This Episode is sponsored by Unpacked's new podcast, 'Homeland: Ten Stories, One Israel'
https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/homeland-ten-stories-one-israel/
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Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/2njb
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“The Next-To-Last time I Was Shot Out of A Cannon”, “The Bus Driver Who Wanted to Be God”, “Suddenly, A Knock On The Door”. Just the titles of these short stories are enough to make your literary mouth water. Etgar Keret certainly has a knack for doing just that. 

With a long career of award winning short stories, books, comics, graphic novels, children’s books and even short and feature films, all under his belt, Etgar Keret finally decided to tackle the hardest challenge of all - substack. Keret has been posting to his new substack, Alphabet Soup, once a week for the last year. As Keret puts it, “Super- short weird stories, poems, thoughts about writing, ideas for screenplays – they all swirl around in my Alphabet Soup pot.” 


Keret has won many awards, among which the Knight Medallion for Literature in France. His debut feature film, Jellyfish, which he co-created with his wife Shira Geffen, was awarded the coveted Camera d’Or prize at the Cannes film festival. 

Today we are super thrilled to be joined for the SECOND TIME by the endlessly talented Etgar Keret.
Etgar's newsletter and website:
https://www.etgarkeret.com
(Photo by Lielle Sand)

#297 - The Alphabet Soup Man (Etgar Keret)

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Your favorite 2NJB's are back with another recap! What we talked about: Galant's ambush on Bibi, the IDF's unclear objectives in Gaza, Israel's missed opportunities, and the price of defeating Hamas. The Eurovision Song Contest's anti-Israel bias, Ireland's terrifying entry, and the shocking performances. The state of American academia and the future of Jewish students on US campuses. Demographic shifts in Israel, the importance of Aliyah, and the upcoming Biden-Trump debate.
Tune in and send us feedback!

#353 - Weekly Recap: The Future of Gaza, Another Dumb Rogan Moment and a Eurovision from Hell

In early December, as the dust settled on the devastating, barbaric massacre which Hamas perpetrated on October 7th, a Palestinian official made a seemingly unsurprising statement, for a Palestinian official that is. He said that what took place on October 7th wasn’t terror, but rather “a response to Israeli terror” and called on “all factions to unite in combat against Israel”. Again, unsurprising for a Palestinian official. What’s surprising is that these weren’t the words of a Hamas official but rather Jibril Rajoub, a prominent figure within the Palestinian Authority.

This statement is a stark reminder of the deep-seated narratives upheld by some within the Palestinian Authority, who govern the territories of Judea and Samaria. Some claim a second October 7th is imminent if nothing is done to curtail the PA and the Palestinians in the so-called West Bank. All of this raises profound questions, especially when juxtaposed against the backdrop of suggestions from many, both in Israel and around the world, that the Palestinian Authority should in fact take over governance in Gaza post-Hamas. 

To dig into all this, we turn to Itamar Marcus, the founder and director of Palestinian Media Watch, PMW. Through relentless scrutiny and documentation, PMW has exposed the often-hidden undercurrents of glorification and support for violence within the PA’s communication channels. PMW and Itamar Marcus have received multiple awards including Marcus being named one of the "top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life or the State of Israel.” by The Algemeiner newspaper. Marcus also represented Israel in negotiations with the Palestinians from 1998-1999 during the Oslo Accords. We are thrilled to be joined today on the podcast by Itamar Marcus to discuss the PA and the future of the Palestinian Israeli conflict.

#352 - Palestinian Media Watch: Exposing the Palestinian Ideology of Hate (Itamar Marcus)

In the quiet early hours of a crisp October morning in 1973, as soldiers on the front lines of Israel’s borders stood guard, a storm was brewing, unknown to them but clear as day to a select few in the distant corridors of the U.S. National Security Agency. Among these few was Bruce Brill, a young Arabic interpreter whose job was to listen in, analyze, and understand. That morning, the earth-shattering realization that his own team knew of the impending Arab attack, while those who needed that information the most remained in the dark, changed his life forever.
Today, Bruce joins us with his book, "Deceit of an Ally," a compelling account of military anti-Semitism, secret intelligence operations, and the Yom Kippur War treachery that nearly cost Israel dearly. His book reveals shocking insights into how misleading intelligence assessments led to a dire miscalculation, the repercussions of which are still felt today. A former NSA analyst turned Mid-East Security Analyst, Bruce has shared his unique perspectives through numerous platforms and publications, enriching our understanding of Middle Eastern dynamics and security.
Bruce’s journey from an NSA analyst to a passionate Zionist and advocate for truth in intelligence is not just the story of a man, but a reflection on the complexities of war and diplomacy. As we delve into his experiences and revelations, we connect it to the chilling parallels seen on October 7th, when Israel faced a devastating intelligence failure as Hamas launched an unprecedented attack from Gaza, catching Israel off guard. Bruce offers not just history, but lessons on the importance of clarity and honesty in intelligence and international relations. Join us as we uncover the layers of deception and the quest for truth in the shadowy world of espionage.

Bruce's book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Deceit-Ally-Military-Anti-Semitism-Treachery/dp/965930420X

#351 - Decoding Deceit: An NSA Whistleblower’s Tale of Treachery and Tragedy (Bruce Brill)

You know the drill. Eytan and Naor discuss everything that happened in Israel in the past month.

#350 - Monthly Recap: Iran Attacks Israel, the IDF Withdraws from Gaza and the Media's Still Dumb

About 2 months after October 7th and the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza War, a poll was conducted in the United States. Many of you may remember this because the results were pretty shocking. While most Americans support Israel and view Hamas and its actions as genocidal terrorists, young Americans 18-24 don’t quite agree. At least, they’re not so straight forward about it. 51% responded that Israel should be “ended and given to Hamas and the Palestinians”. 60% believed that Hamas’ massacre was justified due to Palestinian grievances. What’s more shocking is that 66% of American 18-24 year-olds thought Hamas’ actions on Oct 7th were genocidal. Which, if you think about it, means that a big chunk think genocide against the Jews is legitimate. I guess not surprising after we saw the questioning of Ivy league presidents by congress.

The reality of antisemitism goes beyond people’s hearts and minds, unfortunately. Over the course of the last 6 months since Oct 7, there has been a sharp rise in anti semitic incidents with the ADL reporting a 360% spike back in January. And 90% of US Jews feel this uptick, according to a study done by Pew Research Center. 

Now, American Jewish organizations are combating this phenomenon. And that’s to be expected. What’s less expected is an American Muslim organization fighting the rise in antisemitism.  

Joining us today is Dan Khan, a U.S. Army veteran and Deputy Director of the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA). MALA is dedicated to empowering individual freedoms, fostering interfaith connections, and combating hate in all its forms. Today, Dan will shed light on MALA's support for the Jewish community, as well as his recent insights shared at the Combat Antisemitism Movement panel, where he outlined proactive steps the Muslim community can take to combat antisemitism.

We're honored to have Dan with us, as we explore the American Muslim community's role in building a future where understanding triumphs over division. Join us as we delve into the possibilities for hope and solidarity in these challenging times.

#297 - The Alphabet Soup Man (Etgar Keret)

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