Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and star journalist Linda Gradstein discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Smells Like Zionist Spirit— Two small right-wing parties join to form “The Zionist Spirit”. What’s that all about? —Gimme Shelter— A judge orders a woman into protective custody when her ex and his family threatens her life. That can’t be right, can it? —Carry that Weight— A study says that IDF inductees weigh 10 kg more these days, on average, than they did 40 years ago. —PM Lapid’s Vacation Lands Him in Hot Water— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Israel’s (very) secular PM is raked over the coals when it comes out that he planned to be enjoying a vacation on Tisha B’Av, for religious folks a traditional day of fasting and mourning. Is it the job of Israel’s Prime Minister to respect religious traditions that don’t hold much meaning for him? All this and Avital, on the release of her new record!

The “Songs of Experience” Edition

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —One Man’s Extremist— Prime Minister Yair Lapid says he’ll form a government “without extremists.” What could possibly be wrong with that? —If I Can’t Dance— Is there a “joy disparity” between Israel’s happy-go-luck right and its bummed-out left, our pusses perennially soured? —Who Thought That Breaking Shariah Law Was a Good Idea?— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: A generally-considered-top-drawer-television-correspondent and Foreign Desk editor for prestigious Channel 13 nightly news, Gil Tamari, sneaks into Mecca for a “scoop” during the Haj, breaking Shariah Law, Saudi Law and the canons of human decency. What gives? All this and the lovely Anat Moshkovski,  in celebration of the birth of baby Adi!

The “Stuck in the Middle With Who?” Edition

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Ben-Gvir, Bistu Schein?— The popularity of a one time acolyte of Rabbi Meir Kahane is growing leaps and bounds. Why? —Energy Drain— Why are the leaders of Israel’s liberal-left Meretz party, dropping out like flies? —From Zion Will Come Our Salvation— Will video marriage in Utah solve Israel’s wedding woes? —No Shakes— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: A popular young Israeli singer does not shake President Joe Biden’s outstretched hand because she observes the prohibition against Negiah, unmarried women and men touching each other, and Israeli social media explodes. Why was this a thing? All this and Kob, as his great, new record, Kavanot Tovot, drops!

The “Where Would We Be Without Camil Fuchs?” Edition

Miriam Herschlag, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Biden’ Time— What is US President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel much ado about, nothin’ or sumpin’? —New Blue, or the Great White Hope— What do you get when a centrist party and a right wing party merge? —Judaica mens in corpore Judaico— Isn’t it weird that there are Jewish Olympics, by Jews, of Jews and for Jews? —Why Haven’t Death and Bereavement Notices Changed in 100 Years?— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Death and bereavement notices – the little signs that get printed up and hung around the neighborhood when someone dies, and on the door of the people sitting shiva – haven’t changed a bit in a hundred years. Why? What accounts for the remarkable stability of this small-but-really-important cultural artifact? All this and Nunu!

The “Let’s Get Together & Feel Alright!” Edition

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —The Torch Has Been Passed— Yair Lapid, once a weight-lifting, party-going, celebrity hunk, is sworn in as Israel’s 14th Prime Minister. What a long strange trip it’s been. —There Will Be Blood— Why is menstruation trending in Israel? —Dealing With Jewish Thugs— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Haredi thugs break up a Bat Mitzvah and two Bar Mitzvah’s at the Wall in the most awful way. How do we cope with a thing like that? All this and Amir Lev!

The “There Will Be Blood” Edition

Sally, Miriam, Ohad, Don and Noah tell stories of people who made and make our lives worth living. Plus, duets and collaborations by singers we love. (If the stories sound familiar, it is because, as renowned folklorist Joseph Campbell said, there are tales that live deep in our collective unconscious, that all of us know without being told. That, and because we’ve played them on the podcast in the past.) All this and duets and collaborations by singers we love!

The “People” Edition

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Going to the Polls!— Prime Minister Bennett decides to throw in the towel and take the country to new elections. What does it say about what was, what is, and what will be? —Not Going to the Poles!— Foreign Minister (and soon-to-be replacement Prime Minister) Yair Lapid decides to cancel all high-school trips to concentration camps in Poland. Would we be better off rethinking entirely the way we think about Holocaust education? —Where Do These Elections Find Us?— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Does the prospect of new elections inspire anxiety, hope, or maybe just boredom? All this and Idan Rafael Haviv!

