Unholy: Two Jews on the News

As Israel heads into what may be the most consequential election of its history, the country is still arguing less about where it's going than about how it got here. This week, Yonit and Jonathan sit down with a titan of Israeli broadcasting — Ilana Dayan, anchor of the investigative program Uvda for three decades — who returns to Unholy to make sense of it all. She traces how Netnayahu survived a moment that should have ended his political career, makes the case for what actually sets challenger Gadi Eisenkot apart, and confronts head-on whether Israelis see the last three years as a win or a wound still open. Plus: her read on the West Bank sanctions rattling even Netanyahu's own coalition — and why, despite everything, she still finds a reason for optimism.

September 8th was the deadline for Israeli parties to file their lists — and Netanyahu reached it less organised than he'd have liked, with a rival on the right running alone, a reserved slot for his own Channel 14 broadcaster, and barely a handful of women anywhere near the top. Then Britain, joined by France, Canada and nine others, sanctioned settlement goods, called the occupation itself unlawful, and used the words "ethnic cleansing" about settler violence in the West Bank. The UK's chief rabbi called it a dark day for British Jews. Other rabbis disagreed, loudly. Yonit and Jonathan work through what sanctions actually hit when the target is a bank that gave someone a mortgage — and whether, six weeks before an election, this lands as pressure or as a gift.

The Jewish new year arrives with the word ‘Zionist’ deemed an insult and a technology that never forgets anything that anyone has ever said or done. Following Unholy tradition, Yonit and Jonathan usher in the season of awe and the High Holydays with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, who leads New York’s Central Synagogue and whose congregation was rushed by an intruder during a packed Friday night service weeks before this conversation. She walks through what repentance actually demands — a real apology, a change of action as well as heart, and three attempts — and why she thinks Abraham, the first Jew, failed the test we remember on Rosh Hashanah. Plus: the sermon she is dreading, why she calls the coming Israeli election existential for Jews everywhere, and, as ever, the music.

Seven weeks out from an election that in many ways is a referendum on culpability for October 7th, Benjamin Netanyahu tells Channel 14 that if only they had woken him earlier that fateful day, everything would have been different — and his wife goes considerably further about Yair Golan, a man who drove towards the gunfire that morning and saved lives. Yonit and Jonathan take Mrs Netanyahu’s accusation apart, then turn to the week's most improbable story: Yoav Segalovich, a Jewish former police commander, joining Mansour Abbas's Islamist party - because the crime wave destroying Israel’s Arab communities needs someone with a proven ability to fix it. Plus a Channel 13 poll that should worry the anti-Netanyahu bloc; Britain's expected ban on trade in goods linked to the West Bank - and why Greece and Finland moved in the other direction. Our Chutzpah award goes to a perennial winner with a new map, and the Mensch of the Week award is split three ways between brothers.

The former UK Prime Minister and Chancellor joins Yonit and Jonathan for the latest of our Unholy Conversations — on the void populist nationalists have moved into, on the difference between hope and optimism, on the father whose projector slides taught him the kings of Israel before the kings of England, and on the Middle East peace deal he watched come apart in 2009. The former Prime Minister and Chancellor joins Yonit and Jonathan for the latest of our Unholy Conversations — on the void populist nationalists have moved into, on the difference between hope and optimism, on the father whose projector slides taught him the kings of Israel before the kings of England, and on the peace deal he watched come apart in 2009.

With sixty days to go until the Israeli elections, the political jockeying enters into overdrive. Yonit and Jonathan break down the high-stakes coalition arithmetic facing both Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, from the crowded field of small right-wing parties—including the entrance of retired general Ofer Winter—to the battle on the center ground. Meanwhile, alarming footage of settler violence in the West Bank and provocative stunts by far-right lawmakers raise hard questions and trigger fierce international blowback from London to Washington. Plus: an election ad pulled on grounds of chutzpah so extreme, even its own party couldn't defend it, and a Mensch of the Week whose Jewish connection nobody saw coming.

It's the end of summer, and Yonit and Jonathan are taking a break from the news with a nugget of pure Jewish joy. Andy Nyman — the West End actor, writer, director and magician currently starring as Max Bialystock in The Producers, and previously as an acclaimed Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof — joins the show for an Unholy Conversation. Why does Mel Brooks' nearly-60-year-old joke about Hitler still land? What makes Max Bialystock - who could have been Tevye’s grandson - so beloved, even in his desperation? And is the Broadway musical, as a form, secretly a Jewish one? Andy answers the question by giving a rare performance of a musical classic — rendered in Yiddish. You won’t want to miss it.

Sixty-eight days from the election, the hardest problems on Benjamin Netanyahu's desk are arriving from Washington. Jared Kushner is meeting Hamas directly, and the Gaza withdrawal deadlines he is carrying — thirty, sixty and ninety days — all land inside the Israeli campaign. Yonit and Jonathan read the timing as an unfriendly act rather than an accident, and ask what Donald Trump wants in return for the endorsement he keeps withholding. Also this week: the anti-Netanyahu bloc still cannot say who leads it, the IDF publishes its decisions in five Gaza cases, and the prime minister calls Britain an Islamic Republic on a podcast. Plus a Chutzpah award for an American broadcaster who has found proof of Israeli hostility to Christians in a mathematical symbol, and a Mensch of the Week that took more than 500 days to arrive.

Acclaimed historian Simon Sebag Montefiore returns to Unholy to discuss his sweeping new book, The Cauldron: A History of the Middle East between 1900 and 2026. He tells Yonit and Jonathan that understanding the region today requires starting at the dawn of the 20th century — thanks to the long shadow still cast by the Ottoman Empire and its collapse. They talk of the often underestimated significance of Saudi Arabia, the convulsions that followed the Iranian revolution of 1979 and the extent to which Israel is - unexpectedly - a Middle Eastern state like any other.

Benjamin Netanyahu has said no to Donald Trump's 15-point Gaza plan, and the refusal is flat rather than fudged. In the West Bank, extremist settlers have besieged two Palestinian families in the village of Qusra, apparently hoping to take their homes. The IDF went in but came away with mission very much unaccomplished. With Yonit away, Jonathan is joined by Hadley Freeman, columnist for London’s Sunday Times and author of the acclaimed memoir, House of Glass, for what is an Unholy first: two voices from the Jewish diaspora and no Israeli in the room. They talk through the week's news and reflect on what three years since October 7 has done to Jewish life outside Israel, why Israel-Palestine has become the litmus test of the American left and whether anybody speaks for the diaspora. Plus: a Chutzpah nominee that reached a Belfast stage via Sweden, and a Mensch that arrives from Australia by way of Yiddish.

Three of the oldest myths about Jews — relating to money, blood and the way they look — were forged in medieval Christian Europe, mostly in places where there were almost no Jews to observe. Miri Rubin, professor of medieval and early modern history at Queen Mary University of London, tells Jonathan how each one of those myths was built — and explains how that medieval way of seeing Jews often remains the lens through which Israel, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, is seen. They also discuss the reckoning with Christendom’s past that followed the Holocaust - and how it has seemingly come to a halt in our own time.

With Yonit away, Jonathan is joined by Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent of the Economist, as they discuss the muted reaction to the announcement made by Donald Trump of what he hoped would be hailed as a breakthrough in Gaza. It turns out that most people in the region are waiting to see if Washington’s hopes turn into anything more concrete. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu is setting about ensuring his political opponents are deemed too toxic to serve as partners in any coalition that would hope to replace him following the elections on October 27. Plus: a new wine from very old grapes and an Irish plane that may have trouble in stormy weather.

Ninety days before Israel votes, the campaign is revealing much about both the candidates and the country. The defense minister boasts about applying different detention rules to Jewish and Arab citizens — at a primary event, into a microphone. Two sets of pollsters are predicting completely opposite outcomes, and someone smashed Channel 12's doors and left death threats for the second time in a month. Yonit and Jonathan take stock at the three-month mark — what the divergent polling could be setting up, what three and a half years of judicial overhaul attempts actually achieved, why Bennett and Lapid might not survive to election day as a unit, and what the oddly quiet Netanyahu-Trump summit tells us about the Iran impasse. Plus: a Chutzpah award for a New York mayor with a peculiar blind spot, and a Mensch moment involving Israel's Chief Justice and an unexpected nod to Hollywood.

