the promised podcast

Idol in the Sanctuary

Are ultra-Orthodox attacks on Labor Party candidate, Reform Rabbi Gilad Kariv, legitimate political scrabbling, or some weird sort of herem, or religious excommunication?

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Carrots & Sticks

Is there a fair way to cajole people to vaccinate? Fining ’em? Keeping ’em from working? Banning them from basketball arenas? Public shaming?

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Likud, 2021: What’s Left of the Right?

Some longtime Likudniks lament that the party ain’t what it used to be. If that’s true, then what is it now?

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The Revolution Is in the Mail

New political magazines, printed on paper and sent in the mail, hope to foment revolution in Israeli politics. Do they have a chance of influencing people, in an age of Twitter?

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Day in Court

The International Criminal Court says that Palestine is a state and Israelis must stand trial for war crimes. “Pure anti-semitism,” as PM Netanyahu says? Or something else?

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Lapidary Matters

Does Yair Lapid, whose Yesh Atid Party is polling second only to the Likud, have what it takes to be Prime Minister?

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But They Have Lady Pacman, Don’t They?

Ten parties will probably be elected to the next Knesset. One will be headed by a woman. Why?

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Anyone But Them

The biggest issue in Israel’s March elections won’t be COVID, won’t be an economy in free fall, and won’t be Iran going nuclear. Nah, the biggest issue is ultra-Orthodox Jews. Why oh why?

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