Israel Story is an award-winning podcast that tells true stories you won't hear on the news. Hosted by Mishy Harman, the weekly show brings you extraordinary tales about ordinary Israelis. The show is produced in partnership with The Jerusalem Foundation and The Times of Israel. For Hebrew episodes, see סיפור ישראלי, or go to our website: israelstory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Karina is Home
After 477 days in captivity, Karina is home. Here's a look back to day 5, with her sister Sasha. Photograph courtesy of the Israel Defence Forces. The end song is Nekuda Tova (“Good Point”), by Shuli Rand with Ehud Banai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Sarah Tuttle-Singer
What do lovers do when under attack from both sides of an unimaginable war?The end song is Prayer of the Mothers by Yael Deckelbaum.Photograph by Yitz Woolf, courtesy of Sarah Tuttle-Singer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Telling Israel's Story in 2025
By supporting Israel Story, you’re saying that ordinary people matter, and that stories have the power to enter our hearts and change our minds.https://causematch.com/israel-story-24For prizes and rewards during the campaign, check out our Facebook and Instagram feeds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Robbie Gringras
Grateful for his safety and relative comfort in this war, one man says goodbye to his personal paradise.The end song is Pizmon LeYakington ("Hymn to the Hyacinth") by Yehudit Ravitz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Shaked Kestleman
A citizen runs to stop a terrorist, and is tragically shot by friendly fire. How does this happen? And what does his family do next?The end song is Karma Police, performed by Shefita, originally by Radiohead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Anwar Ben Badis
How do you raise a child who is on both sides of a war? The end song is Yalda Sheli Ktana ("Little Girl of Mine") by Idan Raichel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Gadi Ezra
When war needs you in two very different capacities, how on earth do you decide what to do?The end song is Ana Efneh ("Where Shall I Turn?") by Erez Lev Ari. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A Year Later: Ariel Markose
Today we’re releasing something new for us - a short video - in which we returned to Ariel Markose, exactly one year after profiling her on "Wartime Diaries." You can find the video here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: One Year
Families, lovers, fighters, and more: one year of Wartime Diaries.The end song is B'Shana Haba'ah ("In the Next Year") by Shiri Maimon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Sapir Bluzer
A parent being called to war impacts the entire family. So she stepped up.The end song is Imma ("Mom") by Shiri Maimon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: A Tale of Two Bus Stops
Two bus stops in two neighboring towns capture how war can unify, and how it can divide.The end song is Autobus Mispar Echad ("Bus Number One") by Shlomo Artzi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Toby Einhorn
Seeking love. Called to war.For our Tu B'Av special, we wanted to get a bird's eye view of the local, post-October 7th dating scene. So we went to visit Rebetzin Toby Einhorn, who runs a one-stop-shop for all matters of the heart.Image courtesy of Jenny Peperman.The end song is Shir HaShadchanit ("Matchmaker, Matchmaker") from the Hebrew adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Maryam Younnes
Despite all the experts and pundits out there, few know Hezbollah as well as the members of a small, and often forgotten, community living in Israel.This community has found itself in an impossible position: Their adoptive country (Israel) is at war with their sworn enemy (Hezbollah), but is also - as a by-product - bombing their hometowns and villages in Southern Lebanon, where many of their friends and family members still reside. Welcome to the Middle East. As always, it’s complicated. In
Our Friend Shai
On Monday evening Jerusalem lost one of its cornerstones, and we lost a very close friend. While you haven't heard Shai Doron - the President of the Jerusalem Foundation - on our show, he was a major force behind all that we do: He encouraged us, gave us a home, helped us build our studio, envisioned our series of live-storytelling events in Jerusalem, and enthusiastically supported our activity. Shai believed in Jerusalem's endless potential, saw its diversity as its main asset, and worked tire
Wartime Diaries: Michael Vivier
For the last nine-and-a-half months, we’ve been experiencing different kinds of battlefields: There are actual battlefields, where people fight and are wounded and killed. And then, of course, there are secondary battlefields - on college campuses, in the court of public opinion, on social media, on TV, in newspapers, via text messages. And while no one has, thankfully, been killed on those battlefields, they are - in disturbing ways - no less vicious. This reality is so pervasive that for many
Wartime Diaries: Amira Mohammed and Ibrahim Abu Ahmad
Arab-Israelis, or Palestinian Citizens of Israel, or Palestinian-Israelis - all these definitions are obviously complicated and personal and have hefty connotations - found themselves in a very difficult place following the attacks of October 7th. There was a lot of confusion, a lot of suspicion and mainly - a lot of fear. Any statement, any post, any tweet came under extreme scrutiny. Most people chose, therefore, to remain silent. They figured that the benefits of speaking up seemed to be
Wartime Diaries: Moriah Cohen
On Saturday, four hostages - Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov - were heroically rescued by the Israeli security forces, and safely brought home alive. Still, 120 hostages remain in Gaza - 43 of whom have already been declared dead - and the pressure to sign a deal that will bring them home is mounting from day to day. Such a deal, of course, has two sides: We tend to focus on what we stand to get, i.e. the hostages. To many, that’s really all that matters. But ther
Wartime Diaries: Lihi Lapid
Lihi Lapid is a celebrated photojournalist, columnist and best-selling author - of children's books, cookbooks and award-winning novels. She’s also married to Yair Lapid, the former Israeli Prime Minister and current Leader of the Opposition. In 2021 Lihi published Zarot, a sweeping tale that explores a complicated mother-daughter relationship, the tolls of immigration and the reality of marginalized groups within Israeli society. When it came out, it received glowing praise, especially from the
Wartime Diaries: Amit Halivni Bar-Peled
It’s Yom HaZikaron again, Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror. Since the start of the war, 1511 Israeli civilians and members of the armed forces have been killed. That's 1511 families who have joined the dreaded circle of grief and bereavement. 1511 families whose lives will never again be the same. Today, we share the story of one such family. A small family. One that was just starting off, really. Thirty-year-old Yuval Halivni was a reserve officer who was killed
Wartime Diaries: Tzvika Mor
Forty-seven-year-old Tzvika Mor is from the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, near Hebron. His son, Eitan, was kidnapped from the Nova Festival, where he had been working as a security guard. In fact, Eitan was only kidnapped in the afternoon of October 7th, after spending nearly nine hours evacuating injured party-goers to safe locations nearby. During that whole time Eitan heroically returned to the festival grounds again and again, under fire, to save complete strangers. At around 15:30 he
Wartime Diaries: Mishael Zion
Next week, millions of Jews around the world will sit down at their Passover tables, for what will invariably be a very different kind of seder. The timeless question of how this night, or this Pesach, is different from all other nights, and all other Pesachs, has gained an entirely new - and tragic - dimension since October 7th. And few, if any, have thought about this matter more than forty-three year old Mishael Zion, a liberal Orthodox rabbi and Jewish educator from Jerusalem. In 1997,
Wartime Diaries: Walter Bingham
The horrific events of October 7th reminded many people of the darkest chapter in Jewish history - the Holocaust. And indeed, for the past six months, there have been as many comparisons to the Shoah as there have been critiques of those comparisons. Of the roughly 130,000 Holocaust survivors living in Israel today, just under 10,000 reside in Jerusalem. Many of them participate in the Jerusalem Foundation’s Café Europa, which offers a physical meeting place, a wide range of social and cult
Wartime Diaries: Shai Davidai
