# Jacob Epstein (@yaakovepst.bsky.social)

Profile: https://sifa.id/p/yaakovepst.bsky.social
Headline: Far-Right Extremism Researcher | Independent Journalist | Network Analysis · Political Communication · Digital Investigations
Location: Israel

## About

I am a researcher and M.A. student in Communication at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.My thesis, Regulation of Speech in and by Israeli Academic Institutions, examines how Israeli universities regulate speech, protest, and political expression. It focuses on policy and procedural changes after October 7, 2023, in the context of intensified political persecution of Palestinian citizens of Israel, both on and off campus.My professional background is in human rights research using open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques to investigate Jewish extremists, harmful online activity, and anti-gender movements both in Israel and abroad.I have also worked across reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and Israeli-Palestinian solidarity, with a focus on supporting communities and movements working toward equality and social change.My broader interests include political communication, ontologies, knowledge graphs, anti-gender movements, religious fundamentalism, reactionary politics, and the networks linking political ideas, actors, and movements across contexts.

## Career

- **Independent Journalist at Self-Employed** (Mar 2025 - Present)
  Conduct independent open-source, archival, and digital-investigations research on political movements, harmful online activity, and transnational networks. Use public records, web archives, social-media monitoring, document analysis, and network mapping to preserve, verify, and organize evidence. Produce clear research briefs and structured materials for public-interest, advocacy, and accountability work.
- **Research Communications and Social Media at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev** (Aug 2025 - Present)
  Create English-language research communications and social media content for Ben-Gurion University’s Office of the Vice President for Research and Development. Translate academic research, publications, grants, awards, and institutional updates into accessible posts for platforms including LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Bluesky. Work with researchers and university staff to highlight new studies, scientific achievements, and research activity across the university.
- **Graduate Teaching Assistant at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev** (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026)
  Revamped weekly lecture presentations and supported course design for an undergraduate course on the media landscape in Israel and abroad. Developed course assignments, evaluated student work, contributed to the design and writing of the final exam, and assessed exam performance. Managed course administration, including Moodle content, student communication, recordings, and office hours.
- **Head of Research at The Center for Combating Conversion Therapy** (Aug 2024 - Mar 2025)
  IL
  Led research on conversion therapy networks, practices, and actors in Israel and abroad. Used open-source investigative methods to map key individuals, organizations, and cross-border connections involved in promoting or conducting conversion therapy. Developed research methodologies, organized findings into internal research materials, and supported the Center’s advocacy, reporting, grant writing, and public communications.
- **Health Consultant at Lada’at Choose Well** (Oct 2022 - Oct 2024)
  Provided pro-choice consultations on contraception, unplanned pregnancy, abortion rights, and access to reproductive health services. Supported women in navigating the bureaucratic process around abortion so they could make informed decisions about their own bodies. Maintained confidentiality and professionalism while handling sensitive information in a human-rights-oriented counseling setting.
- **Research Analyst & Head of Monitoring at Fakereporter** (Jan 2024 - May 2024)
  IL
  Conducted open-source investigations and social media monitoring to identify potential imminent threats from Jewish extremists and other violent actors coordinating activity online. Tracked violent rhetoric, emerging threat narratives, and patterns of online organizing that could translate into offline harm.
- **Field Coordinator at The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC)** (Jul 2023 - Jan 2024)
  Researched municipal candidates associated with violent rhetoric ahead of local elections. Supported field organizing and advocacy work focused on religious freedom, equality, and democratic rights in Israel. Coordinated outreach, community engagement, and campaign activity connected to struggles against racial and gender discrimination and religious coercion.
- **Copywriter at Therapy Everywhere (TherapyEverywhere.com)** (Jan 2022 - Aug 2023)
  Jerusalem, IL
  Created social media content for therapists and mental health professionals, translating clinical ideas into clear and accessible language. Drafted copy that helped practitioners explain their work, reach potential clients, and encourage people to seek support.
- **Project Manager at Ginot Hair Community Council** (Jun 2020 - Jan 2021)
  West Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, IL
  Handled election operations for a local Jerusalem community council, including candidate registration, candidate communication, and logistical coordination. Coordinated neighborhood publicity materials with graphic designers, helped identify and organize polling station locations, and worked with the voting technology provider to support tablet-based voting across multiple polling stations.

