The Promised Podcast

Noah Efron, Tel Aviv Review host Gilad Halpern, and Ha'aretz International Director Charlotte Hallé discuss the centennial of the Balfour Declaration which was controversial then and remains so today, the assertion of some leaders of Meretz that the party is no longer Zionist, and a Supreme Court ruling allowing stores to stay open on the Sabbath. Help support the show. Learn how on Patreon. Balfour's Declaration, Jewish Celebration, and Palestinian Vexation: An Evaluation It is the centennial of the Balfour Declaration, affirming the right of Jews to a "national home" in Palestine. It was controversial then, and remains so today. What should we make of it? Meretz: Same Great Party – Now, with Less Zionism! Leaders of the long-time standard-bearer for Israel's liberal, Zionist left – Meretz – say their party is no longer Zionist. Is it time to retire the "Z Word"? The Sabbath: Day of Unrest Israel's Supreme Court says stores should stay open in Tel Aviv on the Sabbath. Some say they struck a blow for freedom. Some say, workers deserve a day off. Some say, God is a higher authority. Whose right? Music: Jeremy Cool Habash, the remarkable rap artist, activist and educator Na'arot Ha-Halomot (with the Afula Group) Shir Ha-Emunah (with the Sderot Group) Vodka Limon (with the Ashdod Group) HaMoah hu Koach (with the Hadassah Group)

Noah Efron, Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag, and Tel Aviv Review host Gilad Halpern discuss discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Help support the show. Learn how on Patreon. Ruvi Rivlin's Presidential Address of Existential Distress President Reuven Rivlin made a chilling start-of-the-winter-legislative-session speech to Knesset, in which he warned that Israeli democracy itself may be imperiled. The Gift of Gabbay Avi Gabbay, the new head of the Labor Party, presumptive leader of the left, and heir not-so-apparent to Israel's premiership, has triangulated to the right. It's the Patriarchy, Stupid! There's a brouhaha over a feminist Member of Knesset who suggested that kids might be better off if there were no marriages or nuclear families. Music: The Aprons, in honor of their newest, crowdfunded record, "Any Human Heart" Day Off Any Human Heart You Her and Me Champagne and Strawberries

Noah Efron, Don Futterman, and Ha'aretz reporter Dina Kraft discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Help support the show. Learn how on Patreon. A Separate Peace The two battling Palestinian ruling parties – Hamas and Fatah – reconcile. What does it augur for Palestinians, Israelis, and other living things? UNESCO = United Nations, Eat Sh*t & Choke On It? Trump pulls the US out of UNESCO. Netanyahu pulls Israel out of UNESCO. Good riddance or bad judgment? Don't be Fooled by Capitalism! Do Israel's ultra-Orthodox have an answer to the vexations of capitalism? Music: Yehu Yaron, all off his great new record, "Im Lo Nirkod, Lo Navin Klum" Oi Dvarim Kvedim kmo Kapara Cmo Lihiot Sameach Amur Lihiot Rach

Noah Efron, Don Futterman, and Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. "A Girl, and I Shoot Well!" There is a remarkable new documentary web series following three young women living in far flung parts of the occupied territories who have little in common, save that they are all passionate, articulate, beautiful, and armed settlers. College of Corrections What should we make of a shocking new and "world's first" proposal to allow a university to manage a prison jointly with the Israel Prison Service? The Problem with Jewish Pride It's a challenging claim by one of our most astute public intellectuals: the ascent of chauvinist Jewish pride is a sign that Zionism has failed. Music: The Turkish. Gypsy genius of the Sumsum Band! Yedikule Shesh Shanim Deux Dents La Bemol

Noah Efron, Don Futterman, and roving reporter extraordinaire Naomi Zeveloff discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Martial Mercy for Military Manslaughter? IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot decided to reduce by 4 months the sentence of Elor Azaria, the soldier who shot dead a 21-year-old Palestinian who had minutes earlier stabbed and wounded an IDF soldier. A Pall to Arms As protests swell over our sale of arms to the brutish generals of Burma/Myanmar, what is the morality of Israel's weapons industry? Museology of the Oppressed (with Apologies to Paulo Freire) There are plans to construct 20 museums in development towns, to finally acknowledge the contributions made by what was for so long regarded as "the other Israel." Music: Sivan Talmor! Halonot Chelsea Hotel (with Gal Nisman) 17 I'll Be