In the immediate aftermath of October 7th, Shai Davidai - an Assistant Professor at Columbia University - became an unlikely public defender of Israel. And truthfully, even he was surprised by this turn of events: As a committed left-wing Israeli, he had spent years criticizing the government, and often took to the streets to demonstrate against its policies. But the atmosphere he witnessed on college campuses (and specifically on his own campus at Columbia), compelled him to speak up and speak
Wartime Diaries: Idit Ohel
Alon Ohel - a talented young jazz pianist - was kidnapped from the Nova party on October 7th, and has been held hostage in Gaza ever since. His family has spent the last five plus months sending him good vibes and good music. In today's episode, his mother - Idit Ohel - talks about the importance of energy, friendship and hope during these dire times.The end song is Shuvi Elay ("Return to Me") by Avishai Cohen and friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Sharon Gutman Gilor
One of very few positive outcomes of this war is that the ongoing debate surrounding the participation of female soldiers in combat has been decisively answered. Women are, as the IDF’s Chief of Staff - Herzi Halevi - has said on multiple occasions, an integral part of the military effort. They serve in tanks and in field intelligence posts, as pilots and naval officers, infantry soldiers, engineering specialists, canine handlers, medics and more. In fact, out of the 625 doctors and paramedics o
Wartime Diaries: Aliza Raz-Melzer
There has been endless talk of the “Home Front” during this war. The "Home Front," as in what goes on here in Israel, as opposed to what happens on the battlefield - in the streets and alleyways of Gaza. But, there is - of course - also a home front, or rather many different kinds of home fronts: some are stoic, others less so; some are somehow managing, others not at all. Much to her dismay, Aliza Raz-Melzer's 50-year-old husband Amiad volunteered to go fight. She gave us a glance into her home
A Once-in-a-Decade Announcement
We have some truly exciting news: For the first time in almost a decade, we're launching a new podcast. Look for Sipur Yerushalmi wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Noam Tsuriely
Some 350,000 Israelis have been called up to reserve duty since the start of the war, in what has been the largest mobilization in the country’s history. These are people who were plucked out of their homes, families and daily lives, and inserted into a totally different world, one which is in most cases - just to add to the confusion - a mere car ride away. And those transitions back and forth, between the craziness of the frontline and the veneer of normalcy at home, can be dizzying and unsett
Wartime Diaries: Maya German and Benjamin Fainsod
Today's "Wartime Diary" takes us to a place that is, under normal circumstances, one of the most visited sites in the entire country - Jerusalem’s Biblical Zoo, or as it's officially known, 'The Tisch Family Zoological Gardens.' Since the start of the war, the city of Jerusalem has welcomed more than 30,000 evacuees from both the North and the South. With such an influx of people, and especially of kids, there was a real need to create new programming and activities. The Jerusalem Foundatio
Wartime Diaries: Hugo (Uri) Wolaj
The war has been going on for over three months, and many of us have settled into some sort of altered routine, a "new normal." But there are hundreds of thousands of people, possibly millions, for whom nothing is normal. Hugo (Uri) Wolaj of Kibbutz Be’eri is one of them: everything about his life - his job, his friends, his family, his parenting style, everything - changed on October 7th. Uri spent more than 20 hours that day hiding with his wife and daughters in the safe room. They were evacua
Wartime Diaries: 100 Days
Today is the hundredth day of the war. And, though our Wartime Diaries series continues, we want to stop, mark this day and share 100 seconds of the many voices we’ve been hearing among - and around - us, since October 7th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Charlene Seidle
Upwards of $1 billion in donations have been sent to Israel since the start of the war. For years Charlene Seidle, the Executive Vice President of the San Diego-based Leichtag Foundation, has been at the forefront of the Jewish philanthropic world. While the Leichtag Foundation supports various causes in the States and in Israel, their main local focus is bridging social and economic gaps in Jerusalem. They’ve given life to hundreds of grassroots initiatives and have created the ‘Jerusalem Model
Wartime Diaries: Omer Ohana
The war has brought many new people into the limelight: For nearly three months we've been hearing countless stories of casualties, hostages, survivors and family members, many of whom have entered our hearts and never left. In some cases we feel like we’ve gotten to know these unsung heroes personally. One of the first big stories of the war, in that initial crazy week after October 7th, was that of 30-year-old Sagi Golan from Herzliya - a decorated officer in an anti-terrorism unit, who was ki
Wartime Diaries: Issa Kassissieh
It’s a sad Christmas Eve in Jesus’ homeland. The alleyways of Jerusalem’s Old City, the streets of Nazareth, the churches of Bethlehem - all usually bustling with countless pilgrims and tourists from all over the world - are largely empty. There are no trees, no stars, no sparkling lights. Christmas has essentially been canceled, and not just as a figure of speech: Back in November, the patriarchs and heads of practically all the local Christian denominations issued a decree calling upon their f
Wartime Diaries: Shira Masami
More than 200,000 Israelis - from both the South and the North - have been forced to leave their homes since the start of the war. Some have relocated to hotels or kibbutzim, others have opted to move in with family or friends, or else even rent apartments in entirely new surroundings. In today's episode we get a glimpse of what that reality feels like. Shira Masami is one of nearly 30,000 residents who have left the southern city of Sderot - a city which suffered a horrendous attack on October
We Need to Talk
Stories are the strongest way to connect. To understand. To care.Under normal circumstances we’d create some sort of polished appeal, but obviously these are not normal circumstances.If what we do has been helpful, or you think it is important, please support us and share our show with friends and family.From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Riyad Ali
Since the start of the military operation in Gaza, countless reports by journalists embedded with the IDF troops have appeared in the Israeli media. But there was one eight-and-a-half minute-long TV broadcast that aired on Kan - the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation - that stood out. In it, Riyad Ali, a 61-year-old Druze journalist from the town of Maghar in the Galilee, accompanied soldiers from the Golani Brigade who were operating in the Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City. He spoke to a b
Wartime Diaries: Adam Ben Shabath
As has been said many times in the past, identity is like an onion: There are layers of family and country, religion and political persuasions, favorite sports teams, musical preferences and on and on. But for many, such as 23-year-old Adam Ben Shabath, it is their hometown which stands at the center of it all. And now, as a result of the war, Adam's village of Neve Shalom/Wahat as-Salam - with its unique population and delicate equilibrium - is being torn at the seams. Residents are questioning
Wartime Diaries: Shalom Weil
As of today, more than 400 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the war. Each one of those deaths, of course, not only marks the end of a life, but also shatters a family, a community, a tribe. And that ripple effect, that communal grieving, was palpable following the death of reservist Yossi Hershkovitz, the 44-year-old Principal of the Religious Zionist Pelech School for Boys in Jerusalem, who was killed on Friday, November 10th. Like Yossi, his dear friend and colleague Shalom Weil, has
Wartime Diaries: Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin
Many of you have probably heard, or read about, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, the parents of 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped from the Nova Party. In many ways they’ve emerged as the face of the hostage families - they’ve met with Biden and the Pope, they were on the cover of Time Magazine, Rachel has spoken at the UN and at the ‘March for Israel’ Rally in Washington D.C. And in all those places, as well as in countless other interviews, speeches and meetings, they’ve told th
Wartime Diaries: Elliot Cosgrove and Mishy Harman
