537 episodes
The Promised Podcast TLV1 Studios
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- Religion & Spirituality
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4.7 • 374 Ratings
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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.
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The “Women & Other Living Things” Edition
Miriam Herschlag, Gilad Halpern 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
—Women & the War—
Gender’s gotten weird (even weirder than usual) in this war. Miriam Schler, Executive Director of the Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Crisis Center, joins us to make sense of it.
—That Thing About the Muses—
So many paintings, songs, poems, sculptures, site exhibits, and plays have been made since October 7. But why?
—The Rape and Other Sexual Violence That Took Place on October 7—
For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: We talk about rape and other sexual violence on October 7 with Miriam Schler, Executive Director of the Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Crisis Center.
All that and weddings, weddings, weddings.
(Plus, if you can, maybe give something to the Sexual Assault Crisis Center, which is struggling to meet the massive demand for its services) -
The “Song of War” Edition
Noah takes a break from scrolling and refreshing, to consider the songs of this war (which has produced more music than all of Israel’s past wars rolled into one), and what they say about the country and how it has changed over the years, and for the better.
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The “First Fifty” Edition
Miriam and Noah talk about the deal struck between Israel and Hamas, via the Qataris and the Americans, that would return 50 hostages, mostly kids and their mothers, in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners and a four day cease fire, the execution of which deal was already delayed on its first day. Miriam talks about evil and Viktor Frankl while Noah, as far as we can tell, lay in a fetal position, moaning on the floor of the studio.
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The “Moral and Immoral Dilemmas” Edition
Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman 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
—Trolley Problems—
If the two goals of the war – crushing Hamas and returning the captives home – turn out to be at odds, what should Israel do?
—Ceasefire—
What is the answer to the question, “Why not stop the war right now?”
—What the Large Demonstration in DC Looked Like From Tel Aviv—
For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: 300,000 Americans, mostly Jews, demonstrate at the Mall in DC in support of Israel and against anti-Semitism. What was it like seeing that from Tel Aviv?
All that and a temporary, new high-rise kibbutz in Tel Aviv, and a tribute in memoriam to Vivian Silver, z”l. Also, buy Don’s book, and if you already did, buy another two copies! -
The “Our Tragedy & Theirs” 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
—Our Tragedy & Theirs—
Should our papers, shows and sites be showing and telling us more about the suffering of Gazans, when we have so much pain of our own to come to grips with?
—Bearing Arms—
More people have applied for a gun license in the past month than in the prior decade. Should we be worried?
—Is Noah About to Get His First Tattoo?—
For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Israelis go in droves to tattoo parlors to ink memento of the October 7 massacres. What’s that all about?
All that and good coming from bad, and more new music written in the aftermath of the massacres. Also, last chance to pre-order Don’s book! -
The “Things Change” Edition
Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman 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
—Lessons—
What can Israelis learn from October 7 about the prospect of peace with Palestinians?
—Netanyahu, Now—
Can we still rally around our Prime Minister, even now?
—We Try to Answer the Question, “How Are You?”—
For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: A few weeks in, our nerves are frayed. We each try to answer the vexed question, “How are you?”
All that and a mother lobbying God with dough to get her girl out of Gaza and new music about our lives after October 7. Also, pre-order Don’s book!
Customer Reviews
Clarity and poetry
This episode put so much into clear perspective for me as I struggle with so many opposing thoughts. I wish everyone could hear this. Inspiring, heartfelt, poignant witty…without being sappy. the best of what I cherish about Israel despite all.
Thank you!
Sally Abed is queen of my heart
She’s the best!
As for the rest…look, I don’t know how to safer this. I began digging through the back catalog when the protests started. As a US liberal-progressive non-Muslim and non-Jew, I wanted to learn from Israeli liberals about Israel and Zionism. Figure things out!
Boy have I learned! Just this week, Allison with her “yeah yeah, dead babies, whatever.” Nobody’s dead are “whatever”. No one’s. And Don repeating “In the Middle East, you have to be a bully. It’s a barbarous place!”
Noah is shockingly naive, but it’s heartfelt and sweet. And he brings on Sally Abed, whom I love. I hope his kid is OK.
Yeah ….I’m not sure the hosts meant to teach me inform my views as they have! But they’ve taught me things!
I am going to learn so much from The Promise
I came across The Promise as I must, as a NYC progressive Jew, understand Israel. I have so many complicated feelings but not enough knowledge. Because I love an Israeli friend very much I have planted seeds in my heart and mind to learn more about Israel and I have found that perhaps she was the impetus, but I really do want to know Israel for my own sake. I can’t wait to keep listening. Also the music is amazing and Noah’s storytelling is poetry that takes my breath away.