongovernmental organizations”) as terror groups. Why? Are these NGOs really connected to terrorist organizations? And what do Israelis think about these designations? ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked See more about Entebbe: https://jewishunpacked.com/operation-thunderbolt-the-raid-on-entebbe/ ~~~~ Sources https://www.jns.org/gantz-names-six-palestinian-ngos-as-terror-groups-us-asks-israel-to-clarify/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson%27s_Field_hijackings https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/on-this-day-israeli-minister-rehavam-zeevi-assassinated-by-terrorists-20-years-ago-682206 https://www.idf.il/en/articles/palestinian-terror/today-we-remember-the-fogel-family-massacre/ https://twitter.com/NGOmonitor/status/1451499358092939265 https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-rushing-to-defend-terrorism-linked-ngos-20211029-mn47va7rczf3pdtiw2uissy6ty-story.html https://www.jpost.com/opinion/israel-must-prove-blacklisted-ngos-funded-terrorism-editorial-682904 https://www.jns.org/israeli-security-services-uncover-finance-network-linking-european-ngos-to-palestinian-terror-group/ https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-great-damage-labor-party-head-condemns-classing-palestinian-ngos-as-terror-groups-1.10324241 https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/editorial/.premium-a-stain-upon-israel-1.10318621 https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/palestinian-ngos-human-rights-workers-or-agents-of-terror-683414 https://www.adalah.org/en/content/view/10456 https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/19058.html https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/palestinian-ngos-human-rights-workers-or-agents-of-terror-683414  ~~~~ Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media

There are now 100,000 trained and ready fighters in Hezbollah, according to its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. This week, we explore: what is Hezbollah? What is its history, and its relationship with Israel? And how worried should we be? ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked See more about the Lebanon War: https://jewishunpacked.com/sabra-and-shatila-what-happened-and-why-it-matters/ ~~~~ Sources https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/03/Iranian-View-of-Israel/387085/ https://www.adl.org/education/resources/backgrounders/the-amia-daia-bombing-terror-in-argentina   https://www.adl.org/resources/glossary-terms/hezbollah   https://www.ajc.org/news/ajc-praises-germanys-ban-of-all-hezbollah-activities   https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Country-Reports-on-Terrorism-2019-2.pdf   https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/israel/2019-03-08/will-hezbollahs-rise-be-its-downfall   https://unpacked.education/israel-and-iran-from-allies-to-archenemies/   https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/beirut-barracks-blown-up   https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-energy-envoy-to-visit-lebanon-will-discuss-maritime-border-talks-with-israel/   https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-mediator-hochstein-says-lebanon-israel-maritime-talks-need-be-quick-al-hadath-2021-10-21/   https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/lebanon-touts-new-opportunity-for-maritime-border-talks-with-israel-682682   https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-a-change-hezbollahs-boast-of-100000-fighters-is-not-aimed-at-israel/   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-has-hezbollah-become-too-big-to-fail-1.10316189    ~~~~ Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media  

This year in Israel is a sabbatical year, also known as a shmita year. We’ll explain what that is, and what the practical implications are for Jews all over the world. ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked ~~~~ Sources https://drive.google.com/file/d/19MiVPVA19C6GJB9KufhQiM_1JV7amB_l/view https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-israelis-who-buy-farmland-to-let-it-lie-fallow/ https://buy.otzar-haretz.co.il/english/ https://www.jpost.com/opinion/rabbinic-leadership-must-harmonize-shmita-halacha-with-good-of-society-676596 https://shmitaproject.org/about-project/  ~~~~ Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media

Ron Arad, an Israeli Air Force navigator, has been missing since 1986. Recently, the Mossad carried out an operation to find out any new information about his fate. In this week’s episode, we explore Israel’s philosophy to never give up, and never leave a soldier behind. ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked Teaching about this topic? Check out our relevant educator resources here: https://unpacked.education/why-is-israel-still-searching-for-ron-arad/ ~~~~ Sources https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Gifts_to_the_Poor.8.10?lang=bi https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Gittin.4.6?lang=he-en&utm_source=etzion.org.il&utm_medium=sefaria_linker https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-israel-must-do-everything-to-bring-soldiers-home-1.10276763 https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/prisoners-dilemma-137099 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/the-ron-arad-saga-national-trauma-or-national-obsession-681380 https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-israel-s-obsessive-worship-of-the-dead-1.10272770 https://unpacked.education/video/eli-cohen-the-mossads-master-spy/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=weekly-21-10-12&utm_campaign=ued-reengagement https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-israel-must-do-everything-to-bring-soldiers-home-1.10276763 https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/10/07/wife-of-missing-navigator-ron-arad-defends-operation/  ~~~~ Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media

After hundreds of Iraqi leaders spoke out for normalizing relations with Israel, and potentially joining the Abraham Accords, but then very quickly retracted their call. Rivky tells the whole story, including the history of Jewish Iraq, and asks, what should we make of this story? ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked Teaching about this topic? Check out our relevant educator resources here: https://unpacked.education/why-did-iraqis-call-for-peace-with-israel/ ~~~~ Sources https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/13/opinion/israel-uae.html https://www.wsj.com/articles/iraq-abraham-accords-israel-sunni-shiite-11632495291 https://www.memri.org/jttm/iran-backed-iraqi-militias-response-normalization-conference-erbil-we-will-attack-israeli https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population_by_country https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-expulsion-that-backfired-when-iraq-kicked-out-its-jews/ https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/iraq-virtual-jewish-history-tour https://unpacked.education/video/resolution-181-the-zionist-dream-comes-true/ https://unpacked.education/video/six-day-war-project/ https://unpacked.education/podcast/the-yom-kippur-war-a-national-catastrophe/ https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iraqi-ambassador-inappropriately-quoted-by-media-on-israel-and-palestine-595336 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44466573 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44466573 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/calls-peace-israel-backfire-after-iraqi-conference-n1280301 https://www.facebook.com/210288219549415/posts/402912500286985/?d=n https://themedialine.org/top-stories/despite-calls-for-peace-iraq-israel-normalization-still-a-distant-dream/ https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/09/30/iraq-israel-iran-palestine-abraham-accords-middle-east-relations/ https://www.facebook.com/IsraelinIraqi https://twitter.com/naftalibennett/status/1441807050728742912  ~~~~ Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media