## Publications

- הזמנתי את "שוברים שתיקה" לבר אילן. לא ציפיתי לתגובה כזאת. I invited 'Breaking the Silence' to Bar-Ilan. I didn't expect such a reaction. — Haaretz (Jul 2023) https://www.haaretz.co.il/opinions/2023-07-12/ty-article-opinion/.premium/00000189-49e2-df0a-affb-4df762e40000

## Skills

### Community
- Community Outreach
### Security
- Digital Forensics
### Other
- Academic Grading
- Archival Research
- Breaking News
- Circuit Analysis
- Civil Society
- Classroom Management
- Communication
- Content Strategy
- Copywriting
- Course Design
- Digital Investigations
- Digital Marketing
- Digital Media
- Disinformation Analysis
- Election Operations
- Evaluation Design
- Fact-checking
- Field Coordination
- Gender Equality
- Gender Studies
- Geopolitics
- Graphic Design
- Human Rights Research
- Market Research
- Marketing
- Narrative Analysis
- Offensive Security Vishing Services
- Ontologies
- Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
- Organization Skills
- Policy Research
- Political History
- Program Management
- Public Speaking
- Python (Programming Language)
- Reactionary Politics
- Report Writing
- Reporting
- Reproductive Health
- Research Communication
- Research Skills
- Science Communication
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Similarweb Data as a Service (DaaS)
- Similarweb Search Intelligence
- Social Media
- Social Media Management
- Social Network Analysis
- Student Support
- Vendor Coordination
- Web Scraping
- Writing

## Credentials

- Master Certificate in Digital Investigation Techniques - Basics — AFP (Aug 2024) https://digitalcourses.afp.com/certificates/1wz4uzncyc

## Education

- **Ben-Gurion University of the Negev** — Master of Arts
  Thesis Title: Regulation of Speech in and by Israeli Academic Institutions
- **Institute for Research on Male Supremacism** — Intro to Male Supremacism course (Aug 2026 - Sep 2026)
- **Ben-Gurion University of the Negev** — Master's degree (Nov 2024 - Jul 2026)
- **Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab)** — Digital Sherlocks Program, Open Source Intelligence (Sep 2024 - Dec 2024)
- **Herzog College** — Bachelor of Education (Oct 2017 - Jul 2022)
- **Weinbaum Yeshiva High School** — High School Diploma (Jun 2013)

## Involvement

### Volunteering
- Ladaat Choose Well (Oct 2022 - Oct 2024)
  Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights Advisor
  Provide anonymous, nonjudgmental support and information on sexual health, reproductive rights, contraception, pregnancy, abortion, and related services. Help callers understand their options, access reliable information, and connect with relevant resources while maintaining confidentiality and a rights-based approach.
- עומדים ביחד نقف معًا Standing Together (Oct 2022 - Jan 2024)
  Chapter President at Bar Ilan University and Member of National Steering Committee
  Led the Standing Together student chapter at Bar-Ilan University and served as a member of the movement’s National Steering Committee. Organized campus activity around Jewish-Arab partnership, equality, democracy, and opposition to occupation, while helping build student participation in national campaigns and movement-wide initiatives. Worked with activists across campuses and local chapters to coordinate events, outreach, and political education.
- BaBayit (Aug 2019 - Jun 2020)
  Board Member, Community Programming
  Served on the board of BaBayit Katamon, a community organization for young English-speaking immigrants in Jerusalem. Led events programming by helping members propose, plan, and co-host community activities, including educational workshops, social gatherings, and partnerships with local organizations. Provided logistical and administrative support for events and helped strengthen grassroots community engagement.

## Languages

- English (native)
- Hebrew (native)
- Spanish

## Links

- linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-epstein-40b4b3215