Last week, our host Mishy Harman was interviewed by Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove for the Park Avenue Synagogue Podcast. And as this is, in a way, Mishy's wartime diary, we decided to share it with our listeners too. Today is Giving Tuesday, and we really need your support. As you probably know, almost as soon as the war began, we pivoted our entire operation and launched our Wartime Diaries series, in which we bring you voices that try to capture slivers of life right now. These episodes reach the larg
Wartime Diaries: Doron Krakow
This war is a humbling experience for us all. People — no matter who they are or what they normally do — are simply trying to pitch in wherever they can. We’ve thus seen ex-generals jump into their private cars and go save civilians from the carnage of October 7th, former ministers and senior politicians volunteer to pick cherry tomatoes on farms near Gaza, and rock stars jam for a single soldier on an army base.Likewise, Doron Krakow — the President and CEO of the JCC Association of North Ameri
Wartime Diaries: Hagit Maoz
Almost immediately after the start of the attack of October 7th, as rockets were being launched at Jerusalem, and sirens sent the city’s one million residents into shelters, the heads of the Israel Museum initiated an emergency protocol for the first time since the Gulf War in 1991.The idea was to protect the nation’s most priceless cultural and historical treasures, the building blocks of our collective identity. The very first step of that protocol was to secure the Museum’s most prized posses
Wartime Diaries: Datya Itzhaki
In the summer of 2005, the government of Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza. The roughly 8,000 residents of the 21 Jewish settlements within the Gaza Strip were forced to leave their homes and their communities, which – for decades – they had actually been encouraged and incentivized to inhabit.The move brought the country to the brink of a civil war. This was especially palpable in the tense relations between the residents of Gush Katif (as the main block of Gaza settlements was known) and
Wartime Diaries: Hai Ashkenazi
53-year-old Hai Ashkenazi from Tel Aviv is an archeologist, but never imagined he would find himself excavating a 21st-century Kibbutz. Yet in the insane reality that has become our life since October 7th, archeologists too are part of the war effort, and the term “destruction layer” has accrued a contemporary and chilling meaning.The end song is She'eriot shel Hachaim ("Residue of Life") by The Idan Raichel Project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Ronit Farm
Normally Chavat Ronit – or Ronit Farm – is a high-end event venue north of Herzliya. Ra’anan Arizon’s seventy dunams are full of quaffed lawns, picturesque trees, instagramable gazebos, a gorgeous pond and a lot of peaceful nature. All of that makes the farm an idyllic setting for upscale weddings and parties. Now, however, it has been converted into an “emotional” emergency room. With all its different stations and activities, it feels like a summer camp for adults, except for the fact that all
Wartime Diaries: Chaya Gilboa
Chaya Gilboa is a Talmud teacher, an activist, a flaming redhead, and was – for the last three years – the CEO of the Jerusalem Philanthropic Initiatives, which works with local civil society. On October 11th, Chaya turned 40, but instead of any kind of celebration, she was leading a team at the Jerusalem Chamal – the epicenter of the city’s volunteer efforts.The end song is Anashim Shkufim ("Transparent People") by May Zamosh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Faiz Abu Sabehan
Over the last five weeks we’ve spoken to many families of hostages. That’s how we met Faiz Abu Sabehan, whose 53-year-old brother-in-law, Farhan al-Qadi – a father of eleven – has been kidnapped into Gaza. Faiz is a Bedouin politician, and has twice served as mayor of Rahat, the largest Arab city in Israel. He’s also an educator – a teacher, a principal and an administrator. Much like his political patron, Mansour Abbas, Faiz holds a complex position – he’s in favor of fully integrating into Isr
Wartime Diaries: Mishka Ben-David
Mishka Ben-David might seem – at first – like a harmless and cuddly grandpa, but the truth is that he’s lived many secret lives. He has somehow managed to seamlessly transition from community organizing to academia to horse breeding to an illustrious career as a senior Mossad agent. Today, however, he spends most of his time writing. Over the years he has authored 21 books – a combination of spy novels, love stories, philosophy treaties, and literary criticism. Many of them are local best-seller
Wartime Diaries: Agi Mishol
77-year-old Agi Mishol is one of Israel’s most prominent, beloved and widely-read poets. Over the years she’s won practically every literary prize here, and Amos Oz once said that her poems “know how to tell a tale, to sing a song and also dance.” Her poetry is colorful and playful, full of nature and a love of the land. And that makes sense since – in addition to writing – Agi and her husband Giora are also farmers, who grow peaches, pomegranates and persimmons.The end song is “Kalipso” by Dota
Wartime Diaries: Sahar Vardi
Today we’ll hear from Sahar Vardi, a Jewish-Israeli peace activist who lost a dear friend, Khalil Abu Yahia, in Gaza.The end song is Tamaly Maak (“I Am With You”) by Tzachi Halevy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Louish Rijal
Among the thousands of people who had the terrible misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time on October 7th, there were also – as we now all know – many foreigners. People who had little, or no, connection to the long history of violence between Jews and Arabs, Israel and Hamas. Among them were Filipino caregivers, Thai agricultural workers and also a group of Nepali students who had been accepted to an 11-month-long internship at the Sedot Negev Agricultural Training Center.The e
Wartime Diaries: Angela Buchdahl and Shlomo Nisanov
The nature of the attacks on October 7th, together with certain subsequent reactions around the world, have blurred the lines between Jews in Israel and Jews in the diaspora. Last week, the UJA Federation of New York brought over a delegation of 28 Jewish leaders – mainly rabbis and educators – on a jam-packed 48-hour-long whirlwind of a trip to Israel. We sat down with two, very different, members of the delegation – Reform Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and Orthodox Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov – to hear what
Wartime Diaries: Gidon Lev
There’s a lot of Holocaust rhetoric in the air. ‘Never Again’ slogans have resurfaced, Netanyahu has said – on several occasions – that Hamas militants are worse than the Nazis, and just this week the Israeli delegation to the UN wore yellow stars at the Security Council. All of this is, of course, controversial, and many people – including many Holocaust survivors – have different feelings on the matter.Gidon Lev from Ramat Gan probably isn’t exactly what you imagine when you think of a Holocau
Wartime Diaries: Noga Friedman
45-year-old Ido Rosenthal from Moshav Ben Shemen served in an elite commando unit and was killed on the first day of the war. His wife, Noga, a sociology doctoral student at Ben Gurion University, has since been sharing her feelings on Facebook. She gave us permission to translate and record one of her posts. The end song is Rikma Enoshit (“Human Tissue”) performed by Roni Dalumi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Matti Friedman
The war caught everyone by surprise, of course, and since it broke out at the tail end of the chagim, many Israelis were abroad. What do you do in that case? Do you rush home? Do you continue your trip? Do you wait it out somewhere safe and far away? As it happens, on October 7th, our producer Mitch Ginsburg was hiking across the Scottish Highlands with his buddy – author, journalist and friend of the show, Matti Friedman. This is their story. The end song is “San Francisco” by Arik Einstei
Wartime Diaries: Alon Shalev
Many people sprung into action since October 7th. And yet, at the very same time, many Israelis feel… lost. Not everyone knows what to do, nor does everyone feel useful, capable or relevant. And that feeling resonates with Alon Shalev from Zur Hadassah. The end song is Avot U’Banim (“Fathers and Sons”) by Eviatar Banai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Tomer Oshri
During normal times Tomer Oshri – a 48-year-old history teacher from Jerusalem – works at JDC-Israel and runs an educational non-profit. Nowadays, however, he’s the man in charge of building and operating 17 different makeshift schools for survivors and displaced residents of the communities around the Gaza Border.The end song is Kol Od (“As Long As”) by Yoni Rechter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Adva Gutman Tirosh
