The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "Subs, Spies & Videotape" Edition Nov 26, 2020

Show notes

Host of TLV1's Tel Aviv Review, Gilad Halpern, 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.

—Sub-Committee?—

Minister of Defense and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz's sets up a to investigate corruption in the purchase of German submarines and ships, that may implicate the Prime Minister. But should ministries be used to harass political rivals?

—The Spy Who Came in from the Cold—

American-spy-for-Israel Jonathan Pollard is free after 35 years and moving to Israel. What sort of welcome should he get?

—#IDF—

The IDF sweats to seem cool on social media. But should an army be cool?

—Is Eytan Stibbe an Actual Astronaut?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we discuss the hubbub around Eytan Stibbe, that promises to develop into a fuferra and, after that — who knows? — even a fracas. Eytan Stibbe is a fighter pilot turned venture capitalist in the fast-paced and glamorous world of international arms sales. In exchange for a seven-figure donation, he's slated to spend ten days on the International Space Station next October, and he's being celebrated as the second Israeli in space, after Ilan Ramon, may his memory be for a blessing. But wags say, he ain't no hero of mine.

All that and the offbeat charm of Kochevet Al!

The "Vaxx, Facts & Tax" Edition Nov 19, 2020

Show notes

Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag, 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 this week's Extra Segment on Patreon

—The Vaxx—

When Pfizer announced last week that its vaccine looks good, PM Netanyahu got on the horn and negotiated a deal to buy a mess of vaccine at high-end boutique prices, even though six months ago, Israel entered a much cheaper deal for vaccines by Moderna. Was the PM showboating, politicking, or looking out for the health of his citizens?

—The Facts—

A crowdsourced campaign puts the faces and names of rapists and abusers on billboards and bus-side ads, in order to shame them. Cathartic, yes? But does it make our lives better or worse?

—The Tax—

When you buy stuff from overseas on the internet, you don't pay tax, but when you go into a store in Tel Aviv, you do. Does that make any sense at all?

—Will the Slurpee® Succeed on Soil Sanctified by Solomon?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about plans to bring 250 branches of convenience store 7-Eleven to Israel in the next two years. Will the Slurpee® succeed on soil sanctified by Solomon? Should it succeed? Also, in Israel, do they give away the free Slurpees on July 11, like they do in America (July 11 being 7-11 in America), or will it be on November 7 (November 7 being 7-11 in Israel)? So many important questions!

All that and the challenging genius of Kalkar.

The "Sons of Strongmen" Edition Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag, Wunderkind 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.

—What Was That?—

Trump will soon be the 45th ex-President of the United States. Did his turbulent four years in office change Israel in ways that will last?

—New Left?—

Aging lions of the old Left say the only way the Left will survive is if it leaves Zionism out of party politics. Do they have a point?

—The Yair Netanyahu Show—

The Twitter-pugilist son of the prime minister, Yair Netanyahu, starts a podcast interviewing right-wing populist leaders and pretenders around the world, trying to create an international coalition of My-Country-First nationalists. We listened and survived to tell the tale!

All that and songs from poems by Natan Zach, the great poet who died this week, and about whom we are tumultuously ambivalent.

The "Leaders Come and Leaders Go" Edition Nov 05, 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.

—9,499 Kilometers—

Washington lies 9,499 kilometers from Jerusalem, and yet the politics of the one affects the politics of the other. What, if anything, can we learn from the mess of American politics about the mess of Israeli politics?

—Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots & Trump Jews—

Haaretz's Anshel Pfeffer writes that Jews in Paris, Brasilia and Jerusalem splitting into two tribes: Trump Jews & Anti-Trump Jews. Does he have a point?

—"Your Rabin, Not Mine"—

An Minister in Israel says Rabin's legacy means nothing to her. Is that cool?

—"I've Never Felt More American and Never Felt Less American"—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about how we experienced the elections, in our different ways. Hint: At least one of us never felt more American and never felt less American, than he did at 3:30 am, Israel time, after the polls closed, pressing refresh over and over again like a rat pressing a pellet bar in a skinner box.

All that and the happy harmony of Moonshine!

