The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "Jews with Javelins!" Edition Jul 13, 2017

Show notes

Allison, Don, and Noah discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

From Board Room to Barricades: The Unlikely New Leader of Israel's Left Avi Gabbay emerged from obscurity to head the Labor Party and, perforce, the Israeli Left in a shocking upset. What the hell just happened?

Praying to No God What does the surprising rise of "secular prayer" among Israeli Jews say about the state of our souls?

Jews with Javelins! The Maccabiah Games have inexplicably (but charmingly) survived the years. Like cotillions, High Table at Oxford in full medieval regalia, and Scottish weddings in kilts, the Games seem like a living time capsule.

Music: Alon Eder ve-ha- lahakah, off their newest, Ha-Shamranim Shuv ba-Ofnah Al Ta-azov Oti Mili Hayu Yamim Yafim Ha-Yom be-Yisrael

The "Breaking and Fixing Politics" Edition Jul 06, 2017

Show notes

Allison, Don, and Noah discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

New Labor? Round one of the Labor Party leadership elections left the old elites thoroughly thrashed. What does the future hold for the Left now?

The Broken Man who Broke Israeli Politics It was a sad spectacle to see a diminished Ehud Olmert, the first Prime Minister convicted of a felony, being released from jail. Is he partly responsible for our cynicism about politicians?

Offshore Palestinians It's a fantabulous utopian idea: building a high-tech, artificial island of Gaza with an airport, seaport, power plant, desalination center, and more. Will this solve Gaza's humanitarian crisis?

Music: Hanan Ben-Ari, in honor of his forthcoming album, which we're hearing bit by bit. Wikipedia Todah She-At Tutim Simu lev

The "Pile of Stones" Edition Jun 29, 2017

Show notes

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

We Got the Power Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas demanded that Israel reduce the electricity it transfers to Gaza by almost half, leaving hospitals there unsure if can keep their ventilators going. Israel acquiesced. The move may weaken Hamas, but can such a thing possibly be justified?

Covering the Dead Do we pay too much attention to the tragic victims of terrorist attacks, at the expense of other things to which we ought to also be giving our consideration?

Pile of Stones The dispute continues over egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall, following the government's decision not to implement its earlier decision to build a section at the Wall for liberal Jews to pray and slip their own notes to God between the stones. Should progressive Jews care about the wall, anyway?

All songs by Lior Perla, in honor of his new single, Al Telkhi Al Telkhi Shoom Davar Ve'im Gam Amarti (with Ido Mosseri) Ha-Lev ha-Zeh

The "Leave it to the Experts?" Edition Jun 22, 2017

Show notes

Noah, Don and Allison discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Primum non nocere? Medical experiments were performed on Yemeni Jewish babies and kids in the early 1950s. What does this awful news tell us about ourselves and what should we do about it now?

Uppity Americans? American Jewish activists are organizing and taking direct political action in Israel, but some Israeli Leftists think that these foreigners may be getting too big for their britches.

A Cabinet of Experts There is a proposal to install "experts" instead of politicians as key cabinet ministers.

All songs by Miriam Tukan, off her EP, which, in an amazing coincidence, is also named Miriam Toukan! Tziltzulay Pa'amonim Sodkha We Are Young (Fun Cover), Featuring SAZ نحن جيل الشباب Mawal

The "Will Politics be on the Midterm?" Edition Jun 15, 2017

Show notes

Noah, Don and Allison (joined by uber-researcher to the stars, Amit Ashkenazi) discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Is the Man Israel Needs a Moroccan, Ultra-Orthodox Woman? The only female candidate to head the Labor Party is Dina Dayan, an ultra-Orthodox woman from the nether reaches of the Negev Desert. In a socko election ad, she attacked the party she aims to lead as racist and out-of-touch. Is she the future of the Israeli Left?

Will Politics be on the Midterm? A "Code of Ethics" for college and university teachers is being advanced by the Minister of Education. It aims to keep teachers from talking politics in the classroom, but is being decried by the professoriate as an attack on democracy.

Babies for LGBTQ Folk? Nyet!Was Israel was wrong to acquiesce to Russia's diktat that babies adopted from there not got to LGBTQ folks?

