The Promised Podcast

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and Wunderkind critic Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. --What Gantz Wants, or Is Gantz a Shvantz?-- Benny Gantz promised one thing -- ONE THING! -- in the last election campaign: that he would never, ever join a government under Prime Minister Netanyahu. So why'd he change his mind, at the cost of losing his allies, angering his voters, and leaving the center-left in splinters? --Econoclasm-- Israel's most venerable political scientist says that the coronavirus will kill off the country's neo-liberal economic policy and nudge us towards social democracy. Does he have a point? --Our Favorite Funny, Creative Posts & Tweets at this Moment of Crisis-- For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we talk about our favorite posts and tweets, as this moment of crisis releases a flood of humor, creativity and heart. All that and the rhythm and blues of Roee Lavan!

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and Wunderkind critic Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. --Chair Today, Gone Tomorrow-- While we were washing our hands and not touching our face, did Israeli democracy just almost shatter into pieces? --Too Loyal Opposition?-- Most politicians, journalists, professors and other professional gadflies are acting like an "Amen corner" as Prime Minister Netanyahu steers the country through the crisis. Has the time come to be more critical? --The Nice Side of Forced Isolation-- For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we talk about some of the surprising nice things to come out of our forced incarceration under scary circumstances. The worst of times, like these, always seems to bring out the best in people, and we're seeing it. And the lovely harmonies of Yonina!

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 this week's extra segment --An Astonishing Thing Happened This Week (When We Were Mostly Paying Attention to Other Things)-- Blue-&-White leader Benny Gantz is given the "mandate" to form Israel's government. Now what? --Keeping Tabs-- At 1 a.m., Netanyahu's cabinet decides to grant the Shin Bet, Israel's secret service, the power to track COVID-19 sufferers and, along the way, the rest of us, too. Do desperate times demand such desperate measures, or is this a step (way) too far? --"Torah Protects and Saves"?!?-- A revered 92 year old rabbi to keep ultra-Orthodox schools open, in defiance of the Prime Minister and Health Minister, because studying Torah is our best protection from the coronavirus. Now what? --Corona: Up Close and Personal (Part 2)-- For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we (once again) discuss how the coronavirus is affecting us personally, changing our lives, and inhabiting our dreams and nightmares, as the country slouches towards total lock-down. All that and the long-awaited come-back of Vered Klepter!

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and Wunderkind critic Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. --My Corona!-- Nowhere in the world responded quicker and more forcefully to the coronavirus than Israel. What's that tell us about Israel's political culture? --Minority is the New Majority?-- Is Benny Gantz right to try to form a "minority government" coalition that would be eleven (count 'em!) votes smaller than the opposition? --Corona: Up Close and Personal-- For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss how the coronavirus is affecting us personally: How it has changed our day-to-day lives, and what anxieties it is dredging up. All that and the ingenious indie of Feldy!

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. --What the Hell Just Happened?-- What, if anything, can we learn from this week's elections about the hearts and minds, hopes and dreams, of Israeli voters? --What the Hell Happens Next?-- Has the time come for Israel's center-left to accept that Benjamin Netanyahu is going to continue as Israel's Prime Minister, even as he's tried for bribery, fraud and corruption? --Still More About the Elections-- For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we talk still more about the elections, and the important things that happened at the edges of the very biggest stories, things like the great successes of the Joint List and of Shas, and other crucial marginalia. All this and the crazy-brilliant singing of our 19-year-old, Ethiopian-Israeli representative to the 2020 Eurovision Contest, Eden Alene!

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and award-winning roving freelance journalist Naomi Zeveloff discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. --Crickets-- Just days before we vote, the last thing most Israelis want to hear about are the elections? Why? --Tibi in TLV-- Tens of thousands of Jewish Israelis tell pollsters that they'll vote, for the first time, for the mostly Arab-Israeli Joint List. Why? --Regular Yossls-- Ultra-Orthodox politicians say secular and modern-Orthodox folks should vote for them, because they're the only ones really fighting for what everyone wants: good health care, good transportation, an end to poverty, and such. Can ultra-Orthodox politicians break through to the mainstream? --What Does the U.S. Peace Proposal Mean for Israeli Settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank?-- For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, Naomi Zeveloff tells us more about her poignant, remarkable trip (reported on NPR) to the neighboring Palestinian and Jewish west bank villages of Atara and Ateret, and what they tell us about the Trump peace plan, and about our inter-tangled lives here in the Holy Land. All this and the brilliant retro-soul of Uzi Navon & Acquaintances!

