Rachel (Ra’hel) Bluwstein’s “Transformation”
It’s Sukkot again! This holiday, Marcela focuses on the agricultural aspects — the festival was originally connected to the harvest. And to help us along is Rachel Bluwstein, Israel’s farmer-poet.
Hold This for a Second, Will You?
It's asked as a question but it's actually a statement: ?תחזיק רגע That's how we ask a friend to hold our bags. And how would we say, “I think highly of him” (or not so highly)?
A Chronicle of Diplomacy
The Israeli Palestinian conflict is among the most prominent and complex foreign policy challenges for the European Union. Anders Persson looks at the evolution of EU policy towards the conflict through the EU's own documentation.
The “Love, Death and AOC” Edition
We discuss: 1) how doctors decide who gets a ventilator and who doesn’t 2) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s decision not to speak at an event marking the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin 3) the surprising rise of matchmaking among secular Israelis
What Are Some of Your Strengths?
Israelis sometimes use a single word to review a movie or tv series: “!חזק” In Hebrew, חזק (pronounced hazak) means strong. So what are they trying to convey and how else can we use the word חזק?
The “Atone Again, Naturally” Edition
We discuss: 1) the proposal of giving Netanyahu amnesty from prosecution in exchange for his resignation 2) whether you can be a feminist, but opposed judges who try to advance a feminist agenda 3) we repent for stuff we said about people in Israeli politics, culture and society
Your “Peace in the Middle East” Soundtrack
On this specially-themed show, we celebrate Israel’s peace accords with the UAE and Bahrain, and also get in the mood for the 10 days of repentance with some reflective tunes.
Ayelet Tsabari’s memoir, “The Art of Leaving”
Amidst the holidays, Marcela celebrates by reading an excerpt from Ayelet Tsabari’s newly published memoir, “The Art of Leaving”
Ending Wars Peacefully
In his new book, Jeremy Pressman challenges the notion that violence is the best way to win concessions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or in the Israeli-Arab context more broadly.
The “It Never Bahrains, But It Pours!” Edition
We discuss: 1) the historic accord with the UAE and peace declaration with Bahrain 2) the 3-week lockdown 3) the efforts to ban the TV satire show, The Jews Are Coming
Searching for Deeper Meaning
The Hebrew word לחפש means “to search for.” So what does “המורה סתם מחפש אותי” or “לכי חפשי ת’חברים שלך” mean? Both are slang and they don't mean what you might think they mean!
Living With Ghosts
Michal Ben Naftali's novel, “The Teacher,” examines memories of those who can never forget. People die, but their collective trauma lives on.
The “Disobedient? Sure. But Is It Civil?” Edition
What's behind the Greek-tragic struggle for leadership of the Yesh Atid party? What do we make of Lieberman's call for “civil disobedience” against the government’s coronavirus regulations? Ahead of the Jewish New Year, what events and people mattered most over the year now ending?
Yochi Brandes’ “The Orchard”
“The Orchard” tells the story of Rabbi Akiva, placing him in the context of his contemporaries, the Sages of Jewish tradition and of early Christianity.
Here, Try This!
The word לנסות, to try, is very handy in everyday conversation. People always say, “try this” or “don't try that.” So on this episode, Guy tries to explain it all.
From Genetics To Eugenics
Prof. Amir Teicher, a historian at Tel Aviv University, discusses the cooptation of a seminal, 19th-century genetic theory by a climate of racial categorization several decades on.
The “N, Na, Nah” Edition
Why have the Jerusalem protests lasted so long? Could Naftali Bennett be Israel’s next PM? Did the coronavirus czar step too far when requesting to ban ultra-Orthodox Israelis from entering Ukraine?
Dark Rooms
Prof. Amos Morris-Reich discusses his book “Race and Photography: Racial Photography as Scientific Evidence 1876-1980,” exploring the meeting point between culture and science against the backdrop of racism
Your Israeli Soundtrack for August
We’ve got an incredible show to get you in a fantastic summer mood. Brand new releases from Subliminal, Mosh Ben-Ari, Hadag Nachash, Idan Raichel and many more.
“Three”: D. A. Mishani’s Thriller Read
Marcela has got a thriller for you! “Three” is a page turner that tells the stories of three women. All of them will meet the same man. And he won’t tell the truth about himself.
“Ve,” “Va” or “Oo”
Vé- is sometimes pronounced Va- or Oo-, depending on the usage. So when is the letter ו at the beginning of a word pronounced Vé, Va or Oo? And should Hebrew learners invest their time to learn these elaborate rules?
A Very Diplomatic Review
Dr. Susanne Wasum-Rainer, Germany's Ambassador to Israel, discusses Germany's vision at the start of its Presidency of the Council of the EU, challenges to the post-war global order, German-Israel relations, and her long professional connection to Israel
The “Good Trouble” Edition
Merav Ferziger and her mom, Miriam Herschlag, on the protests shaking Jerusalem at the foundations, and making all sorts of “good trouble.”
Yea or Nay?
The word נגד means against,” and its root gives us the Hebrew words for contrast, contradiction and conflict. We'll also head over to the Knesset in Jerusalem to hear an up or down vote take place.
“The People Doth Protest Too Much!” Edition
We discuss: 1) the new limitations on protest demonstrations and whether they diminish Israeli democracy 2) what to do now that a big survey shows that distance learning is a flop 3) whether poetry can lead to political and social change