Unholy: Two Jews on the News – Details, episodes & analysis

In what may be the darkest week since October 7th, Israelis and Jews worldwide were left reeling by the tragic news of the execution by Hamas of six young Israeli hostages, none more than 40, after nearly a year in captivity. As protests sweep through Israel, demanding an immediate hostage deal, the way forward remains painfully unclear and progress ever more elusive as Benjamin Netanyahu insists on a new red line that cannot be crossed. In this episode, Yonit and Jonathan talk of grief and uncertainty - and look for consolation amidst the anguish.

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Israel’s war on three fronts intensifies, with a preemptive strike on Hezbollah in the north, escalated operations in the West Bank, and a rescue operation of an Israeli hostage from the tunnels in Gaza. As headlines focus once again on the chances of a hostage deal, we felt it essential to re-air the deeply moving stories of two mothers caught in this harrowing reality. In their interviews on Unholy, Ayelet Levy Shachar and Rachel Goldberg-Polin share what it means to fight relentlessly for the return of their children from captivity.

You can watch the interviews with Ayelet and Rachel on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGlvtS7As7WHh7YtmU5SMUQ

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They’ve voted in Britain, are about to vote in France and come November they’ll be voting in America - even if they’re not exactly sure who’s going to be on the ballot. Yonit and Jonathan break down the unfolding situations in both the UK and US and talk to one of France’s best known TV journalists, Ruth Elkrief about the dilemma Sunday’s vote poses for French Jews - and why she herself ‘came out’ as a Jew after October 7.

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In a time when Twitter is the main source of information for many people, Malcolm Gladwell remains on a near-celebrity status by doing the exact opposite: publishing lengthy, thought-provoking examinations of human behaviors and, most recently, historic events. His name is regularly etched in the New York Times best seller list, the podcast company he heads garners millions of listens, and theories from his books are often mentioned by politicians, academics and just regular readers. That includes our hosts, who are very honored to switch things up and have Gladwell on Unholy this week! 

The rockstar of American journalism (who is actually a UK-born Canadian), credited with the popularization of non-fiction, joins Yonit and Jonathan for a talk about, well, lots of things. How social media gave a platform to unhinged voices, which version of success complies with his Menonite upbringing, why humanity is actually more equipped to handle its problems than we think, and that one time he ruined a friendship over a song - tune in to hear all this, plus more anecdotes, impressions and even an analysis of ‘chutzpah’.

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Benjamin Netanyahu may have coasted into a clear victory in the fifth Israeli election round last week, but for Israel’s closest ally, the United States, the midterms have been startlingly close, with control of both chambers of Congress remaining up in the air as of this morning. And although Democrats have been breathing a sigh of relief after avoiding the sweeping midterm losses that were forecasted, Republicans could still be edging toward a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. This week, Jonathan joins us from DC, to detail his take-aways from a few weeks following the campaign, where he hopped from one key state to another, attended political rallies of former Presidents and even ushered in Shabbat at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. 

In Israel, despite the aforementioned win on Netanyahu’s end, the road to forming a right-wing government isn’t exactly a smooth one, with demands from every faction of the bloc and a series of controversial statements from members of the Religious Zionist party. Yonit and Jonathan analyze the potential landmines of the apparent coalition, and the implications of the leftist parties’ downfall.

Plus - which fast food restaurant chain offered a bargain this week that left a bad taste?

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May three and a half years of political turmoil conclude with Israel’s fifth election - and the forming of the most right-wing government in its history? With the majority of the votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be on a course for an even bigger victory than yesterday’s initial exit polls suggested, his bloc currently projected to win 65 seats in the Knesset. And with the leftist Meretz party laying below the election threshold, the other parties that form the current coalition are left wondering about the future of the Israeli left. In this special update, Yonit and Jonathan summarize up everything you need to know about Israeli politics at this point - and fill you in on what is expected to happen upon Bibi’s return to power.

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Elections are supposed to be a special occasion, but Israelis already know the drill. Wake up on a Tuesday, proceed to the ballots, drop their selected note into the box, turn on the television at 10PM - and, if things go as usual, learn yet again that there is no conclusive outcome due to another deadlock. But as the clock ticks by, the candidates are making their final attempt to garner more votes - even on behalf of other parties in their bloc. Yonit and Jonathan discuss last-minute mishaps amongst the parties, and the unlikely scenarios that could tip the scales come election night.

But while next week’s elections may result in an Israeli prime minister exchange- at least Downing 10 is no longer vacant. After its former resident resigned with a mere forty four days spent in office, and a cat became its most permanent resident, the official home of the British leader this week was entered by Rishi Sunak, the UK’s third prime minister in two months. 

Plus, whether you pronounce it Adi-das or A-didas, there’s no question if the sports retailer should have dropped Kanye West, adding to the list of affiliates who cut ties with the rapper after a series of antisemitic remarks. But while some attribute the rant to mental illness, it seems the intolerance in the US towards Jews may be more evident than ever.

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Israeli politics nearing the finish line - 11 days to go till the country’s fifth election in three and a half years. But, political turmoil, it appears, is not exclusively Israeli: as many ask if Yair Lapid’s tenure as Prime Minister can be the the shortest in Israeli history, the U.K. raises the stakes - and in a breathtakingly rapid fall from power, Prime Minister Liz Truss resigns after only 44 days in office. Yonit and Jonathan discuss the non-stop political news from London and Tel Aviv. 

A week after Kanye West was removed from social media due to antisemitic remarks he since has doubled down on, yet another high level personality banned from social media - former US President Donald Trump -  writes that American Jews “have to get their act together [...] before it is too late”, and despite the fallout between them in the past, former Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is there to defend him.  

Not one - but two Israeli politicians make our chutzpah award nominee list this week, and find out why Jonathan was compared to Mel Brooks!

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Eighteen days to Israeli elections – recent polls show the far right Legislator Itamar Ben Gvir gaining momentum, at the expense of Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party. We discuss the possible ramifications of Ben Gvir's ascension inside and outside Israel. And, on a lighter tone – Yonit is giving Jonathan a behind the scenes look at her preparations for the upcoming election night broadcast.

Israel and Lebanon are on the verge of signing a maritime border agreement, and now that the political dust has settled - what is actually in the deal, and what does each side set to gain and lose.

Our special guest this week is Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. She Joins Yonit and Jonathan for a conversation about ways to counter anti-Semitism - old and new, from the right and from the left, and shares her  thoughts about Kanye West's anti-Semitic outburst.

Finally, what country hits our chutzpah award list, and one courtroom in Connecticut that can restore your faith in the power of truth. 

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The holiday season is no excuse for the news cycle to stop turning, and boy - did it turn!

From the maritime talks between Israel and Lebanon that are causing a skirmish, through protests on the streets of Iran, to a new political autobiography on bookshop shelves - there’s a lot to catch up on, and luckily we’re here to fill you in. 

Our special guest this week is financial columnist for the New York Times, anchor for CNBC and Emmy award winner Andrew Ross Sorkin. He joins Yonit and Jonathan for a conversation about the global economic crisis and will it develop into a total crash in the markets, the sustainability of the high cost living in Israel and the U.K., and of course - Jewish mothers, because no guest on this podcast gets a waver from that question.

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