After the U.S. House of Representatives voted for Iron Dome funding, calls for the death of bipartisan support for Israel were heard from Jewish media all over the country. But...is it true? And, backing up - why does Israel even get foreign aid from the U.S.? Is it different than other types of aid? And what are people saying about it? Rivky breaks down everything you need to know. ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked Teaching about this topic? Check out our relevant educator resources here: https://unpacked.education/was-the-temporary-blocking-of-iron-dome-funding-a-turning-point/ ~~~~ Sources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz5WI8VZC1A https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=j6aZH4egHCg https://news.yahoo.com/yes-wept-aoc-explains-why-203300617.html https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hOiNo95QUvneEXbaULj4H?si=UU9DeMMIQYyZfGMTVU63nw&dl_branch=1 https://besacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/181-web-UPDATED.pdf https://jewishinsider.com/2021/04/betty-mccollum-legislation-israel-aid/ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjvsmjt7k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04m1TtlfCOk https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/aid-israel-michael-oren https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/opinion/israel-democrat-bowman-jayapal-tlaib.html https://www.jns.org/opinion/the-baleful-significance-of-the-democrats-iron-dome-fiasco/ https://www.jns.org/survey-finds-nearly-two-thirds-of-jewish-students-feel-unsafe-half-hide-identity/ https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hOiNo95QUvneEXbaULj4H?si=90d32b86200f4330 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3g3N-b2Hb4&t=1089s https://jewishunpacked.com/does-israel-represent-all-jews-the-great-debate/ https://jewishunpacked.com/the-great-debate-around-german-reparations/  ~~~~ Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media

For September, we're doing something different. Presenting, Unpacking Israeli History. Begin and Ben Gurion had some epics battles, but one of the biggest ones happened in 1952, as these two Israeli giants battled about whether to take German reparations after the Holocaust. In this episode, Noam looks all the way back at this crazy story, and leaves us asking, who was right? ~~~~ Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Alan Fisher and Barbara Sommer, and Jon and Rachie Teller. ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked  See the full season of Unpacking Israeli History here: https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/unpacking-israeli-history/ ~~~~ Sources https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/19/us/ta-nehisi-coates-reparations.html https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/67de380e-8b71-412c-8d06-70af9b31da25 https://www.ushmm.org/exhibition/displaced-persons/daily2.htm https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-breaks-50-year-record-for-most-rainfall-613693 tastecooking.com/truth-israeli-couscous/ https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/144226014.pdf https://www.npr.org/2019/03/07/700356426/thousands-of-israelis-now-call-berlin-home-and-make-their-cultural-mark https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/labor-and-internment-camps-in-north-africa https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110255386.100/html http://auschwitz.org/en/history/punishments-and-executions/ https://blog.nli.org.il/en/reparations-agreement/ https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/28248/1001729.pdf?sequence=1 https://www.aicgs.org/2019/11/the-september-1952-reparations-agreement-between-west-germany-and-israel-the-beginning-of-a-remarkable-friendship/ https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/german-holocaust-reparations Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul, by Danny Gordis Ben-Gurion: Father of Modern Israel, Anita Shapira ~~~~ Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media

For September, we're doing something different. Presenting, Unpacking Israeli History. On Nov 10, 1975, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 3379, determining that Zionism is "a form of racism and racial discrimination.” That’s quite a loaded description! In this episode, Noam Weissman breaks down what led to this infamous resolution, the UN’s relationship with Israel, and what it means to us, almost 50 years later. ~~~~ Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Alan Fisher and Barbara Sommer, and Jon and Rachie Teller. ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked  Teaching about this topic? Check out our relevant educator resources here: https://unpacked.education/video/un-resolution-3379-is-zionism-racism/ ~~~~ Sources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlr1ioQIxa4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpC2HdL-95M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv8Hqlubst4&t=44s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7chKW7H6s8M https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/761C1063530766A7052566A2005B74D1 https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-nostalgic-for-the-ussr-on-the-kibbutzim-1.5233153 https://www.marxists.org/subject/jewish/caution-zionism.pdf https://www.jta.org/1952/10/07/archive/bonn-charges-ussr-exports-nazi-anti-semitic-films-to-arabs Sachar, A History of the Jews in the Modern World http://proceedings.informingscience.org/InSITE2019/InSITE19p035-070Cohen5666.pdf https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/pages/the%20khartoum%20resolutions.aspx https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/oil-embargo https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB106419296113226300 https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/642340?ln=en https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1973/10/23/issue.html https://content.ecf.org.il/files/M00901_UNGARes3379DebateEnglish.pdf https://www.jta.org/1975/11/12/archive/kristallnacht-at-the-united-nations-100000-in-rally-to-protest-against-anti-zionist-resolution-mass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuJXdAvPCrU&t=252s https://unwatch.org/moynihans-moment-the-historic-1975-u-n-speech-in-response-to-zionism-is-racism/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/12/17/un-repeals-resolution-linking-zionism-to-racism/70349a7c-ae07-40ea-b37d-ee711e0636eb/ ~~~~ Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media