Fresh off his tour of Israel and Europe, this week on Unholy Conversations, Yonit and Jonathan speak to Rahm Emanuel—former Chief of Staff, Congressman, Chicago Mayor, Ambassador to Japan and perhaps future presidential nominee. They dive into his recent charged conversation with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, his take on Israel’s current choices, whether he considers himself a Zionist, and if he’s any closer to making a decision on a presidential run.

A nuclear deal between Washington and Riyadh breaks overnight — and Israel learns the terms from the same press release as everyone else. This week, Yonit and Jonathan dig into what the US–Saudi agreement does and doesn't include, why the normalization clause that was supposed to be attached appeared to be missing - before it was hastily added by Donald Trump, after the event - and what a nuclear-armed Saudi Arabia might mean a generation from now. Iran tensions rise again over Natanz, and Israel's election pregame produces a poll number that should worry Benjamin Netanyahu more than it seems to. Plus: a Likud campaign ad triggers exactly the backlash its makers intended, while this week's Mensch award category hails both a Hungarian chess master and a legendary Israeli anchor.

This week, Yonit and Jonathan sit down with three first-time voters — Aviv, Yael and Dror — to talk about the topics that will shape these election - the judicial overhaul, whether Arab parties belong in a coalition, and the draft bill. October 7th moved each of them, but not the same way — one drifted toward the center, another sharply to the right. What they do agree on might be the most interesting part. Plus: what happens to a generation that has only ever known one prime minister. CHAPTERS: [00:00] Intro [00:21] Meet Aviv, Yael and Dror [03:29] Why Aviv says she might not stay [08:09] Yael on voting for the North [12:12] Dror's family, yeshiva, and the draft [17:05] How October 7th moved them in opposite directions [25:24] The fight over Arab parties in a coalition [30:41] The only prime minister they've ever known [34:57] Is there a generational vote? [37:35] Would they stay if they lose?

The US-Iran war is back on. The ceasefire has collapsed, the naval blockade is reimposed, and Israel is asking if a moment is coming when the missiles turn its way. With Yonit away, Jonathan is joined by New Yorker writer Ruth Margalit to make sense of a dizzying week: a jaw-dropping report that the Mossad cultivated Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — yes, that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — as an asset in a failed plot to topple the Iranian regime, and an election campaign in which Gadi Eisenkot is opening up a real lead over Benjamin Netanyahu. Can Mr. Security survive a race where even Likud voters might be drifting away? Plus: a World Cup dilemma for Jewish football fans, a Chutzpah award for a literary institution that forgot its own motto, and a Mensch that takes us to a Jerusalem cafe that refuses to close on Shabbat.

As football fans across the globe gear up for the World Cup final on Sunday, Jonathan talks to the author of a new book that uncovers a hidden story: the Jewish players who were once football’s biggest stars. David Bolchover reveals how it was Jewish footballers that dominated some of Europe’s best teams, reinventing much of the way the game is played - until they were brutally murdered in the Holocaust. Their phenomenal achievement has been all but forgotten, to the extent that many imagine “Jewish footballer” to be an oxymoron if not the punchline to a joke. Instead, it sheds light on an era of forgotten Jewish sporting glory - and the world that was extinguished in the Shoah

Donald Trump declares the Iran ceasefire dead, while a new poll has alarming news for Benjamin Netanyahu: New York's trenchantly anti-Israel mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is more popular with American Jews than he is. This week, Yonit and Jonathan break down the collapse of the fragile Iran deal and why "amateur hour" US negotiators may have doomed it from the start. They unpack the Knesset's last-minute push to exempt the ultra-Orthodox from military service — as soldiers testify in tears about the price of a three-year war — as well as the less noisy bills eroding Israel’s judicial independence. Plus: Rahm Emanuel's blunt warning about Israel's "content problem," and the wedding of two returned hostages that gave the week its one unambiguously happy ending.

A new report accuses the world's most trusted human rights organizations of a problem that goes far beyond anti-Israel bias: antisemitism, and a culture that pushes out Jewish staff for naming it. This week, Yonit and Jonathan talk to Danielle Haas, a former senior editor at Human Rights Watch who spent 14 years inside the organization before co-founding EiGHT, a watchdog created to scrutinize the watchdogs. Drawing on interviews with over 70 staffers across nine major NGOs, the report documents internal messages calling for "liberating the world from Zionism," leadership reposting inflammatory rhetoric, and a pattern of employees being sidelined the moment they raised concerns.

A thousand days after October 7th — and Benjamin Netanyahu wants to talk about unity. This week, as Israel edges closer toward elections, Yonit and Jonathan discuss a prime minister campaigning on togetherness after- say his critics- a long career spent dividing Israelis against each other, and trace the strange alliance between Israel's nationalist right and the ultra-Orthodox parties who for the most part reject Zionism on principle. Zohran Mamdani keeps doubling down on Israel and AIPAC, six months into his mayoralty — and sees no reason to slow down. And as America turns 250, Jonathan asks an uncomfortable question about what happens to a constitution when the people meant to enforce it simply don't. Plus: our Chutzpah award goes to a finance minister taking credit for something he objected to while our Mensch of the week pulls off an unexpected feat of German diplomacy - and language.

A wave of antisemitic terror swept across Western Europe this spring — and one man appears to have been behind it all. This week, Yonit and Jonathan hear the full, remarkable story as they sit down with Jason Burke, The Guardian's international security correspondent and terrorism expert. He describes how a single Iraqi-Iranian dual national is accused of leveraging both social media and teenage criminals to orchestrate what looked like a series of scattered attacks but was, in fact, a coordinated proxy campaign. And they discuss the broader questions: has the long arm of Iranian terror been constrained at all by US-Israeli military action? Did October 7th represent a strategic break from Iran's usual playbook — or was it a tactical aberration? And as the 50th anniversary of the raid on Entebbe approaches, was that operation a turning point in the long history of global terrorism - and what can be done now to beat back the menace of terror?

The new reality of Washington’s relationship with Israel is slowly sinking in — and it’s not pretty. As JD Vance grows visibly chummier with Qatar and Pakistan than with Israeli officials, Yonit and Jonathan discuss the likely impact of the shift and whether Israel’s old assumption — that an American president will always have its back — has to be discarded for good. Then: as the Mamdani effect ripples through New York’s primaries, sweeping in a slate of politicians sharply critical of Israel, the two debate who’s really to blame. Plus: Keir Starmer’s resignation and likely successor, two former Israeli PMs along with a veritable platoon of former and current IDF commanders denounce settler violence in the West Bank - and a Jewish American comic genius reaches a milestone.

Israel just learned that the US and Iran have agreed to a deconfliction cell with Lebanon — and Israel wasn't in the room. As the dust settles on a war whose outcome is, at best, ambiguous, Yonit and Jonathan sit down with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who wants his old job back. Bennett doesn't hold back: on why he believes this government dragged out a war Israel was never built to fight, on the "infinite power of propaganda" keeping Netanyahu afloat three years after October 7th, and on whether he can trust Trump — or JD Vance — to look out for Israel's interests when Israel isn't at the table. He also lays out, in detail, what he'd do differently on the Haredi draft, the judiciary, the Palestinians, and Ben Gvir and Smotrich — and admits the polls aren't moving the way he hoped.

