The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "What Now?" Edition Nov 11, 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.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—What Now?—

Now that Israel has a budget (after several years of not having a budget), is it smooth sailing from now on?

—Some of the Best Standards are Double Standards—

A supermarket chain charges ultra-Orthodox shoppers a lot less than the rest of us. Is this discrimination, or just market forces doing what they do?

—The Strange Death & Curious Rebirth of the Israeli Left?—Who killed Israel's Left?

—The Airport Gates Are (Wide) Open—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, after a week of vigorous reporting by Allison about how reopening the airport to tourists has been pretty worryingly botched, we talk about how we feel about the gates of the country finally being thrown wide to let in curious well-wishers with handsome disposable incomes, from all around the world.

All that and Cohen!

The "Earmarks & Skidmarks" Edition Nov 04, 2021

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer 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

—You Say "Corruption" Like It Was a Bad Thing!—

Should coalition members get to earmark millions for their favorite causes?

—Death, Taxes & Traffic—

The Knesset's new "pigovian" congestion tax will make half a million people pay handsomely every time they drive into Tel Aviv. Isn't it time that someone made Allison pay?

—A Likud So Powerful That Even It Can't Form a Government?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we try to make sense of a new poll finding that if elections were held today, the Likud would grow stronger – to 36 seats – but that neither today's coalition nor today's opposition would be able to form a government. What's it augur?

All that and the enchanting sounds of Tandu*!

*With eternal gratitude to Reena Berenberg!

The "The Climes They Are A-Changin'" Edition Oct 28, 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

—Burdens of Proof—

Defense Minister Benny Gantz says we can trust him that he wouldn't outlaw Palestinian human rights organizations without a really good reason.

—A Great Deal of New Green—

A 100 point action plan to slow climate change? Is that maybe too many points?

—Breathing Easy—

When a COVID patient needs a new lung, should the vaxxed have priority over the unvaxxed?

—"Whose Promised Land? A Journey Into a Divided Israel"—

The new New York Times Bureau Chief in Jerusalem takes a ten-day tour of Israel, and finds that it's filled with bitter, disaffected malcontents. Did he maybe miss something?

All that and drummer-singer-songwriter Noa Segal!

The "From 'Et Tu' to 'Me Too'" Edition Oct 21, 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.

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

—Nullifying Netanyahu?—

Former Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein challenges Benjamin Netanyahu for leadership of the Likud. Are Netanyahu's days numbered?

—Him Too?—

"He suddenly pinned me to the door and tried to kiss me." What do we make of Shimon Peres, now that we know?

—Rabin's Square is Closed for Renovation—

Rabin Square is about to be closed for years of renovation. Is that a blow to civic culture, and maybe even democracy?

—The Israeli Foods We're Nostalgic For—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, with the start of Krembo season (the happiest season of the year), we talk about the Israeli foods we're nostalgic for.

All that and OBD!

The "Vax & Figures" Edition Oct 14, 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.

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

—Vax & Figures—

What's the link between who Israelis vote for and whether, when, and how we get vaxxed and boostered?

—The Cost of Freedom—

Gilad Shalit was freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza exactly ten years ago. Was the deal that brought him home a good one?

—Once They Wrote Love Songs for Tel Aviv—

Has Tel Aviv jumped the shark?

—What to Make of L'Affaire de Rooney?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we wonder what we ought to make of l'Affaire de Rooney?

All that and new music of Israel's most outre rapper, Hadar Farjun!

The "Waking Up But Still Not Woke" Edition Oct 07, 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

—Coffee or Conflict: How Do Israelis Start Our Days?—

Was PM Bennett right when he said at the UN that "Israelis don't wake up in the morning thinking about conflict"?

—Smile!—

Cameras in classroom, oh my!

—Stone of Hearts—

Would it really be so bad if not every building in Jerusalem was faced with the same tawny stone?

—Opposing the Occupation Yet Choosing to Join the IDF and Serve in the Territories—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we mull over a personal essay in Haaretz called, "I Oppose the Occupation. This Is Why I Chose to Serve as an IDF Soldier in the Occupied West Bank."

All that and music by The Bench, in honor of their new, debut record, Jasimo!

The "We'll Try to Stay Serene & Calm" Edition Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, 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.

—Iran, One Month from the Bomb—

Experts say Iran can have an atomic bomb by Hanukkah. What, if anything, can Israel do about it?

—Who is Sex For?— Is it unseemly for 60 year olds to let the rest of us know they still have sex?

—Our Favorite Tel Aviv Coffee Shops and Bars—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we discuss our favorite coffee shops and bars in the city.

Sarit Hadad, in honor of coming out in song!

The "Ushpizin" Edition Sep 23, 2021

Show notes

There is an ancient tradition on Sukkot, which is to say now, called Ushpizin, an aramaic word that means "Guests", and at its simplest, it means that one invites guests of all sorts, including anyone around who needs a meal, to eat with you in your Sukkah. But already in the 16th century, and maybe long before that, Kabbalists and mystics had symbolicized the thing, saying that when you sit in your Sukkah the Shekhinah , the divine presence, draws righteous heroes from history into your sukkah.

Join us for a podcastilogical Ushpizin, constructed of 100% reused, renewed and recycled old episodes (because that's how much we care!)

Wild brilliance by one of our great composers, Aviya Kopelman, the youngest ever person to win the Prime Minister Prize for composition!

The "Taking Stock" Edition Sep 15, 2021

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Sally Abed 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

—A Year of Abraham Accords—

A year ago this week, ambassadors from the UAE and Bahrain celebrated with then-President Donald Trump and then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the launch of the Abraham Accords. With Trump and Netanyahu booted out of office in the interim, what should we make of the accords now?

—Escape—

After a week glued-to-the-screen, following a manhunt after six escaped Palestinian prisoners, we ask: What just happened?

—White-ish Feminism—

Some Israeli feminists say they've had enough of "White(ish) Feminism." Do they have a point?

—What Yom Kippur Means to Us—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we discuss what this days-of-awe-holiday-season means to us, each from our own perspective.

All that and Sima Noon!

The "Distinguished & Undistinguished Distinctions" Edition Sep 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

—Body Politics—

A 21-year-old sergeant in the Border Police dies after being shot in the head through a hole in the wall that separates Israel from Gaza, and the tragedy instantly becomes a political talking point leading to demands that the Prime Minister resign. Why are IDF casualties suddenly being politicized?

—A Problematical, Dogmatical, Fanatical, Climatical Sabbatical?—

The Bible says that every seventh year, Jews are prohibited from planting in the Holy Land. Does that mean that, in 2021, Tel Aviv must stop planting shade trees, because the Bible told them so?

—The Goy and the Jewish Question—

Does Israel have a "Goy" problem?

—"I Know Israel Has Let You Down. We are Doing Teshuvah, Repentance."—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about a controversial High-Holidays-Days-of-Awe essay in the Times of Israel and on the JTA wire by Minister of Diaspora Affairs Nahman Shai headlined "I Know Israel Has Let You Down. We are Doing Teshuvah, Repentance." But are we?

All that and new music one of Israel's newest stars, Nofar Salman!

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