Unholy: Two Jews on the News

Following the Russian onslaught in Ukraine- Yonit and Jonathan talk about the price of intervention and the price of non intervention, What is left of the new world order, Russian oligarchs around the world and Israel's tightrope act becoming increasingly challenging. And how all this affects the nuclear talks still taking place in Vienna, with the U.S. and Russia on the same side. On the lighter...

For the latest edition of Unholy, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by one of America's most admired journalists, David Remnick. The editor of the New Yorker draws on a long career, including a spell in Moscow reporting on the last days of the Soviet Union, to reflect on everything from possible war in Ukraine to the state of Israeli society, from the threat of Donald Trump to Remnick's own Jewish ide...

In an exclusive interview, Yonit and Jonathan question Shalev Hulio, the CEO of the NSO Group, the Israeli company that has become one of the most controversial in the world. NSO sells spyware to governments across the globe for use, it says, against criminals and terrorists. But media organisations and human rights groups say Pegasus hacking software has been deployed against dissidents, journali...

Despite suffering from Covid and with the help of chicken soup, Yonit throws herself into spirited discussion with Jonathan about Whoopi Goldberg's inflammatory remarks on the Holocaust, and Amnesty International's labelling of Israel as an apartheid state. They also talk about how Israel's largest circulation newspaper has switched its support from Benjamin Netanyahu to Naftali Bennett. And for t...

As Yonit enjoys the novelty of a heavy snowfall (by Middle Eastern standards) in Jerusalem, Jonathan is captivated by the political drama in London with scandal and cake simultaneously ambushing Prime Minister Boris Johnson. They also contemplate how Israel is walking a diplomatic tightrope in trying not to offend either the US or Russia as the danger of war looms in Ukraine. Also on Holocaust Mem...

In this edition Yonit and Jonathan consider the 'deal of the century', in the light of the negotiations underway between former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the legal authorities in Israel for him to avoid a trial in exchange for lesser charges and being excluded from public office. They ask what it could mean for him, his party and the politics as a whole in israel. And in the week follo...

David Baddiel, the British writer, comedian, commentator, and author of the acclaimed polemic ‘Jews Don’t Count’ joins Yonit and Jonathan to talk about who gets to play Jewish figures on stage and screen, along with the complexities of identity amid discussions of antisemitism, Israel, and progressive politics.   For chutzpah of the week Jonathan sounds a discordant note (that’s a hint!), and to m...

The Hebrew word of the year marks a good way to start 2022. Yonit and Jonathan discuss how Israel is losing its place as the trailblazer on COVID, allowing a more flexible policy on testing and policy of living alongside the pandemic. Benny Gantz is ruffling political feathers meeting with Arab leaders, including Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, cementing his position as an alternative to Bennett...

On the cusp of the new year, Yonit and Jonathan talk about what they dread and what they look forward to in 2022. As optimistic as we are, expect more of the former than the latter. Wishing us all a happier, healthier 2022. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 💛 Become a friend of the pod: Patreon: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon 🌐 Our website: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/ 📺...

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

Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid following his explosive interview with former President Donald Trump, including never before heard excerpts: What Trump thinks of the Jewish community, Sheldon Adelson and the New York Times?   Speaking of U.S. Presidents – we pick one for mensch nominee of the week And what film did Jonathan embarrassingly admit to never seeing? -- F...

New quotes from Donald Trump shed a new and disturbing light on the relationship between the Former US President and Former Israeli PM. This week Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Dara Horn, acclaimed author of "People Love Dead Jews", the thought provoking book about the double standard when treating Jews and Jewish history.  Boris Johnson is claiming Chutzpah again, and we have a new found group...

No one living in Tel Aviv was surprised it was crowned the most expensive city in the world; Yonit and Jonathan return to the topic of the high cost of living in Israel compared to the rest of the Western world. Anti-Vaxxers' campaign evoking insulting comparisons to the Holocaust even in Israel, A new BDS initiative in Canada aimed at kosher food. And we don't let you down -- the mensch award thi...

