The Promised Podcast

Sally Abed, 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   —It Just Doesn’t Matter?— Why do some people wake up on election morning with the feeling that it just doesn’t matter who they vote for, or if they vote at all? —So Goes the Nation!— We got no secrets. Here’s how we’re voting. —״Blood: A Strong Occupation for Israel״— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: The anti-Occupation NGO Breaking the Silence runs a faux election campaign for a faux party whose faux slogan is, “A Strong Occupation for Israel.” What do you do with that? All this and Moom Nadir, good ol’ punk!

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   —The Stakes— Just what happens if Benjamin Netanyahu is elected Prime Minister? —A Line in the Sea— Israel negotiates an historic treaty with Lebanon, but Prime Minister Yair Lapid doesn’t bring it to the Knesset to ratify, on the grounds that, if he did, it wouldn’t. Did he make the right call? —Oh, Donald!— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Like with last week’s tweet by Kanye, we wonder why didn’t Donald’s tweet bug Israeli Jews. All this and Odeya, a 21 year old cooler-than-cool rising star!

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss three 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   —Ad Hominem, Ad Absurdum, Ad Victorium & Ad Nauseum— We watched hundreds of election ads, so you don’t have to. What do they tell us about that the parties are trying to tell voters? —Thesis – Antithesis – Screw You!— Maybe nothing makes people as mad as beloved celebrity changing political camps. How come? —After the Holidays— For a month, during the holidays, it’s almost impossible to do anything. Then the world comes crashing back. —Oh, Kanye!— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Why didn’t Kanye’s tweet bug Israeli Jews (who, one imagines, Kanye’s also gone to Death Con 3 on). All this and Meshi Kleinstein, the daughter of two of the most popular singers in Israel’s history, now singing on her own (and also with her folks)!

Allison Kaplan Sommer 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   —Yair in Dag Hammarskjöld Square— A month before elections, caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid tells the UN he supports the creation of a Palestinian state. How come? —We Are All Grammy Hall— Global thought leaders think Israel is the 2nd most religious country on earth? Why on earth do they think that?!? —The Weird Magic of Yom Kippur— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Allison and Noah talk about the weird magic of Yom Kippur on Israeli streets. All this and a preview of the throaty shoo bop goodness of Ella Raphael’s soon-to-be-released first record!

In this very special, carbon-neutral episode, we look back on people who lately left us, leaving a huge mark on our lives and world. In Memoriam Clips Architect Danny Karavan Activist Miriam Levenger Rabbi Bent Melchior Lyricist, poet and writer Yarom Tahar-Lev Feminist Activist and MK Marcia Freedman MK Aharon Abuhatzera Rabbi, Scholar and Leader, Chaim Kanievsky Noam Schwartz All songs by jazz genius, Yakir Arbib! Songs Hassid Trance God Procrastinator The Red Fugue You go to My Head I Got Rhythm I’m Confessin (That I Love You) Song for an Unborn Child Things Ain’t What They Used to Be

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. —Cutting to the Core— Benjamin Netanyahu promises ultra-Orthodox politicians, in exchange for their support, to fully-fund Haredi schools no matter what they do and do not teach. Is that unhinged and irresponsible? —A Woman’s Place— It’s the patriarchy, Stupid! —Curses & Blessings— Reflections on the year that was. All this and songs to take us from the end of the month of Elul through the Days of Awe!

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss three 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   —What Gantz Wantz— A little from Column A, a little from Column B: What does the “National Unity Party” candidate list tell us about what the party stands for? —What Did You Learn in School Today?— Is it wrong for a high school principal to let ultra-nationalist MK Itamar Ben Gvir give a speech to her kids? —Enflamed Youth— The head of Israel’s hottest new political party is a TikTok celeb too young to be elected to the Knesset. What gives? —The Nature Hikes in Israel That Left Their Marks On Our Souls— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: In honor of Israel’s most legendary hiker, Shuka Ravek, who died this week at 91, we talk about nature hikes we’ve taken over the years that have left their marks on our psyches and our souls. All this and Gugi!

In this very-special episode from Limmud Oz in Melbourne, Australia, Noah puzzles out – What? – why he and Susan uprooted their family tree from rich American soil, replanting it in the alluvium of Israel, and how that’s worked out for them and their kids, who are now the age their parents were when they first came to the country. Not a story for everyone, but maybe one that will interest a few. With huge thanks for the amazing folks at Limmud Oz!

In this 100% reused-reduced-recycled episode, Noah bloviates about Tel Aviv-Jaffa, the city we love so well!   The Pussycat Club  Coffee Lab  Tal Tenne Czaczkes Tel Aviv’s City Council Debates Things that Matter Bartleby in Tel Aviv  The Boteach Sex Store  The Bus on Ben Yehuda Theodor Herzl’s Funeral Pal The Hotel Where Eichmann Slept Up in the Old Palatin Hotel   (Plus music of the city, by the city, for the city!)

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron discuss three 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     —Back to the Future— Did the Meretz party primaries just send the party back to the future? —Homo Sionisticus Religiosus— What, if anything, do the primaries in the Religious Zionism party say about, well, religious Zionism? —Primary Directive— Do party primaries pick better Knesset candidates than the more autocratic alternatives? —How Does American College Life Differ From Israeli University Life?— For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: With Gilad’s triumphant return from teaching media and journalism at San Diego State University, we talk about how American college life differ from Israeli university life, and what it is like, in this day an age, to be an Israeli transplant on an American campus. All this and Folly Tree!