The Promised Podcast

Noah, Don and Allison (joined by uber-researcher to the stars, Amit Ashkenazi) discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Is the Man Israel Needs a Moroccan, Ultra-Orthodox Woman? The only female candidate to head the Labor Party is Dina Dayan, an ultra-Orthodox woman from the nether reaches of the Negev Desert. In a socko election ad, she attacked the party she aims to lead as racist and out-of-touch. Is she the future of the Israeli Left? Will Politics be on the Midterm? A "Code of Ethics" for college and university teachers is being advanced by the Minister of Education. It aims to keep teachers from talking politics in the classroom, but is being decried by the professoriate as an attack on democracy. Babies for LGBTQ Folk? Nyet!Was Israel was wrong to acquiesce to Russia's diktat that babies adopted from there not got to LGBTQ folks? All songs by KGC (Kiryat Gat City) Le-Khol Sof Yom Yavo Avesha Sheli Adon kol ha-Briot, with Dani Almio

Noah, Don and Allison discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Climate Change and the Jewish Question: We'll Always Have Paris? We discuss whether climate change is a danger to Israel's very existence, and whether America's withdrawal from the Paris Accord is a blow to Israel's security. Anthologizing the Occupation? We mull over the new "Breaking the Silence" anthology of essays about the occupation, edited by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman. What results might this politics-by-literature approach produce? Waiting for Gadot We ask whether the widespread fascination with Wonder Woman Gal Gadot's IDF past and Israeli identity reflects some strange and unnerving psycho-sexual fetishization of Israeli Jewesses and power (Did we go to graduate school, or what?). Music: Sivan Kanzucker Esrim Sheniot Hilazon Hinei Bah Shape of You – Ed Sheeran Cover

Noah, Don and Allison discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. That War We discuss how we ought to regard the momentous Six Day War, the fiftieth anniversary of which we mark this week. MK = Meager Kapabilities? We mull over a survey raising questions about how effective Members of Knesset are. University Diversity Perversity? We ask whether universities ought to provide sex-segregated courses to ultra-Orthodox students, and prohibit female professors from teaching religious males. Music: Leora Yitzhak and friends (with thanks to Seffi Kogan!) Ma'alah, Ma'alah Emperia (with Hadar Shemueli-Zagori) Shenei Shoshanim (with Marsh Dundurma) Save Me (with Parakit)

Noah, Don and Times of Tel Aviv Review founder and co-host Gilad Halpern discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Donald Does the Holy Land! We discuss President Donald Trump's visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and what it augurs for peace in the region. Road Trip! We mull over Why the Zionist Union decided to take a road trip in the occupied territories, and why some of its most popular MKs boycotted the excursion. If I Don't Press Thee, O' Jerusalem, or The Dress! We ponder the "Jerusalem Dress" that Culture Minister Miri Regev wore on the Red Carpet in Cannes, and why it broke the internet (hint: misogyny may be partly to blame). Music: Aya Zahavi-Feiglin, in honor of her new EP, America, that just dropped this week! Sport My Dog Eifoh ha-Zahav Februar

Noah, Don 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. Breaking News: Ehud Barak Admits He's Been Right All Along! We discuss Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak's book-review-cum-manifesto about why the Left is right and the Right is wrong. Not that Conversion We mull over icky and dangerous "conversion therapy" being offered by ultra-Orthodox therapists for men who wish to stop being attracted to other men. Eurovisionaries We ponder why Israelis are gaga over the cheesy, trashy, irresistible Eurovision song contest! Songs: Israeli Eurovision Hits and Misses! Izhar Cohen & Alpha Beta, A-ba-ni-bi (1978), Gali Atari & Milk & Honey, Hallelujah (1979) Dana International, Diva (1998) Teapacks, Push the Button (2007)

