The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "The President, the Prime Minister & the General" Edition Oct 03, 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.

--The President--

Has Israeli President Reuven Rivlin finally solved the ancient riddle: When is a Prime Minister not a Prime Minister?

--The Prime Minister--

Why o' why won't anyone negotiate with poor Prime Minister Netanyahu?

--The General--

Lt. General Benny Gantz got more votes than anyone else in last month's elections. So why is he playing rope-a-dope, instead of coming out punching?

--Can Benny Gantz Heal the Rift Between U.S. Jews and Israel?--

For our most generous Patreon patrons, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we discuss a recent essay in the NY Times by Daniel Gordis, headlined: "Benny Gantz Can't Heal the Rift between US Jews and Israel." Its thesis is that American Jews are from progressive Mars and Israeli Jews are from rough-and-tumble, ethno-nationalist Venus. Does he have a point?

All this and music of Renewal and Repentance, for the Days of Awe.

--Music--

El Nora 'Alila by Netta Alkayam
Adon ha-Selihot by Yesh La Chaver
Keter Melucha by Yoni Genut, with Yishai Rivo, Ilan Damari, and Roey Adari
Seder ha-'Avodah by Yishai Ribo

The "The Band Plays On" Edition Sep 26, 2019

Show notes

Wracked with anxiety and anticipation about what new government will take shape after the elections, Noah seeks solace with the boys of Liquid Plumr, the youthful Shuafat-refugee-camp garage band that was his transition from youth to an adult life in Israel.

The boys discuss Zionism, Israel in the 80s, relations between Israeli and American Jews, and how the lives of their youngsters on both sides of the ocean differ from their own.

And, they sing a bit.

Check out the extra segment.

--Six American Kids Move to Jerusalem to Form a Band--

What happened when six American kids on the cusp of adulthood rent a big house on the edge of the Shuafat refugee camp and formed a band?

--The Lives We Did and Did Not Live--

Six guys were inseparable as kids; half lived their life out in Israel, half in America. Now they compare notes about how the place they chose for home, affected their lives.

--What Was Young Benny Gantz Really Like?--

For our most extremely generous Patreon supporters, we talk with Prof. Alon Tal, the founder of Israel's environmental movement and a Blue-and-White Knesset candidate, about what a young Benny Gantz was like as his paratroop commander.

All this and the music of Liquid Plumr.

--Music--

Liquid Plumr!

Sentimental Journey
Secret Agent Man
A Little Hard to See

The "The People have Spoken?" Edition Sep 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.

Looking for the extra segment?

--What Just Happened?--

Tuesday's elections feel like they changed everything and nothing at all. What can we make of their odd, inconclusive results?

--What Next?--

Building Israel's new coalition will be like one of those old puzzlers about missionaries taking cannibals and goats on boats across the Amazon. Is there any way forward?

--What Will History Say?--

How will history remember the September, 2019 elections?

--How We Spent Elections Day--

For our most extremely generous Patreon supporters, we talk about how we spent election day, an odd mix of a laid-back, beach-holiday day, and an anxiety filled freak-out about our country and our future, our daughters and our ducats.

All this and the future of Israeli hip hop, Nenzo!

--Music--

Nenzo!

Politickin' ft. Shiroto, Hasan Mc
Halon ha-Mahshavot 'im 900 Grams
Melody, featuring Shira Knopp
Catch the Moment

The "Smile for the Camera!" Edition Sep 12, 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.

--Smile!--

Some Israelis think that PM Netanyahu's plan to have cameras in polling places will destroy democracy, while others think it will save it. Why the Rashamon?

--What, Me Vote?--

Seven in ten Israelis vote. What's with the other three?

--Politics of Pieties and Pieties of Politics--

Angry ultra-Orthodox feminists say that progressive, secular do-gooders fighting for their rights are messing up their game and setting back their cause. Do they have a point?

--Is Trauma a Key to Understanding Israeli Politics?--

For our most extremely generous Patreon supporters, we discuss journalist Matti Friedman's socko, controversial pre-election column in the Times, The One Thing No Israeli Wants to Discuss. Is trauma a key to understanding Israeli politics?