The “Going to the Polls!/Not Going to the Poles!” Edition

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and prodigal son Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Dead Man Governing?— Is it time for Naftali Bennett to say when? —“I Am Not Mentally Ill!”— Why is ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suing ex-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and what’s it say about Israeli politics? —Falafel – Good or Icky?— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: We were gonna talk about Iranian death squads in Istanbul, but we ended up talking about a more pressing issue: Falafel – Good or Icky? All this and Maor Cohen!

The “Illin’?” Edition

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and prodigal son Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon    —Temporary Regulations Make Temporary Governments— Israel’s government fails to renew temporary provisional regulations first put into place in 1967 by then Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan, and renewed 18 times since then, regulations that allow Israeli law to apply to Israeli citizens living in the West Bank which, by Israeli and International law both, is not part of Israel proper. What now? —Can’t Spell “Heteronormativity” Without TV— Israel’s biggest reality show just married off two hunky, dreamy gay guys? Is one small step towards heteronormativity a giant leap for LGBTQ folks? —I’ve Got BDS On My Mind— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: As Ohad buys pencils and notebooks to get ready to go to PhD school in America, is BDS on his mind? All this and Shim, in honor the release of her new EP, and in honor of the show in honor of the release of her new EP at Levontin 7, on June 22, at 10

The “Normativities & Their Discontents” Edition

On the week of a tense Jerusalem Day, Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron talk about the capital city and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Al-Quds— An EU-funded, UN-midwifed Palestinian Authority plan sets out how Jerusalem will be developed as the capital of Palestine by 2030. Some Israelis decry this as a stratagem to undermine Israeli sovereignty over a united Jerusalem, which it sort-of is, but is that necessarily a bad thing? —Ir ha-Kodesh— Ask someone in Tel Aviv what they think about Jerusalem, and they’ll probably tell you that they don’t think about Jerusalem. —Jerusalem’s Hidden Gems— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What are a few of the most charming unsung (or undersung) spots to see in Jerusalem? All this and hip-hop by Jerusalem favorite son, Guy Mar!

The “Jerusalems” Edition

On Don’s birthday and the day before Miriam’s, Don Futterman, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —The MK Formerly Known as Ex-Member of the Coalition Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi— Mertz MK Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi quits the coalition, sending Israeli politics into turmoil, only to rejoin three days later. What the hell was that about? —Thank You for Your Service— After days of vicious debate, Israel’s coalition and opposition agree to pay college tuition for discharged combat soldiers. Is that really a good idea? —Denied of the Valkeries— Wagner died 140 years ago. Is it time to put to rest our Gevalt-by-Association, and let his music boom from Tel Aviv stages? —Son of a Surgeon— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Don just dropped an amazing podcastilogical monologue about growing up his father’s son, and we hear all about it, not just from the author, but also from the auteur! All this and a new debut record by Joav Ben-Moshe!

The “Thank You for Your Service” Edition

Miriam Herschlag, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Nakba— Nakba Day memorializes as a tragedy the day when a Jewish State was reborn after two thousand tumultuous, stateless years. What can an Israeli Jew say to that? —How We Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Microchip— An old joke says: The food at that restaurant is terrible and the portions are too small! The Bank of Israel says: High-tech is tearing Israel apart, and we need more of it. Which one is funnier? —The Netanyahus— A Pulitzer Prize presents for a packs-a-punch parable about the parent of a past premier. —Lag B’Omer: Then and Now— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: We talk about Lag B’Omer’s past, and whether and how the holiday is changing in front of our eyes. All this and new songs by Tzuf/Zohar/Inbal!

The “Future of the Past” Edition

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Linda Gradstein and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Listen to the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Shireen Abu Akleh, Z”L— After Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian Al-Jazeera reporter, was shot and killed in cross-fire outside Jenin, everyone was sure they knew who pulled the trigger. —A Bitter Cabbage Pill to Swallow— Can a government without a majority do its job? —Plus Climat Change, Plus C’EST la Même Chose— Is a bad climate bill worse than no bill at all? —The Death of A Colleague— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Linda and Allison talk about the sorts of relationships that evolve between Israeli and Palestinian journalists, and how they experience Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing as the death of a colleague. All this and songs about cats, by Keren & Tammuz!

