Kastner Trial: The Weight of a Choice

UIH survey here: https://jewishunpacked.com/uihsurvey ~~~~  It’s January of 1954 and the Attorney General v. Gruenwald case, AKA the Kastner trial, has begun. This was seemingly an open and shut libel case between an elderly Hungarian Jew and Israeli government official, Israel Rudolph Kastner. Yet somehow the trial caused a government fallout, brought David Ben-Gurion out of retirement and led to Israel’s first political assassination. In this episode, Noam explores what exactly Kastner was guilty of and how to grapple with the impossible choices he faced at the hands of the Nazis. ~~~~ This season of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Barbara Sommer & Alan Fisher, and Marci & Andrew Spitzer, and this episode is generously sponsored by ​​the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, and the Tampa Jewish Federation. ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked  Unpacking Israeli History about Black Saturday: https://jewishunpacked.com/black-saturday-how-far-would-you-go-for-a-homeland/ ~~~~ Bibliography: https://jewishunpacked.com/the-kastner-trial-why-a-jew-who-saved-many-was-put-on-trial-for-working-with-the-nazis/

Om Podcasten

Join self-confessed history nerd Dr. Noam Weissman on a journey through the fascinating and sometimes controversial events and personalities that have shaped Israel’s past and present. Each week, Noam explores the layers of Israeli history, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the cultural forces at play—drawing on a variety of sources and perspectives. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking to better understand this complex region, you’ll find a nuanced, authentic, and thought-provoking take on Israel—free from oversimplification and political spin.