All this and the happy hipness of Beatnik!

--Music--

Beatnik (ביטניק), in celebration of their new record, Seret Ahavah

Mitz (מיץ)
Ahuvati (אהובתי)
LeSapper Lach Emet (לספר לך אמת)
Seret Ahavah (סרט אהבה)

The "Who the Hell Would Vote for Them, Too?!?" Edition Sep 05, 2019

Show notes

A weeks and a bit before elections, Don Futterman, Noah Efron and Haaretz uber-reporter Judy Maltz, in an act of political empathy and imagination, ask for each of the parties to the Left of the Likud, why might someone vote for them.

Looking for the extra segment?

--Why Vote for the Joint List?--

Has the Joint List just violated Israel's longest standing taboo, the one that says Jewish Israelis and Palestinian Israelis can never be true political allies?

--Why Vote for the Democratic Union?--

Is the "Democratic Union" Israel's only party with the guts to say, with Chicken Little, that the sky is falling?

--Why Vote for Labor-Gesher?--

Labor-Gesher says, "Imagine a world where the party that founded the country was not arrogantly Ashkenazi-centric, and where a Labor Party actually cared about workers." Will that get them votes?

--Why Vote for Blue-&-White?--

Blue-&-White says, "We deserve a government that is parve, lackluster, colorless, ho-hum, devoid of both bells and whistles." Why will more than a million Israelis vote for them?

--What's Killing Israel's Lone Soldiers?--

For our most extremely generous Patreon supporters, we discuss Judy Maltz's remarkable reporting of the alienation and spiritual ennui of "lone soldiers," kids who go into the army as if it's a cool, gap-year program.

And, introducing, the future of Israeli singer-songwriting, Soundflower (aka, Lior Doron)!

Music

Soundflower, AKA Lior Doron (Look for her on Soundcloud)

Hopeless
The Hit
I'm in Control

The "Who the Hell Would Vote for Them?!?" Edition Aug 29, 2019

Show notes

Two weeks and a bit before elections, Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron, in an act of political empathy and imagination, try to figure who votes for each of Israel's right-wing parties, and why. (Next week, we do the same thing for the parties on the left.)

Looking for the extra segment?

Who the Hell Would Vote for Shas?!?

Why will hundreds of thousands of Israelis vote for the ultra-Orthodox, Sefaradi Shas Party?

Who the Hell Would Vote for Shaked?!?

Who votes for the to-the-right-of-the-Likud Yemina Party, and why?

Who the Hell Would Vote for the Likud?!?

Why will more than a million Israelis vote for Netanyahu and the Likud? (Hint: there are lots of good reasons.)

Who the Hell Would Vote for Lieberman?!?

Why will hundreds of thousands of Israelis vote for the squat, severe, plain-spoken Moldovan-born Avigdor Lieberman?

Is Stav Shaffir Right? Is Israel's Left an Ally of America's Left?

For our most extremely generous Patreon supporters, we discuss an odd essay in the Forward by the woman destined to lead Israel's Left, Stav Shaffir, about why BDS sorts are anti-progressive, and how Israel's left is a crucial ally of America's left. What, exactly, is she trying to say and do?

Plus, the sui-generis music of "Let's Mars"!

Music

Let's Mars, from their new, debut record, Always 15 Minutes Late

Carajito (with Subliminal)
History
Fast (with Shaanan Street)

The "Is Netanyahu Over?" Edition Aug 22, 2019

Show notes

Haaretz-writer and media-whiz Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida, 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.

Looking for the extra segment?

Is Netanyahu Done?

Hemingway said, folks go bankrupt gradually, then all at once. Has PM Netanyahu lost his political power in the same way?

Brits, Canucks, Aussies, Kiwis, Saffers, Rhodies, Paddies, Scots & Yanks

There's a new group aiming to politically empower English-speaking Israelis, on the theory that we've got a thing or two to teach everyone else. Do Israel's Brits, Yanks and Aussies offer a way out of the country's political mess?