The "This Place!" Edition Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag, Wunderkind Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida, All-star Haaretz writer Allison Kaplan-Sommer, NGO-maven-and-story-teller Don Futterman, Dan-David-Prize Czar Charlotte Halle, and ne'er-do-well Noah Efron tell stories of life and love in this place they call home, all previously aired, for quality control purposes. (That's how much we care about your listening experience!)

The "Anything But Apathy" Edition Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

—How Do You Solve a Problem Like Rav Kanievsky?—

Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox kids are going each day to schools that are required by law to be closed, in maybe the biggest act of civil disobedience in Israel's history. What's the government to do?

—Skin in the Game?—

Race, ethnicity, peoplehood, nationality, religion: How do these things fit together in today's Israel?

—Anything But Apathy—

Can a $678 embroidered hoodie with dropped shoulders and panelled long sleeves help bring peace to Israelis and Palestinians?

—Is There Something Unique About Antisemitism on Social Media ?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about an essay in the forward by Joel Swanson called, "Facebook has banned Holocaust denial. But what about other genocides?", and ask more generally, is there something unique and sui generis about antisemitism on social media.

All that and songs from Shlomi Shabat and family and friends!

The "Exit Strategy" Edition Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

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—Exit Strategy—

The government approves a plan to get out of Covid lockdown in nine easy stages. But will it work?

—I Am Breathing on You—

Novelist and editor Ruth Almog worries that Israelis are getting coarser, after a peeved, maskless woman breathes on her. Have we lost our civility?

—Every Day—

A big front-page ad compares abuse of animals to Treblinka. Is that o.k.?

—Ought a Jewess Like Gal Gadot Be Allowed to Play Cleopatra?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we discuss the fufura (though some think it's a mere brouhaha) on social media over whether a Jewess like Gal Gadot ought to be allowed to play Cleopatra on screen? All the Ancient Macedonian-Greek-Egyptian actresses in Hollywood are enraged at Gadot's cultural appropriation, and we'll try to figure out what to make of the fracas (though some think it's a mere ruckus).

All that and songs by Vxodoo Daddy and Evja!

"The People Doth Protest Too Much!" Edition Oct 08, 2020

Show notes

Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag, wunderkind critic 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.

—The People Doth Protest Too Much!—

In confining demonstrations to 1,000 meters from each protestor's home, did the government just do permanent damage to Israeli democracy?

—Distant, Yes, But Is It Learning?—

A study shows distance-learning is a complete failure for Israel's kids. Now what?

—Poets & Politicians—

Can poetry change politics?

—Oh Gila, Gila Gamliel…—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we consider whether Minister of Environmental Protection Gila Gamliel ought to be fired, after she got Covid after breaking the rules and going to shul on Yom Kippur hundreds of kilometers from her home, and then tried to cover it up.

All that and songs from the brand new EP by Jazz and Sabbo!

The "Love, Death and AOC" Edition Oct 01, 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.

—Who Shall Live—

As Israel's hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid patients, how do doctors decide who gets a ventilator and who doesn't?

—AOC, AOC, Won't You Fight for Me?—

Is AOC not that into us?

—Make Me a Match—

Why is matchmaking becoming a thing for (secular) Israelis?

—Our First Lousy, Temporary Homes in Israel—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, ahead of Sukkot, the only holiday of the Jewish year that valorizes lousy, temporary housing, we reminisce about some of our first lousy, temporary homes here in Israel.

All that and the happy music of Amir ve Ben!

The "Atone Again, Naturally" Edition Sep 24, 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.

—The Other Deal of the Century—

Should Prime Minister Netanyahu get amnesty from prosecution for corruption in exchange for resigning?

—RBG for She and We—

Israel's Former Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked, says she reveres RBG's freedom-fighting feminism, but would never have appointed her to the bench here. A contradiction?

—Atone Again, Naturally—

About which public figures have we "spoken slander and evil speech, accused falsely and deceitfully, mocked" and worse? Who deserves our apologies for the sins of podcastery and assholery?

—Michael Sfard Argues That in Israel, an RBG Could Never Make It To the Supreme Court. Is He Right?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we discuss an essay in Haaretz by the great civil rights lawyer Michael Sfard, arguing that in Israel, an RBG (or anyone who starts their career at an NGO) could never make it to the Supreme Court. We try to figure if he's right.

All that and four awesome songs for the Days of Awe!

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