552 episodes

An inside view of how Israel can warm your heart and make your blood boil. It’s a show by a journalist, a professor and an NGO professional 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.

The Promised Podcast TLV1 Studios

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 4.7 • 383 Ratings

An inside view of how Israel can warm your heart and make your blood boil. It’s a show by a journalist, a professor and an NGO professional 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.

    The “You Know, I Read It in a Magazine” Edition

    The “You Know, I Read It in a Magazine” Edition

    Miriam Herschlag, Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.
    Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon
     
    —אַ סוף צו אַ גאָלדען עלטער אין אַ גאלדענע מדינה—
    This month’s Atlantic cover story argues that the “Golden Age” for American Jews has come to a close and, with it, maybe the “Golden Age” for America and the “Golden Age” for Jews. Is the US putting the “mean” back into “reversion to the mean”?
    —Retracted—
    A well-regarded literary journal retracts an essay by an Israeli on account of, well, what exactly? Is it a literary crime to be an Israeli in 2024?
    —Hurricane—
    For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: This year’s Eurovision is gonna be a sh*tshow.
    Plus poetry on the moon and more songs of these troubled days.

    • 1 hr 27 min
    The “Reckonings” Edition

    The “Reckonings” Edition

    Allison Kaplan Sommer, Linda Gradstein and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.
    Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon
     
    —Jerusalem, Mon Amour?—
    What’s it mean that Jerusalem just elected to its city council a straight-up majority of ultra-Orthodox men?
    —Reckoning?—
    Is it time for soul-searching and spiritual reckoning over the death and destruction in Gaza?
    —Five Months—
    For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Five months since October 7, we are awfully tired.
    All that and remembering Beige Shohat, plus more songs of these troubled days.

    • 1 hr 20 min
    The “Local Yokels” Edition

    The “Local Yokels” Edition

    Miriam Herschlag, Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.
    Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon
     
    —Going Local—
    They say that, in a democracy, even the most humble among us can be elected to public office. Now we know it’s true!
    —Mayor for Life—
    Few positions have more job security than mayor of a major city in Israel.
    —Jon Stewart Goes Viral on the Gaza War—
    For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Jon Stewart goes viral on the Gaza war.
    All this and a memorial tribute to MK Charlie Biton, and more songs of our troubled times.

    • 1 hr 47 min
    The “138 Days” Edition

    The “138 Days” Edition

    138 days in, The Promised Podcast looks back.
     
    —Premonition—
    —City of Slaughter—
    —Sally—
    —The Wheat Grows Again—
    —The Battalion’s WhatsApp—

    • 1 hr 11 min
    The “Yesterday’s Politics, Today!” Edition

    The “Yesterday’s Politics, Today!” Edition

    Allison Kaplan Sommer, Linda Gradstein and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.
    Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon
     
    —Elections Now?—
    Billboards all over the country and full-page ads in the papers call for new elections now. Is this a good idea?
    —The Draft on the Draft: Getting the Shaft?—
    A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.
    —Wartime Hookups—
    For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What is it about war that makes people want to pair off?
    All that and risking the lives of dozens of young men to save the lives of two old men, plus more moving songs of these troubled days.

    • 1 hr 22 min
    The “Negotiating With Terrorists” Edition

    The “Negotiating With Terrorists” Edition

    Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.
    Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon
     
    —Negotiating With Terrorists—
    Hamas finally sets out their demands in exchange for releasing the 136 living-and-dead Israeli hostages dragged to Gaza from their homes. Is there anywhere to go from here?
    —Bar-Raving Time!—
    Itamar Ben-Gvir is having a moment.
    —The New York Talk Times—
    For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: The New York Times brings together five historians to explain how Israelis and Palestinians got to where we got. How’d they do?
    All that and more moving songs of these troubled days.

    • 1 hr 19 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
383 Ratings

383 Ratings

jill17 ,

Excellent and informative!

A passionate podcaster and wonderful guests. I always learn something new and the music gives balance!

Efron rules! ,

Promised podcast delivers

The best podcast anywhere! I look forward to listening every week!

School user ,

My favorite way to know what is going on in Israel

This podcast always highlights both the most pressing issues in Israel with nuanced, thoughtful commentary and also the lesser know gems that you would only get if you lived in Israel. All of this with wit and humor and honesty. My favorite way to get my Israel news.

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