The Promised Podcast

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Click here to listen to the extra segment. Republikud & Labocrats? Should Israel's election system be rejiggered to do away with all the pesky, small parties? Most Israeli say yes. The Great Sort, Sort Of Are Israelis sorting ourselves according to our political beliefs (like Americans and Brits seem to be doing)? LGBTQ: Lieutenants, Generals, Battalion-Commanders, Technical-Specialists, & Quartermasters Is the promotion of an out, gay IDF officer to the high rank of Major-General a happy sign of integration or a worrying sign of cooptation? Or a little from Column A and a little from Column B? Music Erez Nataf, in celebration of his remarkable new album, "From Tunisia to Jerusalem" Azamer BiShvahin Ya Ribon Olam Yigdal Min HaMeytsar

This episode of Why why why! features stories on the theme of "Chutzpah"as told by Gwen Dreilinger, Mel Lidman, Alon Tal, Chavi Karkowsky, Judy Maltz, and Ibrihim Ahadi. Next month's event will be held on June 4th (details) and will feature stories on the theme, "Talkin' About a Revolution!" Pitch us stories about revolutions you've seen, fomented or undergone: personal, political, cultural, sexual, military, musical, sartorial, whatever! Or just come to have a beer and listen. Either way, you have nothing to lose but your chains! Well, also your sobriety, as the evening is free, with a one drink minimum. Music by Itamar Haluts

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Click here to listen to the extra segment. Sixty-One Dead With a good deal of angst of our own, we ask the questions we often ask in the face of this sort of horrid perplexity: What ought we think? What ought we do? Tel Aviv is to Jerusalem as Freedom is to Decency? Jerusalem bans a right-wing billboard for incitement, while the same billboard is plastered all over Tel Aviv. Which should we prefer: Free expression, Tel Aviv style, or decency in the public square, Jerusalem style? I'm Not Your Toy (Nix the Joy)! Netta Barzilai wins the friggin' Eurovision Song Contest, and many leftist Israelis' reaction is a mirthless, bah-humbug! Does the left have a problem with national pride and just-plain happiness? Music All songs from the Jacob's Ladder Festival, Two Days of Peace, Love & Music! Itamar Haluts - Alexandra-Clyde Dov Hammer - Her Love is Like a Rock Heebie Gee Bees - Come On (Let the Good Times Roll) Kim in the Sun - Light of God

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Click here to listen to the extra segment. The Age of Uncertainty What thoughts, fears, hopes, worries and other reactions does Trump's decision (and the escalation in the North) raise in us, people who are watching with worry as they open and prepare bomb-shelters up north, who very much hope never to be incinerated along with their dogs, cats and children, and who have kids in the infantry? The Long Arm of Israeli (Rabbinic) Law Is the "Rabbinic Courts Bill (Marriage and Divorce)" as risible as its critics make it seem? After all, it is meant to ameliorate the terrible suffering of thousands of women. If it can do that, doesn't it perhaps justify a little expansion of Israeli Rabbinic authority? What's a little international Rabbinic hegemony among Jews? Boots on the Ground What do we think about 'tiyul' culture? Does it partakes of, and advance, a politics that is not our own? What is to be done with the tiyul? Music Blue Pill

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear this week's extra segment. Not THAT Jewish Agency Is the most important unseen force in Israeli politics the great divide between those who think that Israelis have it in our power to bring peace, and those fatalists who think, in the end, it just ain't up to us? Israel First! Three leading industrialists say the way to make Israel great again is to put "Israel First," and flip the bird to economic globalism. Are they right? Darwin on the Down Low The Jerusalem Museum of Natural History cover up exhibits on evolution when ultra-Orthodox kids come to visit: Respectful pluralism or despicable cravenness? Music Ella Ronen

