Your Israeli Soundtrack
On this episode, we reflect on the tragic passing of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and hear excerpts from his past interview on this show. May his memory be for a blessing.
The “Subs, Spies & Videotape” Edition
We discuss: 1) Gantz’s decision to investigate corruption in the purchase of German submarines 2) How the spy Jonathan Pollard ought to be welcomed when he moves here 3) Why the IDF is trying so hard to be cool on social media
It Takes Real Courage
What do courage, poor acting, and pet adoption have to do with one other? They have the same Hebrew root אמצ. On this episode, Guy explains the word אומץ, courage, and its root
Who Poisoned My News?
Has social media corrupted the truth, spawned fake news and contributed to the collapse of polite political norms? Harvard University's Yochai Benkler explains his surprising findings
The “Vaxx, Facts & Tax” Edition
We discuss: 1) whether Bibi made the right call rushing to buy a mess of Pfizer's vaccines at high-end prices 2) a campaign aiming to publicly shame rapists and abusers by putting their faces on billboards 3) whether the gov should start charging tax on overseas internet purchases
Yishai Sarid’s “The Memory Monster”
“The Memory Monster” takes the form of a report by the narrator, a young Israeli Holocaust scholar, written to his superior from the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem, and raises ethical questions about the struggle to cope with the memory of the Holocaust
Bridging the Gulf
Dr. Moran Zaga explains the historic and political background to a series of unlikely diplomatic deals between Israel and certain Arab states, what's in it for them, and why the UAE seeks to position itself as the moderate actor between competing extremist forces throughout the Middle East
The “Sons of Strongmen” Edition
We discuss: 1) what lasting impact Donald Trump and “Trumpism” had on Israel 2) an initiative led by the old Left to forge a new left that leaves Zionism behind 3) the really strange new podcast by Yair Netanyahu
‘Binyanim’ That Cause Confusion
There are several confusing verbs in Hebrew. Some are even spelled the same. Be sure to follow along with the show notes as you listen. We wouldn't want to cause any more confusion!
The Middle East Through Russian-Israeli Eyes
Ksenia Svetlova's story is gripping: she moved to Israel as a teen, grew up to become a journalist, and eventually served as MK. In her new book, Ksenia brings her story to her beat, giving readers an over-her-shoulder view of Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, and the Palestinians areas closer to home.
The “Leaders Come and Leaders Go” Edition
We discuss: 1) what we can learn from the mess of American politics about the mess of Israeli politics 2) the claim that Jews are breaking down into Trump Jews and Anti-Trump Jews 3) the outrage over one minister’s claim that Rabin’s legacy means nothing to her
Hayim Nahman Bialik’s “Random Harvest”
School has begun, and once again children are learning how to read, encountering the alphabet for the first time. Hopefully it is a pleasant and magical time, but here is a story of a boy who feared his teacher, although he loved the alphabet.
Did I Offend You?
In Hebrew, we say, ?נפגעת ממני We also say, ?פגעתי בך And even though these basically mean the same thing, the way we use them in spoken Hebrew determines who is to blame
Hearts of Darkness
Dr. Nitzan Shoshan travels with the marginalized, outcasts and left-behind members of German society today to find out what drives some to the far-right - and how the state tries to contain them
The “This Place!” Edition
On this special episode, Miriam Herschlag, Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida, Allison Kaplan-Sommer, Don Futterman, Charlotte Halle, and Noah Efron tell stories of life and love in this place they call home.
Your Israeli Soundtrack for October
On this episode, we spin the latest Israeli tunes including new releases from Itai Levi, Ron Shuval, Gal Malka, and have a listen to Moti Tala’s new EP.
Sorry If I Hurt You
How do we say, “I don’t want to offend you” in Hebrew? How about “bullseye”? Or perhaps “fragile”? On this episode, Guy covers the verb לפגוע.
Ordinary People: Polish-Jewish Relations During the Holocaust
Prof. Havi Dreifuss discusses her book “Relations Between Jews and Poles during the Holocaust: The Jewish Perspective,” laying out the myriad views and feelings Polish Jews harbored for their country and their non-Jewish compatriots.
The “Anything But Apathy” Edition
We discuss: 1) what to do with Ultra-Orthodox schools that opened illegally, against COVID regulations 2) whether race is a useful concept for understanding Israel 3) a new Israeli-Palestinian fashion company
Tehila Hakimi’s “COMPANY”
As we labor under unbelievable pressures and uncertainties of the pandemic, especially women who have children at home, it might make us feel a little better to see that, back in 2018, the writer Tehila Hakimi already envisioned what work would be like in 2020.
Antisemitism: Past and Present
Dr. Scott Ury and Prof. Guy Meron discuss their collected issue entitled “Antisemitism: Historical Concept, Public Discourse”
The “Exit Strategy” Edition
We discuss: 1) whether the new plan to get out of lockdown in stages is a good one 2) the worried claim that people here are growing coarser, and all the faster in these pandemical times 3) a big front-page ad comparing mistreatment of cows to Treblinka
Strengthened Coffee and Upgraded Pizza?
What do we mean when we say in Hebrew קפה מחוזק (roughly translated as strengthened coffee), and is it legitimate to drink it at 1:30 PM? Or when we say הוא מתחזק (he’s getting stronger) about someone? It's not what you might think.
Dialectic of Catastrophe: The Holocaust and the Nakba
Prof. Bashir Bashir and Prof. Amos Goldberg discuss their edited volume, “The Holocaust and the Nakba: A New Grammar of Trauma and History”
We’re All in This Together. Are We?
Yuval Feldman, professor of law at Bar-Ilan University and a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, utilizes behavioral analysis of regulation, enforcement and compliance to discuss how trust in the state has affected the response to the Covid pandemic, in Israel and beyond