The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "Getting Blitzed!" Edition Feb 20, 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.

--Gantze Mensch?--

Is Benny Gantz's message to Israeli voters basically what Julia Roberts said to Hugh Grant in Notting Hill: "I'm just a brigadier-general, standing in front of an electorate, asking them to love him?"

--Veni, Bibi, Vichi!--

PM Netanyahu surprises everyone by going positive, asserting that (A) Happy days are here again, and (B) The skies above are clear again. Has the time come to sing a song of cheer again?

--Won't You Be My Neighbor?--

Should the government pay mayors to build housing for the ultra-Orthodox, even if their constituents ain't so wild about the idea?

--The Best and Worst Election Ads, Tweets, Posts and Videos--

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss the best and worst in a new crop of election ads, tweets, posts and videos.

All this and the clever musicality of Shirey Mirpeset!

The "Self-Determination Abnegation?" Edition Feb 13, 2020

Show notes

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

--Self-Determination Abnegation?--

PM Netanyahu tells US President Trump of his "Deal of the Century" that, "It's a great plan for Israel. It's a great plan for peace. You have been the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House." Does his enthusiasm signal a reversal of decades of Israeli insistence that only Israel and the Palestinians can resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

--Yazbak Where She Belongs?--

The Central Election Committee votes to bar from running for the Knesset 34 year old Palestinian-Israeli firebrand lawmaker Hiba Yazbak (and the Supreme Court overturns the decision). Does the fact that she's a woman figure among the other reasons why MK Yazbak was banned?

--A Party of One's Own--

Does Israel need a women's party?

--Will the Democratic Candidates Boycott AIPAC?--

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss Allison's perceptive essay in Haaretz about the campaign in the US by a progressive alliance of the groups If Not Now, MoveOn, Indivisible and the Working Families Party to pressure democratic presidential hopefuls to boycott the Gala Annual convention of AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. What do we learn from the campaign about Democrats, AIPAC, If Not Now, and the politics of Israel among progressives in the 2020 elections.

All this and the cool of Omer Moskovich!

--Music--

Omer Moskovich (You can buy tix for the May 9 celebration of the release of her new record here!)

Hu
Nitztaref la-Eder
Davar Mah Meoded 'Al Kan
Eizeh Yofi

The "Godlessness, in Theory & Practice" Edition Feb 06, 2020

Show notes

--Godlessness: The Theory--

The doyen of Israeli sociology and a major public intellectual J'Accuses the left of swapping out good, Enlightenment values for mamby-pamby postmodern relativism, thereby allowing the rabbis to take over the country. Does she have a point?

--Godlessness: The Practice--

Avigdor Lieberman and his right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party say that only they will keep Israel "liberal" by beating back the rabbis. Were we wrong to think that the right, by nature, admires religion?

--Meanwhile, at the Movies…--

Should settler filmmakers get tax shekels to make settler films about settler experiences on settlements?

--Is Birthright to Thank for the Increase in Jewish American Babies?--

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment discuss an essay by Brandeis Professor Leonard Saxe, suggesting that the birthright program has "helped bring about a 25% rise in the US Jewish population." What is it – if anything -- about two weeks in Israel that could possibly account for the increased commitment to American Judaism?

All this and the soul of Ayala Ingedashet!

--Music--

Ayala Ingedashet

Ayo
Basar Va-Dam
La-nua
Sa

The "Bibi's Busy Week" Edition Jan 30, 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.

Check out this week's extra segment!

--A Pax on Both Your Houses--

We've read US President Trump's Deal-of-the-Century peace plan, and our considered reaction is, "WTF?!?"

--Not Immune--

Prime Minister Netanyahu withdraws his request for immunity, and is formally charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Now what?

--Homeward Bound--

Did Vladimir Putin just make Bibi Netanyahu his bitch?

--"I moved to Israel with hopes of peace. Trump's plan is the nail in that coffin."--

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss an essay in The Forward by our friend and colleague Dahlia Scheindlin, headlined, "I moved to Israel with hopes of peace. Trump's plan is the nail in that coffin." What do you say to a friend in such despair?

All this and the music of anna RF!

--Music--

anna RF

Mabruk Salam
Called you Zion (featuring Yonina & Haim Laroz)
Tshuva ten gaz
Olam Katan

The "Challenging Assumptions" Edition Jan 23, 2020

Show notes

Want to hear the extra segment?

--Lax Americana?--

A former US Ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, argues it's time for America to throw in the towel on peace to the Mid-East. As the towel-throwees, what should Israelis think?

--It's the Class Struggle, Stupid!--

The editor-in-chief of Ha'aretz runs the numbers and discovers that, for all the talk about identity politics, all you need to understand how Israelis vote and why is your old tattered, dog-eared copy of Das Kapital. Does he have a point?

--Pulpitical is the New Political--

A rabbi of towering reputation writes that its time to get religion out of politics. Does he have a point?

--Should Israel Reschedule Its Holocaust Day?--

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss a plea in Haaretz to move our own Holocaust Day from the week before Independence Day, to January 27, to coincide with world-wide holocaust day. Would it be better to observe this awesome and hallowed day shoulder-to-shoulder with everyone else on the planet?

All this and hip-hoppy reggae of Tomer Yosef!

--Music--

Tomer Yosef (yes, that Tomer Yosef, from Balkan Beat Box), in honor of his lovely new single, Dvash u-Tapuah

Al Tatusi
Af Ehad
At Ahuvati
Dvash u-Tapuah

The "Tube and Other Boobs" Edition Jan 16, 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.

