The Kvetch Fest

In this episode, Joni and Harriet hear from Abdalrahim (Abed), a Palestinian student and professional in Wyoming who is from Gaza. Abdalrahim shares his experience living in Gaza, including his journey to finding true love and leaving for opportunities abroad. This first-hand story of life in Gaza dispels Hasbara, Zionist propaganda, that has been used as fodder for the ongoing genocide.  More about our guest: Abdalrahim is the President and Coordinator of the MENA Club at the University of Wyoming,  where he promotes Middle Eastern and North African culture, issues, and communities. His tenure includes orchestrating a variety of events, from cultural celebrations to speaker series, while additionally fostering external partnerships. He is a skilled Arabic-English translator and is currently a Fulbright scholar working on a Master's degree in International Studies. If listening to this episode bring something up for you, and you want to kvetch with us some more, you can shoot us an email at [email protected] Edited and produced by Sam Jones Directly support Palestinians in Gaza and those who have fled, including Abdalrahim’s family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-my-gaza-familys-survival-amid-war?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer https://linktr.ee/fundsforgaza

In this episode, Joni and Harriet discuss the ongoing atrocities in Palestine, feelings of overwhelm and numbness, and how to sustain actions supporting Palestinian liberation and freedom. They pull from the concept of the Doppelganger from Naomi Klein’s novel, Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World, for how anti-Zionist Jews can face their Zionist counterparts and enact change through conversation. As we kvetch, we point towards the exit door from Zionism. If listening to this episode bring something up for you, and you want to kvetch with us some more, you can shoot us an email at [email protected] Edited and produced by Sam Jones CORRECTION: Jewish Voice for Peace has several resources about transitioning from Zionism to anti-Zionism. Here are some of those resources: First Steps to Stand for Palestinian Freedom Curriculum on Antisemitism from a Framework of Collective Liberation Project 48, a curriculum on the 1948 Nakba Diaspora Podcast by Jewish Voice for Peace, available on Apple Podcasts Resources discussed in this episode: Roles for Collective Liberation by Slow Factory  Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein, available on Bookshop Chapters 13 and 14 are available for free The Ten Stages of Genocide, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Index of discriminatory laws against Palestinians in Israel, Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel Genocide by the United Nations, Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect In the Shadow of the Holocaust article by Masha Gessen Quotes referenced: “There are two issues of our time, really, that I think amount to a litmus test for morality as far as I'm concerned. One is what you're prepared to do on behalf of the Palestinian people. And the other is what are you prepared to do on behalf of gay and lesbian peoples,” the late poet and activist June Jordan in A Place of Rage (1991) “There’s a difference between peace and liberation, is there not? You can have injustice and have peace […] so peace isn’t the answer, liberation is the answer […] that’s the white man’s word Peace, Liberation is our word […] You can’t have peace until everybody is equal,” political activist Kwame Ture in Tell Me Lies (A Film About London) (1968) “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the entire Torah, and the rest is commentary. Now go and study,” Hillel the Elder in the Talmud Additional recommended resources on anti-Zionism and Palestine: Podcasts Let’s Talk Palestine The Palestine Pod Understanding Israel/Palestine PreOccupation: A Not-So-Brief History of Palestine Books A Land with a People: Palestinians and Jews Confront Zionism by Esther Farmer, Rosalind Pollack Petchesky, Sarah Sills, available on Bookshop On Antisemitism, Solidarity and the Struggle for Justice by Jewish Voice for Peace, available on Haymarket Books Solidarity is the Political Version of Love: Lessons from Jewish Anti-Zionist Organizing by Rebecca Vilkomerson and Alissa Wise, available on Haymarket Books Films Israelism, available for rent through Kinema 1948: Creation and Catastrophe, available for free on YouTube 5 Broken Cameras, available for free on YouTube Born in Gaza, available on Netflix Farha, available on Netflix Ways you can tap in right now: Donate e-Sims Follow and boost content by Palestinian creators  Social media handles to follow: Palestinian journalists @motaz_azaiza @byplestia @ahmedhijazee @aborjelaa @salma_shurrab @joegaza93 Content Hubs @eye.on.palestine @cravingpalestine @qudsnen @theimeu @mondoweiss Analysis by Palestinians of the Diaspora @mohammedelkurd @gazangirl @anat.international @adnan_barq

In this first (and maybe only) episode of The Kvetch fest, Jewish summer camp pals Joni and Harriet untangle the crucial differences between Zionism and Judaism. If listening to this episode brings something up for you, and you want to kvetch with us some more, you can shoot us an email at [email protected] Some further learning about Palestine as discussed in the episode: Norman Finkelstein Speach  1948 Documentary Decolonizing Israel, Liberating Palestine Ways you can tap in right now: What to Boycott Places to donate: The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund Palestinian Social Fund Middle East Children's Alliance Palestinian Journalists to Follow: @mohammedelkurd @byplestia @wizard_bisan1 @motaz_azaiza @eid_yara Social media handles/links of voices/activism on the topic of Israel/Palestine: Jewish Voice for Peace - @Jewishvoiceforpeace If Not Now - @Ifnotnoworg Democracy Now! - @democracynow Gideon Levy - @levy_haaretz Amira Hass - @Hass_Haaretz Chris Hedges - @chrislynnhedges Norman Finkelstein - @normfinkelstein The Grayzone News - @thegrayzonenews Ali Abunimah - @aliabunimah - and The Electronic Intifada https://electronicintifada.net/ Yousef Munayyer - @yousefmunayyer Noura Erakat - @4noura Aaron Maté - @aaronjmate Daniel Maté - @danielbmate