The Promised Podcast

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. Days of rage and race We discuss the video of police officers assaulting a kid of Ethiopian descent in IDF uniform. It unleashed a wave of angry protests about police brutality against Ethiopian Israelis, and more broadly about a racism few of us here have looked squarely in the face. A government of Rabbis, Rightists, and a Reformer We discuss just what we might expect from the new coalition of 61 that Prime Minister Netanyahu cobbled together at the last minute. What kinds of policies are on the horizon? Breaking ranks We discuss a new report by leftist NGO Breaking the Silence, containing excerpts of interviews with 60 soldiers who fought in the Gaza War last summer. What, if anything, can we learn from its troubling conclusions? Playlist: All songs by young Ethiopian-Israeli hip hop singers because, well, you know. Sasha & Shrulik - Summer TimeNaor Asresay - Nilham Beshvil AtzmiCafé Shahor Hazak - Rak La’AlotTazazo & Tzemer - Eema

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 wages of boycott We discuss the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold a law that will make Israelis who advocate boycotts against Israeli businesses or institutions liable for any damages that result. Have the courts just criminalized free speech? Girls just wanna have guns! We analyze new findings that Israeli women are more hawkish than Israeli men. For instance, they are less favorably inclined to a Palestinian State, and more favorably inclined to spending more on the army. But they're also more likely to support social programs. Will Judaism survive Israel? We discuss Tomer Persico's much-discussed Haaretz essay, in which he claims that the growing dichotomy between Judaism and democracy in Israel is “one disaster that Judaism will not survive.” Yikes. Does he have a point? Playlist: All songs off the great new Israeli homage to David Bowie, “Bowie from Here” HaMasach HaLavan - Tembel, TembelDeer John - Wild is the WindNomke - Life on MarsStay - Munch

Don, Noah, and special guest Debra Kamin discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote each about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Pillorying Peres for pilfering We discuss whether former PM and President Shimon Peres deserves to be pilloried for shilling for Israel’s richest and most rapacious bank, Bank HaPoalim, in exchange for $30,000 a month. “Say it ain't so! Tell us we're dreamin', Shimon!” The Culture Wars: "Burn, baby, burn!" We discuss an essay by brilliant journalist, writer, cultural critic, screenwriter, and documentary film maker Nissan Shor, arguing that Israel is in flames, but the best thing to do is bring a bag of marshmallows and develop our appetite for destruction. Celebrating Israel in the Age of Ambivalence We ask how Independence Day should be celebrated in 2015, an age when ponderous ceremonies and jets-flying-overhead-in-formation may not be the sources of inspiration they once were, and when ambivalence saturates the land. Playlist: All songs by Arik Einstein, in honor of Yom Haatzmaut! Sa Le’atHabalada Shel Yoel Moshe SolomonAni ve-AtaYesh Bi Ahavah

Allison, Ilene, and Noah discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote each about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Coalition proposition disquisition We discuss the dilemma facing opposition leader Isaac Herzog: Is opposition a form of perdition? Is joining the coalition electoral sedition demanding contrition? In short, should the center-left consider joining a coalition led by PM Netanyahu? The bio-matrix We discuss whether Israel ought to require all citizens to swap our old-fashioned identify cards and passports for new “biometric” ones that may enhance our security at the cost of our privacy. Relearning to remember We discuss how we ought to remember the greatest tragedy to befall the Jewish people, as it recedes into history and the presence of survivors grows less with each passing year. Playlist: All songs courtesy of the unpolished sweetness of Yotam Perel Shara Bamiklahat (Yup, the Yoni Bloch song)Aeroplane Over The Sea (That’s right, the Neutral Milk Hotel song)Toasty, the Yotam Perel songSaddest Hug