Even today, nearly three weeks after the devastating attacks of October 7th, there are still hundreds of people who are considered “missing,” which means that they haven’t been confirmed dead, but – at the same time – there’s no definitive proof that they’ve been kidnapped into Gaza. One of those missing is Tamar Gutman, who was at the Nova Party in Re’im. Her sister Adva Gutman Tirosh talks about the difficulties of coping with uncertainty.This piece was produced by Yochai Maital.The end song i
Wartime Diaries: Raz Newman
Israel has, of course, branded itself as the Start-Up Nation. And in many ways, Raz Newman is the classic Israeli tech entrepreneur. He’s 32, lives in Rishon Le’Zion, has two daughters, and spends most of his time researching AI and meeting with potential angel investors. On October 7th, as people began thinking how to best contribute, Raz immediately opened up his laptop and began building the AI Ezra Bot.This piece was produced by Yochai Maital.The end song is Kol Hadvarim Hayafim Be’emet (“Al
Wartime Diaries: Sivan Avnery
For months Sivan Avnery – a physical therapist from Kfar Shmaryahu – was active in the demonstrations against the judicial reforms. Like hundreds of thousands of other Israelis, he felt he was fighting for his home, for the very nature of his country. But he had no idea how true that was about to become.On Saturday morning, October 7, Sivan received a message which is every parent’s worst nightmare: His 18-year-old son Tal was – unbeknownst to him – at the Nova party in Re’im, and was now fleein
Wartime Diaries: David Broza
There’s a long tradition of musicians and entertainers performing on the frontlines during times of war. And, indeed, almost immediately, Israel’s leading artists began crisscrossing the country in a joint effort to lift morale.For David Broza, this kind of work isn’t, unfortunately, new. He’s been performing for troops since the mid-seventies, and for the last two weeks hasn’t stopped for a minute. Broza has given more than fifty concerts since the start of the war — in hotel lobbies, army base
Wartime Diaries: Yarnin Peled
Wars are often told through numbers – of the dead, the wounded, the missing, the misplaced. But behind each one of those numbers, there is – of course – a person, a family, a community whose life has been altered forever.For two weeks now we’ve been hearing survival stories, the likes of which we never imagined we’d hear again, at least not on this scale. This is one such story. The story of Yarnin Peled from Kibbutz Be’eri, who survived the carnage of October 7th.The end song is a community eff
Wartime Diaries: Mor Maisel
Everything in this corner of the world has changed since Saturday, October 7. All around us, friends, family, colleagues, people have died. People are missing. People have been kidnapped. There's a lot of uncertainty and we're all involved in dozens of initiatives but we're also going to bring you some voices and testimonies that try to paint a picture of these devastating times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Hedai Offaim
During this dark time, Israeli civil society has risen to the occasion. Hedai Offaim – a chef, farmer and social entrepreneur – has transformed his café into a relief kitchen where 750 volunteers prepare more than 10,000 nutritious meals a day for evacuated communities, families in mourning, families of hostages and reservists.Donors from Israel can use this link: https://payboxapp.page.link/gj55cdBQMNV81qmU7 - "ארוחות ללוחמים ולמפונים - משק עפאים"Donors who wish to make their gift to a USA publ
Wartime Diaries: Ofer Tamir
After the entire team of Kibbutz Kissufim’s dairy farm was murdered, Ofer Tamir from Nahalal rushed down south to rescue the local cows.The end song is Kissufim by Etti Ankri. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: The Eulogy for Roi Rotberg
In 1956, Moshe Dayan – then the IDF’s Chief of Staff – delivered a eulogy for a fallen member of Kibbutz Nahal Oz. That eulogy had a tremendous impact on Israeli society and is just as poignant today as it was sixty-seven years ago.The end song is Shir Eres Negbi (“A Southern Lullaby”) performed by Shoshana Damari. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Katherine Leff
Despite everything, life continues amid the horror. For Katherine Leff, this meant going ahead with the day she’d been dreaming about for so long — her wedding day.The end song is Od Yishma (“Again It Will Be Heard”) by Ishay Ribo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Itai Kramer
This episode includes graphic descriptions of violence.At age 50, Itai Kramer is no longer obligated to serve in the reserve forces, yet he volunteered anyway. Itai tells us about what went through his mind when he decided to drop everything and put on his uniform.The end song is Machar Ani Babayit (“Tomorrow I’ll Be Home”) by Ethnix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Ariel Markose
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been called up to reserve duty. But what about the families they leave behind?Episode artwork courtesy of Noa Kelner.The end song is Ima (“Mother”) by Yehuda Levi and Ninet Tayeb. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wartime Diaries: Sasha Ariev
Everything in this corner of the world has changed since Saturday, October 7. All around us, friends, family, colleagues, people have died. People are missing. People have been kidnapped. There’s a lot of uncertainty and we’re all involved in dozens of initiatives but we’re also going to bring you some voices and testimonies that try to paint a picture of these devastating times.The end song is Nekuda Tova (“Good Point”), by Shuli Rand with Ehud Banai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
64: Tell Saki – Part II
It’s been fifty years since the Yom Kippur War. And as such, we want to share our Tell Saki project, which first came out in 2021. Over the course of two episodes, we go back to the horrors of the war, and specifically to one small hill in the Southern Golan Heights where - over the course of thirty-six hours - a group of young IDF soldiers went to hell and back.Stay connected with us on Facebook, the platform formally known as Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newslett
63: Tell Saki – Part I
It’s been fifty years since the Yom Kippur War. And as such, we want to share our Tell Saki project, which first came out in 2021. Over the course of two episodes, we go back to the horrors of the war, and specifically to one small hill in the Southern Golan Heights where - over the course of thirty-six hours - a group of young IDF soldiers went to hell and back.Stay connected with us on Facebook, the platform formally known as Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newslet
94: A Life After Death - Part II
In part two of “A Life After Death,” Gal describes the days and months following Noah’s death - the funeral, the grief and the hope of creating a new life. Stay connected with us on Facebook, the platform formally known as Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
93: A Life After Death - Part I
On a warm winter day in February 2018, Gal Zaychner’s worst nightmare came true: Her 11-month-old son, Noah, didn’t wake up from his nap time.Our episode tells the tragic story of a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Please take that into account when deciding whether to continue listening.Stay connected with us on Facebook, the platform formally known as Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site
39: “Mixtape” Part IV - War, Peace and Bumper Stickers
Israel is obviously in the midst of a deep identity crisis at the moment. The national debate is focusing on all sorts of rifts, or fault lines, within society. And we actually explored those very same fault lines in our beloved 2018 miniseries, Mixtape. So while we take a short summer break, we are rereleasing those Mixtape episodes.We'll be back soon to continue our exploration of what it means to be a Jewish and democratic state in our year-long “Signed, Sealed, Delivered?” series, in which w
38: “Mixtape” Part III – Eastward Bound
Israel is obviously in the midst of a deep identity crisis at the moment. The national debate is focusing on all sorts of rifts, or fault lines, within society. And we actually explored those very same fault lines in our beloved 2018 miniseries, Mixtape. So while we take a short summer break, we are rereleasing those Mixtape episodes.We'll be back soon to continue our exploration of what it means to be a Jewish and democratic state in our year-long “Signed, Sealed, Delivered?” series, in which w
37: “Mixtape” Part II - Iron and Gold
Israel is obviously in the midst of a deep identity crisis at the moment. The national debate is focusing on all sorts of rifts, or fault lines, within society. And we actually explored those very same fault lines in our beloved 2018 miniseries, Mixtape. So while we take a short summer break, we are rereleasing those Mixtape episodes.We'll be back soon to continue our exploration of what it means to be a Jewish and democratic state in our year-long “Signed, Sealed, Delivered?” series, in which w
36: “Mixtape” Part I – Our Hope?
