The Promised Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

For 331 days, Rachel Goldberg-Polin went everywhere, spoke to everyone and did everything to save her son, Hersh.

703 IDF soldiers have fallen since October 7th. Each was an entire world. This is a small bit of the story of one of them, Zachariah Haber.

Linda Gradstein, Allison Kaplan Somer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Exemption Preemption—

A bombshell unanimous Supreme Court decision says that, until the Knesset passes a law that says otherwise, Haredi men of army age need to enlist, and those that don't cannot get government stipends. Are we about to find Yeshiva boys in foxholes?

—New Day in Gaza?—

A new report is making the rounds in Jerusalem about how to end the war and coax Gazans to accept Israel, which, new report, may or may not be nuts.

—AIPAC vs. Bowman—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: AIPAC vs. the Squad's Jamaal Bowman. Decision, AIPAC?

Plus, Hebrew Book Week 100 years on, and more music of our times.

Linda Gradstein, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Special on Patreon

—The Other War—

The war with Hezbollah up north seems to be getting hotter and more deadly with each passing day. Will missiles rain down on Tel Aviv? And when can the nearly 100,000 evacuees from their homes near the Lebanese Border expect to go back home?

—Spring of Despair—

New polls show despair and pessimism of a sort Israelis have never known before. What do we do when more than 2/3 of Israelis are not optimistic about our future?

—When Nothing Feels Right—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Summer's here and the time is right for what exactly?

Plus, Bnei Brak at 100, and more music of our times.

Linda Gradstein, Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Home—

Four hostages were rescued from the depths of Gaza. We need a new word for absolute joy mixed with absolute worry mixed with absolute sadness.

—Gantz, But Not Forgotten—

Benny Gantz announces that he is leaving the government and its tiny "War Cabinet," which brought relief, anxiety and ambivalence. With Gantz gone, where will the government go?

—Shavuot In Israel—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Shavuot in Israel, after eight months of war.

Plus, the LGBTQ "Vigil of Pride and Hope" in Tel Aviv, celebrating Shavuot, and more music of our times.

Linda Gradstein, Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Prisoner's Dilemma—

A new Israeli proposal to bring home hostages puts the brakes on the war and signs some sort of pact with the Saudis. So why are religious-Zionists, most of all, opposing it?

—Same Same (But Different)—

New Supreme Court petitions might force the army to conscript Haredim. Has the war changed things enough that we can now solve the oldest, hardest problem of Israeli politics?

—Taking a Break By Going Abroad—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: After eight months of war, what's it like for an Israeli to get on a plane to somewhere, anywhere, else? What's it like to come back?

Plus, an appreciation of David Levy, being Israeli in Japan, and a new old museum in Tel Aviv. And more music of our times.

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Golan Heights?—

We just witnessed the huge victory of IDF Reserve Major-General and former deputy chief-of-staff Yair Golan in the primary for Labor leadership (he got more than 95%). Will a new war-hero general at the head of the Labor Party bring back Rabin-era glory?

—History Lesson—

A viral lachrymose TV sketch comedy troupe portrays Jewish history as one damn-pogrom-after-another, up to and including October 7. Is Jewish history, up to and including now, just a trail of tears?

—What It's Been Like to Be on an Ivy-League Campus This Past Year—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: The executive director of Cornell's Hillel, Rabbi Ari Weiss, tells us about what it has been like to be on an Ivy-League campus this past year, for students and Hillel directors alike.

Plus, losing our words, and more music of these troubled times.

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

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Gantz and Gallant Game the Endgame—

Two of five of the members of Israel's "War Cabinet" tell Prime Minister Netanyahu that he has to figure out what comes next in Gaza. Or else!

—Unwarranted—

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court seeks warrants for the arrest of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant, the first time warrants have been sought for democratically-elected politicians. So will the world start arresting Israeli politicians when they travel abroad?

—A Huge Win Despite the Loss—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: When sorority sisters turn on sorority sisters, you know sh*t's gotten real!

All that and a memorial appreciation of Yael Dayan and a good bye to the old TLV1 studios. Plus more music in the sad spirit of our times.

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Now, Rafah—

What are we to make of Israel's rolling incursion into Rafah? Oy.

—On Film—

There's a new hour-long movie about the rape and sexual assault of Israeli women on October 7 and since. Oy.

—A Huge Win Despite the Loss—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Eden Golan's amazing adventure at the Eurovision song contest.

All this and more music of these troubled times.

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Days of Awe—

What do Yom Ha-Zikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom Ha-Atzmaut (Independence Day) mean in this annus horribilis? How can we celebrate, now?

—School Daze—

What should we make of the enraged protests raging on university campuses? Kids these days, am I right?

—Al Jazeera on the Chopping Block—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Israel blocks Al Jazeera for 45 days, on the grounds that the network is neither fair nor balanced. Dumb move?

Plus, a look back fifty years, a vegetable vending machine, and more music of these troubled times.