--United and It Feels So Good--

47 years ago, the founders of Meretz split from the Labor Party because that party was too soft on the Rabbis, too shaky on settlements, and too feeble on human rights. Labor said good riddance, because Meretz was a bunch of condescending, elitist Ashkenazim. Now the two parties have reunited for the upcoming elections. Can it work?

--Déjà Whew!--

The right-of-the-Likud parties just joined together, save the very-far-right, neo-Kahanist "Jewish Might" party. What's going on out there, beyond the far reaches of the Likud?

--Watching Big Brother--

Is reality television just political activism by other means?

--Has The Green Party Gone Up In Smoke?--

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss what happened to the Green Party, which was elected to the Knesset in September, but now – just a few months later -- finds itself not even running in the March elections. It was Kermit the Frog who said, "It's not easy being green," and we delve to the murky depths of that amphibian wisdom.

All this and the enchanting Daniel Rubin!

--Music--

Daniel Rubin, in honor of her socko show this week at Levontin

Hergashti Yafah (הרגשתי יפה)
Ba-Dimayon Sheli (בדמיון שלי)
Ha-Sippur be-Gadol (הסיפור בגדול)
Ha-Laila (הלילה)

The "There Will Be Blood" Edition Jan 09, 2020

Show notes

Listen to this week's extra segment

--What's the Matter with Kiryat Malachi?--

A sociologist says Israeli "liberals" are the least tolerant group in the country, and folks call for his head on a pike.

--Write Makes Right?--

Do we need more (or less) "activist journalism" that doesn't just describe the world, but tries to change it?

--There Will Be Blood--

In Israel, your HMO will check whether you are "ritually pure" if you want it.

--Israelis' Very Real Fears Following the Killing of Qasem Soleimani--

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss how we were affected here by the news of the killing of Qasem Soleimani. It was weird to have this huge thing happen in our neighborhood, that could vastly affect our lives (in ways we cannot possibly foresee), and yet it's sort of not about us, at all.

All this and the lovely sounds of Gahliliot, Fireflies!

--Music--

Gahliliot, Fireflies

Dlatot
August
Yaldat Ananim
Tov Li

The "Pipe Dreams?" Edition Jan 02, 2020

Show notes

--Hang Together or Hang Separately?--

Must all the parties on Israel's left merge before the next election?

--A Different Solidarity--

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's decides to republish a memoir that made him cry, by an Iraqi-Israeli author about being forced out of Iraq and coming to Israel. This fragile, odd act raises the question: Is there another sort of politics that might lead to peace that we haven't let ourselves see.

--Pipe Dreams--

Environmental activists say the government is a bunch of lying liars who lie to serve rich corporate overlords. Isn't this just Trumpism, by another name?

--Why Aren't Israeli Leaders Talking About America's Anti-Semitism Crisis?--

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss, after Allison wrote about it profoundly in Haaretz, why Israeli leaders aren't talking about America's anti-semitism crisis?

All this and Mizrahi, Kabbalistic world music of Yakir Hillel, on the banjo!

--Music--

Yakir Hillel

Eder shel Shevarim (עדר של שוורים), featuring Sivan Talmor
Leil Ellul (ליל אלול)
Kach lo nir'et ahavah (כך לא נראית אהבה)
Ha-Mezah she-Ra'ah ha-kol (המזח שראה הכל)

The "The Decade Surveyed" Edition Dec 26, 2019

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.

--(Jewish) Might Makes Right?--

A once-mild religious Zionist party joins forces with a far-far-right religious party. What's this say about the soul and politics of religious Zionism today?

--The Reparation, Palliation and Adjuration Rumination--

For decades, once hapless immigrants to Israel from Yemen, Iraq and other Mid-eastern countries have said that, 70 years ago, their babies were taken and never returned. Some say that, until there is hard-and-fast evidence, these claims must be treated with suspicion. But shouldn't we switch the default to trusting the victims?

--The Decade Surveyed--

What were the most important people, events and trends of Israel's momentous, trying, eventful past decade?

--"They're Not After Me, They're After You!"--

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss a meme pressed into service recently by PM Netanyahu, before that by US President Donald Trump and before that Indian PM Narendra Modi, saying, in each case, "They're not after me, they're after you! I'm just standing in the way." What makes this sad bit of populism so easily transferable between three such different societies, in this sad epoch of populism?

All this and the music of Noa Shapira!

--Music--

Noa Shapira

Seratim (סרטים), featuring Almot ha-Hen
'Im (אם)
Oy, He Yafah (אוי היא יפה)
Ke-she-At Holekhet (כשאת הולכת)

The "Gettin' Schooled!" Edition Dec 19, 2019

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.

--Primary Importance?--

Netanyahu is almost sure to win next week's Likud leadership primary, and yet it still feels like maybe end of one era and the beginning of another. What's happening in the Likud?

--Dour of Pisa--

Israeli 15 year olds do third-worldishly lousy on an huge international standardized test. What accounts for the mediocrity in math, science and reading? Is Israel destined to become the "Dumbed Down Nation"?

--Boys, Girls and Boys-and-Girls--

Tel Aviv parents go ballistic when they learn their high-school kids are gender-segregated for a one-off meeting with visiting religious kids. Are they right to be so upset?

--The Rise of Holocaust-Themed Swag--

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss recent revelations that you can buy an Auschwitz-themed dish towel or Christmas tree ornament on Amazon. What are we to make of that?

All this and the Emo rap of "Damsel is Depressed"!

--Music--

Damsel is Depressed

Repeat (featuring Nir Perlman)
B'Shmoneh Nipagesh
90210
Stranded

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