Israel is obviously in the midst of a deep identity crisis at the moment. The national debate is focusing on all sorts of rifts, or fault lines, within society. And we actually explored those very same fault lines in our beloved 2018 miniseries, Mixtape. So while we take a short summer break, we are rereleasing those Mixtape episodes.We'll be back soon to continue our exploration of what it means to be a Jewish and democratic state in our year-long “Signed, Sealed, Delivered?” series, in which w
92: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Meir Argov
Our series continues with Meir Argov (Grabovsky), a World War II veteran and a Petach Tikvah-based labor organizer who loved chazanut, or cantorial music, and was Israel’s first - and longest serving - chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio
91: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Herzl Rosenblum
Our series continues with Herzl Rosenblum (AKA Herzl Vardi), a Revisionist and prize-winning journalist who stood at the helm of the Yedioth Ahronoth daily for 38 years and penned no less than 11,400 editorials. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
90: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Yitzhak Meir Levin
Our series continues with Yitzhak Meir (“Itche Meiyer”) Levin, the foremost Haredi rabbi to have signed the Declaration of Independence.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
89: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Moshe Kol
Our series continues with Moshe Kol (Kolodny), who - for nearly two decades - headed the Jewish Agency’s Youth Immigration Division, and was responsible for bringing more than 100,000 unaccompanied minors from 85 different countries to Israel. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
75: Sbarro - Twenty Years Later
For nearly 22 years, Chana Nachenberg was in a vegetative state. Her death last week brings the number of casualties in the 2001 Sbarro terrorist attack to 16. So in honor of Chana’s memory, we bring you our 2021 episode, Sbarro - Twenty Years Later.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
88: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Pinchas Rosen
Our series continues with Pinchas Rosen - a lover of classical music, an enthusiastic chess player, an avid reader of Goethe, and Israel’s first Justice Minister. A quintessential yekke, or German-born Jew, he was - more than any other signatory of the Israeli Declaration of Independence - the true ideological heir of Theodore Herzl.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times
87: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Sa’adia Kobashi
Released exactly 114 years after he left his native village of Khubesh, Yemen, and set out for Jerusalem, our series continues with Sa’adia Kobashi - a rabbi, a licensed poultry slaughterer, an educator and the lone representative - among the signatories of the Declaration of Independence - of Yemenite Jewry.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acas
86: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Daniel Auster
On “Jerusalem Day,” our exploration of the signatories of Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Israeli Declaration of Independence, continues with Daniel Auster, the first Jew to be appointed Mayor of Jerusalem since Byzantine times.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30: Food Fight
May 13th was International Hummus Day. And that, of course, means one thing, and one thing only - an opportunity to replay our 2017 episode, Food Fight. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2: Love Syndrome
We just received the truly devastating news that Avichai Ben-Baruch - the subject of one of our most popular episodes ever - died last Sunday of a heart attack at the age of 31. So in honor of Avichai, and as a way of expressing our love and support for Chaya, Yisrael, Keren and the rest of the Ben-Baruch family, we are - once again - sharing our 2014 episode, Love Syndrome. Here it is, and may the story of Avichai’s life be a blessing and an inspiration to us all. Stay connected with us on Face
85: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? David Remez
Our deep dive into Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence, continues with a man known for his linguistic flair, his love of organized labor and, of course, his oversized autograph - David Remez.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus: The Siren
Immediately following the Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) siren, six of Israel Story’s producers entered the studio to discuss their (very different) perspectives on the day.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus: What Would Israel’s Founders Think About It At 75?
Mishy Harman and Mitch Ginsburg take us behind the scenes of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered?” on the Times of Israel’s “The Daily Briefing” podcast, with Amanda Borschel-Dan.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus: The Broadcast
The Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948, was not only the birth of a state, it was also the birth of Israeli radio.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
26: Oath of Blood
Today is Yom HaZikaron, Memorial - or Remembrance - Day, here in Israel. And as such, we wanted to share our 2017 episode, Oath of Blood.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus: Mr. Female Members of Knesset
Since the earliest days of the State, women have been severely underrepresented in the Israeli parliament. But no one knows more about the trailblazing female legislators who did make it than Shavit Ben-Arie. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
84: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Rachel Cohen-Kagan
Our deep dive into Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence - continues with a pioneering feminist, the head of WIZO and one of the two women who signed the Declaration - Rachel Cohen-Kagan.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus: United We Fall
In 1952 a fierce ideological split divided Kibbutz Ein Harod into two separate kibbutzim, Ein Harod Ichud and Ein Harod Meuchad. Here’s what happened.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23: A Severe Case of Second Generation
Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. And as such, we wanted to share our 2017 episode, A Severe Case of Second Generation. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
83: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Mordechai Schattner
Our new series - a deep dive into Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence - continues with an ardent socialist who knew how to compromise - Mordechai Schattner.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
82: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Zorach Warhaftig
Our new series - a deep dive into Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence - continues with one of the most important early leaders of the religious Zionist movement, Zorach WarhaftigStay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
81: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? David Ben-Gurion
We kick off our new series - a deep dive into Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence - with the man who needs no introduction: Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We Hereby Declare
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered?" looks at our founding moral compass - Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence. Through the descendants of the men and women who, with the strike of a pen, gave birth to this country of ours, we ask questions about ourselves and about Israel, on the eve of its 75th birthday.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hoste
80: Introducing “Signed, Sealed, Delivered?”
We’re excited to introduce our brand new series, a fresh look at Israel’s founding moral compass - Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[From The Vault] 13: Sacred Plants
In honor of the first day of Spring, we bring you two stories of how we change nature and nature changes us, from wildflower picking in Israel to ayahuasca retreats in Peru. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[From The Vault] 35: Whither Thou Goest
Ruth the Moabite has become a feminist icon, a symbol of acceptance and dedication. In today’s episode, we will hear three modern-day incarnations of Ruth’s story – a trio of tales about determined women who will follow their hearts to the ends of the earth for love, family and companionship.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See
79: My Dad, David
David Harman believed in people, in social justice and in our ability to overcome almost anything. He was an eternal optimist, a patient peacemaker and a living history book. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
78: Hello Operator
As younger and younger kids around the world demand - and get - their own phones, we harken back to a completely different telephonic reality. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[From The Vault] 6: What's Love Got To Do With It?
