Normalization with Reem Farah

Normalization with Reem Farah

From Unpacking Zionism by Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism

September 23, 2025 · 37 min · Season 1 · Episode 49

About this episode

The episode discusses the concept of normalization in relation to Zionism with guest Reem Farah, focusing on her analysis of a cookbook as a cultural artifact.

This episode looks at the keyword “normalization” in conversation with independent writer and researcher Reem Farah. Our discussion draws on Reem’s 2024 article “Ottolenghi and Tamimi's Cookbook, Jerusalem: Israel as Frame and Palestine as Subject” in the Jerusalem Quarterly. Reem analyzes the cookbook as an example of the normalization of Zionism, and explains why opposing normalization is a pillar of the fight for a free Palestine. Notes: 1) This is the last episode in our keywords series, at least for now. As we’re wrapping up the keywords, we have a new mini-series in the works dedicated to the movement that emerges out of K thru 12 schools in the US to resist Zionist attacks. 2) If you are listening to this episode on Spotify, this is the last episode that we publish on this platform. After this episode, the Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism is pulling our content from Spotify and will not be using the platform for our materials. This decision is a response to Spotify's chief executive, Daniel Ek’s $700 million investment in a military startup Helsing. Ek has now also become the chairman of Helsing, which is a company specializing in AI-powered combat drones and…

People in this episode

Guest: Reem Farah

Topics covered

  • normalization
  • Zionism
  • Palestine
  • cookbook analysis
  • resistance movements

Keywords

  • normalization
  • Zionism
  • Palestine
  • cookbook
  • resistance
  • education
  • cultural analysis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism, Spotify, Helsing, Massive Attack, King Gizzard

Books & works: Ottolenghi and Tamimi's Cookbook, Jerusalem: Israel as Frame and Palestine as Subject

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