As the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding is signed in Versailles — covering a ceasefire, sanctions relief, and billions in unfrozen assets, but saying nothing about uranium enrichment, centrifuges, ballistic missiles, or Iran's proxies — Israel is left reading a deal it wasn't part of and only received hours before Trump's signature. Yonit is joined this week by CNN senior global affairs analyst and Unholy co-author Bianna Golodryga, live from a New York celebrating the Knicks' first championship in 53 years, for a conversation about what this MOU actually says, what it doesn't, and what it means for a country that spent 40 days in shelters waiting for something better than this. Plus: a Cornell sophomore makes headlines for the wrong reasons, and a design school in Israel sends wounded soldiers down a runway. 02:09 Responses to the MOU in Israel and the U.S. 06:59 Concerns from Israel Regarding the MOU 11:20 Netanyahu's Position and Reactions 17:24 Implications for U.S.-Israel Relations and Regional Dynamics 24:42 The Political Landscape of the Iran Deal 27:08 Consequences of the Ceasefire and Future Implications 28:56 Comparing Past and Present Iran Agreements 31:03 Economic Reactions and Military Posturing 32:49 The Changing Dynamics of U.S.-Israel Relations

This week’s Unholy conversations is a rare interview with Nir Bar Dea, CEO of Bridgewater—the world's largest hedge fund. Bar Dea moves beyond market trends, framing our current moment as a volatile collision between a changing world order, and an unprecedented technological revolution fueled by AI. He offers a sobering perspective on why the comfort of the last several decades has perhaps left us less resilient than the generations before us, urging listeners to view history not as destiny, but as a lesson in the necessity of strength during turbulent times. The conversation turns personal, too: Bar Dea talks about the toll of his own service in the Israeli Air Force, what it's like being Israeli in New York since October 7th, and why he believes Israel's younger generation might be its greatest asset.

Yonit is joined by Yaakov Katz, author, columnist and former editor of the Jerusalem Post, and together they try to make sense of a week that had it all: a 17-hour mini-war with Iran, Trump growing visibly impatient -- and Netanyahu caught between his base and the White House. Israeli politics see the Israeli PM focusing on the rising political threat of Gadi Eisenkot, who for the first time has pulled ahead of Netanyahu in head-to-head polling for Prime minister -- and how the Likud is trying to turn his English skills into a liability. Then it's across the Atlantic — to an oyster farmer in Maine with a Nazi tattoo, a Michigan primary, and a New Jersey candidate with troubling ties, all pointing to a shift in American politics that Israelis aren't paying nearly enough attention to. Plus: our Chutzpah and Mensch awards — one goes to a Jewish politician building a very disturbing database, and the other heads to the World Cup.

Israeli children are still running to shelters. The hostages are home, but the wars keep coming. And somewhere underneath it all — the October 7th trauma, the Iran strikes, the hostages, the endless sirens — something is being passed down to the next generation, whether we mean to or not. This week, Yonit sits down with Dr. Galit Atlas, psychoanalyst and author of Emotional Inheritance, to ask the questions most of us are afraid to answer: what does prolonged, unprocessed national trauma do to a people? How do Jewish rituals of memory — Passover, Holocaust Remembrance Day — help or harm? And is there actually hope on the other side of all this? Dr. Atlas's new book, Come Closer: Childhood Wounds, Adult Love and the Secrets of Emotional Intimacy, is out in September.

Iran broke a two-month ceasefire on Sunday night, launching missiles at Israel after Netanyahu struck Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut. By Monday, Trump declared an immediate stop — but the questions it raised won't close that easily. In this emergency update, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Amos Harel — Haaretz's military affairs analyst and author of 629: Anatomy of a Failure — to break down the calculus on every side. Did Netanyahu engineer the escalation ahead of October elections? Is Trump more irritated by Israel than by Iran? And after everything — is Iran actually stronger now than before the war started? ⏱ CHAPTERS: [00:00] Intro — The 24 hours that shook the region [00:15] Yonit breaks down what happened: sirens, missiles, school closures [03:45] Amos Harel joins: Is the escalation cycle behind us? [05:17] Did Netanyahu plan the Beirut strike — knowing Iran would respond? [08:06] The thought experiment: Would this happen with different leaders? [11:27] Netanyahu's bind: angering his base or angering Trump [13:20] Iran's nuclear endgame — a historian's warning [17:30] Trump's frustration: Is Israel now the obstacle? [21:57] The chief of staff trolled Netanyahu live [25:12] Can Netanyahu actually delay the October elections?

The fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government is overshadowed by an already notorious phone call where Donald Trump reportedly dropped multiple F-bombs on Benjamin Netanyahu for threatening Israeli strikes on Beirut. Yonit and Jonathan dissect the increasing strain in the US-Israel relationship - and a new equation set by Iran that will alarm all Israelis. Meanwhile, two warning signs this week for the state of Israeli democracy, as Netanyahu appoints his personal lawyer as State Comptroller, with members of the Knesset pressured to reveal their secret ballot - and a mob vandalizes the home of a Supreme Court justice in a bid to intimidate the judiciary over demands to exempt the ultra-Orthodox from mandatory military service. Also - an inquiry into antisemitism in UK’s cherished NHS, while Canada’s PM admits the country failed its Jews, prompting a new advisory council with a questionable membership. And finally (and thankfully), it’s a crowded field for our mensch of the week award. 00:00 Introduction and Overview of Current Events 02:47 The Impact of Smartphones on Society 05:38 Ceasefire Agreements and Regional Tensions 09:22 US-Israel Relations and Political Dynamics 13:13 Political Appointments and Democratic Erosion in Israel 18:50 Judicial Intimidation and the Rule of Law 23:02 Global Anti-Semitism and Responses 29:35 Celebrating Women in Film: Helen Mirren and Emma Thompson 35:17 A Culinary Milestone: Mutra's Michelin Star

This week, Yonit and Jonathan sit down with acclaimed military and intelligence analyst Amos Harel to discuss his new book 6:29 -Anatomy of a Failure — a devastating, meticulously reported account of October 7th and the collapse that preceded it. Drawing on internal investigations, intelligence materials, battlefield testimony and conversations with senior officials, Harel reconstructs how Israel failed at every level: intelligence, operations - and strategy. They discuss the “Walls of Jericho” Hamas attack plan that Israeli intelligence possessed years in advance; the SIM card warnings and the signs missed in the final hours before the massacre; the operational chaos that left communities abandoned for hours; and why Harel believes October 7th could likely have been prevented. The conversation also examines Benjamin Netanyahu’s role in the years leading up to the attack: the Qatar cash pipeline to Hamas, the belief that the Palestinian conflict could be indefinitely “managed,” the judicial overhaul crisis, and the refusal — still now — to establish a state commission of inquiry. Plus: why Hezbollah’s hesitation on October 7th may have prevented an even greater catastrophe, whether Israel has actually learned the lessons of that day, and why Harel believes the battle over the public memory of October 7th may define Israel’s coming elections.

A US-Iran deal appears to be taking shape — and Israel isn't in the room. As diplomatic back-channels buzz and American strikes on Iran continue under a ceasefire that apparently requires bombing to maintain, Netanyahu finds himself watching from the outside: no seat at the table, no answers on the nuclear file, no movement on proxies. Meanwhile, two hostage parents — whose sons were held in Gaza at the same time — are entering Israeli politics from opposite ends of the spectrum, a story that says more about where the country is heading than any poll. Plus: the Caroline Glick appointment, the Israel Solidarity Parade in New York, antisemitism in London's British Museum, and a Chutzpah award for a congressman whose concession speech managed to be both funny and deeply troubling. This week's Mensch of the Week will leave you wanting to move to Tel Aviv.

Franklin Foer is the man who declared that the golden age of American Jewry is over - or at least ending. Two years on — in the aftermath of October 7th and the Gaza war, collapsing bipartisan support for Israel, a wave of antisemitism from both left and right, and a military misadventure in Iran — he thinks he underestimated the problem. This week, Yonit and Jonathan sit down with Foer, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the landmark piece that became required reading in Jewish communities across America. They discuss whether the anti-AIPAC pledge that has become a feature of Democratic primaries is classical antisemitism in new clothing; how a forgotten Jewish genius from Odessa might explain what American Jews are supposed to do now; and why Foer refuses — loudly — to bow to fatalism. Also: Bob Dylan's existential crisis, Abraham Joshua Heschel's ode to the Sabbath, and how soccer helps explain at least one aspect of modern Jewish life. Guest: Franklin Foer, staff writer, The Atlantic Watch us on YouTube: Follow Unholy and learn more about the pod: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/ Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company.

This week Jonathan is in celebratory mode—and no, it's not only because it’s the festival of Shavuot, but because his beloved Arsenal finally won the Premier League, sparking a spontaneous tribal gathering of ‘marauding revellers’ in North London. Meanwhile, Yonit and Jonathan unpack the volatile situation with Iran, and ask where President Trump’s vague threats of a renewed strike are heading. Then, it's wall-to-wall condemnation for National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose grotesque 56-second video taunting Gaza flotilla detainees was a nightmare for Israel’s defenders especially. And Jonathan describes his visit to the Nova exhibition in London, which offers a powerful, heart-rending glimpse of the human faces of the October 7th massacre and the shocking refusal of much of the world to look directly at what happened on that day. Plus: a musical mensch for the ages.