The Times of Israel's Miriam Herschlag, Activist Professor Alon Tal and Noah discuss: Fission Indecision How Leftist Israelis ought to react to the framework agreement limiting Iran's military nuclear program, but leaving the country (which, as we speak, is hosting a Holocaust denial cartoon contest) with lots of uranium and lots of centrifuges to process it at a future date. Trailing off Is Israel's culture of hiking the land is imperiled as the Zionist ethos that gave birth to it is itself waning. So much to protest, so little protest music? Whether, as one music critic has just written, Israeli pop music is hopelessly and cluelessly apolitical and navel-gazing. Playlist: All songs by OSOG – On the Shoulders of Giants – in honor of their Headstart campaign to fund their new album! Sweet MelodySymphony Of TreesWake Up In A JacuzziUnder My Ukelele

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. How do you solve a problem like Ted Cruz? The love bomb Ted Cruz tossed in Israel’s direction as he declared his candidacy for the US Presidency at Liberty College. How does “Support Israel!” fit with “Ban Abortion!,” “Guns for All!,” and “Abolish the IRS!”? Keeping the Generals in their Barracks? A recent petition saying that ex-generals are politicizing the army when they try to use their positions to influence Israeli politics. Why is this Podcast different from all other podcasts? What should we tell our kids about the meaning of the Exodus story now, in Israel of 2015? Playlist: Habanot Nechama-So Far/LehiyotYaFlowersLies

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. Let the pressure begin? We discuss Peter Beinart's proposal that it's time for American Jews to lobby the US government to pressure and punish Israel, channeling the Piper Chapman dictum, “Bitches gots to learn.” "V" for "vanquished" (and you thought it was for "victory"!) We discuss former defense minister Moshe Arens' assertion that the left’s "anyone-but-Bibi" campaign is what cost them the election, by making Netanyahu seem like an unfairly maligned neophyte. Angry, angry Ashkenazim We ask why one white leftist after another expresses crazy rage in crazy ways against the Mizrahi voters who came out to support Netanyahu; why do us privileged folks have so much spleen? Playlist: All songs from the hip collection of Mizrahi women artists, “Bat Makom 2”: Liat Yizhaki – Or Min Ha-MizrachLiron Meyuhas – LailaRakefet Amselem – Yedid NefeshYasmin Levy – La Nave De Olvido

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. We-the-People have spoken! (What the hell did we say?) Allison, Don, and Noah discuss what these elections said, if anything, about the hearts and minds of Israeli voters: Headlines from Tel Aviv to Timbuktu have said that PM Netanyahu won in a landslide, but did he really? Fear! Uh! What is it good for? We discuss the fear and fear-mongering at the heart of the election campaigns: Was PM Netanyahu a diabolical genius who played up, played on, and played with our fears, or was he just addressing our deepest concerns? What the hell do we do now? We discuss what the left should do now, as it faces several years in the opposition. Elections are like Adam Sandler movies: There's always another coming soon. So what does the left need to do to be ready for the next one? Playlist: All songs by the hit art-pop of The Compromises (Ha-Pesharot) Sea Of YouthHippo BluesA Day With No YouInstrument Tune-up

Listen to our special election panel with Noah Efron, Debra Kamin, and Gil Troy as they break down the surprising overnight results.

Don, Noah, and Allison discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote each about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Behind the Curtain We discuss the imminent elections and our expectations. For whom will we be casting our ballots? Why do we support that list? What do we think (or perhaps hope) will be the eventual outcome? Surprise! No Prize! Generally considered the country’s highest honor, the Israel Prize is awarded annually on Independence Day. This year the prize will be awarded in only three of its four categories. Why did this occur? Who is to blame? Thou shall not be a total dick An NGO called Gesher (or Bridge) recently produced a video which, as part of a “new ten commandments” they’ve formulated, encourages more friendly interactions among politicians. The video includes MKs saying and writing nice things about colleagues across the aisle. Playlist: All music by La Vache Qui Rit (הפרה הצוחקת) in honor of their show this week at Ha-Azor: Opa Cupa (Gypsy Serbia) Besena Rovena (Gypsy Albania) Tchavo (Gypsy Manouche) Disapozhkelekh (Trad. Ukraine)