The Promised Podcast

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. Death, Tyranny & the Pursuit of Jihad in the US Congress We discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu's much-anticipated speech to the combined houses of the United States Congress. Did it accomplish anything with Iran? In the end, did it strengthen or weaken Netanhayu? How about Israel, the country he’s paid to captain? Shakespeare vs. Shlonski: Does the Anglo vote matter? Why are English speakers becoming the darlings of the political class? Is there really an “Anglo-Saxon” vote that carries any weight in Israel? Our forefathers were Adam and Eve, not apes Haartez asked political party leaders what they think about religion & science. While many supported science, Darwin wasn't as popular as we thought. Playlist: All songs by the 1840s I’ve Always Wanted To Queen of the Sky Rainbow No

Don, Noah, and special guest Judy Maltz (Haaretz reporter and documentary director) discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote each about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Who gives a f*ck about a returned bottle? We discuss the State Comptroller's report, which details the profound profligacies and petty corruptions of the first family, including spending over 3000 shekels a day on cleaning. While it may be douche-baggery, is such behavior really an election issue? Collect Jews: Win valuable prizes! Judy Maltz's riveting essay in this week's Haaretz describes the ingathering to Israel of a small and exotic sect of “lost Jews” in India called the Bnei Menashe. We ask, is it time to stop seeking lost or threatened Jews in the hope of dragging their asses to Israel? Important breaking news about Bissli Israeli digital newspapers increasingly mix disguised ads among the legitimate and unpaid content. They are turning to Advertorials, or branded content, as a way of balancing their budgets. We ask, is it time to “stop worrying and learn to love the Advertorial?” Playlist: All songs by Marsh Dondurma, in honor of the brassy and joyful sound they produced at Ha-Azor this week: Tosha Baritosha Luigi's Walk Ismail Nahef

Allison, Noah, and special guest Ilene Prusher discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote each about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Ideological warfare We discuss a remarkable new election video posted by the Shomron Settlers’ Council, which finds its place alongside new ads by PM Netanyahu suggesting that Leftists will invite the Islamic State to overrun Jerusalem. Class warfare We discuss the election campaign of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, which says, among other things, “If you live in Ramat Aviv don’t vote for us, but if you work for those heartless bastards do vote for us.” Political warfare We discuss the decision to bar two candidates from running for the Knesset this week: Balad MK Haneen Zoabi and Yachad prospective MK Baruch Marzel. One is an anti-Zionist Hamas-sympathizing Palestinian, the other an ultra-nationalist former Meir Kahana acolyte. Playlist: All songs by Indiana, in honor of their show this week with the hippest band in Holon, Ha-Zeevot, at E.P.G.B in Tel Aviv. WonderlandBlack JackIt's all On UAt Margiah Oti

Allison, Don, Miriam Hershlag, and Noah discuss (1) Why Mizrahim shun the Left (hint: It’s the oppression, stupid!), (2) the perhaps growing phenomenon of tourists who come seeking not to see the country’s sites of historic and cultural wonder, but rather, the sites of conflict and oppression: Why is this happening, and is it a good or bad thing?, and (3) As the Ministry of Education spends tens of millions to fund what is essentially a huge nationwide bookclub to read the Bible in an initiative called 929, we ask if it’s money we’ll spent, with some of us enchanted by this projects, and others of us a little repulsed. All this and hardcore klezmer from Kfar Saba with Ramzailech!! Songs:Fir ZinShtetleAmzalegAl Titakni Oti

Allison, Noah, and special guest Miriam Hershlag discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote each about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Poking Obama in the Eye? We discuss PM Netanyahu’s decision to address the US Congress two weeks before Israeli elections, which has left President Obama livid, congressional democrats in despair, Israel’s US Ambassador discredited, and domestic political opponents outraged. To V or not to V? We discuss the probity of V15, a foreign-funded, get-out-the-vote NGO dedicated to removing PM Netanyahu from office, which has kicked up an election-time storm. Left behind We discuss Meretz and its leader Zahava Gal-On, as part of our continuing series of discussions about the parties and individuals at the heart of these elections. Is Meretz spending its advertising shekels wisely? Playlist: All songs by Ha-Trempistim, on the occasion of the launch of their 2nd album and the tour that goes with it Ha-Bu’ahKe-She Zeh Lo ZehChai Ba-SeretBe-Hazara La-Hatchala