Two and a half years after October 7th, the Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children has published its comprehensive report — 300 pages of meticulously corroborated evidence documenting what was done to women, men, children, and hostages on that day and in captivity since. This week, Yonit and Jonathan speak with Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, the founder and chair of the Commission, 2024 Israel Prize laureate, and expert in international law and human rights — the woman who spent more than two years immersed in 10,000 photographs and videos and 430 testimonies so the world could not look away. They discuss what the evidence reveals about the scale and calculated nature of the atrocities, why so many feminist organisations around the world fell silent, the new legal concept of “kinocide” that the Commission had to coin because no existing term could capture what had happened to families — and what it means that the person who stared deepest into this abyss still believes in peace.

Yonit and Jonathan discuss a week brimming with unresolved questions. Did Benjamin Netanyahu really travel to the UAE during the war with Iran? Why would he leak it now, and what led the UAE to issue such a quick denial? After a trip to China, where is Donald Trump heading on Iran? And inside Israel, as the political drama intensified with United Torah Judaism threatening to break ranks with the coalition over the draft bill's failure, could elections be held in September? And what role could be played by a possible plea bargain for Netanyahu? Finally, there’s a crowded field for our mensch award this week – who will come out in front: a 100 year old international treasure or a newborn baby?

The Iran war may be over — or it may not. In the space of a few hours this week, Washington ordered warships into the Strait of Hormuz, paused the operation, threatened to resume bombing at higher intensity, and then declared peace was near. Yonit and Jonathan cut through the chaos — and ask the question the ceasefire deal still hasn't answered: what happened to Iran's nuclear stockpile? Also this week: Bezalel Smotrich calls October 7th "a tactical failure" and says including Arab parties in government would be a thousand times worse — Jonathan calls him what he is. Gadi Eisenkot and former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen join forces. Netanyahu's plea deal murmurs get louder. The UK goes to the polls with antisemitism front and center. And the Chutzpah and Mensch awards both go to the same unlikely figure: Nick Cave, who told a hostile fan to go F himself — and blamed his wife's absence.

Forty days of war with Iran. Four weeks of an uneasy ceasefire. And one verdict that nobody in Washington wants to say out loud: the Islamic Republic came out of this stronger. Dr. Suzanne Maloney, Vice President of the Brookings Institution's foreign policy program and one of America's most trusted voices on Iran, joins Yonit and Jonathan as US warships attempt to escort vessels through a Strait of Hormuz that Iran still effectively controls. They get into whether the ceasefire can hold, why the nuclear threat was never really addressed, who is actually making decisions inside Tehran now that the supreme leader is gone, and what a realistic deal — if one exists — might look like. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/D_P_lca1OzQ

As stabbing against Jews in Golders Green rises up, again, the question of security of Jewish communities around the world, Iran and the US still calling diplomatically, and Israel starts the countdown: 6 months to the elections. Yonit and Jonathan discuss the Golders Green knife attack and the wave of antisemitism hitting Britain since October 7th; the Bennett–Lapid merger and what it means for Israel's October elections; whether the Iran–Israel war is on pause or simply reloading; Jake Sullivan's bombshell statement on arms sales to Israel; and — in the awards — Israeli police cutting a Palestinian flag from a Jewish man's kippah, and King Charles delivering a Magna Carta reminder to Congress that Democrats jumped to their feet for.

Howard Jacobson has screamed "liar" at the BBC, lost friends over a newspaper article, and started asking his wife whether it's still safe to live in London. Now he's written a novel about all of it. *Howl* is the story of Ferdinand Draxler — Jewish headmaster, reluctant marcher, man on the edge — who watches the world he believed in applaud the October 7th massacre and descends into a rage that may or may not be madness. Jacobson says he borrowed quite a lot from the last two years of his life. In this Unholy Conversations episode, Jacobson talks with Yonit and Jonathan about the ungovernable anger behind the novel, why he chose comedy as the only honest vehicle for it, the friends who wrote accusing him of celebrating Palestinian deaths, the Manchester synagogue where he was bar mitzvahed and which was attacked on Yom Kippur, and the question he can't shake: what would we have done in Berlin in 1932?

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1RBYWVXGom0 Follow Unholy and learn more about the pod: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/ Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon Listen to Aner Shapira z"l and Yehudit Ravitz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1XbaGln45Q Pre-order "Zariz" by Adeena Sussman: https://www.adeenasussman.com/zariz Israel's 78th Independence Day arrives in the shadow of a three-year war — and a nation more divided than ever. As US-Iran talks stall and the Lebanon ceasefire holds by a thread, Yonit and Jonathan take stock of where Israel stands: from the parallel ceremonies splitting the country, to Rahm Emanuel's seismic break from past support for Israeli military aid, to Ezra Klein's "one state reality" argument — and why Yonit thinks it misses half the picture. Then: a joyful detour. Adeena Sussman, author of the forthcoming Zariz: 100 Easy, Breezy, Tel Aviv-y Recipes, joins to talk about cooking through a war, the fusion of Jewish and Israeli identity on the plate, and why every pot of Sabbath stew is a political act.

Rachel Goldberg-Polin has stood before the UN, met with presidents, and worn a number on her chest every single day until there were no more hostages in Hamas captivity. Now, months after Hersh was murderd, she sat down and wrote a book. When We See You Again is not a hostage story and not a political reckoning. It is, as Rachel describes it, a painful love story — a grief memoir written "with one finger from underneath a truck," with no distance, no perspective, and no pretense that any of that is coming soon. In this conversation with Yonit and Jonathan, Rachel talks about the moment a released hostage told her Hersh had heard her voice in captivity, why she refused to name the officials who promised and delivered nothing, the 87 pages she cut and called "the suitcase," and how Hersh's memory will become a "revolution for go.”

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1GIuMFYYX1E Get more Unholy content: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/ As Israel marks one week out of 40 days of missiles from Iran, Yonit and Jonathan take apart the week's impossible contradictions: Netanyahu delivering a triumphalist Yom HaShoah speech while 400 kilograms of enriched uranium remain intact in Iran; a fragile Lebanon ceasefire that almost no one trusts; 40 Democratic senators voting against arms transfers; and Italy's far-right prime minister — until now Israel's last ally in Europe — quietly moving toward the exit. They also clock a historic election in Hungary, what Orban's fall means for the Israeli opposition, and whether Gadi Eisenkot is the figure who finally changes the picture.

Follow Unholy and learn more about the pod: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/ Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon Day 40 of the US-Israel war on Iran — and it's ceasefire. But the relief is complicated: Israeli bombardment of Hezbollah in Lebanon has already shifted the world's anger from Washington back to Jerusalem. Bret Stephens, opinion columnist at the New York Times and one of the conflict's most prominent intellectual defenders, joins Yonit and Jonathan to take stock — was it worth it, what was actually achieved, and what does an inconclusive ending mean for Israel's standing with a younger American generation that's turning away. Then: the death penalty bill that slipped through the Knesset on Erev Pesach. Dr. Amir Fuchs of the Israeli Democracy Institute was inside those committee rooms. He explains what passed and who it targets.

Day 39 of the war. Pesach. Instead of news, we brought you books — two of them, both essential. Jonathan speaks with Daniel Taub, former Israeli ambassador to the UK and author of Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement — about why Jewish argument culture might be the most relevant thing in the world right now, and how families torn apart over Gaza might actually talk to each other. Yonit speaks with Yardena Schwartz, award-winning journalist and Emmy-nominated producer, author of Ghosts of a Holy War — about the 1929 Hebron massacre, and why this nearly-forgotten event explains almost everything about the conflict today. Two books. Two conversations. One mid-week treat while we wait for whatever comes next.