Boys on TV

What are we to make of the heart-rending Israeli HBO series about the 2014 murders of Jewish kids by Palestinians and a Muslim kid by Jews, that forces us to doubt a lot of what we thought about ourselves? Does HBOs "Our Boys" challenge everything we thought we knew about ourselves?

Our Favorite Getaway Spots in Israel

For our most extremely generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra segment, we jammer about some of our favorite vacation spots in Israel.

All this and the uncategorizable vocal genius of Faye Shapiro!

Music

Faye Shapiro, in honor of her brand new, first album, Elef Nishikot

Shabbat Shalom
Lamah Hitahavti?
Simi Libech
Adamhuu

The "Panthers and Cubs" Edition Aug 15, 2019

Show notes

Israel Studies scholar and professor Sara Sara Hirschhorn, activist, Haaretz-writer and media-whiz 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.

Looking for the extra segment?

Carmen and the Devil

Is Israel's Labor Party, once the epicenter of toxic Ashkenazihood, the new Shas?

Two Tales of Settlements

Were we wrong all along about Israel's settler movement?

Do the Ends Justify the Mean?

Is being a kind-of-a-dick to the Prime Minister's kid justified, because the Prime Minister is kind-of-a-dick to the rest of us?

Burn It Down to Build It Up

For our most extremely generous Patreon supporters, we discuss whether or not the time has come to burn our syllabi, rip up our lecture notes, and change the way Israeli universities work from the bottom up.

All this and the hippest-hoppest rap of Numi!

Music

Numi (Numi being Noam Cohen)

Zeh Lo Ani
Bayit
Esh
Zot she-Ahavti

"The Elephant has Left the Building" Edition Aug 08, 2019

Show notes

Roving Mid-East Reporter Naomi Zeveloff, Tel Aviv Review host Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Looking for the extra segment?

The Elephant Has Left the Building

One thing not being debated ahead of Israel's elections is the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The elephant in the room seems to have left the building. Why?

The Autocrat Whisperer

Does Prime Minister Netanyahu want voters to see him as an "autocrat whisperer"?

Bussed Are the Right, for Theirs Are the Beaches and Cinemas

There is a revolution underway, bringing public transportation to Israeli cities on the Sabbath for the first time ever. Why is the Likud leading the charge?

The Great Renaissance of English Language Media in Israel

For our most extremely generous Patreon supporters, we discuss with author Gilad Halpern his latest Tel Aviv Review of Books essay arguing that, as international media collapsed around us, English language media in Israel had a great renaissance. What accounts for this surprising development?

All this and the Ethiopian-Mizrahi pop of Moti Taka.

Music

Moti Taka

Ba Li Lirkod (בא לי לרקוד)
Boom Boom (בום בום)
Tukur (טוקור)
Hitahavti ba-Ketzinah Sheli (התאהבתי בקצינה שלי)

The "Two Party Solution" Edition Aug 01, 2019

Show notes

Don Futterman, Noah Efron and Human-Rights Attorney, Emily Schaeffer Omer-Man discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Looking for the extra segment?

Left Behind?

Are two parties on Israel's left better than one?

Right Fever

Is one party to the right of the Likud better than two?

Free to Be You and Me

A Jerusalem court finds that a man can be sued for failing to tell his fiancé-cum-wife that he prefers sex with men. Where does a right to privacy end, and an obligation of honesty begin?

The Case That's Testing Israel's Courts

For our most extremely generous Patreon supporters, we discuss with star Human Rights attorney Emily Schaeffer Omer-Man, the Ministry of Interior's efforts to deport Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watch Director for Israel and Palestine, on the grounds that, by supporting BDS, he is working for Israel's destruction. The case reached the Supreme Court this week, sort of.

All this and the uncategorizable music of Banot ha-Tom!

Music

Banot ha-Tom

Taziz (תזיז)
Yaffo (יפו)
La-Oof Rahok (לעוף רחוק)
Pisah shel Osher (פיסה של אושר)

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