The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "Coalition ambition, suspicion, sedition, contrition & admonition" Edition May 19, 2016

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.

Coalition ambition, suspicion, sedition, contrition & admonition

We discuss the expansion of Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition that leaves Herzog and Labor out, and Avigdor Lieberman and his right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu Party in.

Birthright, Divest & Sanction?

A small number of "Birthright" alums are returning home to fight Israeli policy, and some are even joining BDS. How do you solve a problem like Birthright? Should we even try?

Be like Bar?

As new Israeli hair-straightening invention the "Dafni brush" flies off the shelves, we discuss the politics of Israeli images of beauty that find lithe, blond, and northern-European to be the ne plus ultra of hotness.

All songs by Omer Leshem, in honor of his great new album:

Highway Of Life I Can't Say You Were Mine You're O.K.

The "E Unibus Pluram?" Edition May 12, 2016

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.

Term limits of endearment

We discuss a newly-proposed bill that would limit Israeli prime ministers to two terms, thereby giving the heave-ho to Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Wages of peace?

A new report argues that "economic peace" is growing between Palestinians and Israelis. If true, will this promote real, political peace or impede it?

E Unibus Pluram?

Rather than splitting into warring "tribes," as many pundits think, are Israelis perhaps becoming one nation, under Netflix, with Bamba and Bisli for all?

All songs are old Gevatron folk songs, performed by Ha-Shibolim, in honor of Israeli Independence Day!

Shibolim Halleluyah Emek Sheli Gvanim

The "Ugly Israelis?" Edition May 05, 2016

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.

"Never again" what? "Never again" why?

We discuss what lessons we Israelis should draw from the Holocaust, and what lessons we shouldn't. Is there a different kind of Israeli exceptionalism to be found in the memory of the Holocaust?

Legislation nation

Why do Israeli lawmakers propose more bills than lawmakers anywhere else on earth? Is this a good thing, making the country better in countless small ways, or is it a distracting side-show?

Ugly, ugly Israelis

We discuss the finger-pointing at Israelis who leave trash on beaches and in national parks, and whether or not it has racist undertones.

Songs of pain, loss, and destruction, in recognition of recording on Yom Ha-Shoah (Holocaust Memorial Day):

Shuli Rand - Eiyeka Yehudah Poliker - Efer Ve-Avak Aviv Geffen & Arik Einstein - Yoman Masa Efrat Ghosh - Lir'ot Et Ha-Or

The "OUR Killer?" Edition Apr 28, 2016

Show notes

Gilad Halpern (host of The Tel Aviv Review), Naomi Zeveloff (Middle East Correspondent for the Forward), and Noah discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

OUR Killer?

Last week 2,000 Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv in support of the 19-year-old soldier who shot in the head the immobile 21-year-old Palestinian stabber. But what exactly were they supporting?

Is right the new left?

We ask why leaders on the left and center sound more and more right-wing every day, and whether this shift will help them get elected.

You have the right to remain stupid

We discuss the former ultra-Orthodox who are suing the country for allowing their parents to raise them as Haredim, thereby denying them the skills they need to make it in secular Israel.

All songs by Quarter to Africa:

Yalla, Boh Navi Et Zeh Gam Ki Elekh Ten Ta-Layback Connect

The "Four Sons for a New Generation" Edition Apr 21, 2016

Show notes

In this Passover potpourri of propitious, panegyric perspicacity, Don, Allison, and Noah update the old story in the Midrash about the four sons. Then they serve up a primo pastiche of past "Vatacountry!" pieces, in which the panel (and guests) describe stuff that delights, enchants, surprises, and amuses them about this crazy country we live in and love.

Four Sons for a New Generation

We update the old story in the Midrash about the four sons - one wise, one evil, one simple, and one who does not know how to ask - by discussing who would be the modern versions of these ancient archetypes.

The Joys of Family

The Promised Podcast panel and guests discuss some of their most touching family moments in Israel, including birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Israeli

The Promised Podcast panel and guests recall some of their more poignant moments in special places in Israel, whether it be the Hula Valley, the Jerusalem Hills, on the street or around the dinner table.

Sometimes Israel Inspires

The Promised Podcast panel members tell stories about inspiring things they've witnessed in Israel: The kindness of strangers to a blind man; thought-provoking teaching in the army; and political activism among the younger generation.

Songs of slavery and freedom by some of Israel’s greatest:

Yehudah Poliker – Hatchalah ChadashaAviv Geffen – OnotBerry Sakharov – AvadimShlomo Artzi - Shir Baboker Baboker

The "What Makes Bibi Tick?" Edition Apr 14, 2016

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.

What makes Bibi tick?