In this special Pesach episode, Yonit and Jonathan discuss seder traditions and those who had to change due to the war. They are joined by Tom Holland — co-host of The Rest Is History and author of landmark books on Rome, Persia, and the roots of Western civilization — to explain why the Romans were wrong about the Jews, why the West fundamentally misunderstands Iran, and why secularism is itself a religious inheritance. From Cyrus the Great to the Iranian Revolution to Donald Trump, this is the episode that puts the present moment in full historical context.

Please note that an (authentic!) alert sound is heard twice throughout the episode. Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/UdhHLAquwgs Follow Unholy and learn more about the pod: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/ The fourth week of the war with Iran finds both sides insisting—loudly and contradictorily—that peace talks are either underway or nowhere in sight. In the meantime, Iranian missiles continue to hit civilian neighbourhoods across Israel, while rolling news blurs day into night, tracking both the war itself and the political manoeuvres that show little sign of slowing down. And in London, another antisemitic attack raises uncomfortable questions about double standards when it comes to hatred directed at Israel. This week, Yonit and Jonathan sit down with Jake Sullivan, who puts it bluntly: this war should not have started. Sullivan lays out three reasons why the decision was flawed, argues that Donald Trump’s “appetite grew with the eating” from the 12-day war to the current escalation, and offers an alternative path—a renewed nuclear deal backed by long-term deterrence. He also raises a troubling possibility: could this conflict increase the likelihood of Chinese action against Taiwan? Plus: a rare look behind the scenes of Israel’s most-watched news broadcast, as Yonit reflects on what it means to sit in the anchor’s chair for hours on end—and the personal toll it takes. 00:00 Day 27 — Cluster bomb near Yonit's house 03:00 Life under sirens: sheltering in Tel Aviv 19:48 The Rubio remark: did Israel drag America into war? 23:28 Yonit on anchoring Israel's news during a war she's living 31:23 Jonathan: global antisemitic attacks since the war began 42:06 Jake Sullivan: deal or escalation? 1:15:16 Chutzpah & Mensch Awards

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/dhvM7lnkO88 Follow us on social media and get more Unholy content: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/ This morning, Donald Trump posted something that might — or might not — mean the US-Israeli war on Iran is coming to an end. A five-day pause on strikes. Secret talks via Pakistan and Turkey. Kushner and Witkoff on the American side. A shadowy Iranian speaker being cast as the pragmatist the US has been searching for. This is a special emergency episode of Unholy, recorded on 23 March 2026, as events were still unfolding. Jonathan and Yonit break down the two scenarios — deal or larger war — and why Trump's exit ramp looks nothing like Netanyahu's. They also turn to the daily wave of antisemitic attacks across Europe and North America since this war began, including last night's arson on four Hatzalah ambulances in Golders Green, London. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Update Episode 01:02 Trump's Social Media Post and Its Implications 03:40 Negotiations and Mediating Efforts 08:29 The Role of Iran and Potential Outcomes 13:30 Israel's Position and Concerns 16:26 Rising Anti-Semitism and Community Safety

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HeoVvd294Ww Follow us on social media and join Patreon to get more of Unholy: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/ Day 20 of the US-Israeli war on Iran — and it's becoming a war of attrition. In the meantime, Europe refuses to lend its ships, daylight emerges between Trump and Netanyahu, and Joe Kent's antisemitic conspiracy theory gets the full debunking it deserves. Amos Harel, Haaretz's military affairs correspondent, joins Yonit and Jonathan for a deep dive. What does the assassination of Ali Larijani — Khamenei's right-hand man — actually achieve? Is the war drifting from plan A toward something no one planned at all? And why is Netanyahu now talking less about regime change and more about Israel as a "world superpower"? And we turn to you, our listeners, with your most pressing questions about anything between life and war.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/vQ0o0F07o2k Subscribe to get bonus episodes, read more about the team, and catch us on every platform we're on! > https://bit.ly/unholy-podcast Naomi Alderman on Substack: look at me. I’m here. I’m the ultimate product of Hitler’s defeat: https://naomialderman.substack.com/p/look-at-me-im-here-im-the-ultimate Day 13 of the war with Iran — and the conflict just got bigger. Overnight, 200 rockets were fired at Israel from Lebanon. Hezbollah, which many believed had been neutered, is back. This week, Yonit and Jonathan take stock of a war that is growing, not winding down. They're joined by General David Petraeus — former CIA Director, commander of coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and one of the most clear-eyed voices on American military strategy. Petraeus breaks down what the US and Israel have actually achieved so far: missile launches are down over 90%, air defenses have been dismantled, and over 6,000 targets hit. But the new Khamenei? "We wanted a Delcy Rodriguez," he says. "We got a young Kim Jong-un." And he's blunt about what comes next: Iran's a million men under arms, and nobody has a clean exit. Then: a very different conversation. Jonathan talks to novelist and broadcaster Naomi Alderman about why she thinks Marty Supreme is the most intensely Jewish movie she's ever seen. Plus: the Mensch and Chutzpah awards return. The Academy of Hebrew Language gets hacked by Iranians. Their response? Perfect.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/LhbZcQUOjts Subscribe to get bonus episodes, read more about the team, and catch us on every platform we're on! > https://bit.ly/unholy-podcast As the war between Israel and Iran enters its second week, daily life in Israel has settled into a strange and exhausting rhythm. Yonit describe what it means to live under constant missile alerts: sleepless nights, families moving between shelters, and a country running on collective exhaustion. They also unpack two major developments shaping the conflict. First, the mixed and sometimes contradictory signals coming from Donald Trump about how long the war will last. And second, the sudden leadership change in Iran, with Mojtaba Khamenei emerging as the successor to his father. To make sense of it all, they speak with Professor Ali Ansari of the University of St Andrews, one of the world’s leading historians of Iran. Ansari challenges much of the conventional analysis around the war and the future of the Iranian regime. Could the Islamic Republic actually be weaker than many assume? Is regime change truly impossible—or simply unpredictable? And if change does come, what might it look like?

Day 4 of the Israel–Iran war: What does life look like inside Israel right now? Yonit and Jonathan reconnect for the first time since the beginning of the war with Iran. What does war feel like minute-by-minute? What does it mean when sirens sound every hour and a half — day and night? What happens to a society when workplaces close, schools shut, airports empty, and families move between safe rooms and bomb shelters as routine?Yonit describes the exhausting rhythm of preliminary alerts, the psychological strain of constant disruption, and the quiet resilience of Israeli civilians navigating a conflict that feels both immediate and existential. They discuss: ▶︎ The difference between June’s confrontation and this new phase ▶︎ The strategy behind Iran’s high-frequency missile fire ▶︎ The role of deterrence — and whether this is the beginning of the end for the Iranian regime ▶︎ The balance between exhaustion and resolve inside Israel ▶︎ And ultimately: who decides when this ends? Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Context of the Conflict 00:43 Living Under Fire: Daily Life in Israel 04:10 The Psychological Impact of Constant Alerts 10:29 Public Sentiment and Resilience Amidst Conflict 15:28 The Role of Leadership and External Influences 22:29 Looking Ahead: The Future of the Conflict

As reports confirm that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, Yonit is joined by Dr. Suzanne Maloney for a searching conversation about what this moment means for Iran and the wider Middle East. They examine Khamenei’s worldview in the years leading up to his death, the ideological roots of the regime’s hostility toward the West, and the deep divisions within Iranian society. The discussion turns to the question now confronting Tehran — who can succeed a figure so central to the system — and to the profound uncertainty facing Iran as it enters a post-Khamenei era with no clear path forward. Chapters 00:00 The Legacy of Khamenei 02:54 Post-Khamenei Iran: What Lies Ahead? 05:42 The Future of the Islamic Republic 08:23 Regional Implications of Khamenei's Assassination 10:59 The Divided Iranian Society 13:58 Transitioning to a New Era

Jonathan is joined by military analyst Amos Harel to assess the latest Israeli and US strikes against Iran — and what may come next. Together they examine the logic behind the operations, the degree of coordination between Jerusalem and Washington, and how Iran is likely to respond next. They also ask the harder questions now hanging over the region: whether this marks a turning point for the Iranian regime itself, how far escalation could go, and what the strikes reveal about the shifting balance of power in the Middle East.

