The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "Who's In & Who's Out?" Edition Feb 04, 2021

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and Standing Together's 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

—Failure to Launch—

Why did so many men starting so many center-left parties end up with electile disfunction?

—Anyone But Them—

The biggest issue in Israel's March elections won't be COVID, won't be an economy in free fall, and won't be Iran going nuclear. Nah, the biggest issue is ultra-Orthodox Jews. Why oh why?

—But They Have Lady Pacman, Don't They?—

Ten parties will probably be elected to the next Knesset. One will be headed by a woman. Why?

—Why Do So Many Israeli Journalists Find Their Way Into Israeli Politics?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about a question Allison raised beautifully in a socko essay in Haaretz: Why do so many Israeli journalists find their way into Israeli politics?

All that and the neo-new wave of Or Litman!

The "Changing Fortunes" Edition Jan 28, 2021

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida 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

—New Labor, Again?—

Did we eulogize the Labor Party too soon?

—Acting Big?—

PM Netanyahu unveils a plan to give most Israelis a pile of free cash, just weeks before elections. Is that necessarily a bad thing?

—How Will We Come Out of This?—

With one in three Israelis vaccinated, maybe it's time to figure out what life will be like when this is all over.

—Is One Day Commemorating the Holocaust Just Not Enough?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, after marking this week's "International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust," we wonder what it means to have two Holocaust days, one for the world (and not for us), and one for us (and not for the world). Would we be better off if the two were combined?

All that and the music of Yakir Hillel!

The "Shots & Tots" Edition Jan 21, 2021

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida 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

—Helsinki, Helsinki—

Israel's top bioethics board says that PM Netanyahu's deal to give Pfizer data on everyone who got the vaccinated is illegal, because it amounts to a massive human experiment that was never approved by, well, Israel's top bioethics board. Should the deal be vacated?

—Jenin, Jenin—

A judge orders confiscation of the 2002 movie "Jenin, Jenin" – a record of Palestinian accounts of the IDFs 2002 incursion into that city – while still letting the movie stream on Youtube. Is there any sense to that verdict?

—What's in a Name?—

What do the names Israelis give our babies say about our society and our souls?

—I Got My COVID Vaccine and I Feel Miserable About It—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, following a terrific, viral essay by Allison in Haaretz headlined, "I Just Got My COVID-19 Vaccination – Here's Why I Feel Miserable About It," we discuss how we're feeling about getting vaccinated (or not getting vaccinated yet), which turns out to be surprisingly complicated. Their guilt, jubilation, worry, relief, and so many other feelings.

All that and the music of the odd and fascinating EOK Project!

The "But For Mel" Edition Jan 14, 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

—Bezalel and Naftali Love You Very Much—

Is there no room anymore for "religious Zionist" parties in the Knesset?

—Lift My Eyes Unto the Hills—

Idealists? Dropouts? True-Believers? Anarchists? Pioneers? Thugs?: What should we make of "Hilltop Youth"?

—The Medium Is the Message?—

Why will Israelis never ever delete Whatsapp from our phones, no matter how much private information they fork over to Facebook?

—The Man of Grand Generosity Who Also Made Israel Less Democratic, Less Welcoming and Less Decent—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we try to figure out what (and how) to think about Sheldon Adelson, a man of grand generosity who also used his vast wealth to make two countries we love less democratic, less welcoming, and less decent. (With appreciation to Seffi Kogan and Allie Lipner Rosenblum.)

All that and the ayahuasca-inspired musical and emotional genius of Gon Ben Ari and the Zulat Choir!

The "Party Time!" Edition Jan 07, 2021

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida 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

—Party Time!—

Five new center-left parties launched last week, and there are more on the way this week. Why are lefty parties sprouting like mushrooms after a spring rain?

—Going for Netanyahu in Droves?—

Prime Minister Netanyahu hints that he's eager for an Islamicist party to join his coalition after the elections. Is this a turning-point in the history of Israeli politics?

—In Living Color—

An amateur historian and artist colorizes dozens of photos taken by a Wehrmacht officer of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, in order to show a brighter side of day-to-day life in the shadow of the Holocaust. Is that what we want? What we need?

