Two Nice Jewish Boys

This month we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War - a war, it seems, that shook the Middle East and reshaped Israel forever. In Israel the war is spoken of almost as a legendary tale, whereas for the Palestinians it's remembered as the event that brought upon the occupation. For that reason, and many others, it is still one of the most controversial events in Israel's short history. Deputy Minister Dr. Michael Oren has a rich biography. He was an historian teaching in Harvard, Yale and Princeton. He also taught in Israel in both Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University. He was the Israeli ambassador to the United States and today he serves as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's office. He is also the author of several books including "Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East." 2NJB had the honor to sit down with MK Oren for a special talk commemorating the war and the great victory.

Dr. Shmulik Hess was only a 13-year-old Haredi Jew when he stumbled upon the piece of literature that would change his life. As he was walking down a street in his hometown of Tzfat, Shmulik found a book about the history of World War II. This sparked a chain of events which led Shmulik to become Dr. Hess, a secular medical entrepreneur who eventually started a company that helped millions of Chinese fight Diabetes. Dr. Shmulik Hess is the CEO of Valin Technologies and he joins 2NJB to talk about his amazing life story and his inspiring career.

During April 2017 a record breaking of 349,000 tourists visited Israel - the highest number per month since the establishment of Israel. From the vast Negev desert to the vivacious cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, to the Tuscanesque hilltops of the Galilee, indeed, the land of Milk and Honey has a lot to offer the world traveler. Yet for the traveler coming here, the country's small size can be misleading - there is so much to do and to see, that even a two weeks trip is hardly enough. Gal Mor, one of the co-founders of the famous Abraham Hostel chain, has been a world traveler for most of his life. He joins Eytan and Naor to talk about tourism in Israel, backpacking culture and more. (Photo: Ben Luria)

Progress entails change. However, the establishment generally rejects change. This is the challenge that pioneers face in all fields and this was the challenge that Professor Dan Shechtman faced upon his discovery of quasiperiodic crystals, or quasicrystals. Ultimately, this discovery would lead Dr. Shechtman to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2011 but not before a long and often arduous journey. Professor Dan Shechtman was kind enough to invite 2NJB to his home to talk about his life, his career and of course, the Nobel Prize.

Yom HaShoah, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day, commemorates the 6 million Jews who perished in the genocide. However, in order to prevent the crimes of history from repeating themselves, we cannot simply remember, we must learning from them. We must study the past and compare it to the present. Professor Dina Porat does exactly that at the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry. Every year on the eve of Yom Hashoah, the Kantor Center at Tel Aviv University publishes its Report on Anti-semitism. Professor Porat is also the chief historian of Yad Vashem, Israel’s National Holocaust Museum and she joins Two Nice Jewish Boys in this episode for a special on Anti-semitism and Yom HaShoah.

Meretz, one of Israel’s left-wing, social-democratic parties, was formed in 1992, winning 12 parliamentary seats in that year’s election. Over the years the party has sat on both sides of the aisle, even joining the ultra-orthodox Shas party in Yitzhak Rabin’s 1992 Labor-led coalition. Today, Meretz is part of the opposition and holds 5 seats, one of which is held by Tamar Zandberg. MK Zandberg was elected to the Tel Aviv city council in 2008 as a member of Meretz. She was a key figure in the 2011 social protests, during which she led, along with other council members, Meretz’s withdrawal from the city council coalition. Zandberg was elected to the Knesset in 2013, and today she is one of the most well-spoken and thought-provoking Kenneset Members. She joins 2NJB to talk about the future of Israel’s left.

The words ‘Germany’ and ‘Israel’ probably raise many differing connotations in various people’s minds but one probably stands out among them all: the Holocaust. Germany-Israel diplomatic ties began in 1952 when Germany finally offered to pay reparations to the survivors of the Holocaust. For obvious reasons, this relationship was not without its fair share of trials and tribulations. Over the years the challenges have persisted, often exacerbated by events such as the massacre of the Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympic games in Munich. As the chief correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth in Germany, Eldad Beck has become well acquainted with German internal politics, diplomatic affairs and public opinion. He has written two books on the subject of Germany: “Germany, at Odds” and his most recent “The Chancellor”. Beck joins 2NJB to talk about the two countries’ strained relations and his career as a journalist. (Main photo by Chocolatemedia)

The year is 2012 and Beitar Jerusalem, the favored soccer team of Israel's right wing, is on its way to its first national title in years. Quickly climbing the rankings from week to week, the team can almost taste the sweet flavor of victory and national pride. However, Beitar’s owner, Arkady Gaydamak, has other plans for the team - plans that will shock the players, the fans, the entire Israeli soccer community and the nation as a whole. Stretched to its limits along racial lines, the story of Beitar Jerusalem is a sort of microcosm of Israeli society. The team prides itself on its racially pure past and present roster and its right-wing Zionist political alignment. Maya Zinshtein, director of the film “Forever Pure” which follows the team through its most dramatic crisis, joins 2NJB to talk Israeli soccer, politics and filmmaking. Plus great music by Quarter to Africa!

To many of us, Japan is still a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Mysterious of all is the Yakuza, Japan's notorious crime organization, which has been growing and spreading dread for decades. When Jake Adelstein, a nice Jewish boy from Minnesota, decided to leave everything behind and follow his passion and fascination to Japan, he didn't know much about the Yakuza either. But soon enough, he learned more than he'd ever imagined he would. Pursuing a career as a Tokyo investigative crime reporter, he wrote in Japanese for one of the country's most prestigious newspapers. Jake visited Israel recently for the first time, as a guest of Penn Publishing, who just printed his 2010 book Tokyo Vice. The book tells the mind boggling real-life incidents that took place throughout Jake's impressive and dramatic career. 2NJB sat with him to talk Japan, Yakuza, and journalism.

The Refugee crisis in Europe, though seemingly distant and even sometimes obscure, is now actually more severe and relevant than ever. Every week thousands of immigrants are rescued from the Mediterranean, as many more enter from the east by any means possible. In Turkey, millions of refugees, held back by Erdogan, await the opportunity to cross the border. As Europe is divided by the question of how to handle this influx of millions of immigrants, the situation in the refugee camps continue to exacerbate. But amidst this crisis there are rays of light and one of those rays are the many volunteers from all over the world who come to assist these migrants in need. Maya Rimmer recently returned from a period of 3 months working in refugee camps in Greece. Just before going back there, she came to tell 2NJB about her experience. We also played some great music by the Wild Willows. Photo credit: Espen Rasmussen