Ghosts of a Holy War: A Conversation with Yardena Schwartz, Dr. Noam Weissman and 92NY's Rabbi David

In Ghosts of a Holy War, award-winning journalist Yardena Schwartz presents a meticulously researched and dynamic history of the 1929 massacre of Jews in Hebron — an event that became ground zero of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Drawing on century-old letters discovered in a Memphis attic, alongside contemporary interviews with Israelis and Palestinians living in Hebron today, Schwartz reveals how the causes and aftershocks of 1929 have reverberated for the last century — including in the aftermath of October 7, 2023. As Yossi Klein Halevi writes, “If you are going to read one book to help you understand the current Middle East tragedy, this is it.” It was also just announced that Schwartz’s narrative is being adapted into a feature film by Crystal City Entertainment.

Joining her in conversation is Noam Weissman, Executive Vice President of OpenDor Media and host of the Unpacking Israeli History podcast and co-host of the Wondering Jews podcast. Weissman is known for approaching Israeli history with intellectual rigor, educational depth, and a commitment to complexity — challenging both romanticized and reductive narratives. The conversation will be guided by 92NY Senior Director of Jewish Life Rabbi David Ingber. His spiritual insight will be asking not only what happened, but how the stories we inherit shape Jewish identity, communal discourse, and Israel education today.

Together, Schwartz and Weissman and Rabbi Ingber will explore the origins of the conflict, the power of historical memory, and the urgent need to rethink how Israel is taught in Jewish spaces.