Grifty Episode 37: Alana Zeitchik
Aug 20, 2025
Alana Zeitchik, an Israeli American advocate and the executive director of the Narrow Bridge Project, shares her compelling journey in advocating for communication within the Jewish community amid the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She discusses the intricate ties of identity and societal divisions, underscoring the need for empathy and dialogue. The emotional toll on families of hostages and the transformative activism that arises from personal tragedy are also explored, revealing the shared humanity that transcends political divides.
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Personal Tragedy Became Public Advocacy
- Alana Zeitchik turned personal tragedy into public advocacy after six family members were taken hostage on October 7.
- She uses writing, speaking, and social media to press for hostage release and broader relationship-building.
Politics Can Dehumanize Survivors
- Zeitchik says many on the left immediately prioritize politics over victims' humanity and ignore survivor stories.
- She experiences this as dehumanization when people skip asking about her family's trauma.
Ask For Real Israeli Complexity
- On the pro-Israel side she wants people to pursue a realistic, not idealized, understanding of Israel.
- She asks Jewish Americans to get curious about real Israeli experiences beyond Birthright narratives.