Our new Season Seven episodes will come out every other Monday. But throughout the season, in our off-weeks, we’ll be replaying some of our favorite episodes from the show’s first six seasons.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
77: Free as a Bird
Today’s episode has three stories that are ostensibly about birds, but are really about the heights to which the human spirit can soar, and the depths to which it can plunge. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Here We Go Again!
The long wait is finally over. Israel Story's Season Seven starts tomorrow! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe for Bonus Content Today!
All Israel Story episodes are - and will remain - free. But if you want special bonuses, behind-the-scenes extras, conversations with producers and more, become a paying subscriber today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Here's to a Story-Filled 2023!
Especially now, it is crucial that the diverse voices we showcase on our show be heard and amplified. And in order to do so, we need your help! Please pitch in by going to our site, israelstory.org, and hitting the 'Support Us' button. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Major Announcement!
Something very exciting is happening at Israel Story, and we want you to be the first to know! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What Stories Do For Me
Have a say in what stories we produce next! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Come Work With Us!
Israel Story is hiring! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
76: Going, Going, Gone
In our season finale, we tell four short stories of things that, like our current season, are coming to an end: From a toddler parting with a “special friend” to a couple seeing their life's work go up in flames, and from a stubborn hold-out in a dying industry to an unusually long marriage. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva
Sneak Peek: Till Death Do Us Part
Shlomo and Sarah Adani were married for longer than most people are alive. They grew up together in the small village of Dalah in Yemen, and were practically inseparable for more than eight decades. Renana Adani, their granddaughter, describes a partnership that began before the invention of color TV, atomic energy or super glue, and ended in Jerusalem within a span of forty-eight hours. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sneak Peek: Baby Steps
No matter who we are, where we live, or what religion we practice, there are certain ceremonies and rituals that accompany us from birth to death (and, in some cases, beyond). Many of these rites of passage are a source of much joy and anticipation, but some - such as the one Tanya Huyard observed at Jerusalem's "pacifier tree" - elicit more ambivalent feelings. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sneak Peek: Candid Camera
At the very end of Allenby Street in Tel Aviv, right before the city spills into the Mediterranean Sea, there's a hole-in-the-wall store called Photo Doron. It's a repair shop for film cameras - one of the last of its kind, like a fossil of a different era. Skyler Inman stepped in and discovered why - though his profession is closer to appearing in history books than in newspaper headlines - 79-year-old Ya'akov Barzilai has no plans on going anywhere anytime soon. See acast.com/privacy for priva
You Tell Us!
We’re one episode away from the end of Season Six, and it's time for our annual listener survey. Understanding who you are, what you want to hear and what you think about our work is crucial to us. Your feedback makes our show better! Just click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
75: Sbarro - Twenty Years Later
On August 9, 2001, 22-year-old Izz al-Din al-Masri blew himself up at a Sbarro branch in downtown Jerusalem, killing 15 people and injuring over 130. This particular terrorist attack is still etched in the nation's collective memory. In our episode today, we hear from those most affected by the tragedy. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See aca
74: Shatnez
In Israel, there are many things that usually don't - and according to some, never should - mix: Jerusalemites and the beach, Tel Avivis and the Kotel, HaPoel and Macabbi fans, Haaretz and Yisrael HaYom readers. But our episode today explores the most complicated and fundamental duo in terms of mixing and not-mixing - Jews and Arabs. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Mag
73: DIY
'Doing It Yourself' is part of the Israeli DNA. But our episode today tells the story of what is perhaps the most inspiring, audacious and famous example of Israeli ingenuity in recent history. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Free Bonus: Yalla Banaat
It’s Giving Tuesday, and we really hope you’ll support our show. But because we don’t want to ask for your help without giving something in return, we produced a special bonus, as our way of saying thank you. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Free Bonus: Turkey Time!
Mishy goes to the Freedom Farm near Netanya, and chats with Dani Pudim, the educational director. Together they meet Shirley, Iris, Orna, Maital and Orly - the farm’s five turkeys. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
72: Lost and Found - Part II
In an episode that explores a central religious taboo and pushes the boundaries of what many might deem acceptable within Jewish tradition, we ask whether Cat Stevens was on to something when he sang that the "first cut is the deepest." Zev Levi scored and sound-designed the episode with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Sela Waisblum created the mix. The end song, Bidyuk Kmo SheAni ("As I Am"), was written and arranged by Ravid Plotnik (Nechi Nech) and Shai Or, and performed by Plotnik. Stay connec
71: Lost and Found - Part I
Forgotten glasses, a misplaced eye (!) and an ancient jacuzzi? In today’s episode - the first in a two-part series on losing and finding - we explore what we find when we lose things, and what we lose once we find them. Zev Levi scored and sound-designed the episode with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Sela Waisblum created the mix. The end song, El Borot HaMayim ("To the Watering Holes"), was written and arranged by Naomi Shemer and performed by Rona Kenan. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twi
Free Bonus: Behind the Scenes of “Soul Food”
On Christmas Eve 2014, Erwin Prabhu and Tali Aronsky met in a wine shop in Jerusalem. This was the start of an unusually close bond. In our most recent episode - “Soul Food” - we heard Tali’s side of the story. Now, all the way from Bangalore, we hear Erwin’s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus: ‘Returning to Pittsburgh’
We’ll be back next week with a brand new Israel Story episode. But in the meantime, we want to share something that - though it doesn’t take place in, or have to do with, Israel - we think many of you might find meaningful and moving. It’s an episode that our friends at Tablet Magazine’s Unorthodox podcast created to mark the third anniversary of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our
70: Soul Food
While we (sadly!) won't be sampling fried okra, collard greens or macaroni and cheese, our seventieth episode introduces us to two women for whom soul and food are completely intertwined. Yochai Maital and Zev Levi scored and sound-designed the episode with original music and music from Blue Dot Sessions. Sela Waisblum created the mix. The end song, ABCD, is sung by Shaizee, Abie and Sol Harman. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israel
Free Bonus: Behind the Scenes of “Pigging Out”
You probably never thought an innocent story about the history of the pig industry in Israel would be upended by a massive exposé revealing decades of pedophilia and abuse. Think again. While working on our most recent episode, a seemingly unrelated news article had massive implications for a nearly-completed story. Naomi Schneider edited and scored this special with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Sela Waisblum created the mix. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
69: Pigging Out
BLTs and pork chops are not the first things that come to mind when you think about Israel. But, as it turns out, the Holy Land and swines go way back. In today’s episode, we go down a piggish path to encounter this most unlikely of Israeli animals. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
68: No Place Like Home
Sukkot is the Jewish holiday of temporary homes. And in our episode today we hear two very different stories - the first about one of Israel's most popular children's books and the second about a South Sudanese asylum seeker. But both of them are, deep down, about the same thing - making a home. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.
