The Promised Podcast

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. Brexit and the Jewish Question We discuss the various lessons Israelis are drawing for our own politics and our own futures from the Brexit vote (because, in the end, isn't everything really about us?). The forefathers are your fathers Why do secular Israelis feel little for the country's founding fathers (who were all secular), while religious Israelis feel growing identification with the founding fathers (who rather despised religious folk)? Entebbe, then and now On the fortieth anniversary of the miraculous Entebbe rescue, as the children who were then hostages are now grandparents, what enduring imprint did this stunning event leave on the country? All songs by Jerusalem's Nati Hassid, off his moving album, "Ze Ma Yesh": Sippur Ahavah mi-Tsrif 9 Stam Ki Kvar Lo Echpat (with Shaanan Street) Ktzat At (with Tuna) Michtavim

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. I think I'm turning Haredi! Although a great many people fear that our schools, army, courts, and public square are undergoing an inexorable process of "religification," do the facts on the ground really justify these fears? And if not, where does this fear come from? Bureaucrats! A new poll finds that Israelis think their civil service sucks, melding inefficiency with corruption and nepotism. In fact, by European standards, Israel's bureaucracy ain't so bad. So what accounts for the discrepancy? Rage! A personal essay in +972 Magazine called "When your own Jewish father calls you a Nazi" recounts how a friendly father-daughter lunch meeting turned nasty. Does the acrimony of the street now reach hearth and home? All songs by Kiryat Gat's finest hip-hop trio, KGC: Me-Hamar La-Matok (with Avior Melasa) 100% Ten Li Koach Yom Yavoh

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. Terrorists in Tel Aviv? A pleasure! We discuss reactions to last week's heartbreaking terrorist murders at Tel Aviv's Sarona Market. Why were some people here inspired to write on social media such bons mots as "So long as it's in Tel Aviv: A pleasure"? Anyone but Bibi? We discuss whether intensely personal animus against Prime Minister Netanyahu hasn't gotten the best of the Israeli left, leaving our politics in a shambles. Art. What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing! In a recent interview, David Tartakover, who has for decades been the unofficial graphic designer of the Israeli Left, seemed pretty bummed out about the lack of impact his art has had on Israeli society. Should we give up on political art? All songs by Maya Isacowitz: Noam Rehab My Child When I Get There

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. Peace in Paris or conciliation in Cairo? We discuss the weird-ass peace retreat in Paris, without Israelis or Palestinians, and the Egyptian-Saudi peace initiative: So much peace-talk, so little time? Tots & moms & fallacies of feminism There is a controversial push to repeal a 54-year-old law that places tots with moms in divorce cases. We discuss the split among feminists about whether, in a sexist society, sometimes a sexist law is a necessary evil. The Good (for-what-exactly?) Book In honor of Shavuot, the holiday that marks the giving of Torah at Sinai, we discuss whether Holy Writ should play any role in Israel's public sphere, and if so, what that role should be. All Songs by Nadav Barnea: Boker Bo BaDerech MiHaYam Halamti BaLaila Rotse Lachzor

Allison, Noah, 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. IDF = "It Don't Fucking-Matter"? We discuss human rights group B'Tselem's decision to stop telling IDF lawyers about crimes committed by soldiers because the army doesn't give a shit and doesn't do shit about these crimes. The Other F-Word There's a new trend on the left of using the word "fascist" to describe the direction in which our government is traveling. We discuss this mainstreaming of the "F-Word," which is becoming as much a part of the Tel Aviv lexicon as "Sababa." Who are you to lower the rent? The Ministry of Housing seems to be moving against municipal affordable housing programs on the grounds that they discriminate by, for instance, preferring locals and young people. But shouldn't cities be able to decide who gets cheaper housing? All songs by Avi Mesika, who won our hearts when he built a protest tent in front of the IDF radio station to demonstrate against bias in their playlist: Yored La-Yam Reva Le-Sheva K'he Oti Ayin Tachat Ayin (with Roni Levy)