—Should Burg Receive the Gift of No Longer Being Chosen?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we discuss former Speaker-of-the-Knesset Avrum Burg's petition of the Supreme Court to remove from official documents any mention that his "nationality" is Jewish. This, in protest of the Nation-State Law. Should Burg receive the gift of no longer being Chosen?

All that and the new wave drive of Tal Label!

The "Might Less Be More?" Edition Dec 31, 2020

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.

—DNR for Labor?—

Is pulling the plug on Israel's Labor Party the only decent thing to do?

—In Seeking Peace, Might Less Be More?—

Would Israelis and Palestinians be better off, if Americans stopped trying to broker grand peace accords?

—What's So Wrong with Law & Liberty—

A group of conservative lawyers in Israel, following the lead of America's Federalist Society, play the long-game to change Israel's courts beyond recognition. Is that a bad thing?

—Political Bait and Switch?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we help the Academy for the Hebrew Language pick the "Word of the Year"!

All that and the extraordinary genius of Nissim Black!

The "Age of Miracle and Wonder Women" Edition Dec 24, 2020

Show notes

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida 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

—Elections, Infections & Abjections—

Is the collapse of Israel's government a good thing, in a They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Sort of way?

—Vaccination Lamentation—

Why are so many of Israel's anti-vaxxers leftists?

New Jewess

Is Gal Gadot the "New Jewess"?

—"Urban Freedom"—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we discuss a new survey of "Urban Freedom" by the separation-of-church-and-state-advocacy group Yisrael Hofshit, about which Allison wrote in Haaretz.

Kama Vardi, in celebration of her new album, Moonticket!

The "If This Peace is Moroccan, You Better Come Knockin'" Edition Dec 17, 2020

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 Patreon Segment

—Casablanca Dreamin'—

Might peace between Morocco and Israel be kinda a game changer?

—Netanyahu's Man in the Islamic Movement—

Is Prime Minister Netanyahu's newest BFF a representative of the Islamic Movement?

—Checkin' Facts—

Real-time, live, fact-checking Netanyahu seems like a good idea, but is it?

—Political Bait and Switch?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we ask, do politicians who bolt from one party and join another, in order to stay in the Knesset, really deserve to be mocked and scorned?

All that and the music of Yagel Harush & Ensemble Shir Yedidut.

The "New Hopes & Old" Edition Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

Times of Israel Ops & Blogs editor Miriam Herschlag, Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Donate to the Tel Aviv Crisis Center's crowdsource campaign

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

—"Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made On"—

Gideon Sa'ar, an acolyte-turned-enemy of Prime Minister Netanyahu starts a new right-wing and promises to pry Netanyahu from the office he's held for eleven long years straight. Is this the beginning of the end for Bibi?

—My Kidn is for Yidn—

Former MK Moshe Feiglin just donated a kidney, and wanted to designate that it go to a Jew. What's wrong with that?

—Ain't No Vision Like Eurovision—

Help pick Israel's song in the Rotterdam Eurovision next May!

—What (if Anything) Does Hanukkah Mean to Us?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we ask, what (if anything) this holiday of lights, Hanukkah, means to us?

All that and Israeli tributes to John Lennon, marking 40 long years without him.

The "Rational Insecurity" Edition Dec 03, 2020

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 segment on Patreon

—An Irony Wrapped in a Prevarication Inside a Mendacity—

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants new elections but votes against them; Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz does not want new elections but votes for them. Is Israel heading back to the polls?

—Remember that Name, Fakhrizadeh—

Why does the assassination of the head of Iran's nuclear weapons program seem like one thing in Jerusalem and something very different in Washington? (We are joined by special guest star, Tamara Cofman-Wittes of the socko Rational Security podcast)

—Arks & Sciences—

What are we to make of an archaeologist's claim that King David was little more than the mediocre chieftain of a mediocre tribe?

—Celebrating Danny Sanderson's 70th Birthday —

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, in honor of the 70th birthday of the great songwriter-rock-star-mensch Danny Sanderson, we play a few of our favorite songs from his astonishing, 50-year career.

All that and the our own celebration of uber-mensch, rock-star Danny Sanderson's 70th birthday!