Free Bonus: How Estee Got Her Zumba Back
In our season opener - 'A Day at the Y' - we heard from forty-nine people hailing from eleven different countries. But we actually spoke to hundreds and hundreds of folks, whose stories you didn't get to hear. One of them was Estee Rose, the sport center's customer experience manager and a local Zumba icon. And we didn't tell her story because our friend Shaina Shealy had already done so, beautifully, on the wonderful podcast "Snap Judgment." So as a special bonus, we are re-
67: A Day at the Y
What many of us missed most during the pandemic was a sense of community. So, for our Season Six opener, we went to a place which is all about community - in fact, it's even called a community center - to find out what it feels like when a diverse community tries to regroup. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more
And... We're Back!
At the end of a sweltering summer, and just in time for the New Year, we are coming back! Season Six Starts next week. Join us for yet another wonderful Israel Story journey. Here's a little taste of what's coming your way. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus: Jews on First
Israel has already won three olympic medals in Tokyo 2020. And what’s more, there are still several other Israeli athletes who could end up on the podium, including - of course - the Israeli baseball team. So, as a good luck charm, we’re re-releasing our season five episode, Game Changer, which aired in January 2021, and tells the complicated story of the Israeli national baseball team. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstor
Bonus: A Land of Promises - A Passover Special
As people around the world gather for (both real and virtual) Seders, we share a sneak preview of our upcoming season. A haunting tale of an exodus from Egypt and a quest for a place to call home.Zev Levi scored and sound designed this piece, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Sela Waisblum created the mix. Thanks to our wonderful dubbers, David Satran and Karni Arkin. The end song is Aviv ("Spring"), written by Rachel Bluwstein, composed by Nissim Shuval and sung - in a rare 1967 recording
Bonus: "America"
This is the time of year when all our producers are out and about, travelling around the country, interviewing people, and preparing the stories we’ll hear next season. But since we never like to be out of touch for too long, we wanted to share a little treat - Amichai Chasson’s poem, “America,” translated from Hebrew by Vivian Eden, and read by Mishael Zion.Also, please fill out our listener survey and help shape the future of our show! We want to hear from you!Simply head to israelstory.org/su
Bonus: R&R, Revisited
On Friday morning, Rut Dayan passed away, a month and a day shy of her 104th birthday. And in celebration of her long, meaningful and impactful life, we replay R&R - a story of an improbable friendship from our 2016 episode Besties.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We Want To Hear From You!
We want your feedback! Please fill out our listener survey.Head to israelstory.org/survey and help us keep the show free. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
66: Game Changer
With the fate of the 2020 - now 2021 - Tokyo Olympic Games still up in the air, our season finale tells the story of a dream to introduce a sport to a nation, and a nation to a sport. But it is a dream made up of as many tears of pain and disappointment as it is of joy and triumph.Joel Shupack scored and sound-designed the episode with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Sela Waisblum created the mix.The episode’s end song is Lifney She’Yigamer (“Before it Ends”) by Idan Raichel. Stay connected w
65: The Stories We Killed
Like everything else in life, stories die. And, more often than not, we are the killers. Today we give you a behind-the-scenes peek into some of the stories you didn't get to hear this year.Skyler Inman produced this episode, and Zev Levi scored it with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Alicia Vergara created the artwork for the episode. The end song, Chalom Kehe (‘Dark Dream’), is by Assaf Amdursky. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at
64: Tell Saki - Part II
We conclude our two-part Tell Saki story by returning to the soldiers after the battle and following their respective journeys - full of pain and regret, but also full of longing and camaraderie - in the years since the Yom Kippur War.Yochai Maital produced, scored and sound-designed the episode. Mishy Harman edited it. Sela Waisblum created the mix. Thanks to our dubbers - Shlomo Maital, Boaz Dekel, Suri Krieger, Shai Avivi and Dror Keren. Thanks also to the Friendship and Heritage Foundation -
Bonus: The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God, Revisited
As a little respite from the intensity of war explored in our two-part Tell Saki series, we replay a short piece of fiction by our beloved Etgar Keret. And, as a special bonus, we include highlights of a conversation we held with Etgar during lockdown. The Facebook Live event was produced by Marie Röder and Yoshi Fields, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Alicia Vergara created the artwork for the episode. Thanks to Julie Subrin and Or Matias. The end song, Atid Matok (‘Sweet Future’), is b
63: Tell Saki - Part I
We embark on a two-episode journey back to the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and specifically to one small hill - a dormant volcanic tell - in the southern Golan Heights. There, we follow a group of young IDF soldiers who, trapped in a small bunker for thirty-six hours, went to hell and back. Yochai Maital produced, scored and sound-designed the episode. Mishy Harman edited it. Sela Waisblum created the mix. Thanks to the Friendship and Heritage Foundation, an NGO set up by the survivors of Tell Sak
Bonus: The Most Beautiful Book Ever Written, Revisited
On the very first day of 2021, when so many of us are busy making New Year’s resolutions and embarking on new and hopeful journeys, we re-air one of our favorite stories, all about a quixotic, improbable, yet inherently optimistic, search for love. Dana Ruttenberg read the story. Thanks to Mitra Kaboli, Paul Ruest and Julie Subrin. The end song, Ha’Hizayon Le’Francisco Goya (‘The Epiphany of Francisco Goya’) is by Ehud Banai, with lyrics by Pinchas Sadeh. Stay connected with us on Face
62: Round Trip
Many of us would normally be on the move around this time of year. But 2020 has, of course, been everything but normal. So in our episode today, we bring you two less-than-normal travel stories about people going back home - but doing so having gained a new understanding of the place from which they come.Zev Levi and Yochai Maital scored and sound-designed the episode with music from Blue Dot Sessions and Shane Ivers.Sela Waisblum created the mix. Thanks to Abby Neuschatz, Scarlett De Jean, Anna
Bonus: The Queen Rania Tree, Revisited
As a special Hanukkah treat, and just before we enter the final stretch of the season, we travel back in time to revisit - and update - one of our all-time favorite episodes, “The Queen Rania Tree.”The original story was reported, produced and scored by Shoshi Shmuluvitz, with music from Podington Bear. The update was produced by Skyler Inman, Yoshi Fields and Marie Röder. The end song, “Seen,” is by Tzachi Halevi and Lucy Aharish. It was written and composed by Diane Warren and produced by Tal
Bonus: The Pitcher, Revisited
In celebration of Hanukkah, we revisit - and update - one of our fan favorites. An episode that - much like the tale of Hanukkah itself - is all about a miraculous jug of liquid.The original music in ‘The Pitcher’ was composed and performed by Ari Jacob. Sela Waisblum mixed the episode, and Zev Levi edited the re-release. The end song, Orot (“Lights”) is by Avrharam Tal. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newslette
Bonus: Schmaltzy
We’ll be back in a couple of weeks with new Israel Story episodes. In the meantime, today we bring you an episode from a new podcast that launched this fall called Schmaltzy. Just in time for Hanukkah, Schmaltzy’s episode tells a touching story that begins with a three-year-old’s late-night plea to abandon bedtime and instead make latkes. We hope you enjoy Schmaltzy, and will be back with Israel Story episodes soon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
