Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and writer, TV host, and activist Ohad Zeltzer-Zubida discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Primary Dolours According to polls, fifteen political parties have a decent shot of being elected to the Knesset. Only three o ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Times of Israel Ops & Blogs editor Miriam Herschlag discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Looking for the extra segment? Likud Renewed, Dude! The Likud primaries are here! We wonder what composite portrait they pai ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Become a patron and gain access to our weekly extra special, special extra segments. Bullshit Solutions to Bullshit Problems? Is the election campaign about anyth ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. No ‘Israeli-Palestinian Conflict’? Journalist and best-selling author Matti Friedman argues in the New York Times that if you think of the conflict between Israel ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Never Netanyahu? Labor Party head dares and double-dares the heads of other parties in the center and on the left to swear on a million bibles that they’ll never ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Terrorists, Murderers or Just Kids? Five fifteen years-olds suspected of killing a Palestinian mother of nine by pelting her car with rocks are interrogated by th ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Right (Or, Naftali & Ayelet’s Excellent Adventure) Numbers one and two of the modern-Orthodox Jewish Home party, leave to start “The New Right.” It’s sad when kid ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Elections! Netanyahu calls new elections, spurring the talking heads to talk, the pundits to pund, the experts to expectorate, and all the rest of us to grasp our ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. The Vested Quest of the Oppressed Some Israelis watch yellow-vested Parisian protestors burn cars and break windows and thing, “We’d like in on that action.” But ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Unsettling A Tel Aviv leftist sets out to meet settlers in Tekoa, and makes a remarkable documentary about the discussions she has. The settlers come off as decen ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. In Which Memory of George Herbert Walker Bush? George H.W. Bush remade the Middle East and changed US-Israel relations forever. Was this a good thing? What?!? Som ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. AirBDS? Airbnb kicked Jewish settlers off their site: A courageous political stand or a craven and hypocritical singling out of Israel for censure? Solidarity on ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Sometimes They’ll Give a War and Nobody Will Come Haaretz praises PM Netanyahu for single-handedly preventing war in Gaza. Are we in bizzaro-world, or were we jus ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Mourning in America Is it true that American Jews may never forgive Israel for its reaction to the Pittsburgh massacre? Should it be true? Our Rabin, Not Yours! L ...…

Crashing the First International Conference on Innovations in Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Don and Noah discuss seeking peace amidst violence and distrust, the secular and profane, ancient enmities and fragile hopes, with Northern Irish leaders who helped to end centuries-old conflict between Protestants and Catholics, Unionists and Repub ...…

In this very special, environmentally-sound, recycled edition of the Promised Podcast, we rebroadcast discussions about: Whether the fact that the rabbis did not protest the passage of a very liberal abortion law means that we are mistaken about rabbinic reach and overreach Whether we need more professorial types in politics, or whether the egg ...…

Allison, Don and Noah gather agog among the movers and the shakers at the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America to discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. It’s Not Over ‘til the Yellow Bird Sings The “Canary Mission” is a website cle ...…

Subscribe to our WhyWhyWhy! True Stories from Israel podcast Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Stitcher Spotify Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. What’s Good for the Goose Polls show that former IDF ...…

In this partially archival yet still very fresh edition of the Promised Podcast, we rebroadcast two segments from prior episodes, followed by a brand new third segment for your aural pleasure. Starring in this episode, in no particular order, are Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman, Bradley Burston, Miriam Herschlag, Gilad Halpern, and Noah Ef ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Book Learnin’ The Palestinian Authority publishes its first new schoolbooks in 18 years, and they contain scorched-earth rejection of Jewish presence in Palestine ...…

In this very special, collectors’ edition of the Promised Podcast, we rebroadcast a conversation with one of our favorite writers, the brilliant and enchanting magical-realist writer Etgar Keret, soon after the publication of his 2015 memoir, The Seven Good Years. The interview was done by the wonderful Ilene Prusher, long-time fill-in Promised ...…

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron, and Gilad Halpern discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. “A New Chapter in the Sad Book of Our Lives”: The Oslo Accords at 25 25 years ago this week, Yitzhak Rabin, Yassir Arafat and Bill Clinton gathered on the White H ...…

In an inspiring demonstration of environmental consciousness, this week the Promised Podcast mixes new discussions with gently repurposed discussions from our archives, producing an episode with the vintage grace of a fine wine and the bracing freshness of just-squeezed orange juice. The G Word A while back, in honor of the High Holidays, Haare ...…

Don Futterman, Noah Efron, and roving freelance journalist Naomi Zeveloff discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Send These, the Homeless, Tempest-Tost, the Bill! Trump says to the UN that America won’t pay anymore for food, medicine, schools or homes fo ...…

Don Futterman, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Just the Vax Should it be illegal for kids in Israel to go to school, if they haven’t gotten their vaccines? The Great, Digital Sort Rich Israelis surf real estat ...…

Chair of Tel Aviv University’s Dept. of Public Policy Alon Tal, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Avoidably Detained The Shabak holds up journalist Peter Beinart at Ben Gurion Airport for a “cautionary conversat ...…

