Unholy: Two Jews on the News

Following the Russian onslaught in Ukraine- Yonit and Jonathan talk about the price of intervention and the price of non intervention, What is left of the new world order, Russian oligarchs around the world and Israel's tightrope act becoming increasingly challenging. And how all this affects the nuclear talks still taking place in Vienna, with the U.S. and Russia on the same side. On the lighter side- Chutzpah award from the newspaper business and one of our co-hosts has a birthday… Email us Unholy@keshet-tv.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the latest edition of Unholy, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by one of America's most admired journalists, David Remnick. The editor of the New Yorker draws on a long career, including a spell in Moscow reporting on the last days of the Soviet Union, to reflect on everything from possible war in Ukraine to the state of Israeli society, from the threat of Donald Trump to Remnick's own Jewish identity...and the joys of conversation with Leonard Cohen.  There's also a chutzpah award for a convicted conman, and a mensch nomination for a woman whose public persona is seemingly superficial but, who in reality, is completely different.  -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an exclusive interview, Yonit and Jonathan question Shalev Hulio, the CEO of the NSO Group, the Israeli company that has become one of the most controversial in the world. NSO sells spyware to governments across the globe for use, it says, against criminals and terrorists. But media organisations and human rights groups say Pegasus hacking software has been deployed against dissidents, journalists and activists. Hulio answers those allegations, tells us what explains the US government blacklisting of his company and sets out his view that the failure of the NSO could open the door to a more dangerous world. For this week's chutzpah award, Yonit pursues a culinary theme - nominating the US Congresswoman who confused soup with stormtroopers. While Jonathan's choice for mensch stays much closer to home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite suffering from Covid and with the help of chicken soup, Yonit throws herself into spirited discussion with Jonathan about Whoopi Goldberg's inflammatory remarks on the Holocaust, and Amnesty International's labelling of Israel as an apartheid state. They also talk about how Israel's largest circulation newspaper has switched its support from Benjamin Netanyahu to Naftali Bennett. And for the mensch award Jonathan nominates (and inflicts) his new word-based obsession upon Yonit. While her chutzpah award goes to a leading Israeli politican who has been campaigning for the poor from his luxury hotel in Switzerland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Yonit enjoys the novelty of a heavy snowfall (by Middle Eastern standards) in Jerusalem, Jonathan is captivated by the political drama in London with scandal and cake simultaneously ambushing Prime Minister Boris Johnson. They also contemplate how Israel is walking a diplomatic tightrope in trying not to offend either the US or Russia as the danger of war looms in Ukraine. Also on Holocaust Memorial Day, Yonit and Jonathan reflect on the memory and meaning of the Shoah for Jews and non-Jews. And finally, our chutzpah and mensch awards range from America's highest court to the supermarket checkout. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this edition Yonit and Jonathan consider the 'deal of the century', in the light of the negotiations underway between former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the legal authorities in Israel for him to avoid a trial in exchange for lesser charges and being excluded from public office. They ask what it could mean for him, his party and the politics as a whole in israel. And in the week following the hostage crisis at a synagogue in Texas, Yonit and Jonathan assess the impact of yet another attack on a Jewish institution in the US. They speak to a leading Los Angeles Rabbi, Sharon Brous, about the implications of rising anti-Semitism for American Jews and the sense of vulnerabilty despite the community's apparent success. And finally for chutzpah and mensch, we get a fallen star of Hollywood and a super-Rabbi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Baddiel, the British writer, comedian, commentator, and author of the acclaimed polemic ‘Jews Don’t Count’ joins Yonit and Jonathan to talk about who gets to play Jewish figures on stage and screen, along with the complexities of identity amid discussions of antisemitism, Israel, and progressive politics.   For chutzpah of the week Jonathan sounds a discordant note (that’s a hint!), and to mark Unholy’s first ‘podiversary’ Yonit brings Jonathan a special gift. -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hebrew word of the year marks a good way to start 2022. Yonit and Jonathan discuss how Israel is losing its place as the trailblazer on COVID, allowing a more flexible policy on testing and policy of living alongside the pandemic. Benny Gantz is ruffling political feathers meeting with Arab leaders, including Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, cementing his position as an alternative to Bennett and Netanyahu. Also, we talk about the appearance of the Jew-goblins of Harry Potter, courtesy of Jon Stewart. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the cusp of the new year, Yonit and Jonathan talk about what they dread and what they look forward to in 2022. As optimistic as we are, expect more of the former than the latter. Wishing us all a happier, healthier 2022. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outside Israel, the world is preparing for the festive holiday period. In Israel, meanwhile, this is just another work week. Yonit and Jonathan catch up to discuss what Christmas is like for jews around the world. We also discuss the fallout of Donald Trump's comments on the Jewish community we aired last week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.