If you love Israel, this podcast will make you inexplicably happy: Israel Story's current season is almost over, so it's a perfect chance to catch up on everything you've been missing! Today, Allison, Noah, and superstar guest Ilene Prusher discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. And now, right-wing Israeli democrats? We discuss whether a new species is emerging in Israeli politics – right-wingers terrified by Netanyahu into embracing liberal democratic politics. Donald Trump & the Jewish Question Will Trump rend asunder once and for all right wing Jews from left? Or will he perhaps become a uniting force for Jews who may reject him en masse, and with him, reject Adelsonism as well? Exhibiting confusion Is an Israeli national museum possible or even desirable in 2016, or do we need a thousand museums for the thousand different stories we tell about ourselves? Is collective memory and collective identity just soooo twentieth century? All songs by Dorin Yanni & The Band (in honor of their knockout show at the Jacob's Ladder Festival this past weekend): Whistle Wheels Singing With The Rain I Won't Go Home

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. Coalition ambition, suspicion, sedition, contrition & admonition We discuss the expansion of Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition that leaves Herzog and Labor out, and Avigdor Lieberman and his right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu Party in. Birthright, Divest & Sanction? A small number of "Birthright" alums are returning home to fight Israeli policy, and some are even joining BDS. How do you solve a problem like Birthright? Should we even try? Be like Bar? As new Israeli hair-straightening invention the "Dafni brush" flies off the shelves, we discuss the politics of Israeli images of beauty that find lithe, blond, and northern-European to be the ne plus ultra of hotness. All songs by Omer Leshem, in honor of his great new album: Highway Of Life I Can't Say You Were Mine You're O.K.

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. Term limits of endearment We discuss a newly-proposed bill that would limit Israeli prime ministers to two terms, thereby giving the heave-ho to Prime Minister Netanyahu. Wages of peace? A new report argues that "economic peace" is growing between Palestinians and Israelis. If true, will this promote real, political peace or impede it? E Unibus Pluram? Rather than splitting into warring "tribes," as many pundits think, are Israelis perhaps becoming one nation, under Netflix, with Bamba and Bisli for all? All songs are old Gevatron folk songs, performed by Ha-Shibolim, in honor of Israeli Independence Day! Shibolim Halleluyah Emek Sheli Gvanim

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. "Never again" what? "Never again" why? We discuss what lessons we Israelis should draw from the Holocaust, and what lessons we shouldn't. Is there a different kind of Israeli exceptionalism to be found in the memory of the Holocaust? Legislation nation Why do Israeli lawmakers propose more bills than lawmakers anywhere else on earth? Is this a good thing, making the country better in countless small ways, or is it a distracting side-show? Ugly, ugly Israelis We discuss the finger-pointing at Israelis who leave trash on beaches and in national parks, and whether or not it has racist undertones. Songs of pain, loss, and destruction, in recognition of recording on Yom Ha-Shoah (Holocaust Memorial Day): Shuli Rand - Eiyeka Yehudah Poliker - Efer Ve-Avak Aviv Geffen & Arik Einstein - Yoman Masa Efrat Ghosh - Lir'ot Et Ha-Or

Gilad Halpern (host of The Tel Aviv Review), Naomi Zeveloff (Middle East Correspondent for the Forward), and Noah discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. OUR Killer? Last week 2,000 Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv in support of the 19-year-old soldier who shot in the head the immobile 21-year-old Palestinian stabber. But what exactly were they supporting? Is right the new left? We ask why leaders on the left and center sound more and more right-wing every day, and whether this shift will help them get elected. You have the right to remain stupid We discuss the former ultra-Orthodox who are suing the country for allowing their parents to raise them as Haredim, thereby denying them the skills they need to make it in secular Israel. All songs by Quarter to Africa: Yalla, Boh Navi Et Zeh Gam Ki Elekh Ten Ta-Layback Connect