State of Modern Israel

MOSES’ SPEECH

Moses apologizes for his harshness and praises the people of Israel in the wake of October 7th for their kindness, strength, and resilience. In several other sketches, Moses calls the Israelites “a nation of s***heads” for their obstinacy. But now, having seen how Israel came together to mourn and recover from the trauma of October 7, he recognizes that the Israelites are actually “a nation that went through s***.” The wallet that is referenced at the end of the episode is part of a joke that runs through many of their Bible stories. (See: Why Follow Moses?)

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SAMSON AND THE PHILISTINES

At the Gaza border, while Samson fights to keep the Philistines away, he anxiously awaits military support from his brethren in a gut wrenching comparison to post-October 7 life. But when they arrive with nothing more than a “warm embrace” and some words of encouragement, Samson feels more alone than ever. Even as the Philistines hurl death threats in his direction, all that the two visitors from the tribe of Judah can think about is how Samson’s death will help their cause.

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KIND OF AN ARAB

The first Druze man is drafted to serve in the IDF, but his name and accent cause some confusion for the soldier who receives him. The soldier is equally confused to learn that he, being of Moroccan and Egyptian descent, is also kind of an Arab! Known as Israel’s most integrated minority, the Druze community exemplifies how, for some, there is no difference between one’s Israeli and Arab identities. Despite the fact that most Arab citizens of Israel do not serve in the IDF for a variety of practical, political, and social reasons, some Arab citizens of Israel, Druze among them, have decided—especially in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks and the ensuing war—that army service is incumbent upon them as much as any other Israeli.

Caution: Sketch mocks racist views of Arabs.

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EICHMANN’S EXECUTION

In 1962, Israel prepares to execute Adolf Eichmann for his crimes, but a series of technical issues delay his hanging. Luckily, Eichmann is an expert in executions. After being apprehended by the Mossad and Shin Bet, Israel’s intelligence agencies, Eichmann did not deny his role in organizing the Holocaust and instead claimed that he was simply following orders. The trial was widely followed in the media and was later the subject of several books, most famously Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem, in which she coined the phrase “the banality of evil” to describe Eichmann.

Caution: Uses Holocaust humor.

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HOLOCAUST REPARATIONS

Prime Minister Moshe Sharett prepares to sign an agreement for reparations from Germany after the Holocaust, but his complicated feelings about the agreement threaten to upend the process. The reparations agreement was signed in 1953 and stipulated that Germany was to pay Israel for the costs of resettling Jewish refugees and compensating individuals for loss of livelihood and property. Public debate over the agreement in Israel was fierce. Opposition came from both the right and the left; political rivals jointly argued that accepting reparation meant forgiving the Nazis for their crimes.

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DECLARATION OF THE STATE

David Ben Gurion declares Israel’s independence in 1948, but, as is Jewish tradition, just as quickly as the people begin celebrate, squabbling breaks out. Internal religious and political fragmentation among the signatories and Israeli society at large exemplified the disagreements that continue to animate debate in Israel until today. Beyond internal Jewish conflict, after Ben-Gurion’s 16-minute recitation of the document’s contents, the armies of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria descended upon the nascent Jewish state, determined to prevent the declaration’s implementation.

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