The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "Jewing Up the Diaspora" Edition Aug 13, 2015

Show notes

Allison, Noah, and The Times of Israel's Ops & Blogs editor Miriam Hershlag discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

A decade out of Gaza

On the tenth anniversary of Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from the Jewish settlements in Gaza, we discuss the lasting legacy of the withdrawal - one of the most dramatic events in Israel's history. What, if anything, can we learn from it a decade later?

Jewing up the diaspora real nice

An ambitious new program has been announced by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs meant to fix “the weakening of the Jewish foundations of the family unit” among diaspora Jews. Is this just more insufferable Israeli meddlesome condescension?

Israel's dead, long live the Jewish State!

We discuss 91-year-old peace activist and moral compass Uri Avnery’s assertion in Haaretz that we’re seeing a frightful shift in Israel from a “Hebrew” state to a “Jewish” state that will subvert Zionism and soon bury us all.

All songs by Tamar Eisenman, in honor of her new record, Limbo, her first in Hebrew!

Klum LoRegaLimboDay & Night

"The Other Side of Israel" Edition Aug 06, 2015

Show notes

Noah and special guest Sandy Fox - Yiddishist, historian, and bon vivant - seek some solace from the news of a tragic week in the magnificent mosaic of Israeli music.

Music: Astonishing, 100-percent-authentic Israeli music in Arabic, French, Russian, Amharic, Judeo-Iraqi, Judeo-Yemini, Judeo-Moroccan, Ladino, Yiddish, Romanian, Spanish, English, and Hebrew. It’s an almost miraculous mosaic, and a beautiful one!

Ruba Shamshoum - Fuqaati (My Bubble) (فُقاعَتي - ربى شمشوم) Riff Cohen - J’aime Sadyle - Imena Zvuloon Dub System - Tenesh Kelbe Lay Dudu Tassa & the Kuwaitis - Walla Ajabni Jamalak A-Wa - Habib Galbi Joe Elbaz & The Blues Angels - Moroccan Hoochie Coochie Guy & Roey Zu Aretz - Quando El Rey Nimrod Ramzeilach - Fir Zin Balkan Beat Box - Balkumbia Los Caparos - Volver Daniella Spektor and Rotem Bar Or - Giant Heart Corinne Alal - Ein Li Eretz Aheret

The "World Jews to Israel: "Quit Messing Up Our Game!"" Edition Jul 30, 2015

Show notes

Noah, Ilene Prusher, and radio impresario Shoshi Shmuluvitz discuss three topics of incomparable importance, and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

World Jews to Israel: "Quit Messing Up Our Game!"

A new study finding that Jews around the world are ambivalent about how Israel uses force, and convinced that Israel’s sometimes ill-advised use of force in the occupied territories, and our failure to pursue peace in a serious way, put Jews around the world in danger. But isn’t Israel supposed to protect the Jewish People?

Playing Backgammon Alone

Another poll (the 6th Annual European Survey) finding – unsurprisingly -- that Israelis are very happy but also -- surprisingly -- that Israelis score lower than ever on "community well-being." Is the sense of community and solidarity that characterized Israel in its first generations now deteriorating? If so, why?

Are Smart Cities a Dumb Idea

Cisco and IBM have teamed up with the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality to make it one of the world’s "smartest" cities, with apps and electronic kiosks. Sounds great, but are digital cities are turning citizens into consumers, voters into buyers, and democracy into a sham of a shell of a simulacrum?

All this and the happy sounds of Ta’ani Esther, in honor of their just released album, Maskanot.

The "How Far is J Street from my Street?" Edition Jul 23, 2015

Show notes

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

How far is J Street from my street?

We discuss J Street’s upbeat campaign in support of the Iran deal, which leaves no room for the worry and ambivalence that most Israelis feel. Is a chasm spreading between the Israeli left and the American Pro-Israeli left?

The new face of Israel's opposition?

MK and Yesh Atid party head Yair Lapid is attempting to parlay PM Netanyahu’s failure to prevent the Iran deal into his own political asset. Is this the beginning of a campaign that will lead him to the Prime Minister’s residence?

The wages of compassion

Security experts have found that six Israelis have been killed by men released as part of the deal that brought Gilad Shalit back to his family three years ago. Should this grim calculus affect future Israeli hostage negotiations?

Songs from the new EP "Esek Mishpahti" ("Family Business") that just dropped this week, by pioneering Israeli M.C. Sagol 59 (Khen Rotem) and young rapper & producer Shiroto (Tomy Rotem). In addition to the musical simpatico of the two hip hop stars, they are also father & son!Shimiot ba-avirMaspikMatzav HeirumHip Hop

The "Apocalypse Soon?" Edition Jul 16, 2015

Show notes

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

Apocalypse Soon?

Since every other sentient being is discussing it today, we thought we'd join in: What does the Iran deal mean for Israel, its people, its politicians, its Prime Minister, and its relations with America? Is it time to start digging fallout shelters?

And here come the rabbis!

We discuss the recent, rollicking resurgence of the rabbis of the Knesset, who are trying to reverse liberalizing legislation on a whole host of issues. Is this a religious putsch by a junta of rabbis, or merely a reversion to the status quo?

An ode to hypocrisy

Mizrahi poet Roy Hasan has won the Bernstein Prize. We examine his recent poem that calls out Ashkenazim for hypocrisy, hegemony, and all-around ass-hole-itude. What should we, the Ashkenazi assholes, learn from these slings and arrows?