The “Alon Again, Naturally” Edition

Allison, Don, Ohad, Amit, Linda, Jeremy & Noah talk about what Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, means to them, on the eve of Israel’s 74th. All that and old Songs of Independence, made new again!

The “A Sovereign Jewish State after 2,000 Years, and All I Got was this Lousy Podcast” Edition

Sally Abed, Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Violence Season— Is it inevitable that seasons of calm are replaced by seasons of violence, just as winter gives way to spring? —Shmandemic— Israel’s government ends the mask mandate and says: Lighten up, happy days are here again. Did the almost 4,000 people a day still getting COVID miss the memo? —Then, Now— Can we, and should we, have a Holocaust Day that is not just Jewish but also Israeli? —What’s Our Take Away From PM Bennett’s High Take-Away Expenditures?— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: After Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is lavishly lambasted, lamented and lampooned after it came out that his family spends 800 shekels a day on take-out, he tweets that he’ll pay for the damn take-out with his high-tech millions. What should our take-away be? All this and music for Yom ha-Shoah and every other day of the year

The “Now and Then” Edition

In this very-special episode, Noah tells the story of a kibbutz that surrendered to the Egyptian army in 1948, and the wounds that have never really healed.

The “Heroism of the Milker” Edition

Don Futterman, Noah Efron and superstar reporter Linda Gradstein discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra on Patreon   —Wages of Sin— Are the crimes of terrorists visited on their loved ones? —Rest in Peace?— Should dead people be dug up and downsized into ossuaries a year after they’re buried? Some rabbis, scholars and environmental activists say, absolutely! —As If We Left Egypt— What does it mean to “see ourselves as if we ourselves left Egypt,” in this moment of viruses and violences, of refugees and unrest. —No Funding For You— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Nineteen celebrated progressive American Rabbis act to keep donations from American Jews from reaching far-right-wing Israeli groups like the anti-gay, anti-miscegenation, Jewish supremacist organization Lahava. That’s a good thing, right? All this and rocking Passover-ish pop!

The “With Great Freedom” Edition

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and environmentalist & Judaicist extraordinaire Jeremy Benstein discuss three two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Wave?— Three terror attacks on civilians in three city centers in eight days, leaving eleven dead. Is Israel facing a new round of violence? —A Half-Baked Coalition Going Sour?— The chairwoman of the coalition bolted to the opposition, leaving the future of Israel’s government uncertain. Israel may go to elections over what now? —“Anti-zionism” as a “Core Value”?— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: A shul in Chicago votes that “anti-Zionism” is a “core value.” Should we care? All this and your first exposure to a tremendous new musical talent, Aviv Peck!

“The Centre Cannot Hold” Edition

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Listen to the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Half a Dozen Foreign Ministers— Not long ago, who could even imagine that the foreign ministers of Bahrain, the UAE, Morocco, Egypt, the US and Israel would all gather in the Negev desert to talk about creating a middle-eastern “mini-NATO” alliance? —Jewish Character?— Why worry about the “Jewish character” of Israel at all? —A Peep at the Past— Israel’s greatest cult movie, Metzitzim (Peeping Toms) turns 50 this month. Why has so bleak and disagreeable a film been so popular for so long? —Unpacking AIPAC— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: MK Alon Tal tells the AIPAC Israel lobby that the time has come to stop supporting American legislators who think the last American election was stolen from Donald Trump. Does he have a point? All this and the R&B and rock’n’roll of The Bench!

The “New Worlds & Old” Edition

After an encomium to the late Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, Allison, Noah and Voice of America radio superstar Linda Gradstein discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon   —Presidential Address— Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells Israelis that it’s time to step up and help Ukrainians, like Ukrainians helped Jews during the Holocaust. What should we do with an appeal like that? —Laws of the Land— Israel’s new government just finished its first legislative session. How’d they do? —Times Will Tell— An Israeli journalist starts a year-long project of monitoring how the New York Times reports on Israel, finding so far that the paper is biased against us. What should we make of this sort of watchdogging-the-watchdog? —Restaurant Reviewing in the Age of an Israeli Culinary Revolution— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, Linda Gradstein takes us behind the curtain, into the world of restaurant reviewing in the age of an Israeli culinary revolution. All this and the ultra-orthodox Indie great, Yonatan Razel!

The Promised Podcast

The Promised Podcast

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