Noah, Don 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. Palestinians and Peace in the Age of Trump We discuss the quick and remarkable developments in Palestinian diplomacy, with Pres. Abbas coming away optimistic from his meeting with US President Trump, Hamas suggesting they're ready for territorial compromise and, in the background, a thousand Palestinian prisoners continuing their hunger strike: What does it all mean? The High Cost of God We mull over a commissioned study finds that Israel spends almost 9 billion NIS a year on religion: Is that an outrageous sum, a reasonable sum, or something in between? The Lasting Legacy of the Likud We ponder on the fortieth anniversary of Menachem Begin and the Likud winning leadership of the country for the first time, what is the lasting legacy of the Likud? Songs by Skin Blues, in honor of their show this week at Levontin 7, launching a new album after an 18-year breakup-spurred hiatus. Welcome back! Faradasi (פארדסי) Keltish Sheryl Crowe Down Hill She Jumps

Allison, Don and Noah discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Labor's Battle Royal We discuss the nine (!) candidates to head the Labor Party: what kind of leader does the left need now, and what sort of platform should she or he advance? Living Together and Apart We mull over a poll finding that almost three quarters of Palestinian Israelis do not want Jews living in their neighborhoods, and more than two-thirds of Israeli Jews do not want Palestinians living in their neighborhoods. What's this say about the possibility and wisdom of greater integration? IDF = In a Dither about Feminism? We ponder the IDF's lamentable decision to cancel a workshop on feminist theory for top ranking female officers, on the grounds that feminism is political and divisive. Songs by Segol 59 & Ami Yares, in tribute to the Grateful Dead, off The Promised Land: The Jerry Garcia Hebrew Project: Friend Of The Devil חבר של השטן Bertha נטע Me & My Uncle אני והדוד שלי I Know You Rider אני יודע

This episode of The Promised Podcast is sponsored by: The Dreyfus Affair Apr 27 — May 7, 2017 Special pricing for listeners Visit RomanticCentury.org and use code 68857 Or call 718-636-4100 and mention code 68857 Allison, Noah and Don observe Memorial Day and celebrate Independence Day by discussing three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Sorrow, Loss & Politics (13:58) We discuss the complicated place of bereaved families in Israeli political discourse, where they are undisparagable disparagers. 69 Years (28:01) We engage in a thought experiment about what two immigrants to Israel in 1948, a mother from Meknes and a survivor from Prague, would think about Israel today, if they could see it. "And To the Glory of the State of Israel!" (41:36) We ask who we would choose to light the traditional twelve torches marking the start of Independence Day and symbolizing what is best about this remarkable country. Songs for Yom Haatzmaut!: Zemer Nogah, performed by Shoshana Damari and Yoav Yizhak Shalom Lach Eretz Nehederet, performed by Sheigitz Hakhi Yisraeli, written and performed by Hatikvah 6 Barukh ha-Ba le-Yisrael, written and performed by Sarit Hadad

This episode of The Promised Podcast is sponsored by: The Dreyfus Affair Apr 27 — May 7, 2017 Special pricing for listeners Visit RomanticCentury.org and use code 68857 Or call 718-636-4100 and mention code 68857 Allison, Don and Noah discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. L'Affair Barghouti: The Times, They are Retracting We discuss the convicted terrorist and likely-future Palestinian President Marwan Barghouti, the hunger strike he's leading, and the rage over his op-ed in the New York Times. Fighting the Good Fight Against the Bad Global Right We mull over an analysis by the Israeli left's most universally-respected leader – Dov Khenin – about how to fight the global right (and Israel's). Not Our Holocaust Day We ask why Ultra-Orthodox Israelis ignore, and sometimes mock, Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day. Music Tamar & Netanel, off their album Peace of Mind: Niggun The Sun Once, Early in the Morning Farewell Song

Allison, Noah and Tel Aviv Review co-host, political scientist and pollster Dahlia Scheindlin discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Peace Train We discuss the Minister of Transportation's ambitious plans to build a vast network of trains connecting Israel with Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf States. Ranking and Rating Representatives We mull over an NGO's "Social Index" ranking of Members of Knesset according to their social conscience – does it really advance socially-aware politics? The Serious Politics of Funny We ask whether or not political satire – which is enjoying a golden age – has any political impact at all. Music by Haya Miller: Esrim Shannah (עשרים שנה) Hayei Madaf (חיי מדף) Yod (י) Lo Rokedet ke-she Af Ehad Lo Mistakel (לא רוקדת כשאף אחד לא מסתכל)