Today's playlist features the Youtube sensations of the summer:Eden Ben Zaken - Malkat Ha-Shoshanim Lior Narkis - Reichot Shel Alcohol Peer Tasi - Mashkeh Yakar Dudu Aharon and Sharif - Ha-Kol Koreh Be Tel Aviv

"The Peace Movement Stirs?" Edition Jul 09, 2015

Show notes

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

Gas-holes!

We discuss the deal that gives the rights to the country’s natural gas windfall to American and Israeli corporate consortia, leading many to argue that PM Netanyahu, like Esau in the Bible, just sold off our birthright for a mess of pottage.

The peace movement stirs?

As we mark the one year anniversary of last summer’s tragic Gaza war, hundreds of women launch a symbolic hunger strike, and other peace initiatives compete for public attention. Is Israel’s peace movement showing signs of life?

Too hip for Hebrew?

As more of Israel’s best young musicians opt to forsake Hebrew in favor of the more commercial English, we ask whether Hebrew culture is endangered among the country’s hipperati.

All Songs by the oh-so-positive acoustic rock trio with the oh-so-negative name, “Lo”:Noa Karen/Sof Hayom Biladeynu Gam Sara

The "Fox News for the Jews" Edition Jul 02, 2015

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.

Fox News for the Jews

We discuss the Israel “Jewish Heritage Network” (Channel 20), which is morphing into a right-wing news network before our eyes. What does the addition of a local, right-wing partisan news organization auger for the country?

Princes of resentment

We discuss a fascinating new book that suggests the key to understanding Israeli politics may be the resentment felt by the children of a generation of right-wingers who were cruelly excluded from the institutions of the state when it was established.

Let Us Now Praise: Political hacks, functionaries & smoke-filled rooms

We discuss the claim of a Brookings Institution genius, Jonathan Rauch, that all America's efforts to do away with smoke-filled rooms is actually damaging its politics. Might something like that be true here in Israel as well?

All songs by LFNT (a short and fun way of saying "Elephant," and also a life philosophy hidden inside an acronym: Live Free Not Troubled):

The Birds And The BeesI Won’t TellChanceBetween Understanding And Salvation

The "War Crimes & Misdemeanors" Edition Jun 25, 2015

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.

Oren unbound or Oren unhinged?

We discuss three essays by MK and former Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren, which surprised everyone, outraged many, and left the rest of us wondering how an ex-diplomat can be so, well, undiplomatic.

War crimes & misdemeanors

We discuss the report on last summer’s Gaza war, issued this week by the UN Commission on Human Rights, finding that both sides may have committed war crimes, and their leaders should be tried in the International Criminal Court.

Is this man the future of the Israeli left?

We take a look at Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor, Ron Huldai, who just told the press that he may challenge MK and opposition leader Yitzhak Herzog to become the new leader of the Labor party and the Left. Is the ex-fighter pilot and high school principal our best hope?

All songs by Erez, the 22-year-old jazz, R&B, and rock singer who just released her first album, "Proper Lady," and who rocked the “Groove” festival at the Tel Aviv port, for free, this past week:

ClichéBlending The UniverseWild, Sweet PlaceJust Another Color

The "2 States, 1 Homeland?" Edition Jun 18, 2015

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.

2 States, 1 Homeland?

There's another peace initiative proposing two states – Palestine & Israel – with no borders to separate. Palestinians will settle in ancestral homes in, say, Haifa. But, they live in Palestine but vote and pay taxes in Israel. Can such a scheme work in practice?

Israel’s Other Crisis

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon’s unveiled new proposals to solve Israel’s housing crisis. The proposals include a variety of measures all aimed at jimmying the free real estate markets.

Uncultured Wars

Minister of Culture and Sport, Miri Regev isn't a hometown favorite right now. She threatened to pull government funding from just about anything that offends her sensibilities. Furious artist types organize against what they call "anti-democratic censorship".

All this and a tribute to an Israeli cultural landmark, the hip-hop & rap radio show Jigga Juice, on the occasion of its fifth birthday!

Music:

Victor Jackson - Nimrod Reshef Tribute MedleyCohen@Mushon & Peled - Tel AvivNechi Nech - GodzillaCohen@Mushon, Peled, Nechi Nech, Ortega, Z.K, Lukach & Tuna - The Jigga Juice Anhtem

The "Everybody Hates the Jews!" edition Jun 11, 2015

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.

The High Price of Hate

The Rand Corporation study found that the benefit of ending the Israel-Palestine conflict would be $123 billion for Israelis and $50 billion for Palestinians. Wow! With that money, we could buy Whatsapp, Waze, Skype & Instagram! But does knowing how much the conflict costs us bring us any closer to ending it?

Everybody Hates the Jews!

A poll found that 71% of Israelis think that the world has a double standard when it comes to criticizing Israel. Do most Israelis think that the whole world is against us? If so, how does that belief affect our politics?

Segregating the Sexes

A high school principal decides to separate the girls from the boys in advanced math classes, in hope that it’ll boost girls’ achievements. Some applaud this, others argue that in a society where some folks think that some buses should be segregated by sex, we must resist all segregation by sex. Is separating the girls from the boys a good idea?

Playlist:

Hip LGBTQ music in honor of Pride Week!:Naama Ha-Cohen, Le Zalman Shoshi Be-AhavaCorrine Alal, Zan NadirYehudit Ravitz, Eretz Tropit YafaDana International, Eifo ha-Lev

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