As the US–Iran talks in Geneva keep the region on edge, Yonit is joined by journalist Matti Friedman, to make sense of Israel’s uneasy calm — daily life continuing under the knowledge that everything could change in minutes. They reflect on Purim anxiety, old antisemitic tropes resurfacing, and Narendra Modi’s unusually warm visit to Israel, set against Knesset infighting. They also dive deep into the evolving India–Israel relationship with former ambassador Alon Ushpiz: affection, technology, security interests, and how much (or little) Islam really drives the alignment. Plus: the backlash to Hugh Laurie’s mourning of Tehran producer Dana Eden, a Chutzpah award for Tucker Carlson and Mike Huckabee, and a Mensch salute to Israel’s women’s hockey team.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Wsz-rgYJeTgCatch Jonathan on tour in Australia As the Middle East enters another moment of acute tension — with one of Trump’s advisers saying there is a “90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks” — Yonit speaks with Barak Ravid, diplomatic correspondent for Axios and Channel 12, about what is happening now and what Donald Trump may be weighing as events continue to unfold. From geopolitics to technology, Yonit is then joined by Noreena Hertz — academic, economist, and bestselling author — for a conversation about the future of jobs in the age of AI, why women may be particularly vulnerable to unemployment, and how these technological shifts are exacerbating antisemitism. Plus: a sports edition of Mensch and Chutzpah — crossing borders and disciplines, from American and European arenas to stories that run from basketball courts to bobsleigh tracks.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/P3ahIBALMZQ Follow us on social media and join Patreon to get more of Unholy: https://linktr.ee/unholypod As Benjamin Netanyahu boards a flight to meet President Trump, his government is attempting to rewrite the memory of October 7, removing the word “massacre” from its proposed memorial day bill. Yonit and Jonathan are joined by military analyst Amos Harel, who examines rising tensions in the West Bank, the growing influence of the far right, and the fragile balance between the IDF and the Palestinian Authority. Plus: a special conversation with Iran analyst Holly Dagres, who lived in Iran as a teenager, on the resilience and defiance of the country’s younger generation — and what change, and the future, might hold.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/m6zjJCUxC28 Follow us on social media and join Patreon to get more of Unholy: https://linktr.ee/unholypod As the world waits to see the outcome of talks between Washington and Tehran, Israel finds itself grappling with upheaval at home. This week on Unholy, Yonit and Jonathan focus on two starkly different fault lines in Israeli society. First, rising violence in the Arab community: more than 30 Palestinian citizens of Israel have been murdered since the start of the year, as organised crime tightens its grip and trust in the police and the state continues to erode. What lies behind this horrific toll, and why has it been allowed to become grimly routine? Then, another front in the culture wars. Israel’s right-leaning Channel 14 turns its fire on women serving in combat roles in the IDF, questioning their very presence. What does this campaign say about power, fear and the boundaries of belonging in Israeli public life? Our guest is Coleman Hughes, one of the most prominent young intellectuals in the United States. He joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about race, antisemitism in America and the direction of Donald Trump’s domestic agenda — and what all that might mean far beyond the US.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TcIvsLyyFMM Follow us on social media and join Patreon to get more of Unholy: https://linktr.ee/unholypod As Israel receives the body of Rani Gvilli, the last remaining hostage held in Gaza since October 7, a painful chapter closes — and a new, uncertain one begins: for the first time since 2014, there are no Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Meanwhile, the world looks to Washington, waiting to see when, where and whether Donald Trump will order a strike against Iran. Yonit and Jonathan unpack what this new reality means — for Israel, for the region and for a war that refuses to end cleanly. They also examine Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest accusation - that Israeli soldiers lost their lives because of what he called an “arms embargo” imposed by Joe Biden - and why he made it now. Plus: Listeners’ Therapy returns. Unholy is joined once again by renowned psychotherapist Dr Orna Guralnik for a second session — this time with Lee and Marion, an American-Israeli couple wrestling with a question that has become agonisingly familiar to many Jewish families: where should we raise our children?

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/GNEwMea20H4 Greenland, Gaza and the brand-new “Board of Peace”: Donald Trump goes to Davos to unveil his gold-plated rival to the UN and ambitious new blueprint for post-war Gaza. Yonit and Jonathan unpick what it means in practice, how Qatar and Turkey’s involvement is unsettling for Israelis - and why Benjamin Netanyahu may find that being in the hands of Donald Trump is no more comfortable than being in the hands of the UN. Plus, Dr. Orna Guralnik of the TV hit Couples Therapy joins Unholy for an experiment in “listeners therapy”, listening to two teenage friends from Copenhagen, Albert and Benjamin, as they have a raw and unexpectedly hopeful conversation, each determined to stay close to the other even as they disagree fiercely about Israel and the Palestinians.

We have a new bonus episode out! find it in your feed, or here: https://bit.ly/49pirZ1 Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ICs1pgQgCbY For more Unholy content, social media, etc: https://linktr.ee/unholypod Iran is burning, the world is watching – and, as ever, everyone is waiting to see what Donald Trump does next. As mass protests face a ferocious crackdown that may already rank among the bloodiest in the region’s modern history, Yonit and Jonathan speak to scholar of Iran Dr. Suzanne Maloney about the possibility of an eventual regime change in Tehran, Washington’s options and Israel’s concerns. In the UK, a police chief is urged to quit as the truth emerges of his ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, there’s a Mensch award for sporting excellence - and in the midst of it all, Unholy turns five.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Kq_5JLTH8ls Follow us on social media and join Patreon to get more of Unholy: https://linktr.ee/unholypo As President Trump scrambles what used to be known as the international order, abducting a foreign dictator and threatening to invade an ally’s territory, Iranians take to the streets, driven by deepening economic despair. Back in Israel, a very different kind of unrest is unfolding, as tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox protesters mobilise against a draft bill that strikes at the heart of a long-standing social contract. Yonit and Jonathan make sense of it all with former Biden official Amos Hochstein, who helped broker the 2024 Lebanon ceasefire agreement, asking not just what connects these flashpoints, but what comes next in an increasingly volatile world.

If you have a relationship in your life that’s been strained by the events of the last two years, why not let celebrated therapist Orna Guralnik see if she can help? unholy@unholy-media.com Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/98cZEB2eXmA Follow us on social media and join Patreon to get more of Unholy: https://linktr.ee/unholypod Benjamin Netanyahu gets a hero’s welcome at Mar-a-Lago from Donald Trump, even as his far right ministers continue their assault on Israel’s High Court of Justice. Yonit and Jonathan explore what this moment tells us about the road to the next elections. They also turn to the widening “Qatar-gate” affair, with troubling questions now closing in on the prime minister’s closest advisers. And, looking ahead to 2026, they try to sketch out the battlelines of the electoral contest to come. Plus, a crowded field for the weekly Chutzpah award and a salute to those still capable of extreme generosity.

Yonit and Jonathan explore the intersection of Jewish identity and Christmas traditions, discussing how Jews navigate the holiday season, the cultural significance of Christmas in Israel, and the impact of Christmas films on perceptions of the holiday. They delve into the complexities of assimilation, the evolution of Jewish customs around Christmas, and the portrayal of Christmas in popular culture.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BWTPM1AIn_M Jews Are Being Sent Back Into Hiding https://www.thefp.com/p/jews-are-being-sent-back-into-hiding https://www.youtube.com/@RoniKripper As the traditional joy of Hanukkah combines with fear and grief after the horrific attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Rabbi David Wolpe for a searching conversation about loss, faith and how—if at all—to find sparks of light in the darkness. We also invited listeners to send in voice notes telling how this week has felt for them. Rabbi Wolpe responds with empathy, perspective and wisdom drawn from our deepest tradition. Plus: a tribute from Yonit and Jonathan to Rob Reiner, and the legacy he leaves on screen and beyond.

At least 11 people were murdered, including Chabad emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger, and several more were wounded, after a mass shooting targeted a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, in southeastern Australia. Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Nomi Kaltmann, a journalist, a lawyer, and a Rabbanit from Australia.