All songs by KGC (Kiryat Gat City) Le-Khol Sof Yom Yavo Avesha Sheli Adon kol ha-Briot, with Dani Almio

The "Waiting for Gadot" Edition Jun 08, 2017

Show notes

Noah, Don and Allison discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Climate Change and the Jewish Question: We'll Always Have Paris? We discuss whether climate change is a danger to Israel's very existence, and whether America's withdrawal from the Paris Accord is a blow to Israel's security.

Anthologizing the Occupation? We mull over the new "Breaking the Silence" anthology of essays about the occupation, edited by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman. What results might this politics-by-literature approach produce?

Waiting for Gadot We ask whether the widespread fascination with Wonder Woman Gal Gadot's IDF past and Israeli identity reflects some strange and unnerving psycho-sexual fetishization of Israeli Jewesses and power (Did we go to graduate school, or what?).

Music: Sivan Kanzucker Esrim Sheniot Hilazon Hinei Bah Shape of You – Ed Sheeran Cover

The "That War" Edition Jun 01, 2017

Show notes

Noah, Don and Allison discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

That War

We discuss how we ought to regard the momentous Six Day War, the fiftieth anniversary of which we mark this week.

MK = Meager Kapabilities?

We mull over a survey raising questions about how effective Members of Knesset are.

University Diversity Perversity?

We ask whether universities ought to provide sex-segregated courses to ultra-Orthodox students, and prohibit female professors from teaching religious males.

Music: Leora Yitzhak and friends (with thanks to Seffi Kogan!) Ma'alah, Ma'alah Emperia (with Hadar Shemueli-Zagori) Shenei Shoshanim (with Marsh Dundurma) Save Me (with Parakit)

The "Donald Does the Holy Land!" Edition May 25, 2017

Show notes

Noah, Don and Times of Tel Aviv Review founder and co-host Gilad Halpern discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Donald Does the Holy Land!

We discuss President Donald Trump's visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and what it augurs for peace in the region.

Road Trip!

We mull over Why the Zionist Union decided to take a road trip in the occupied territories, and why some of its most popular MKs boycotted the excursion.

If I Don't Press Thee, O' Jerusalem, or The Dress!

We ponder the "Jerusalem Dress" that Culture Minister Miri Regev wore on the Red Carpet in Cannes, and why it broke the internet (hint: misogyny may be partly to blame).

Music: Aya Zahavi-Feiglin, in honor of her new EP, America, that just dropped this week! Sport My Dog Eifoh ha-Zahav Februar

The "Eurovisionaries" Edition May 18, 2017

Show notes

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

Breaking News: Ehud Barak Admits He's Been Right All Along!

We discuss Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak's book-review-cum-manifesto about why the Left is right and the Right is wrong.

Not that Conversion

We mull over icky and dangerous "conversion therapy" being offered by ultra-Orthodox therapists for men who wish to stop being attracted to other men.

Eurovisionaries

We ponder why Israelis are gaga over the cheesy, trashy, irresistible Eurovision song contest!

Songs: Israeli Eurovision Hits and Misses!

Izhar Cohen & Alpha Beta, A-ba-ni-bi (1978), Gali Atari & Milk & Honey, Hallelujah (1979) Dana International, Diva (1998) Teapacks, Push the Button (2007)

The "High Cost of God" Edition May 11, 2017

Show notes

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

Palestinians and Peace in the Age of Trump

We discuss the quick and remarkable developments in Palestinian diplomacy, with Pres. Abbas coming away optimistic from his meeting with US President Trump, Hamas suggesting they're ready for territorial compromise and, in the background, a thousand Palestinian prisoners continuing their hunger strike: What does it all mean?

The High Cost of God

We mull over a commissioned study finds that Israel spends almost 9 billion NIS a year on religion: Is that an outrageous sum, a reasonable sum, or something in between?

The Lasting Legacy of the Likud

We ponder on the fortieth anniversary of Menachem Begin and the Likud winning leadership of the country for the first time, what is the lasting legacy of the Likud?

Songs by Skin Blues, in honor of their show this week at Levontin 7, launching a new album after an 18-year breakup-spurred hiatus. Welcome back!

Faradasi (פארדסי) Keltish Sheryl Crowe Down Hill She Jumps