The Promised Podcast

Don, Noah, and special guest Miriam Herschlag discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Apocalypse Soon? Since every other sentient being is discussing it today, we thought we'd join in: What does the Iran deal mean for Israel, its people, its politicians, its Prime Minister, and its relations with America? Is it time to start digging fallout shelters? And here come the rabbis! We discuss the recent, rollicking resurgence of the rabbis of the Knesset, who are trying to reverse liberalizing legislation on a whole host of issues. Is this a religious putsch by a junta of rabbis, or merely a reversion to the status quo? An ode to hypocrisy Mizrahi poet Roy Hasan has won the Bernstein Prize. We examine his recent poem that calls out Ashkenazim for hypocrisy, hegemony, and all-around ass-hole-itude. What should we, the Ashkenazi assholes, learn from these slings and arrows? Today's playlist features the Youtube sensations of the summer:Eden Ben Zaken - Malkat Ha-ShoshanimLior Narkis - Reichot Shel AlcoholPeer Tasi - Mashkeh YakarDudu Aharon and Sharif - Ha-Kol Koreh Be Tel Aviv

Don, Noah, and special guest Ilene Prusher discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Gas-holes! We discuss the deal that gives the rights to the country’s natural gas windfall to American and Israeli corporate consortia, leading many to argue that PM Netanyahu, like Esau in the Bible, just sold off our birthright for a mess of pottage. The peace movement stirs? As we mark the one year anniversary of last summer’s tragic Gaza war, hundreds of women launch a symbolic hunger strike, and other peace initiatives compete for public attention. Is Israel’s peace movement showing signs of life? Too hip for Hebrew? As more of Israel’s best young musicians opt to forsake Hebrew in favor of the more commercial English, we ask whether Hebrew culture is endangered among the country’s hipperati. All Songs by the oh-so-positive acoustic rock trio with the oh-so-negative name, “Lo”:NoaKaren/Sof HayomBiladeynu GamSara

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. Fox News for the Jews We discuss the Israel “Jewish Heritage Network” (Channel 20), which is morphing into a right-wing news network before our eyes. What does the addition of a local, right-wing partisan news organization auger for the country? Princes of resentment We discuss a fascinating new book that suggests the key to understanding Israeli politics may be the resentment felt by the children of a generation of right-wingers who were cruelly excluded from the institutions of the state when it was established. Let Us Now Praise: Political hacks, functionaries & smoke-filled rooms We discuss the claim of a Brookings Institution genius, Jonathan Rauch, that all America's efforts to do away with smoke-filled rooms is actually damaging its politics. Might something like that be true here in Israel as well? All songs by LFNT (a short and fun way of saying "Elephant," and also a life philosophy hidden inside an acronym: Live Free Not Troubled): The Birds And The BeesI Won’t TellChanceBetween Understanding And Salvation

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. Oren unbound or Oren unhinged? We discuss three essays by MK and former Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren, which surprised everyone, outraged many, and left the rest of us wondering how an ex-diplomat can be so, well, undiplomatic. War crimes & misdemeanors We discuss the report on last summer’s Gaza war, issued this week by the UN Commission on Human Rights, finding that both sides may have committed war crimes, and their leaders should be tried in the International Criminal Court. Is this man the future of the Israeli left? We take a look at Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor, Ron Huldai, who just told the press that he may challenge MK and opposition leader Yitzhak Herzog to become the new leader of the Labor party and the Left. Is the ex-fighter pilot and high school principal our best hope? All songs by Erez, the 22-year-old jazz, R&B, and rock singer who just released her first album, "Proper Lady," and who rocked the “Groove” festival at the Tel Aviv port, for free, this past week: ClichéBlending The UniverseWild, Sweet PlaceJust Another Color

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. 2 States, 1 Homeland? There's another peace initiative proposing two states – Palestine & Israel – with no borders to separate. Palestinians will settle in ancestral homes in, say, Haifa. But, they live in Palestine but vote and pay taxes in Israel. Can such a scheme work in practice? Israel’s Other Crisis Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon’s unveiled new proposals to solve Israel’s housing crisis. The proposals include a variety of measures all aimed at jimmying the free real estate markets. Uncultured Wars Minister of Culture and Sport, Miri Regev isn't a hometown favorite right now. She threatened to pull government funding from just about anything that offends her sensibilities. Furious artist types organize against what they call "anti-democratic censorship". All this and a tribute to an Israeli cultural landmark, the hip-hop & rap radio show Jigga Juice, on the occasion of its fifth birthday! Music: Victor Jackson - Nimrod Reshef Tribute MedleyCohen@Mushon & Peled - Tel AvivNechi Nech - GodzillaCohen@Mushon, Peled, Nechi Nech, Ortega, Z.K, Lukach & Tuna - The Jigga Juice Anhtem