A new bonus episode for premium subscribers is out! Find it in your feed. If you have a relationship in your life that’s been strained by the events of the last two years, why not let celebrated therapist Orna Guralnik see if she can help? unholy@unholy-media.com unholy@unholy-media.com Watch us on YouTube: Follow us on social media and join Patreon to get more of Unholy: https://linktr.ee/unholypod Yonit and Jonathan are joined by journalist J Oliver Conroy for a no-holds-barred examination of surging antisemitism on the American right - much of it focused on Israel. At the heart of it: Nick Fuentes, the white nationalist whose brand of antisemitism and hate is finding traction in places few expected. Who is he, why does he matter, and what does his rise say about the shifting fault lines of US politics?

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RnHcr0Q6PUQ Benjamin Netanyahu edges closer to Donald Trump’s extraordinary call for a presidential pardon, filing an official request with President Herzog and setting off another political storm. All this as Israel tears itself apart once again over the draft bill. Will the ultra-Orthodox secure a formal exemption from service, and what does that mean for the rest of the country? Yonit and Jonathan unpack the battle lines with Yair Ettinger of Kan News, one of the clearest voices on the Haredi world and its political power. Plus: a farewell to a giant of the stage, and a Chutzpah Award that breaks new records.

Tensions at the top of Israel’s security establishment escalate, as a public rift between the chief of staff and the defence minister deepens — raising questions about leadership and accountability in a time of war. Yonit and Jonathan break down what this clash reveals about Israel’s security apparatus. In New York, protests outside a synagogue leave local Jews unsettled and anxious about the city’s new mayor. Plus: Barak Ravid, one of Washington’s most connected reporters and a leading interpreter of Donald Trump’s political instincts, joins to discuss the president’s strategy and his unique approach to global affairs — and what it could mean for Israel in the months ahead.

After Donald Trump warmly welcomed Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, Yonit and Jonathan explore what enhanced US military sales to the kingdom mean for Israel’s security - and how the changing relationship between Washington and Riyadh is reshaping Israeli politics. They examine the UN Security Council’s adoption of Trump’s Gaza plan, the fragile ceasefire on the ground and the growing threats facing journalists in Israel. And we dip back into our recent live event at the Streicker Center in New York City, with some sharp - and much-needed - humour from Alex Edelman.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MbFUueN6vPg Order a copy of "Don't Feed the Lion": https://amzn.to/3JH4iwe Donald Trump is pressing for a pardon for Benjamin Netanyahu, injecting fresh volatility into an already fraught political moment. In Israel, arguments over the scope and timing of a commission of inquiry continue to intensify, while between London and Washington the scandal over alleged BBC bias gathers pace. All this comes as the Israeli defence minister moves to shut down Galei Zahal, the army-run radio station that has been broadcasting since 1950. Plus: a special conversation with the authors of new novel Don’t Feed the Lion - at least one of whom is an Unholy fixture.

Exclusive for Unholy listeners: Listen to the first chapter of Don’t Feed the Lion, Yonit’s new book co-written with CNN’s Bianna Golodryga. Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3JH4iwe Annie and Theo Kaplan have a family ritual: every Friday night, they celebrate Shabbat with their lively immigrant grandparents. But this Shabbat — which also happens to be Annie’s eleventh birthday — isn’t like the others. Thirteen-year-old Theo’s soccer hero, Wes Mitchell, has posted an antisemitic message that quickly goes viral, leaving his parents disgusted, his sister enraged, and Theo himself overwhelmed by confusion, anger, sadness, and a desperate wish to just ignore it. Antisemitism soon begins to affect the entire Kaplan family in unexpected ways. Theo’s teammates brush off Mitchell’s remarks as “no big deal,” and he notices an increase in anti-Jewish comments around school. A rare act of rebellion draws Annie into the fray, while a new classmate helps her realize that ignoring pain is no way to get through it. Don’t Feed the Lion asks readers of all backgrounds: What will you do when it’s your turn to choose?

A seismic week on both sides of the Atlantic: in New York, Zohran Mamdani was elected the city’s next mayor — a result that’s caused unease in parts of the city's Jewish community and beyond. Yonit and Jonathan are joined by The Atlantic’s Yair Rosenberg to unpack the reaction and what this political shift could mean for New York’s Jews. Meanwhile, in Israel, the week’s biggest story centres on the detention center at Sde Teiman — and on the extraordinary admission by the army’s chief military prosecutor that she was behind the leak of a brutal and disturbing video that sent shockwaves through the country. To help untangle this complex, troubling saga, Yonit and Jonathan speak with Haaretz military analyst Amos Harel. Plus: a nepo-baby earns our Chutzpah award, while there are some truly feelgood Mensches of the Week. Meanwhile, in Israel, the week’s biggest story returns to Sde Teiman — and to the extraordinary admission by the army’s chief military advocate that she was behind the leak of the video that sent shockwaves through Israel and beyond. To help untangle this tangled and troubling saga, Yonit and Jonathan speak with Haaretz military analyst Amos Harel. Plus, a bold nomination for Chutzpah and some truly feel-good Mensches of the Week.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/PdPskPBd_78 Unholy Live arrived in New York City on October 29th for a special evening featuring former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Dr. Keren Yarhi Milo the Dean of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. Yonit and Jonathan delved into the current political landscape of the Democratic Party, Donald Trump and Netanyahu, the ongoing protests at Columbia University against Israel, the upcoming mayoral election in New York City, and the significant role of Zohran Mamdani in shaping the city’s future. They also discussed their joint course at Columbia University and their latest book, titled “Inside The Situation Room.”

Unholy live is coming to NYC next week (10/29) with special guest Hillary Rodham Clinton! Grab your tickets here: https://bit.ly/UnholyLiveNYC Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/GQGDuFFZpmA As the Knesset reconvenes, political manoeuvring in Jerusalem is stirring unease in Washington — with decisions that risk straining Israel’s most important alliance. Yonit and Jonathan unpack the tensions between Israel and the US, the increasing influence of Donald Trump on Israeli politics, and the latest, often distressing updates from the returned hostages. Samer Sinijlawi joins them to offer a Palestinian perspective on the current situation in Gaza, an analysis of what lies ahead for politics, and leadership, in the Palestinian arena - and a dash of hope for a better future for both peoples.

Meet us at Unholy Live NYC - October 29th, 2025 - with very special guests, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and Dr. Keren Yarhi-Milo bit.ly/UnholyLiveNYC As Israel navigates a fragile ceasefire and the slow recovery of hostages, Hamas’s refusal to comply with the agreement threatens to unravel hard-won progress. Yonit and Jonathan unpack the U.S. role, shifting political narratives, and what it all means for the region’s future — plus, a look ahead to Unholy Live in New York.

Meet us at Unholy Live NYC - October 29th, 2025 - with very special guests, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and Dr. Keren Yarhi-Milo https://streicker.nyc/events/unholy-live Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/unholypod Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon As families welcome home the released hostages, relief is shadowed by grief. Yonit and Jonathan explore the emotional terrain of joy and sorrow that defines this moment — for the families, for Israel, and for those still waiting. They examine what the return means for the hostage community, the political fallout facing Israel’s leadership, and the uneasy path ahead in its dealings with Hamas. Plus: a conversation with Rachel and Jon Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was kidnapped from the Nova festival and murdered by Hamas in Gaza. They talk about the past week, the road to recovery, Donald Trump, and the future of Israel.

In the special update episode, Yonit and Jonathan take a deep dive into an extraordinary day – one that saw Israel’s remaining living hostages come home and the visit of an American president given a hero’s welcome

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/wwiAJvAeoN0 As a ceasefire and hostage deal is signed between Israel and Hamas, Yonit and Jonathan unpack what it could mean for both sides — and for those still living with the war’s aftermath. They explore the relief and uncertainty surrounding the release of hostages, the possible political outcomes in Israel, and the fragile hopes for peace after two years of war.

As we approach the two-year mark of October 7, we bring you a conversation that lays bare the human cost of what happened on that day — and in the time since. Eli Sharabi was kidnapped from his home and held hostage in Gaza for 491 days. He speaks to Yonit and Jonathan about surviving captivity, the unimaginable loss of his wife, two daughters and brother, and the strength he found to carry on. Now an advocate for those still held in Gaza, Eli reflects on the choices he made — and the quiet, relentless work of rebuilding a life. His new book, Hostage, is out now.

Yonit and Jonathan digest the terror attack which killed two British Jews at prayer during Yom Kippur services in Manchester. Where does this leave the British Jewish community - and what does it say about diaspora Jewish life in increasingly vexed times?