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. --Gantze Mensch?-- Is Benny Gantz's message to Israeli voters basically what Julia Roberts said to Hugh Grant in Notting Hill: "I'm just a brigadier-general, standing in front of an electorate, asking them to love him?" --Veni, Bibi, Vichi!-- PM Netanyahu surprises everyone by going positive, asserting that (A) Happy days are here again, and (B) The skies above are clear again. Has the time come to sing a song of cheer again? --Won't You Be My Neighbor?-- Should the government pay mayors to build housing for the ultra-Orthodox, even if their constituents ain't so wild about the idea? --The Best and Worst Election Ads, Tweets, Posts and Videos-- For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss the best and worst in a new crop of election ads, tweets, posts and videos. All this and the clever musicality of Shirey Mirpeset!

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and Wunderkind critic Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. --Self-Determination Abnegation?-- PM Netanyahu tells US President Trump of his "Deal of the Century" that, "It's a great plan for Israel. It's a great plan for peace. You have been the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House." Does his enthusiasm signal a reversal of decades of Israeli insistence that only Israel and the Palestinians can resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? --Yazbak Where She Belongs?-- The Central Election Committee votes to bar from running for the Knesset 34 year old Palestinian-Israeli firebrand lawmaker Hiba Yazbak (and the Supreme Court overturns the decision). Does the fact that she's a woman figure among the other reasons why MK Yazbak was banned? --A Party of One's Own-- Does Israel need a women's party? --Will the Democratic Candidates Boycott AIPAC?-- For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss Allison's perceptive essay in Haaretz about the campaign in the US by a progressive alliance of the groups If Not Now, MoveOn, Indivisible and the Working Families Party to pressure democratic presidential hopefuls to boycott the Gala Annual convention of AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. What do we learn from the campaign about Democrats, AIPAC, If Not Now, and the politics of Israel among progressives in the 2020 elections. All this and the cool of Omer Moskovich! --Music-- Omer Moskovich (You can buy tix for the May 9 celebration of the release of her new record here!) Hu Nitztaref la-Eder Davar Mah Meoded 'Al Kan Eizeh Yofi

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and Wunderkind critic Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. --Godlessness: The Theory-- The doyen of Israeli sociology and a major public intellectual J'Accuses the left of swapping out good, Enlightenment values for mamby-pamby postmodern relativism, thereby allowing the rabbis to take over the country. Does she have a point? --Godlessness: The Practice-- Avigdor Lieberman and his right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party say that only they will keep Israel "liberal" by beating back the rabbis. Were we wrong to think that the right, by nature, admires religion? --Meanwhile, at the Movies…-- Should settler filmmakers get tax shekels to make settler films about settler experiences on settlements? --Is Birthright to Thank for the Increase in Jewish American Babies?-- For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment discuss an essay by Brandeis Professor Leonard Saxe, suggesting that the birthright program has "helped bring about a 25% rise in the US Jewish population." What is it – if anything -- about two weeks in Israel that could possibly account for the increased commitment to American Judaism? All this and the soul of Ayala Ingedashet! --Music-- Ayala Ingedashet Ayo Basar Va-Dam La-nua Sa

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. Check out this week's extra segment! --A Pax on Both Your Houses-- We've read US President Trump's Deal-of-the-Century peace plan, and our considered reaction is, "WTF?!?" --Not Immune-- Prime Minister Netanyahu withdraws his request for immunity, and is formally charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Now what? --Homeward Bound-- Did Vladimir Putin just make Bibi Netanyahu his bitch? --"I moved to Israel with hopes of peace. Trump's plan is the nail in that coffin."-- For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss an essay in The Forward by our friend and colleague Dahlia Scheindlin, headlined, "I moved to Israel with hopes of peace. Trump's plan is the nail in that coffin." What do you say to a friend in such despair? All this and the music of anna RF! --Music-- anna RF Mabruk Salam Called you Zion (featuring Yonina & Haim Laroz) Tshuva ten gaz Olam Katan