As we light our first candle, we deeply fry some Israel/Diaspora Hanukkah traditions. Yonit and Jonathan also talk about the lively discussion following Israel's project to vaccinate its children, and the new plot twist in the never ending Netanyahu trial. And how did Yonit end up in the Back to the Future Delorean? Happy Hanukkah everyone! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 💛 B...

As the new Israeli coalition passes its budget, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Guy Rolnik, Founder of TheMarker, Israel's leading business publication and Professor at University of Chicago Booth School of Business. We ask how Israel has become one of the most expensive places to buy a house (or go to a restaurant?), why does it continue to attract so many foreign investments, and why isn't the...

We are delighted to have Prof. Yuval Noah Harari as our special guest this week. Right before he leaves for a two month meditation retreat, Yuval gets together with Yonit and Jonathan for a conversation on pandemics, climate change, corporations vs. governments, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, trans rights and shares some interesting Bar Mitzvah experiences. Yuval's new book Sapiens: A graphic h...

Israeli PM Bennett left quite an impression at COP26. In reality, Israel is nowhere near the environmental targets set, and the Israelis aren't doing much to get there. Yonit and Jonathan also discuss the alarming rise of the far right populist newcomer in France, who, unfortunately, can play the 'I'm Jewish' card. In Chutzpah, we re-enact a Jewish version of Succession, courtesy of an NYC synagog...

As world leaders come to Glasgow for COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference, Yonit and Jonathan talk to former Obama Advisor Ben Rhodes. We discuss the dynamics behind the scenes and what the US and the world are missing as we tackle this challenge. In Israel, PM Bennett's coalition is starting to show some cracks, only 4 months in and ahead of a crucial budget vote. Finally, Yonit reclaims her s...

Yonit and Jonathan are back together after meeting up in London! This week, we have an in depth conversation with the woman who leads the Israeli efforts to fight COVID, Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, Head of Public Health Services at Israel's Ministry of Health. She shares how she makes decisions as a worldwide leader in vaccinations and booster shots, and her concerns of a fifth wave. Finally, we discu...

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett reveals the Mossad's latest attempt to unearth information in a mystery that has haunted Israel for 35 years. We are joined by New York Times journalist Ronen Bergman to discuss the frustrating and futile search for missing Israeli Airman Ron Arad. In Hollywood – actress and comedian Sarah Silverman ignites a debate about the casting of non- Jewish actors in Jewish roles...

The high holidays are behind us and the news is back to some routine. Israeli PM Naftali Bennett spoke to the United Nations General Assembly in New York and with the US Jewish community: Jacob Kornbluh of The Forward was in the room and is joining us to share his insights. As Angela Merkel bids farewell, Yonit and Jonathan discuss the 'charged' emotions older and younger Jews in Israel and around...

Yonit and Jonathan are in festive Sukkot spirits and have invited rockstar journalist Kara Swisher for a conversation about tech, politics and Israeli unicorns. Happy holidays everyone! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 💛 Become a friend of the pod: Patreon: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon 🌐 Our website: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/ 📺 FOLLOW UNHOLY YouTube: https://www.yo...

Yonit and Jonathan catch up right before Yom Kippur with some tips for fasting and book recommendations. They also share experiences from their interviews with Israeli PM Naftali Bennett and Hillary Clinton See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 💛 Become a friend of the pod: Patreon: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon 🌐 Our website: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/ 📺 FOLLOW UNHOLY Yo...

We recover from Rosh Hashanah with the crazy Israeli prison break story. Six high risk Palestinian security prisoners escaped and left Israeli authorities puzzled. Yonit and Jonathan also look back at the effect of 9/11 on Jews and Israelis, and devise an alternative plot of The White Lotus starring... The Netanyahu Family. ( Click here for Netanyahu's photo reading David Cameron's book ) We'll se...

Yonit and Jonathan are back with a second season of UNHOLY, just in time for Rosh Hashanah. Sacha Baron Cohen and Gal Gadot choose their "Mensch of the Year", we ask how are President Biden and Israel PM Bennett doing regarding Afghanistan, Iran, COVID and... each other. And we finally learn Jonathan's not-so-secret nickname. Shana Tova everyone! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...