the promised podcast

Pulpitical is the New Political

A rabbi of towering reputation writes that its time to get religion out of politics. Does he have a point?

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It’s the Class Struggle, Stupid!

The editor-in-chief of Ha’aretz runs the numbers and discovers that, for all the talk about identity politics, all you need to understand how Israelis vote and why is your old tattered, dog-eared copy of Das Kapital. Does he have a point?

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Lax Americana?

A former US Ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, argues it’s time for America to throw in the towel on peace to the Mid-East. As the towel-throwees, what should Israelis think?

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Déjà Whew!

The right-of-the-Likud parties just joined together, save the very-far-right, neo-Kahanist “Jewish Might” party. What’s going on out there, beyond the far reaches of the Likud?

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United and It Feels So Good

47 years ago, the founders of Meretz split from the Labor Party because that party was too soft on the Rabbis, too shaky on settlements, and too feeble on human rights. Labor said good riddance, because Meretz was a bunch of condescending, elitist Ashkenazim. Now the two parties have reunited for the upcoming elections. Can it work?

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There Will Be Blood

In Israel, your HMO will check whether you are “ritually pure” if you want it.

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Write Makes Right?

Do we need more (or less) “activist journalism” that doesn’t just describe the world, but tries to change it?

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What’s the Matter with Kiryat Malachi?

A sociologist says Israeli “liberals” are the least tolerant group in the country, and folks call for his head on a pike.

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Pipe Dreams

Environmental activists say the government is a bunch of lying liars who lie to serve rich corporate overlords. Isn’t this just Trumpism, by another name?

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