In this emergency update, Jonathan and military affairs analyst Amos Harel discuss the recent unveiling of Donald Trump's historic peace plan. They analyze the implications of the plan for both Israel and Hamas, the complexities surrounding Netanyahu's acceptance of the deal, and the potential influence of Qatar and other Arab states.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/QrN9l4AKLB0 Meet us at Unholy Live NYC - October 29th, 2025 - https://streicker.nyc/events/unholy-live Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/unholypod Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon As world leaders gather in Manhattan for the UN General Assembly, the message is clear: growing support for Palestinian statehood. As the diplomatic clamour gets louder, Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for his own appearance on the world stage — but not before receiving a sharp satirical blow from no other than Kyle’s mother of South Park. Meanwhile, New York hosts another drama. Mayor Eric Adams marks Rosh Hashana with a bold fashion statement, as his would-be successor Zohran Mamdani proves his social media game extends even to Hebrew pronunciation. Plus: a chutzpah award that may flatter its recipient, while this week’s mensch proved a ratings winner

As Israel’s ground operation in Gaza City escalates, Prime Minister Netanyahu briefly suggests the country must become economically self-sufficient — only to backtrack, rattling markets in the process. Meanwhile, cultural boycotts mount, from the Emmys to Eurovision. Yonit and Jonathan unpack the political spin, economic fallout, and the global cultural backlash. They’re also joined by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl for our Rosh Hashana tradition — reflecting on moral accountability in Gaza, the meaning of the High Holy Days in wartime, and the challenge of unity in a divided Jewish world. Plus: Yonit joins from Paris, where she sat down for an interview with French President Emmanuel Macron, in which he lays out his thinking on recognition of a Palestinian state — and answers the question: why now?

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/4oq27AXCEbU Meet us at Unholy Live NYC - October 29th, 2025 - https://streicker.nyc/events/unholy-live Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/unholypod Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon In this special Unholy episode, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by former Mossad chief, Yossi Cohen. In a wide-ranging conversation, Cohen reflects on what went wrong before October 7th — and who bears responsibility. He critiques the risk-averse mindset within Israel’s security establishment and doesn’t shy away from addressing Netanyahu’s strained ties with regional leaders. From stalled Saudi normalization to the ever-present shadow of Iran, Cohen offers a rare look into the calculations behind Israel’s next moves — and whether we’re truly prepared for what’s coming.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Teq1Qe9EEyM Meet us at Unholy Live NYC - October 29th, 2025 - https://streicker.nyc/events/unholy-live Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/unholypod Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon Order "The Traitors Circle" by Jonathan Freedland - https://www.amazon.com/Traitors-Circle-Resistance-Germany_and-Betrayed/dp/0063373203 As America reels from the shocking assassination of the pro-Trump activist and organiser Charlie Kirk, Yonit and Jonathan assess the rising menace of political violence in the U.S. — from toxic rhetoric to loose gun laws. Meanwhile, the region is rocked by Israel’s first-ever airstrike on Qatar, raising fears of escalation and fury in the Gulf. Jonathan wears two hats this week — both co-host and guest — as he reflects on the release of his new book The Traitors Circle, which tells an astonishing true story of courage, resistance and betrayal during the Third Reich. Plus: a Chutzpah award that dominates the headlines, and a Mensch nominee whose pronunciation sparks an unexpected debate.

Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Haaretz military affairs analyst Amos Harel as they discuss Israel’s unprecedented bombing of the Hamas negotiating team in Doha. Meet us at Unholy Live NYC - October 29th, 2025 - https://streicker.nyc/events/unholy-live Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/unholypod Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon

Meet us at Unholy Live NYC - October 29th, 2025 - https://streicker.nyc/events/unholy-live Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/LxyLZMMobcE Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon On Day 700 of the war, Israel prepares for a threatened push into Gaza City — a move the IDF’s Chief of Staff warns could see the imposition of martial law on the Strip. Donald Trump claims Israel is “losing the PR war,” as a ceasefire and hostage release deal remains as elusive as ever. In a special pair of conversations, Yonit and Jonathan speak with two Israeli reservists — one refusing to return to Gaza, the other still serving — about loyalty, conscience and the cost of war. Plus: a Chutzpah award for a lawyer with an awkward past - and an MVP turned Mensch.

Meet us at Unholy Live NYC - October 29th, 2025 - https://streicker.nyc/events/unholy-live Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/BHz5D_p5upQ Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon Follow Yonit and Jonathan on Instagram As Israeli protesters return to the streets in force, calling for a hostage deal and an end to the war, the Israeli cabinet refuses to even discuss a partial agreement — despite earlier demanding one. At the same time, Netanyahu’s closest advisor is in Washington talking “day after” strategy, while back home, reservists are called up yet again and political priorities appear increasingly out of step with public sentiment. This week, Yonit and Jonathan reunite to assess a stalled political process, shifting American pressure, and the increasingly surreal spectacle of Haredi pilgrims preparing to fly abroad — even as they continue to avoid military service. Plus: Unholy heads to New York, and Jonathan becomes an unlikely Instagrammer.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/xJooo1JvDqs Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon As part of our journey through Jewish communities around the world, we land this week in Buenos Aires — home to the largest Jewish population in Latin America. Yonit and Jonathan speak with Pablo Mendez Shiff, freelance journalist and scholar, about Argentina’s stance on Israel, and what it means to live Jewish life in today’s Argentina. Plus – we revisit two of our previous guests: Ilanit Spinner from Germany and Nomi Kaltmann from Australia, and find a moment of optimism.

Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon After ministers vote to approve the reoccupation of Gaza, tensions erupt between Israel’s political leaders and the military establishment. With senior IDF officials voicing unease, the divide between the cabinet and the high command deepens. This week, Jonathan is joined by Channel 11’s diplomatic correspondent Suleiman Maswadeh to unpack the political and military implications — and to discuss how the war is likely to shape the Arab vote in Israel’s next elections. And we continue our summer tour of the world’s Jewish communities with a focus on Australia, courtesy of a conversation with Nomi Kaltmann. Plus: “Locksgate” earns this week’s Chutzpah award, while a rare exponent of civility earns the Mensch prize

As Israel signals its intent to reoccupy Gaza, the public conversation around the Strip is beginning to shift — but how far, and in which direction? Meanwhile, the battle over the draft bill continues to simmer, exposing deep divisions within Israeli society. This week, Jonathan is joined by New Yorker journalist Ruth Margalit to break down the latest developments on both fronts, and to launch a new series of conversations from across the Jewish world. First up: Ilanit Spinner, a German journalist, reflects on what it means to be Jewish in Germany in 2025 — and how the war is shaping daily life far beyond Israel’s borders.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VCcIpEYOqr4 Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon Don't forget to follow/subscribe to your favourite podcasting platform! As the war in Gaza grinds on, a rift appears between two familiar allies: Donald Trump breaks ranks with Benjamin Netanyahu, acknowledging the scale of hunger in Gaza. Meanwhile, the UK moves to formally recognise a Palestinian state, prompting a diplomatic storm. This week, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Haaretz’s senior military analyst Amos Harel to assess the state of negotiations, the burden borne by Israeli reservists, and the stark realities on the ground for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Plus: a crowded field for this week’s Chutzpah and Mensch awards — and a nod to our listeners who treat Unholy as an English-language workout.

As the war nears its 21st month, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens — with harrowing footage of children searching for food sparking growing outrage, even among Israel’s staunchest allies. Meanwhile, the Israeli government prepares to push forward a controversial draft bill, fuelling an already volatile political climate. This week, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Friedman for a wide-ranging conversation on the war, Donald Trump, his thoughts on the man who might be New York's next mayor: Zohran Mamdani and the question everyone’s asking: is there a way out?

As the war in Gaza passes its 650th day, Yonit and Jonathan delve into the political and personal forces keeping the conflict going—from ceasefire talks that lead nowhere, to new revelations about Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to heed warnings ahead of October 7. Plus: new cracks in Israel’s ruling coalition, how criticism of the country is now coming from the American MAGA right, what’s behind the latest IDF strikes on Syria—and the return of one of Unholy’s favourite guests, the legendary Israeli journalist Ilana Dayan.