The Promised Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The "More War, More Bloodshed" Edition Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss (1) the thinking behind the Prime Minister's decision (and his "Security and Diplomatic Cabinet") to extend and intensify the war in Gaza, and (2) the thinking behind the "national strike" called by some hostage families, intended to bring the country to a halt next Sunday.

Plus, Comfort, Kabbalah, Kohellet, Coltraine and Codeine early on a Friday morning, artistic collaborations between Israelis and Gazans, and plant-whispering grad students. And more old music made new!

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Former Speaker of the Knesset Avram Burg calls for a million Jews to sue Israel for war crimes in an international court. How the hell did we get here?

The "Gaza: Yesterday & Tomorrow" Edition Aug 06, 2025

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Linda Gradstein, Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron discuss (1) the 20th anniversary of the "disengagement plan" and the evacuation of 21 Jewish towns in Gaza, and its lasting impacts, and (2) the plan cooked up in the UN by 21 countries and organizations for setting up the State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel.

Plus, a memorial homage to Israel's greatest graphic artist, film festivals, wine festivals and lots of Tisha B'Av.

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Artists issue a call to bring an end to war and to war crimes, making lots of people mad. How come?

The "No Guide to the Perplexed" Edition Jul 31, 2025

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Allison Kaplan Sommer, Linda Gradstein and Noah Efron discuss (1) Hunger in Gaza, and (2) French, English and Canadian plans to recognize the state of Palestine in September.

Plus, Tisha B'Av in the Land of Israel, lifeguards in Tel Aviv, and lamentations you can make out to.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Beinart and Stewart: Covering the whole gamut from smug to ugh.

The "Reuniting & De-uniting" Edition Jul 24, 2025

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Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss (1) The dramatic moments this week when hundreds of Druze from Israel crossed into Syria to help Druze in Suwayda under attack by Bedouin militia and the Syrian army, and hundreds of Druze from Suwayda crossed into Israel to see relatives they had not seen in a generation, and (2) A percussive essay by Ezra Klein called "Why American Jews No Longer Understand One Another."

Plus, the "Admor of Hope," Miriam doing drugs, Noah seeing shows and a heartbreaking new record by a brother who lost a brother in Gaza.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What are "the Three Weeks" like in these ash-and-sackclothy times?

The "Means, Ends & Mean Ends" Edition Jul 17, 2025

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Linda Gradstein, Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron discuss (1) What to make of the New York Times Magazine's percussive essay called, "How Netanyahu Prolonged the War in Gaza to Stay in Power," and (2) The "humanitarian city" that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz propose to build, and how they possibly think it is a good idea.

Plus, queer shuls, queer musicals, and a tribute to the great songwriter, Sheika Paikov, may his memory be for a blessing.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Why does Mandy Patinkin's angry angst matter to so many of us?

The "Washington, Doha & Oslo" Edition Jul 10, 2025

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Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss (1) Prime Minister Netayahu's trip to DC to break bread with President Donald Trump, to dot the I's an cross the T's on an expected-at-any-moment temporary cease-fire and hostage release deal with Hamas, and (2) Should Israeli doctors do triage on hostages, helping politicians choose who should come home first and who last in the upcoming cease-fire and hostage return deal with Hamas?

Plus, a Trump hotel in Tel Aviv, talking teddy bears of people slain on October 7, bees, and a tribute to a remarkable man, Berhanu Yoseph, may his memory be for a blessing.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Et Tu, Grok?

The "Let My Bibi Go!" Edition Jul 03, 2025

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Linda, Don and Noah discuss (1) U.S. President Donald Trump's Truth Social posts demanding the immediate cancellation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial—calling Netanyahu a 'great hero' who, along with Trump, 'saved Israel'—and how figures across Israel's political spectrum have more or less fallen in line; and (2) what to make of a Haaretz "expose" about the IDF and the new humanitarian aid centers in Gaza.

Plus, a simulated daughter offering real comfort, and the varied aftermaths of the "Twelve Day War."

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Def, def to the IDF?

The "Things We See & Things We Don't" Edition Jun 26, 2025

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In this wartime-fever-dream-inflected special episode Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron talk about (1) the only thing any of us have talked about for the past weeks, what US President Donald Trump called "The Twelve-Day War," and (2) several things we have NOT talked about for the past weeks, but maybe ought to have, including what's going on in Gaza, a joint-Palestinian-Israel efforts to get humanitarian aid to Gaza, and an Israeli Rabbi and a Melburnian Bar Mitzvah boy working together to create unity.

All this and music and cats on rooftops, plus as moving a wedding as we've ever seen.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Despair, anxiety, hope and exhaustion: What we're feeling now.

The "Bibi's Big Adventure" Edition Jun 19, 2025

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Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron talk about (1) whether and how this week's war on Iran reshapes our understanding of the more than 20 months of war in Gaza that preceded it, and (2) what we can learn from a moving essay by American journalist Isaac Saul called, "I think I'm Leaving Zionism, or Zionism is Leaving Me."

All this and what we learn about Iran from the Persians living among us, and music by these self-same Persians.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What it is like, living from siren-to-siren, shelter-to-shelter (Spoiler alert: Scary and weird, with surprising moments of grace.)

The "Stability?" Edition Jun 12, 2025

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Sara Yael Hirschhorn, Noah Efron and beloved prodigal podcaster Ilene Prusher talk about (1) The vote to disperse the Knesset that looked like it would succeed, until it failed and (2) Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to give guns to a Gaza militia run by a former drug-lord, ISIS support: What could go wrong?

All this and a fight in the Knesset over women wearing tfillin, and new songs of LGBTQ pride!

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What's it like these days to teach on an American campus, and to raise Israeli-born kids on the mean streets of Boca Raton? World famous journalist and professor Ilene Prusher's got some answers.

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