This episode of WhyWhyWhy! features true stories on the theme of “Sweat” as told by Anna Levine, Ephraim Rinsky, Susan Warchaizer, Libby Weiss, Mira Fox, and Israeli basketball legend Tal Brody. Subscribe to the WhyWhyWhy! podcast in your favorite podcast app. The next live WhyWhyWhy! storytelling event will be held Sept. 3rd (details) and will ...…

Twenty years ago, a week after Israel celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, a 26 year-old former drag-queen and trans woman won the world’s biggest song contest, The Eurovision. She also forever changed the way we Israelis see ourselves. In this very special edition of The Promised Podcast, Noah tells her story, and explains why he thinks that i ...…

Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. A Big, Beautiful Wall? In building a massive 10 meter high wall all along the northern border with Lebanon and Syria, are we ...…

Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear this week's extra segment. Blood Are Druze Israelis first among second-class citizens? Sweat (and Splendor) Was the ris ...…

Don Futterman, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Listen to the extra special, special extra segment. Radical Tail Wagging a Moderate Dog? Polls show that Likud voters are socialist, gay and lesbian supporting, r ...…

Don Futterman, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Check out the extra segment. It’s Finally Nice & Legal! Israel is a Jewish State! Israel passes its long embattled “Nation-State” law, declaring that this is defi ...…

Don Futterman, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear this week's extra segment. Pole Position The Prime Ministers of Israel and Poland issue a joint declaration about WWII, asserting that Poles mostly treated J ...…

Gilad Halpern, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. On this week's extra segment, we invite Gabriel Noah Brahm to join us to discuss academic boycotts of Israel. Avi Gabbay’s Excellent Imposture (With Apologies to ...…

Outgoing International Director of Haaretz Charlotte Halle, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear this week's extra segment. Put Away for Take Away? First Lady Sara Netanyahu is indicted for charging taxpayers ...…

This episode of WhyWhyWhy! features stories on the theme of “Talkin' 'bout a Revolution” as told by Judah Ari Gross, Margot Saffer, Don Futterman, Adam Nice, Varda Spiegel, Avinof Frumer, Marcia Freedman, and Naomi Henoch. The next live event will be held on July 23rd (details) and will feature the theme, “Sweat.” Pitch us stories about your sw ...…

Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Listen to the extra segment. Benjamin Netanyahu’s New World Order According to reports, PM Netanyahu used the threat of Iran’s nucle ...…

Outgoing International Director of Haaretz Charlotte Halle, Noah Efron, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the extra segment on Patreon. Terror with a Tail! The flaming kites lofted by Palestinians into Israel have caused tens ...…

Noah Efron, Times of Israel Ops & Blogs Editor Miriam Herschlag, and Ha’aretz columnist Bradley Burston discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Listen to this week's extra segment. Cabel News A Labor Party stalwart breaks ranks and says that some of the s ...…

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Junior Partners in the Jewish People? Israelis tell pollsters that the opinions of American Jews about what happens here matter, but not too much. What does this ...…

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Click here to listen to the extra segment. Republikud & Labocrats? Should Israel’s election system be rejiggered to do away with all the pesky, small parties? Mos ...…

This episode of Why why why! features stories on the theme of “Chutzpah”as told by Gwen Dreilinger, Mel Lidman, Alon Tal, Chavi Karkowsky, Judy Maltz, and Ibrihim Ahadi. Next month's event will be held on June 4th (details) and will feature stories on the theme, “Talkin' About a Revolution!” Pitch us stories about revolutions you've seen, fomen ...…

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Click here to listen to the extra segment. Sixty-One Dead With a good deal of angst of our own, we ask the questions we often ask in the face of this sort of horr ...…

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Click here to listen to the extra segment. The Age of Uncertainty What thoughts, fears, hopes, worries and other reactions does Trump’s decision (and the escalati ...…

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear this week's extra segment. Not THAT Jewish Agency Is the most important unseen force in Israeli politics the great divide between those who think that Israel ...…

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Pfeffer’s Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s Israel Sparks fly when Haaretz correspondent Anshel Pfeffer joins us to discuss his new book, “Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times ...…

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Conscript Kids Does our wont to see all IDF soldiers as our kids, the safety of each and every one of whom is irreducibly and axiomatically important to us, preve ...…

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. The extra segment for Patrons is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/will-he-speak-18137370 Gaza Is Gaza’s “Great March of Return” a non-violent protest ...…

Our debut episode of Why, Why, Why! features stories on the theme of “Crossing the Red Sea” told by Abe Silver, Jodi Davidovitch, Yaser Abu Areesha, Nancy Cahners, and Guy Sharett. About “Why, Why, Why!” An evening (and a podcast) of people sharing a true story for an audience while sipping a beer and pondering life in the holy land. Why “Why, ...…

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Looking for this week's extra segment? It's available on www.patreon.com/promisedpodcast The Curious Case of the Constancy of Bibi Boosters and Believers How and ...…