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. Pour encourager les autres We discuss the decision of the Israeli Steimatzky bookstore chain to cancel a “Charlie Hebdo” event, in which they had planned to sell a shipment of the post-massacre issue. Should offensive cartoons be in our face? The merger of Israel's Arab parties: An historic unification? We discuss what the historic unification of three Arab parties and one joint Arab-Jewish party augers for Israeli politics. Can the Balad-Ra’am-Ta’al-Hadash list, which incorporates such opposing ideologies, succeed? Israeli elections 2015: Hell is other people We ask what it says about the state of Israeli politics today that this election is shaping up to be about which bastard not to vote for. Playlist: All songs by Maureen Nehedar in honor of her tour and remarkable new album, 'Asleep in the Bosom of Childhood.' Tzur MisheloKhon Ta-khonAshreichem IsraelYesheina be-hek Yaldut

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. Of Labor glossed We discuss the Labor Party primaries, which produced a list of candidates that is youngish, Ashkenazi-ish, female-ish, and socially-aware-ish. But has the party made a mistake by combining two agendas: Distributive justice and territorial compromise? Women in Israel: The seen and the unseen We discuss whether or not an ultra-Orthodox paper photoshopping Angela Merkel out of a picture of the heads-of-state at the Paris solidarity march says something important about the status of women in Israel. Which side are you on? We discuss a new Foreign Ministry propaganda video that says, basically, “Give us a break, you know that Israel is the good guy and Islam is the enemy.” Does it highlight a basic truth that often gets lost in the debate, or is it self-serving claptrap? Playlist: All songs by Gevolt, the pioneers of Yiddish Metal Music! Der AlefbeysBay Mir Bistu SheynDer Rebe ElimelekhZog Nit Keyn Mol

Gimme that ol’ time arrogance We discuss the crass response of Israel's leaders to the Paris terror attacks, a kind of double-pronged 'I told you so' - to Europe's leaders regarding the threat of radical Islam and to diaspora Jews about the lures of the Holy Land in an anti-semitic world. Spotlight on Moshe Kahlon We ask: What makes the leader of the new 'Kulanu' party tick? He's tacking to the center, but will that be where he stays after the elections? He promises to break monopolies and make the country safe for the consumer - a kind of 'Marx of the mall.' Thinking about thinking about same-sex marriage Does Naftali Bennett's religious party suffer from 'Jewish Home-ophobia'? Why did the party release a video of its candidates giving their opinions on same-sex marriage? None of them supported it, of course, but civil union was mentioned by some. Playlist: All songs by Lior Shoov, in honor of her brilliant show at the OzenBar this week, and her sell-out show at Ha-Azor. Caress my skinOr (cover of a Neomi Shemer song)A Song to MamaWalking the Night

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. Tax and shend We discuss the decision of the Israeli government to withhold half a billion shekels of Palestinian tax money. Is this just one of a bunch of clever strategies Israel can employ at will, or does it show that in international diplomacy we are plum out of ideas? Losing faith The Israel Democracy Institute's annual report shows that Israelis are losing faith in all their institutions, save the army. Why should this be? Why do Arab Israelis trust the police more than any other institution except the Supreme Court? Primary education The recent Likud primary produced a list of candidates some have hailed as a great improvement. We ask whether the parties that pick their Knesset candidates through democratic primaries produce better results than the parties run by autocrats. Playlist: All songs by The Betty Bears, in honor of their kick-ass show ringing in the New Year at the Pasáž! After You’re GoneIf You’re A ViperJack, I’m MellowWhen I Get Low

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. Israel's 'crucial, last-chance, decisive watershed' We discuss the weird notion, asserted by politicians, pundits, and intellectuals, that these elections are “the most important” in Israel’s history and will determine our fate forever. Could this rhetoric be setting us up for a huge disappointment? Spotlight on Naftali Bennett What makes the Jewish Home leader tick? We discuss the power of his 'No More Apologies' message, which is at the heart of his election campaign. Is this also at the heart of his appeal to so many voters? The Promised Podcast’s Person, Place or Thing of the Year Allison, Don, and Noah each present candidates for 'Israeli person, place or thing of the year' for each of two categories: (1) Politics/Diplomacy, and (2) Culture & Society. Then they try to pick an overall winner... Playlist: All songs by Gal De Paz, or Goldie, in honor of her return to the country and her show at the OzenBar this week My MiseryBetterIndian SummerThe Change