The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "Paths to Perdition" Edition May 14, 2026

Show notes

Miriam, Noah, and Deputy Director of the Geneva Initiative Tehila Wenger talk about: 1) The controversial opinion piece in the Times suggesting that Israeli guards and soldiers sexually assault Palestinian prisoners, and 2) Why Jerusalem Day has become an almost sectarian holiday for religious Zionists.

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Tehila Wenger's Geneva Initiative has been arguing for a Two-State Solution for 23 years. How has working for peace changed over this time?

Plus remembering Marie Nahmias and a few things that moved us over the week.

The "School Daze" Edition May 07, 2026

Show notes

Allison, Noah and (for some of the time) special star-ringer Professor Gordon Lafer talk about: 1) How the war with Iran seems to have quickened a surprisingly close strategic relationship between Israel and the UAE, and 2) How Israel is these days seen on college campuses, from the quad to the student union to the seminar room to the faculty lounge.

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Is it still possible to be a "liberal Zionist" outside of Israel?

Plus an ambivalent tribute to artist Yair Garbuz and a few things that moved us over the week.

The "This Feeling is Called Hope" Edition Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Linda and Noah talk about 1) President Yitzhak Herzog's split-the-baby reply to Prime Minister Netanyahu's request for a pardon, saying he will host and mediate plea bargain negotiations: Is this clever or craven? 2) The announcement that former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid will run together in the upcoming elections, with Bennett atop the list, and whether the whole they make is bigger or smaller than the sum of its parts.

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: After Bennett and Lapid ring the opening bell of the election campaign, we ask ourselves what we expect from the next six months of politicians politicking politically.

Plus new songs with words by lately fallen soldiers, a kid in Beirut who asks the IDF to blow up her school, and talking peace in Area C.

The "Men & Gods" Edition Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron talk about 1) The imposed cease-fires, and whether Israelis ought to worry we're becoming a vassal state, and 2) What explains why an IDF soldier thought it was right, or maybe just amusing, to take a sledgehammer to a statue of Jesus in a yard in a village in Lebanon.

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Peace activist, negotiator, and friend of the podcast Gershon Baskin writes that, "Donald Trump is the best chance Israelis, Palestinians have for peace since 1993". That so?

Plus the joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Ceremony, an out of control bus-driver, and the lovely debut record of rising-star Noa Carsenti.

The "Bombs and Balms" Edition Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Allison and Noah talk about 1) Whether or not, as an essay in the New York Times suggests, war has become "not a strategy but the norm" for Israel, (2) The World Happiness Reports finding that Israelis remain among the happiest people on earth, including after October 7th: Why is this?

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: A bunch of writers send a confusing open-letter to the Jewish Book Council saying (we think) that the JBC needs to de-Zionize. What should we make of that?

Plus Yom Hashoah, Yom Ha-Atzmaut and Noga Erez rocking Coachella!

The "War is Over! (If You Ignore a Thing or Two)" Edition Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Linda and Noah talk about: 1) The abrupt, maybe fleeting, end to the war with Iran, and what it means, and 2) The "Death Penalty for Terrorists" law recently passed by the Knesset (and destined to be struck down by the Supreme Court), and what it means.

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Polls showed support for the war among Israelis steadily slipping with each passing day. Why did people's faith that something good might come of bombing Iran fade even as the airforces of Israel and the United States did most everything they set out to do?

Plus a wedding that changed a culture, a boy gone missing, and life underground.

The "Egypt Within Us" Edition Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Linda, Noah and journalist Judah Ari Gross discuss: 1) the Jewish thugs attacking, hurting and terrorizing Palestinians on the West Bank and, relatedly, 2) what our exodus story needs to be this year.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: With the missiles and all the rest, we struggle to answer Joey Tribiani's all-important question: "How you doin'?"

Plus making Passover at this odd moment (an audio collage by Miriam) and music of our season of freedom.

The "Radio Days" Edition Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

Ninety years ago this week, Hebrew was heard on airwaves as the Voice of Jerusalem had its first broadcast. The feint echoes of the thing are worth listening for today.

The "Confounded, Unbounded & Undergrounded" Edition Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

In this gala return of the Podcast, Miriam and Noah talk about (A) What this thing with Iran is, (1) Whether these days we're seeing a new, more Strangelovian Prime Minister Netanyahu, and (2) What life underground in the homefront tells us about Israeli society at this strange moment.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Miriam and Noah talk about their lives during wartime. Is it really true that it ain't no disco, it ain't no party, it ain't no fooling around?

Plus some really good music that sounds more or less how we feel these days.

The "Ran's Sheloshim" Edition Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

Today marks the thirtieth day since we buried Ran Gvili, the hostage who came home last. The thirty day mark, the Sheloshim, signifies the end of the period of intense mourning. It may also be taken as the end of the terrible war in Gaza that followed October 7. Noah explores how wars end in Israel, and what the end of this war is like for all of us going through it.

(This is the last of our special breaktime episodes. Stay tuned, the show is coming back soon!)