meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Two Nice Jewish Boys

#267 - The Mossad Commander Who Saved a Hamas Leader's Life (Dr. Mishka Ben David)

Two Nice Jewish Boys

Eytan and Naor

Society & Culture

1.7804 Ratings

🗓️ 6 December 2021

⏱️ 81 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This episode is sponsored by the Podcast “Thirty Six” With Justin Hayet! Listen on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zlLptB6swtpqPjkTe8ovV?si=6d00d84bc66448c9 *** We are also sponsored by Masa Israel, check them out at https://Masaisrael.org *** It is feared and revered throughout the world. Its operations have been igniting the imagination of generations. Its capabilities seem endless - from wreaking havoc in a far Iranian nuclear facility, to assassinating a high-profile Hamas agent in his hotel room at the heart of Dubai (all according to foreign publications, of course). It is far reaching, it is bold, it is legendary. It is the Israeli Mossad. Today, for the first time on the Two Nice Jewish Boys Podcast, we are going to talk to a person who was a Mossad agent. Not just an agent - he was one of the top commanders of Cesaria unit, the special ops branch of the Mossad. In another lifetime, Mishka Ben David was a regular guy, like you and me. Born in 1952, his story is Israel’s story. He fought in Yom Kippur war and the War of Attrition, he studied literature at the University of Wisconsin - where he served as the delegate of the Zionist Histadrut. He was even working at the Matnas Company, which manages local culture centers in Israeli cities and villages. But all that changed in 1987, when he was recruited to the Mossad. After retiring in 1999, Mishka became a writer, his novels depict thrilling spy stories that might - or might not - be based on true events. We are super excited to have Mishka Ben David on the show today to talk about his amazing life, books and service in the Mossad. (Photo by Daniel Chechik)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hi, my name's Justin Hayet.

0:10.8

I'm a lot.

0:12.5

I'm an eternal pessimist, a gay Republican, a loyal friend, and an excellent schmuse.

0:19.9

I'm a writer, operator, connector, and allegedly a maher.

0:24.2

One night, though, I stumbled upon this old Jewish story of the Llamidvaev Sadiki,

0:29.4

the 36 anonymous good people whose work would redeem the world. I wondered, do they exist?

0:36.4

Can people find them?

0:39.3

Could their goodness rub off on me?

0:42.8

Is there magic in this world that I just couldn't see?

0:47.1

I couldn't resist finding out, so I set off to Israel with a mission.

0:51.3

I was going to find these secret souls and hear their stories.

0:55.7

We're calling this journey, 36. You can find 36 and other podcasts from SoulShop wherever you get your podcasts.

1:01.5

Subscribe now.

1:07.5

This is Aiton Weinstein, and I'm Naor Menninger, and you're listening to Two Nice Jewish Boys.

1:20.1

In collaboration with Australian Jewish News, check them out at AJN.com. Also in collaboration with Arutzheva,

1:30.8

Israelnationalnews.com.

1:37.3

It is feared and revered throughout the world. Its operations have been igniting the imagination

1:43.6

for generations. Its capabilities

1:46.4

seem endless, from wreaking havoc in a far Iranian nuclear facility to assassinating a high-profile

1:53.3

Hamas agent in his hotel room at the heart of Dubai, all according to foreign publications, of course.

2:00.9

It is far-reaching, it is bold, it is legendary.

2:04.7

It is the Israeli Mossad.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Eytan and Naor, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Eytan and Naor and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.