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Pfeffer's Netanyahu, Netanyahu's Israel Sparks fly when Haaretz correspondent Anshel Pfeffer joins us to discuss his new book, "Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu". Ben Gurion and the Matrix Should Israel's old Labor elite be lionized nostalgically or instead consigned to the dustbin of history? What About Natalie? Oh, Natalie! Music Pele Ozen, in honor of their new single, Hilchot Ger, the profits of which all go to the fight against the deportation of the African Refugees

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Conscript Kids Does our wont to see all IDF soldiers as our kids, the safety of each and every one of whom is irreducibly and axiomatically important to us, prevent us from thinking morally, or even strategically, about the army? Self-Portrait A Ukrainian immigrant portrays the trauma of her absorption into Israeli culture, especially at the hand of Mizrahi men, in a new controversial exhibit at the Israel Museum. Is there something racist about this heartbreaking display? Seventy Short Reasons On the occasion of Israel's 70th anniversary, a round-robin of the top 70 reasons we love this place! Music Gazoz, "Likhvod ha-Kayitz" (With Mazi Cohen, Central Command Band, 1976-1978, Gidi Gov & Danny Sanderson, Fighting Pioneering Youth Band, 1969-1972) Shalom Hanoch (Fighting Pioneering Youth Band, 1966-1968) "Mechakim La-Mashiach" Nadav Guedj (Education Corps Band, 2016-today), "Ulai Nedaber" DJ Gal Malka and various and sundry from the Army Troupes, "Ayn Lach Ma- Lidog,"

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. The extra segment for Patrons is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/will-he-speak-18137370 Gaza Is Gaza's "Great March of Return" a non-violent protest, or a dangerous attempt to breach Israel's border? Are IDF sharpshooters defending Israel's sovereignty or wounding and killing unarmed protesters, or both? Bring Your Seat to an Upright Position When a flight attendant asks if you wouldn't mind swapping seats with an ultra-Orthodox Jew, should you (a) kindly agree in the name of civility or (b) righteously refuse in the name of freedom and equality? Edifice Complex Israel's Housing Minister proposes filling Israel's skyline with huge stainless steel Stars of David, to offset the many minarets, steeples and spires that dot the horizon today. Why do we care whether ours is bigger than theirs? Music: Yael Badash Oneg Shabbat Gvarim, Gvarim Ma Yesh Bah she-Eyn Bi Be-Halomi

Our debut episode of Why, Why, Why! features stories on the theme of "Crossing the Red Sea" told by Abe Silver, Jodi Davidovitch, Yaser Abu Areesha, Nancy Cahners, and Guy Sharett. About "Why, Why, Why!" An evening (and a podcast) of people sharing a true story for an audience while sipping a beer and pondering life in the holy land. Why "Why, Why, Why!"? There is a great gulf between the way people discuss Israel, and the way we live our lives here. Lots of talk about Israel happens in high dudgeon and low spirits: with anger, resentment, disappointment, frustration, irritation, grievance and worry. For all that, life here is different and brighter. The rhythms of the sidewalks and supermarkets are weird. People are curious. Hebrew carves up the world in surprising ways. Boundaries turn out to be permeable. And everyone is always talking, advising, counselling, dissenting and suggesting. What can bridge the gulf between the severe way Israel appears in the papers and the loopy way we experience it on the street are stories: true stories of our lives the way we lead them, with their moments of weird abasements, moments of grace and moments of transcendence. Why Why Why! aims to capture some of these stories and share them live and on the podcast.

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Looking for this week's extra segment? It's available on www.patreon.com/promisedpodcast The Curious Case of the Constancy of Bibi Boosters and Believers How and why do so very many people (if polls are to be believed) still love Netanyahu with a force that seems to be growing with each revelation of possible corruption? Low Marx Is moving from a public "higher higher education" system to a mixed public-private system is a step forward, a step back, or one of those other fancy dance steps that turn you around and leave you breathless? Still Leaving Egypt, After All These Years What lessons should we, today, in Israel of 2018, take from the story of the Exodus and the 40 years that followed? Music: Aya Korem Mehandeset Mahshevim Rona Omeret Yonatan Shapira Davar Aharon