The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "Can't Spell 'Plea Bargain' Without 'Rage' and 'Pain'" Edition Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and returning prodigal son, Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida 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

—Can't Spell 'Plea Bargain' Without 'Rage' and 'Pain'—

Why are so many people so mad about a possible plea bargain that would keep former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu out of both jail and the Knesset?

—The Ideology of No Ideology—

Israel's new pandemic policy seems to be, Do what you think is best, and good luck to you! Is Israel having the most free-marketty, Adam-Smithian, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps moment in our almost 74 year history?

—Stay a While—

Are some Israeli politicians right to worry that if Israelis can enter the U.S. without a visa, some of them will never come back?

—Our Fave Israeli Social Media Accounts—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we share some of our favorite, most fun and delightful, Israeli social media accounts.

All this and virtuoso jazz vocalist Noam Vazana singing new songs in Ladino.

The "Pure of Heart" Edition Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

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.

—Memorial Matters—

There never was, and will never be, anyone like Yoram Taharlev, May his Memory Be for a Blessing.

—In the Heights—

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett exults that "This is the moment of the Golan Heights." But should it be?

—We've Only Just Begun—

Yair Lapid and his Yesh Atid party celebrate ten years in politics, longer than any centrist party ever survived the rough-and-tumble of Israeli politics. What is the secret of their success?

All this and new versions of a few of Yoram Taharlev's most beloved songs, off the just-finished project, Ya'aleh ve-Yavo: A Tribute to the Songs of Yoram Taharlev.

The "Dunno Much About Art" Edition Jan 06, 2022

Show notes

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.

Listen to the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—From Ramallah to Rosh Ha-'Ayin—

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz meet in Gantz's living room. Cause for hope?

—Be-Waldered—

Revered kids-book writer Rabbi Chaim Walder kills himself after it comes out that he sexually abused dozens of women and girls over decades, and ultra-Orthodox leaders don't know what to do and say.

—Dunno Much About Art, But I Know What I Hate—

The mayor of Ramat Gan successfully campaigns to get his municipal art museum to take down a painting he finds offensive. What can we learn from this about who ought to decide what we see in the museums our taxes pay for?

—Our Covid Rollercoaster—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about the official handling of the pandemic at this omicromical moment, which handling seems like an odd mixture of panic and passivity so great, it almost borders on apathy. It feels like we're in a roller coaster car, having just slowly been hoisted to the top of the first steep decline, and we're about to lose our lunch.

All this and the sultry music of Ziv!

The "This is Reality!" Edition Dec 30, 2021

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and Sally Abed 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

Link to Give to Standing Together

—This Would Not Have Happened a Year Ago—

United Arab List head, Dr. Mansour Abbas, says that Israel always has been, and always will be a Jewish State, it's time for everyone to accept that. How big a deal is that?

—Sara—

Did we have Sara all wrong, all along?

—This Is Reality, Itamar!—

Politicians, professors and pundits are all turning up on Reality TV. Is gravitas dead?

—"Happy" New Year?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about how this New Year's finds us: Down in the Duldrummy dumps? Ready to break out? Dazed and confused? Guardedly optimistic? Weirdly sober? It's kind of a window into our souls!

All this and the music of Gedy Ronen!

The "Autarky Malarkey!" Edition Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and and returning prodigal son, Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Listen to the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—"A Mandate" Anagrams to "A Tad Mean"—

Israel's Corona Czar says the time has come to consider a "vaccine mandate." Is this why the word "omicron" anagrams to "moronic"?

—Whose Violence is it, Anyway?—

Why do folks on the left and the right see such very different things when they look at violence on the roads and in the fields of the West Bank?

—Et Tu, Walden? (Or, Autarky Malarkey!)—

Would we all be better off if more of us lived off the grid, Henry David Thoreau style?

—Reacting to the Latest Scandal-de-Jour—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we discuss the scandal-de-jour, in which former director of the Mossad, and a presumptive heir to Benjamin Netanyahu, Yossi Cohen, is found to have braggadociously shared state secrets with his flight-attendant consort and her cuckold (and kinda pissed) husband. We'll try to sortout what to make of this sordid affair.

