Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Regional Inferno?—

Israel’s war with Gaza may soon become an all-out regional war. How do you say “Yikes!” in Farsi?

—Accounting of the Soul—

What should we have in mind, this Yom Kippur, when we thump our chests in repentance?

—Prayer in the Square?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Our hot take on last night’s Supreme Court ruling regarding the legality of organized gender-separated public prayer in liberal Tel Aviv.

All of that and marking a year of the nightmare of October 7. Plus, music that moves us from the memorials.

The “Casting at Persians” Edition