The Promised Podcast

Prodigal Wunderkind Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida, Allison Kaplan Sommer 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 —What's More Reasonable Than Reasonableness?— Prime Minister Netanyahu decided to move forward the judicial reform by passing a law limiting when and how judges can rule based on what seems "reasonable" to them. What, in Israel, has ever been reasonable? —No More Heroes Anymore?— Now that the writer-prophets, the Ozes and the Yehoshuas, are no longer with us, are we sailing on a ship without a moral compass? —A Fresh Perspective— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: It's like the whole country is in a weird and dark mood. How does Ohad see things as an outsider looking in? All that and the weird interconnectedness of everything Israeli, a top drawer research organization finding Tel Aviv-Jaffa to be the happiest city on earth, and the music of rising young star Inbal Bibi!

Sally Abed, Allison Kaplan Sommer 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 —Selectile Dysfunction— There was a weird Knesset vote this week that elected a representative from the opposition to the Judicial Selection Committee but no representative from the coalition, and still somehow led to a breakdown of talks at the President's Residence. So what the hell happened and what does it mean? —101 and Counting— More than 100 Palestinian citizens of Israel murdered by Palestinian citizens of Israel so far this year (and the year is not yet half over). What's happening? —A True Display of Mixed Israeli Society— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Three stars of the team that came in third last week in the Under-20 World Cup Football (Soccer) are Palestinians. Is that a fact that means something that matters? All that and the first Tel Aviv Pride Parade twenty-five years ago, a trip to Sinai and the changing face of Rocky Horror!

Ace reporter Linda Gradstein, Allison Kaplan Sommer 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 —On Foreign Shores?— Israeli ministers and MKs are drowned when they try to speak overseas, by Israeli protestors. Is that cool? —The Past is Never Dead. It's Not Even Past— Three-quarters of a century ago, sixteen Jewish soldiers were killed when their boat was destroyed by Jewish soldiers in a Jewish State that was 37 days old. Why does this story still matter so much to so many, 75 years later? —How Bad Is Inflation, Actually?— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Inflation can topple governments. But do we even notice it, really? All that and 50 years since The Voice of Peace first broadcast "from somewhere in the Mediterranean", a renowned actress jumping off a Tel Aviv bridge to save a life and the official LGBTQ anthems of years gone by!

Ace reporter Linda Gradstein, Allison Kaplan Sommer 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 —Food Fight!— Can the government's war on Coca Cola be resolved by diplomatic means? —Can You Dig It?— Is the best thing Israeli archeologists can do, doing nothing? —Our Love for Yulia the Monk Seal— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Why do we love Yulia the monk seal so damn much? All that and the return of Yulia the monk seal, a reflection upon the death of the great centenarian Rabbi Gershon Edelstein and the music of The Golem of Prague!

Ace reporter Linda Gradstein, 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 —Spending, Rending, Upending— Opponents say the two-year budget Netanyahu's government just passed is "a looting of the public coffers." Do they have a point? —Demonstration Stagnation?— Are the protests petering out? —Gimme Gimme Shuk Treatment— Does the shuk really need a boutique and a swinging hot spot? —Our Incredible Shuk Stories— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: We love the shuk! All that and the centennial of the "Battalion of the Defenders of the Language," a Noa Kirel update and the charming music of Maor Shooshan.

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 —Gaza Nova— What the hell just happened between us and Gaza? —Taxation, Like Charity, Begins at Home— Redistribution of income seems like a good idea until it's your income being redistributed. —It's Jerusalem Day! Yay or Oy?— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: It's Jerusalem Day! So why do we feel so glum? All that and the sad passing of Yael Greenberg, the kabbalistic numerology of the Eurovision, and the molting seal who won our hearts! Plus the talent and cool of Orca!

In honor of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, the crew shares thoughts and memories about one of the most important events of year! Music Lesser-known, but still great, songs from the Eurovision 1973 - Shlomo Artzi, At ve-Ani. 11th Place 1989 – Gili ve-Galit, Derekh Hamelekh. 12th Place 2000 – Ping Pong, Sameah!. 22nd Place 2009 - Ahinoam Nini & Mira Awad, Einayich / There Must Be Another Way. 7th Place 2020 – Eden Alena, Feker Libi. Contest Cancelled for Corona

Ace reporter Linda Gradstein 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 —Million Person Protest— More than 200,000 gather in Jerusalem to demonstrate their support of Netanyahu's judicial reforms. What do we learn from this? —Declaration Contemplation— People want to make Israel's Declaration of Independence into a basic law and the foundation of a constitution. But is that really a good idea? —Independence Day's International Bible Contest— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What does it say about Israel that the beating heart of its Independence Day celebrations is an international Bible contest for teens? All that and the International Bible Contest and the music of Yaara Top!

The crew tell share stuff in celebration of Israel's 75th Independence Day! Plus, one great song from each decade! Songs from Paskol Shelishi, New songs inspired by Survivors First Decade: He'amini Yom Yavo, Yaffa Yarkoni (1948) Second Decade: Kol ha-Shavua Lach, Ha-halonot ha-gevohim (1967) Third Decade: YoYa, Kaveret (1973) Fourth Decade: Mihakim Lamashiach, Shalom Hanoch (1985) Fifth Decade: Zan Nadir, Corrine Alal (1992) Sixth Decade: Bo'ee, Idan Raichel Project (2002) Seventh Decade: Malkat ha-Shoshanim, Eden Ben Zakken (2015) Eight Decade: She-Rak Tehayekh, Yuval Dayan (2021)

Sally Abed, 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 —Politics of Memory— Is it possible to keep politics outside the gates of our cemeteries? —Kids & Vids— Seven Ashkenazi teens at a religious high school for girls make a video full of stereotypes about Sefaradim. Sure, it's icky, but what's it mean? —Definitely Not Live— There's a new duet by two of Israel's most revered, tragic, Yemenite singers, who have been dead for decades. What happens to culture, once AI can vanquish death? —For Some, Like Sally, It's Going to Be a Complicated Week— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What is it like to be Sally, during this fraught eight-day-week from Holocaust Memorial Day, to Memorial Day for Israel's Fallen, to Independence Day? All that and a farewell to Meir Shalev, Easter in the Galilee and the remarkable music of young Israeli artists inspired by the stories of aging Holocaust survivors.