#242 - Ambassador Turned Novelist (Dr. Michael Oren)

Two Nice Jewish Boys

(This episode was recorded before the recent events in Jerusalem and Gaza) *This episode is sponsored by Masa Israel Journey. Check them out at masaisrael.org/twonicejewishboys * *We’re also sponsored by the Susie & Kevin Davis Foundation, please check it out at FirstWorkings.org, and consider supporting their efforts.* Exclusive subscription offer for podcast listeners: Get 6 months of The Forward for only $15: Forward.com/partneroffer promo code: 2NJB Our guest today is a great friend of the podcast. We’ve had the honor of hosting him quite a few times, but always in a very different capacity than today. In the past, we’ve introduced Dr. Michael Oren as someone who served as the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's office, as Member of Knesset in the Kulanu Party and as the Israeli ambassador to the United States in the years 2009-2013. Today, we’re introducing Dr. Michael Oren as a novelist. Dr. Oren has released several non-fiction books in the past, including Sand Devil, Reunion and a collection of short stories titled The Night Archer and Other Stories. But in just about a week, Michael’s latest novel is going to hit the bookshelves. To All Who Call In Truth tells the story of Sandy Cooper, a guidance counselor and coach in a suburban junior high school, who’s otherwise uneventful life turns upside down after a word of advice to a troubled student embroils him in a forbidden relationship and the exposure of a twisted murder. Aside from his extensive service to the country, Dr. Michael Oren also taught history at the Ben Gurion University and was a visiting professor at Harvard, Yale and Georgetown. We are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Oren on the podcast today to talk about his new novel and of course a little bit of politics - how could we not?