All this and songs by Solomon Ibn Gvirol, to celebrate his 1,000th birthday! (Because, you only turn 1,000 once!)

The "F*ck'm!" Edition Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

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.

Listen to the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—F*ck'm!—

Former US President Donald Trump says that former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu never wanted to make peace, and doesn't know the meaning of loyalty. But aren't the two men BFFs?

—Unit 8200, Down on Route 60—

The IDF pledges to move its crack intelligence units from the center of the country two hours south, and lots of career soldiers weigh leaving the army for the private sector. What should the generals do?

—Torched—

Every year, twelve exemplary Israelis are chosen to light torches at the main Independence Day Celebrations, because they represent the best of us. The call for nominations just went out, and the Promised Podcast answers that call, picking our own dazzling dozen.

—Shop 'Til You Drop—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we try to understand the newest Government corona edict, which says that you can only shop in malls if you've been double vaxxed and boosted, or had COVID in the past six months, save for grocery stores, pharmacies and clinics in malls, and everyone entering the mall will get either a green wristband indicating double vax and booster or a red wristband indicating anything less than that, which edict has mall proprietors apoplectic and preparing a petition to the supreme court arguing that making people wear their vax status on their wrist in malls is a violation of their privacy. Oy!

All that and the amazing live-from-the-streets music of Coral Bismuth*!

The "This is Not Wonderland" Edition Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

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.

Listen to the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Leading the Witness—

Police investigators strong-arm Benjamin Netanyahu's one-time spokesman and media consultant to testify against his former boss, saying that if he doesn't they'll destroy his family and his life. Is the whole trial tainted?

—We Beat the Syrian Army, Surely We can Beat Climate Change—

The IDF gears up to take the lead in Israel's response to climate change. Is that a good thing?

—Holding the Line—

By changing regulations, the government plans to make it harder for ultra-Orthodox leaders to make sure their followers use only "kosher phones." Are Haredi rabbis and politicians right to be upset?

—Be Best, Israeli Style?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we try to understand President Yitzhak Herzog's new campaign to be nice on the internet, so as to "shine our inner light" on others. Is this anything more than presidential pablum?

All that and Ella Shik Blum!

The "Candles with Zealots, Oh My!" Edition Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and journalist-extraordinaire Dina Kraft discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Listen to the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Hanukkah with Zealots, Oh My!—

President Yitzhak Herzog lights candles with settlers in Hebron, causing protestors on the left to cry, "He's not my president."

—Whose Country Is It Anyway?—

By closing its borders, is Israel turning diaspora Jews into "second-class Jews"?

—(Some) People's Army—

Is the IDF still a "People's army"?

—Here's Why Ultra-Orthodox Aliyah to Israel Is Breaking Records—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about a socko new essay in Haaretz by FoPP Judy Maltz, entitled, "Ultra-Orthodox Aliyah to Israel is Breaking Records. Here's Why."

All that and Kiki Malinky!

The "Model Citizens" Edition Nov 25, 2021

Show notes

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.

—No Prize—

Israel's Education Minister decides not to give the country's biggest prize to a genius computer theorist because he petitioned the EU to boycott an Israeli university in the territories.

—If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem, Let My Office Chair Creak—

If Jerusalem is Israel's capital, does that mean that all the government needs to be there?

—Israel's Next Top Model—

New models say in 2050, one in four Israelis will be ultra-Orthodox, but does that maybe tell us more about the models than it does about the ultra-Orthodox?

—The Rise of "Holocaust Distortion"—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about a disturbing new essay by Allison about COVID and the rise of "Holocaust distortion."

All that and the enchanting harp of Renana Ne'eman!

The "Getting Rid and Holding On" Edition Nov 18, 2021

Show notes

Sally Abed and Noah Efron discuss three two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Listen to the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Limited—

Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel's new proposed term-limit law is the sort of law you'd see in Iran, Syria and North Korea. Does he have a point?

—Tradition, Tradition!—

Can "traditionalism" (mesoratiut) reshape Israeli politics as we know it?

—Israelis and Israeliness Abroad—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about what it's like, when we travel, to be Israelis abroad.

All that and a boy named Neta Weiner!

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