Podcast
The Promised Podcast
Hosted by TLV1 Studios · EN
An inside view of how Israel can warm your heart and make your blood boil. It's a show hosted by folks who live in and love Israel even though it drives them crazy, and who each week discuss the latest in Israeli politics, culture, and society.
33episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The "Fronts" Edition
6d ago01:28:22Summary readyLinda, Noah and Judah Ari Gross talk about the war with Iran and the peace with Gaza, and how US President Donald Trump's diplomatic ADD makes it close to impossible for anything good to come of our miserable wars. For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: The last time our dollars bought so few shekels (and our shekels bought so many dollars), it was before we could dial up the internet, and around the time Mario first got his Kart. What's it mean (hint: diminished retirements for some, and boarded-up NGOs). Plus: Drawing hope from frogs, philanthropists and hotel buffet breakfasts. And some great new music.
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The "Can the Center Hold?" Edition
2w ago01:51:10Summary readyLinda Gradstein and Noah Efron try to make sense of why long-time allies and fellow-travelers of former Alternate Prime Minister and former IDF Chief-of-Staff Benny Gantz have lately left the Blue & White Party, wondering if it is the man or what he stands for. Then they are joined by special guest star Rabbi Joe Wolfson of JLIC-TLV to try and make sense of the many secular and egalitarian Tikkunei Leil Shavuot, all night sessions of study, song, discussion and meditation that have become so popular over the past years asking, what exactly are those things about? For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Everyone said no one would ever vote for Noam Bettan, the Israeli singing in the Eurovision Song Contest, yet he finished in second place. How? Why? Plus the changing face of Shavuot over the years and a few things that moved us over the week. And some great new music.
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The "Paths to Perdition" Edition
3w ago01:40:51Summary readyMiriam, Noah, and Deputy Director of the Geneva Initiative Tehila Wenger talk about: 1) The controversial opinion piece in the Times suggesting that Israeli guards and soldiers sexually assault Palestinian prisoners, and 2) Why Jerusalem Day has become an almost sectarian holiday for religious Zionists. For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Tehila Wenger's Geneva Initiative has been arguing for a Two-State Solution for 23 years. How has working for peace changed over this time? Plus remembering Marie Nahmias and a few things that moved us over the week.
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The "School Daze" Edition
4w ago01:46:08Summary readyAllison, Noah and (for some of the time) special star-ringer Professor Gordon Lafer talk about: 1) How the war with Iran seems to have quickened a surprisingly close strategic relationship between Israel and the UAE, and 2) How Israel is these days seen on college campuses, from the quad to the student union to the seminar room to the faculty lounge. For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Is it still possible to be a "liberal Zionist" outside of Israel? Plus an ambivalent tribute to artist Yair Garbuz and a few things that moved us over the week.
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The "This Feeling is Called Hope" Edition
Apr 3001:21:11Summary readyLinda and Noah talk about 1) President Yitzhak Herzog's split-the-baby reply to Prime Minister Netanyahu's request for a pardon, saying he will host and mediate plea bargain negotiations: Is this clever or craven? 2) The announcement that former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid will run together in the upcoming elections, with Bennett atop the list, and whether the whole they make is bigger or smaller than the sum of its parts. For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: After Bennett and Lapid ring the opening bell of the election campaign, we ask ourselves what we expect from the next six months of politicians politicking politically. Plus new songs with words by lately fallen soldiers, a kid in Beirut who asks the IDF to blow up her school, and talking peace in Area C.
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The "Men & Gods" Edition
Apr 2301:34:39Summary readyMiriam Herschlag and Noah Efron talk about 1) The imposed cease-fires, and whether Israelis ought to worry we're becoming a vassal state, and 2) What explains why an IDF soldier thought it was right, or maybe just amusing, to take a sledgehammer to a statue of Jesus in a yard in a village in Lebanon. For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Peace activist, negotiator, and friend of the podcast Gershon Baskin writes that, "Donald Trump is the best chance Israelis, Palestinians have for peace since 1993". That so? Plus the joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Ceremony, an out of control bus-driver, and the lovely debut record of rising-star Noa Carsenti.
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The "Bombs and Balms" Edition
Apr 1601:33:40Summary readyAllison and Noah talk about 1) Whether or not, as an essay in the New York Times suggests, war has become "not a strategy but the norm" for Israel, (2) The World Happiness Reports finding that Israelis remain among the happiest people on earth, including after October 7th: Why is this? For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: A bunch of writers send a confusing open-letter to the Jewish Book Council saying (we think) that the JBC needs to de-Zionize. What should we make of that? Plus Yom Hashoah, Yom Ha-Atzmaut and Noga Erez rocking Coachella!
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The "War is Over! (If You Ignore a Thing or Two)" Edition
Apr 901:35:20Summary readyLinda and Noah talk about: 1) The abrupt, maybe fleeting, end to the war with Iran, and what it means, and 2) The "Death Penalty for Terrorists" law recently passed by the Knesset (and destined to be struck down by the Supreme Court), and what it means. For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Polls showed support for the war among Israelis steadily slipping with each passing day. Why did people's faith that something good might come of bombing Iran fade even as the airforces of Israel and the United States did most everything they set out to do? Plus a wedding that changed a culture, a boy gone missing, and life underground.
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The "Egypt Within Us" Edition
Apr 101:29:05Summary readyLinda, Noah and journalist Judah Ari Gross discuss: 1) the Jewish thugs attacking, hurting and terrorizing Palestinians on the West Bank and, relatedly, 2) what our exodus story needs to be this year. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: With the missiles and all the rest, we struggle to answer Joey Tribiani's all-important question: "How you doin'?" Plus making Passover at this odd moment (an audio collage by Miriam) and music of our season of freedom.
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The "Radio Days" Edition
Mar 2600:32:54Summary readyNinety years ago this week, Hebrew was heard on airwaves as the Voice of Jerusalem had its first broadcast. The feint echoes of the thing are worth listening for today.
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