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. The High Price of Hate The Rand Corporation study found that the benefit of ending the Israel-Palestine conflict would be $123 billion for Israelis and $50 billion for Palestinians. Wow! With that money, we could buy Whatsapp, Waze, Skype & Instagram! But does knowing how much the conflict costs us bring us any closer to ending it? Everybody Hates the Jews! A poll found that 71% of Israelis think that the world has a double standard when it comes to criticizing Israel. Do most Israelis think that the whole world is against us? If so, how does that belief affect our politics? Segregating the Sexes A high school principal decides to separate the girls from the boys in advanced math classes, in hope that it’ll boost girls’ achievements. Some applaud this, others argue that in a society where some folks think that some buses should be segregated by sex, we must resist all segregation by sex. Is separating the girls from the boys a good idea? Playlist: Hip LGBTQ music in honor of Pride Week!:Naama Ha-Cohen, Le Zalman Shoshi Be-AhavaCorrine Alal, Zan NadirYehudit Ravitz, Eretz Tropit YafaDana International, Eifo ha-Lev

Allison, Don, and Noah discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote each about something in Israel that made them smile this week. FIFA = “Frankly, Israel Foments Apartheid”? We discuss the brouhaha over a Palestinian proposal to expel Israel from the international football association, FIFA, and the suggestion of some leftists that Israel deserves to be expelled. Do they have a point or are they just spoiled sports? IDF = “Impeding Democracy Fulsomely”? We discuss two recent trials of IDF soldiers, one charged with mouthing off against the occupation on German TV, and the other charged with - wait for it - eating a ham sandwich. Is the army enforcing the ideological agenda of the new government? BFF = “(You) Better F*cking Fail”? We discuss an intriguing essay by Ari Shavit, pointing out that when Cleveland Cavaliers coach, American-Israeli David Blatt, coached in Israel, we couldn’t have been meaner to the guy. Are we Israelis unable to appreciate each other’s achievements? Playlist: All songs by Labrador Laboratories, in honor of their show this week at Levontin 7: Dance All Night In The RainLonely TribesWhat A MessGoing underground

Allison, Don, and Noah discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote each about something in Israel that made them smile this week. The anti-social network We discuss the tragedy of a government bureaucrat who, accused on Facebook of racism against an African-American woman seeking his help, shot himself in the head this week. Is the power of social network rage something we need to tamp? The legacy of leaving Lebanon On the 15th anniversary of Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from its self-declared “security zone” in southern Lebanon, we ask what imprint the occupation and withdrawal left on today's world. Was the withdrawal a heroic turning point in Israeli political history? Labor’s Loser?!? We discuss the documentary, “Herzog,” which aired this week and led journalists and politicians to pile onto Labor Party leader Isaac Herzog. What do we learn from the film about the leader of opposition, who still hopes to one day be Prime Minister? Playlist: All songs by Igor Krutogolov's Karate Band & Toy Orchestra - it’s punk klezmer performed on toy instruments, people! Skeleton DanceSevenMad MedowLast Supper Souffle

Allison, Don, and Noah discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote each about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Netanyahu’s Ministry of Magic? We discuss the odd new ministerial alchemy that produced a “Minister of Space” and other strange concatenations. Did PM Netanyahu create bullshit ministries for bullshit reasons, destined to produce bullshit results - all to silence critics and reward friends? Religious fanatics or Godless heathens? A world-wide poll recently carried out by the WIN/Gallup Organization found that Israel is one of the least religious countries in the world. This conflicts with other findings - that in Israel religion is very important to most, growing more important by the day. Short trip from cradle to grave We discuss the ultra-Orthodox woman from Bnei Brak, who through the first 46 years of marriage was unable to conceive, and who achieved the positively biblical feat of giving birth to her first child at the age of 65. Is Israel a little too baby crazy? Playlist: All songs by Shelly & Rotem, in honor of their show this week at Levontin 7. Their EP, Between Shores, is on Bandcamp. East BerlinMaps (Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs Cover)Streaming LowBells In My Head

Allison, Don, and Ilene Prusher discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote each about something in Israel that made them smile this week. BDS bummer on campus We discuss the spread of the BDS movement on American college campuses, feeding off last summer’s Gaza War. Student councils and minority activist groups are demanding divestment from Israel while telling Jewish students they are privileged whites. Will Negev Bedouins have to make way for the Jews? A high court ruling allows plans to go forward to demolish a 60-year-old Bedouin village in the Negev in order to establish a new Jewish town in its place. We’ll ask what these rulings portend for Jewish-Arab relations in Israel and the direction of the High Court. An Ode to Jerusalem, unified and disunited on Jerusalem Day As Jerusalem Day arrives, celebrating the reunification of the city during the Six-Day War, our panel tries to look past the violence that rocked the city less than a year ago, and we consider our own evolving relationship to Israel’s capital. Playlist: All songs by Ehud Banai (the most gifted musical Banai of all) Ani HolechHayomMaaseh B’arbaahCmo Tzippor V’Shira