What Matters Now

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Dr. Gilad Malach, a research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. Malach's research focuses on public policy related to Israel's ultra-Orthodox community, including issues critical to its integration into Israel's economy and society. This week, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is debating a new bill aimed at regulating Haredi draft exemptions. Starting with the foundation of the state in 1948, Malach takes us through the evolution of the ultra-Orthodox community's refusal to serve in the IDF. We hear of previous efforts to entice the population to join the army and how badly they failed. Malach takes us through the unique make-up of the ultra-Orthodox household, in which women generally are more educated and go out to work, while men form a "community of learners." As this new legislation is being debated, we learn what is at stake for the community, as well as the frustrations from the majority of Israelis who are shouldering the national burden. And so this week, we ask Dr. Gilad Malach, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Ultra-Orthodox Jews from the two rival factions of the Ponevezh Yeshiva stand outside the yeshiva following a mediation session held at the place, in Bnei Brak, November 19, 2025. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, head of Realign For Palestine and a Gaza-born advocate, shares his firsthand experiences from a recent flyover of Gaza. He discusses Hamas's grip on power, using brutality to maintain control despite being unpopular. Alkhatib also reveals that hospitals have turned into interrogation centers under Hamas. He advocates for a radical pragmatism approach to challenge established narratives and emphasizes the need for a new social contract in Gaza to avoid mere reconstruction.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with the past president of The Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen. During the eight years Cohen served as university president, Israel encountered numerous challenges, including the coronavirus epidemic from February 2020, the uproar over the Judicial overhaul and, most seriously, of course, the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught on southern Israel that left 1,200 murdered and 250 taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. It also meant a major call-up of reserves, which greatly impacted the pool of students over the past two years. Even more threatening to Israel's future, argues Cohen, is that following the beginning of the war, Israeli academics began facing boycotts and funding drops. Without collaborations with institutions abroad, the Ivory Tower will quickly crumble, we hear. But we’re also going to look to the future, because Cohen is spearheading a national AI infrastructure initiative which the government has approved, to the tune of $500 million. And so this week, we ask Prof. Asher Cohen, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Prof. Asher Cohen (Igor Farberov)/ The Albert Einstein privet library, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, March 19, 2012. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Haviv Rettig Gur, a senior analyst at the Times of Israel and seasoned political commentator, shares insights on the fallout from the BBC scandal and its impact on British Jewry. He discusses rising antisemitism and the fears faced by Jewish students in the UK. The conversation shifts to the potential for a presidential pardon for Benjamin Netanyahu, examining the complexities of the pardon process and the motivations behind Trump's request. Rettig Gur argues that while he critiques Netanyahu, he still sees hope for reconciliation and a path forward.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman. The duo beta-tests their soon-to-be-launched podcast series — so new it does not yet have a name — in which they will deliver entertainment news from a Jewish angle (aka Jangle) and review one new or noteworthy film. This week, in episode zero, the pair first discusses the growing boycott of Israeli filmmakers at international festivals. Hoffman weighs in on how this is misfiring when it comes to some of the more prominent -- and very left-wing -- Israeli artists. Next, we hear about "Nuremberg," the Hollywood treatment of the Nuremberg Trials, which began in November 1945, launching the field of international law. In the film, psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) is ordered to evaluate whether Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) is fit to stand trial. As the highest-ranking surviving Nazi military commander, to the Allied lawyers, Göring is the "big fish" that must be landed. Borschel-Dan and Hoffman give their differing opinions of the movie and agree to disagree. And so this week, we ask Jordan Hoffman, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Jordan Hoffman (courtesy) / Rami Malek and Russell Crowe attend the 'Nuremberg' AFI Fest red carpet premiere screening at TCL Chinese Theatre on October 24, 2025, in Hollywood, California. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Classics/AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eli Sharabi, a former Israeli hostage and author of the memoir 'Hostage,' shares his profound journey of survival and loss. He discusses the emotional turmoil of reuniting with fellow captive Alon Ohel and the bittersweet grief of burying his brother. Writing became a therapeutic outlet, a voice for others, while public speaking has helped him navigate through trauma. Eli reflects on the effects of global antisemitism and his hopes for a rebuilt Kibbutz Be'eri, emphasizing healing through community and understanding in challenging times.

Ronen and Orna Neutra, Israeli-born American parents of Captain Omer Neutra, share their heart-wrenching journey after their son was declared deceased while his body remains in Gaza. Ronen recounts critical details about October 7, emphasizing Omer's bravery during the ambush. The couple discusses their advocacy efforts in Washington, lobbying to ensure the recognition of deceased hostages and the need for proper burials. They express concerns about political declarations regarding the ceasefire, asserting that true healing cannot begin until every hostage is home.

Micah Goodman, a renowned author and public intellectual known for his insightful books on Israeli society, discusses Israel's potential transition into a new political era. He argues that the country is nearing a Third Israeli Republic, driven by shifts in societal values post-war. Goodman emphasizes the distinction between pragmatic right and far-right politics, noting the emergence of a centrist bloc focused on effective governance. He also highlights grassroots movements as vital catalysts for change, linking current events to themes of renewal in the Torah.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with The Times of Israel's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur, marking two years since the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught on southern Israel. To gain a sense of the Israeli public sentiment after two years of war, Rettig Gur analyzes a new survey conducted by Agam Labs and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, led by Nimrod Nir and Dr. Gayil Talshir. The researchers found, in surveying  2,170 Jewish Israelis and 459 Arab Israelis, that there is a drastic shift in Israelis' perceptions of their society and politicians.  In one of the more dramatic findings, the report states that the initial unity found in the early months of the war has flipped to a division: from 77% in 2023 saying the war “united society” to 66% in 2025 saying it made society more divided. Pointing to Israel's strengths and human capital, Rettig Gur leaves us with an optimistic framing of the internal work that needs to be done, even as Israel has largely defeated its greatest enemies. And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: On October 7, 2025, thousands assemble in Hostages Square, Tel Aviv, to watch the broadcast of the Bereaved Families Memorial Ceremony marking two years since the October 7, 2023, massacre. (Paulina Patimer)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Jessica Steinberg speaking with Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of murdered hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Goldberg-Polin, who has become a well-known voice in the Jewish and Israeli world since October 7, 2023, when Hersh was taken captive by Hamas terrorists, speaks about the challenge of being active, present, and even thankful in the aftermath of Hersh's death. She speaks about the public nature of the family's mourning, as she and her husband, Jon Polin, remain active advocates for the remaining hostages, but grapple with their deep mourning in the public eye. Goldberg-Polin shares anecdotes about her life, including her extended Jerusalem community during the high holiday period, and her desperate hope to grow from the challenges she's faced during the last two years. She speaks about the need to help repair herself and the world around her and the need for some relief from the pain and suffering of this time period. And so this week, we ask Rachel Goldberg-Polin, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: People walk next to a mural of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin in central Jerusalem, August 18, 2025. (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.