A new essay challenges the leftist article-of-faith that PM Benjamin Netanyahu tacks back and forth out of opportunism and naked ambition. It argues that at the base of everything he does is a bedrock of principle consisting mostly of weird-ass eschatology.

School’s out, completely

The Tel Aviv Municipality plans to turn a park in a troubled southern neighborhood of the city into a school for refugee kids. Many activists are saying, "Over our dead bodies!" - are they right?

Yids online!

A new survey of the habits of commerce and recreation of Israeli Modern Orthodox (or "National Religious") Jews finds that they use the internet a good deal more than everyone else. Are Modern Orthodox more "Modern" than Secular Israelis?

All songs by the groovy Gili Yalo:

Hyloga City Life Sab Sam Ashkeru

The "Peace Now, Still?" Edition Apr 07, 2016

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.

Israel’s Supreme Court: Democracy’s BFF or Frenemy?

We discuss a spate of Supreme Court decisions that leave right-wing politicians sputtering about judicial overreach, which in turn leaves left-wing politicians sputtering about right-wing court bashing, and leaves everyone accusing everyone else of breaking Israeli democracy.

Peace Now, Still?

The decline of venerable anti-occupation activist group Peace Now, as its leader for the past 14 years resigns in a huff.

This is Your Brain on Shoah!

One high school’s decision to quit making trips to concentration camps in Poland, because of the lousy lessons kids get from them.

All songs by David Peretz, in honor of his pretty lovely new album, Eretz she-lo Sham, that judy dropped on Bandcamp.Ashan Ha-Zman Eretz she-lo Sham Makom be-Tochi Tfillah Le-Nos'im be-Sheloshah Metosim

The "Killer and Hero" Edition Mar 31, 2016

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.

Killer and Hero

We discuss the twist of logic and emotion that leads some Israelis to regard the combat medic who shoots a motionless injured Palestinian terrorist in the head, a hero.

$653,868.35

A new law that limits the salaries of bank presidents to just 44 times minimum wage, or a mere $653,868.35 a year; is this populist pitchfork polishing, or good legislating?

Shallow, Selfish, Egocentric, Childish, Stunted, & Lazy: How Israel’s Gen Y-ers are Destroying the Country

Two middle aged sociologists find Israeli Gen Y-ers (aged 21 to 34) shiftless and selfish, and a threat to the very existence of the state; are they full of shit?

All songs by Sivan Talmor, in honor of her new album, Fire, now available for download at Bandcamp:Chalonot (Start at 0:25)Fire I'll be 17

The "Quo Vadis, Bibi?!?" Edition Mar 24, 2016

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.

Quo Vadis, Bibi?

We discuss the weird state of the Israeli government, which seems to be, at once, on the verge of collapse and surprisingly stable: What gives?

The Curious Case of the Rabbi Excommunicated for Exercising Free Speech

The moral and political dilemma arising from the Minister of Defense’s decision to excommunicate a rabbi for advising soldiers to ignore orders to evacuate settlements; we may hate the rabbis politics, but don’t we still need to defend his right to free expression.

A Tale of Two Censors

Whether it’s better for democracy to have an army censor who’s in our face, or one who expects that we censor ourselves (or maybe option C, no censor at all!.)

All songs composed by the great Ahuva Ozari (a “Founding Mother” of Mizrahi Music), in honor the last 17 immigrants secreted this week from Yemen to Jerusalem: Daklon and Sagiv Cohen with Ahuva Ozari, “Tzilzulei Pa'amonim”Yehudit Ravitz and Ahuvah Ozari, “Ha-Ish Ha-Hu”Ahuva Ozari, “Ha-Or Ha-Ganuz”Daklon and Sagiv Cohen with Ahuva Ozari, “Kol Koreh”

The "Expulsion!" Edition Mar 17, 2016

Show notes

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

Expulsion!

We discuss this wrenching finding of the Pew Research Center: 48 percent of Israeli Jews report that, under certain undefined circumstances, Palestinians ought to be expelled from Israel. The poll is problematic, but it says something too important to ignore.

Not feeling the Bern?

Why are we Israelis, who usually love it when Jews become luminaries and celebrities in the wide world, strangely unmoved by the success of that most Jewy of US Presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders. What is it about the Sanders campaign that has silenced our normally robust tribalism?

Americans are from Mars, Israelis are from Venus

The Pew poll findings also suggest that Israeli and American Jews may be two peoples separated by the same religion, and the rift seems to be growing wider by the moment. Are Israeli Jews and American Jews speciating, and is the day growing near when we will no longer be able to reproduce with one another?

All songs by Kfar Saba's favourite son, hip-hop artist E-Z:Lo Mafseek LachlomKeSheHaOlam Yaatzor (with Shira Gavriellov)Mi Muchan? (with Nechi Nech)Marior

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