Day 557 - Tariffs, tech brain drain and manna from Sicily

Apr 15, 2025

Sharon Wrobel, the tech editor, discusses the potential effects of a paused 17% tariff on Israel and the alarming exodus of over 8,000 tech employees, driven by political instability. Rossella Tercatin, an archaeology and religions reporter, highlights fascinating research on the evolution of Hebrew accents across communities and a Sicilian farmer's dedication to harvesting manna from ash trees, emphasizing its biblical ties and culinary significance. Together, they present a captivating mix of economic insight and cultural heritage.

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INSIGHT

Israel-US Tariff Impact

Israel faces a 17% US tariff, causing concern due to the US being its largest trading partner.
The main worry is the indirect impact on Israel's small market, including potential recession and reduced orders.

INSIGHT

Tech Brain Drain & Millionaire Exodus

Over 8,000 tech employees have left Israel, alongside a drop in millionaire rankings.
This exodus follows the judicial overhaul and ongoing war, causing instability and economic concerns.

INSIGHT

Evolution of Hebrew Accents

Hebrew accents developed across diverse communities due to local language influences and pre-existing variations within Israel.
The Academy of the Hebrew Language preserves these accents through recordings, showcasing a unique history of pronunciation.

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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Tech editor Sharon Wrobel and archaeology reporter Rossella Tercatin join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

The setting of a 17% tariff on Israel by the US appears to be paused for the moment, as Wrobel discusses. Israel thought it could receive a reduction on the tariff, the main worry is the indirect impact and talk of a recession in Israel's tiny market and the instability and uncertainty that could cause. There are ongoing negotiations with efforts to protect Israeli companies and concerns over exposure to machinations in global markets and the value of Israeli savings.

Over 8,000 tech employees have left Israel in recent months and Israel was downgraded in the global ranking of top 50 wealthiest cities as millionaires and tech workers relocated, following first the judicial overhaul and then the ongoing war and hostage situation. Wrobel discusses the biggest concern in that shift, given the high-tech sector's payment of taxes, and its effect on the state and the Israeli economy.

Tercatin discusses research at the Academy of the Hebrew Language, looking at how Hebrew accents developed across different communities and millennia, and the role of cultural heritage in preserving those language differences.

She also talks about a Sicilian farmer who is part of a centuries-old ritual to harvest a sweet, white sap from the bark of ash trees, a syrup known as manna. Tercatin describes the process and the substance, following an interview with the 75-year-old Sicilian farmer on the eve of the holiday of Passover, when Jews across the world commemorate the Exodus from Egypt, and when they ate manna in the desert.

This conversation can also be viewed here:

Please check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog for more updates.

For further reading:

Demand for state-backed insurance soars as Israeli exporters fear Trump tariff chaos

War spurs brain drain, outflow of Israeli high-tech employees, report finds

Tel Aviv drops in global ranking of top 50 wealthiest cities as millionaires decamp

Research center works to save myriad Hebrew dialects shaped by millennia of wandering

In this Sicilian town, manna is a heavenly delicacy with deep roots

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: A boy looks at shipping containers in Haifa's port , Israel, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

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