The Promised Podcast

llison, 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 United States of Israel? Could 'Cantonization' save Israel? We discuss a proposal to slice and dice Israel into small ethnically and ideologically defined localities that would each have laws that better fit their populations. Would such a system benefit Israel's minorities? The great media parallax The coverage of Operation Protective Edge this summer looked very different on Israeli TV screens compared to American or European ones. Why is this, and should something be done to change Israeli media coverage of regional events? Calamari is kosher, right? Why did PM Netanyahu feel compelled to make this dubious statement to a journalist recently: "I do not eat unkosher foods"? Is the legitimacy of being an out-and-out secular politician diminishing? Is this a sign that secular Judaism is on the retreat? Playlist: All songs by the anarchic genius of 'Old Man River' (whom you can call Ohad Rein): Amazing Grace La You’re On My Mind Shanti Aaye

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. A spoonful of politics helps the medicine go down? Lancet editor Richard Horton visited Israel this week to apologize for his publication's controversial 'An Open Letter for the People of Gaza.' As authoritative social figures, should doctors express their political views publicly, while wearing their white coats? How to judge the judges The Israel Bar Association, ignoring fierce opposition from representatives of the bench, recently decided to reinstitute the annual rating of judges by lawyers. Does this serve to remind judges that they're human, or is it populism at its most problematic? Seeing black at 30,000 feet We discuss the now-infamous El Al flight that took off 20 minutes late because an ultra-Orthodox man was negotiating not to have to sit next to a woman, which led to a change.org petition and global feminist uproar. Is this the classic paradox of liberalism? Playlist: All songs by Shmemel, because we can: Berlin Shir Ahava Hevratit Shmemel ve-Ha-Omanim Ha-Koasim – Al Tig’u Lanu Ba-Arak He

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. A tale of two speeches: Fear and loathing at the UN In the last few days, PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu have given speeches to the United Nations General Assembly. Which speech was more depressing, and should we even care about what was said? How Supreme a Court? Over the past two weeks, the Israeli Supreme Court has angered many with its rulings on 'admission committees' and the Holot detention facility for illegal immigrants. Does the Supreme Court overreach or should judicial activism be encouraged? They cry of the silenced We discuss journalist Mairav Zonszein's New York Times op-ed, 'How Israel Silences Dissent': Have dissenters in Israel really been silenced in any meaningful way? Or have they just failed to work out what they should be saying and how they should be saying it? Playlist: All songs by Hadara Levine Areddy (in honor of her cool show this week at Levontin 7): Wedding Song Not Another Sad Song Anything More (with Duvid Swirsky) Mishehu Pa'am Ahav Oti

Who really killed the Israeli Left? Where exactly is the Israeli Left failing? And if it is, indeed, dead, was it killed by an ill-advised infatuation with 'abroad,' which distracted it from winning hearts and minds at home? Can the army smash class barriers in Israel? Is the Israeli Army a great equalizer and civilian high-tech incubator? Or are today’s soldiers, who will be tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, just yesterday’s privileged rich, white boys? And what of those who don't participate in the army? The Promised Podcast's 'year that was' PM Netanyahu's Rosh Hashanah speech to the nation listed Israel's accomplishments over the last year - we didn't know we'd had it so good! In reality, what, if anything, has changed over the past year? And what changes would we like to see next year? Playlist: All songs by Tamar Aphek, in honor of the European tour she’s just announced: We Deserve ItWho Cares/Summer ComesThe Second I Am HoneIt’s For Us

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. Were the Unit 8200 'refuseniks' right to break ranks? Unit 8200's 'refusenik' letter exposed some Israeli intelligence practices some are finding very hard to swallow. Were the soldiers right to publicly expose these practices? Why are important leaders of the moderate left so fiercely opposed to the letter? "You say goodbye...": Reasons to get the hell out of dodge TLV1's very own Rogel Alpher caused a stir in his recent Haaretz piece, in which he announced his reasons for wanting to emigrate from Israel. How will this affect other leftists? In Rogel's words, is Israel worth the price it's exacting from us? "…And I say hello": Reasons to make Aliyah The government's recent promotional video aimed at getting young Jews to come and study in Israel has received mixed reviews. Should the government be marketing Israel in a political vacuum, as a bitching lifestyle choice, in order to seek American immigrants? Playlist: All songs by Shirly Kones, in honor of her show this week at Tel Aviv's Levontin 7: SiraBeKarov BaCfarShniot ArukotYasha