Noah Efron, Don Futterman, and Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Poll: Netanyahu is the Best PM and also a Liar who Must Resign! The first public opinion poll of the new year serves us up a mess of conflicting opinions, suggesting that the right has grown much weaker and at the same time is as strong as ever, that PM Netanyahu's career is toast and also that it is as inevitable as a Shabbat challah, and more. Foucault, Derrida, Shagar, the Settler Nakba, and the Future of Zionism Have young settlers rejected the nationalism of their parents, embracing instead a neo-Hasidic post-Zionism that changes their political views and aspirations? For the Sins We Have Sinned Which of our collective sins should most occupy us on this Yom Kippur? Music: Shuli Rand, because, you know, Yom Kippur (All off the amazing album, Nekudah Tovah): Sgula Ma Hatachlit Arafel Ayeka

Noah Efron, Don Futterman, and roving Middle East reporter extraordinaire Naomi Zeveloff discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Serving God and Country The Supreme Court has rejected the government's present policy of (effectively) allowing mass exemptions from army service to Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, kids as unconstitutional and discriminatory. The De-Malling of Israel Malls in Israel have been deserted and are collapsing: is this is a harbinger of the de-Amerification of Israeli culture? 5777 We review the most percussive and important events and people of the year that ends this week, 5777. Music: Eti Ankri, ringing in the New Year with spirit: Et ha-Kol Be-Chol Libi Ha-Nigun Shelcha Sharach Bat Asher

Noah Efron, Don Futterman, and International Director of Ha'aretz Charlotte Hallé discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Keeping Up With the Netanyahus (or, Reality Bites) The first family is full of reality-TV foibles as lady Sara Netanyahu faces indictment for stealing government monies and first son Yair Netanyahu posts on Facebook an ickily anti-Semitic meme. Should the Prime Minister pay a political price for the zany malefactions of his family? The Likud is Not a Body that Needs Democracy? The Young Turk "New Likudniks" are trying to take over the party and move it leftward: is that o.k.? Animal Politics Why does the struggle for animal rights and animal liberation resonate so strongly with so many Israelis? Music: Alma Zohar, in honor of her moving performance at the big animal march after this past Shabbat. Kol Yom Osher Gadol Etze el ha-Sadeh Yeled Yafeh

Noah Efron, Don Futterman, and Times of Israel Ops & Blogs editor Miriam Herschlag discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. Nabi Saleh, 1:15 a.m. Al Jazeera published a video of IDF soldiers searching a West Bank Palestinian home. What, if anything, can we learn from it about the nature of the occupation and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? Paper Trail (or in the Gloam with Yisrael Ha-Yom) There was a shocking disclosure that Prime Minister Netanyahu conversed lots with the owner and editor of Israel's biggest newspaper, the free daily Yisrael Ha-Yom, before elections and many other important news events. Could this possibly be kosher? From Sex Industry to Ex-Industry? The courts and the Knesset have recently moved to squelch the sex industry: is this blessed feminism or cursed puritanism? Music: Daphna Recter Ha-Shir Al Ha-aretz Elohimim Yom Tov Thank You, with Tal Ne'eman

Noah Efron, Don Futterman, and Times of Israel Ops & Blogs editor Miriam Herschlag discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon. A Protest Stressed, Compressed, and Messed, all at the Supreme Court's Behest There's a brouhaha over whether, when and where protestors can demonstrate against the putative corruption of PM Netanyahu. Grading Israel's Schools, or Scientia potentia est? A new Ministry of Education website contains all imaginable data about Israel's schools; but could this be too much information? Dezionizing the Skies? There's a hubbub around the suggestion that Israel needs to change the name of our airport, because some Palestinian citizens see Ben Gurion as an author of their people's miseries. Music: Apo & the Apostles, in honor of their return from their European tour, and their show next week at Sultan's Pool in J-lem. Animaly Baji Wenek My Name is Hanna Stand By Me