Host Noah Efron conducts a very special interview with a conscientious objector, and we pull together our favorite 'Vatacountry' segments. Acts of conscience: Summer in the slammer Noah interviews IDF reservist Gilad Halpern, who spent the summer in a military jail for conscientiously objecting to his call-up during Operation Protective Edge. How does conscientious objection in Israel map onto the political landscape? Acts of love: 'Vatacountry' best bits A personal reflection by podcast listener Andrew Wirth on art, freedom of expression, and the army in Israel; plus some of our favorite 'Vatacountry' segments about life in this infuriating country that, at the end of the day, we cannot help but love. Playlist: All songs by The Victor Jackson Show: Mechva LeNimrod Reshef HaDor HaBa Safa Shnia LeBchira

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. 988 acres of land Israel has announced the takeover of 988 acres of land belonging to five Palestinian villages in the Etzion settlement bloc, clearing the way for a new settlement named Gvaot. Why did the cabinet decide to appropriate these lands at this moment? Why are Bibi's approval ratings in free-fall? According to a recent poll, PM Netanyahu's approval ratings have taken a sharp dip, the acceleration of a trend that started six weeks ago. Why the plummeting popularity, and what about the political consequences? The “Annual State of the Schools” (ASS) assessment Israeli kids receive more hours of schooling than most OECD countries, but what do they get to show for it? We discuss what works and doesn’t work in Israeli schools at the moment. Playlist: A potpourri of great, classic kids’ music, in honor of the start of school: Ha-Keves Ha-Shisha Asar - Reamim U-VrakimYehudit Ravitz & Yoni Richter - Mah Osot Ha-AyalotMatti Caspi - Shir Am NakiLahakat Iyam - Kilafty Tapus

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. Now the ceasefire’s signed, what the hell just happened? What should we make of the ceasefire agreement? What can and should be done to take advantage of the opportunities created by this war (notwithstanding its many miseries and tragedies) to create a better future for us all? Iron Dome saved lives, but at what cost? Has Israel's missile defense system, which probably saved hundreds of Israeli lives in this war, actually saved Hamas from destruction and undermined Israel's image as a civilized state in the eyes of the West? Liberal Zionism, RIP? Are we nearing the watershed at which 'liberal Zionists' will have to choose between liberalism and Zionism? Does the reality of modern Israel offer no hope for Jews committed to liberal values? Playlist: All songs by Los Caparos, the coolest Russian-Israeli punk-ska band you’re ever likely to hear, in honor of their great performance at Barby this week: Haim BaseretLo KoneRasta VasilyShir Hamakolet

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. Time to lose those 'war-goggles' As we try to figure out what happened over the summer, is it useful to ask whether the war in Gaza addled our perceptions? Are we hardwired to become more hawkish in times of war? Preaching to the converted We discuss Rabbi Yuval Sherlow's critique of David Grossman's speech at this week's anti-war rally in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square. Is he right to criticize the Left for failing to find a bridging discourse between Left and Right? What the hell should we do next? The time has come for left-wing activists to dust themselves off and do something. But what? What should we be lobbying our politicians for? What should we be writing op-eds about? Playlist: All songs by Efrat Lotenberg, in honor of the release of her amazing new album, Ha'Machbesa shel Acha: Hi Lo MevinaT.A.Be'Regaim KaeleBe my Baby

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. Is Bibi too strong to make peace? Would a weaker Netanyahu would be more willing “to make some very difficult compromises, including taking on the settler movement,” as President Obama claimed in an interview last week? When war and peace are held hostage to machismo To what extent are Israel’s notions of peace, security and war 'male' in character? Are women relegated to the margins in times of war? Would we even be in this mess if women wielded greater influence? The 'one-and-a-half state' solution Could a Jewish state and a Palestinian state both exist within the same territorial borders? Can fancy thinking solve our problems, or does the old received wisdom have the best chance of succeeding? Playlist: All songs by Nechi Nech Cafe Ve-Sigaria Ayiddisha Rasta Man HaSimcha Bur Ve-Am HaAretz