61: The Princess
Most Israelis remember the 2005 disengagement from Gaza as a dramatic moment of national upheaval. But for Hodaya Azulay of the Jewish settlement of Netzarim, the drama was of a different nature altogether - it marked a traumatic turning point in her relationship with her favorite mare, Sheleg.Yochai Maital scored and sound-designed the episode, which was recorded by Tony Hernandez at the Seltzer Sounds Studio in Brooklyn. Sela Waisblum created the mix. Thanks to Ishay Ribo and Motty Steinmetz f
Bonus: Man, I Feel Like A Woman, Revisited
Sandwiched between our two equine-centric episodes, we travel back in time to revisit - and update - one of our all-time favorite episodes, “Man, I Feel Like A Woman.” The original episode was reported by Molly Livingstone, and produced by Benny Becker with help from Raoul Wootliff and Rachel Fisher. Shoshi Shmuluvitz scored the episode with music from Blue Dot Sessions, Dana Boulé and Ben Sound. Mishy Harman, Yochai Maital and Julie Subrin edited the piece. The update was produced by Skyle
60: Horsing Around
Cowgirls with oversized belt buckles and horse breeders fantasizing about producing world champions are not exactly what come to mind when you think of Israel. But today we take you into arenas, rings, and stables around the country to uncover a surprising subculture of equine enthusiasts.Joel Shupack scored and sound-designed the episode with music by Blue Dot Sessions and William Ryan Fritch. Sela Waisblum created the mix. The end song is Zehava Ben’s cover version of Abdel Halim Hafez’s “Sawa
From the Vault: Rabin Is…
With all the excitement surrounding the U.S. elections, it’s perhaps easy to forget that this week also marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the assasination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. And, as we work on our next new episode, we replay an episode we released exactly five years ago, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the murder. This episode was produced by Shai Satran and Julie Subrin. Thanks to Davia Nelson, Niva Lanir, Uri Rosenwaks, Dani Zamir, David Harman, M
59: The Last Laugh
Forty years after Carl Sagan’s ‘Golden Records’ began their long voyage into the depths of outer space, Eyal Gever - an Israeli high-tech-wunderkind-turned-conceptual-artist - received an unusual call: NASA asked him to create the first artwork to be printed in space. What, he now had to decide, truly captured the essence of humanity? Joel Shupack scored and sound-designed the episode, with original music and additional music by Blue Dot Sessions, Broke for Free and Nehora & Hadas. Sela
58: The Dreamer
David Ben Shabat hates being called a prophet. As he sees it, he’s just a guy who stumbled upon a deep truth and wants to share it with the people. But, come to think of it, isn’t that precisely the definition of a prophet?Joel Shupack scored and sound-designed the episode, with original music and additional music by Blue Dot Sessions. Sela Waisblum created the mix.The end song, "Migdal Bavel" ('Tower of Babylon') is by System Ali. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and
Bonus: Love Syndrome, Revisited
Now that "Alone, Together" is over, and before we turn to stories that - gasp - have little to do with the virus, we revisit and update our most popular episode ever - "Love Syndrome." On March 22, 2020, as we were all just starting to fathom the new reality we were about to enter, hundreds of Israel Story fans went online to hear an update from an ultra-Orthodox woman from Tzfat. Six years ago, Chaya Ben Baruch’s inspiring story brought listeners around the world to tears. It was the
Bonus: Unpacking Israeli History
Today, we bring you an episode from a new podcast that launched earlier this month: Unpacking Israeli History. The episode delves into the topic of how the Hebrew language was revived and why on earth that matters.Enjoy, and we'll be back next week. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
57: “Alone, Together” Part VII - Something Like A Brother
Stories matter. They have the power of connecting us over time and space. And in the finale of our “Alone, Together” miniseries, we see how a podcast episode turned two strangers - a man from Migdal HaEmek, Israel, and a woman from Porto Alegre, Brazil - into soulmates. Porto Alegre is a large city in the south of Brazil, a five-hour drive from the border with Uruguay. Five rivers converge there, making it an important center of industry and commerce. Though its name means “joyful har
56: "Alone, Together" Part VI - Six Feet (Under)
Israel's one thousandth COVID-19 casualty passed away this weekend. And for all of us, death has sadly been an ever-present part of life over the past six months. In the penultimate episode of our "Alone, Together" series, we bring you two stories about dying in times of Corona. Over the course of this series, we’ve shared many stories of Israelis dealing - in completely different ways - with COVID-19. We’ve heard people express fear, disappointment, shame, anger, hope and acceptance.
55: “Alone, Together” Part V - Enjoy Your Stay
Around the world, the tourism industry essentially dried up during the pandemic. But in Israel there was one category of hotels - the so-called “Corona Hotels” - that actually thrived. And depending on whom you ask, they were either a post-apocalyptic heaven or an exit-less hell. In March 2020, Israel - like many other countries around the world - closed its borders. Since then, according to the country’s Central Bureau of Statistics, international tourism has dropped by some 99%. Hotel roo
54: “Alone, Together” Part IV - The Lifesavers
The global pandemic has introduced us to many “lifesavers”—doctors, nurses, and medical staff who are on the frontlines day in and day out. But what happens when those ‘superheroes’ need to be saved themselves? And can saving a life end up saving your life, too?If, God forbid, you find yourself in a medical emergency in Israel, you dial 101 for Magen David Adom. Yet more often than not, before an ambulance shows up, someone else—often riding a motorcycle and donning a bright orange vest—will app
53: “Alone, Together” Part III - Gevalt
Israel’s ultra-orthodox community was hit twice during COVID-19: First, and in disproportionate numbers, by the virus itself, and then by a wave of anti-Haredi sentiment that pervaded the country. Here’s what it looked like from their perspective.When COVID-19 first hit Israel, many of its epicenters were in Haredi, or Ultra-Orthodox, communities. More than one-third of coronavirus tests in Bnei Brak, for instance, came back positive. Some pointed a finger to the pervasive poverty and crowded dw
52: “Alone, Together” Part II - In the Beginning
Six months ago, very few people knew what ‘sheltering in place’ or ‘flattening the curve’ meant. Today, we live in a new world, and it’s often hard to remember what it was like at the beginning. On January 14, 2020 - exactly half a year ago - even Wuhan wasn’t yet under lockdown. There had been but a handful of reported cases outside of China, and for most of us “Corona” was - first and foremost - a refreshing beer. By February, COVID-19 was already starting to seem like a global threat. Bu
51: “Alone, Together” Part I - Mazal Tov!
The wait, ladies and gentlemen, is finally over: Israel Story is back, and is kicking off Season Five with "Alone, Together" - a brand new miniseries about Israel in the time of corona.The global pandemic has—to state the obvious—reshaped our lives, refocused our priorities, and forced us to reevaluate countless things we’ve long taken for granted. Israel was, of course, hit too, in ways that are at once unique and just like the rest of the world. We’ve had curfews and lockdowns, shifting social
Introducing Our New Miniseries - "Alone, Together"
We're extremely excited to announce that Israel Story’s fifth season will begin next week, on June 30, 2020. We’ll kick off with our newest miniseries - "Alone, Together" - which is all about Israel (and Israelis) in the time of corona.Like the rest of the world, Israel experienced curfews and lockdowns, shifting social distancing guidelines, layoffs, economic hardship, illness and death. We've also had births, Bar Mitzvahs and weddings, and have witnessed unusual displays of solidarity, bravery
From the Vault: Tying a Knot
For Mother's Day, we replay one of the most touching and brave stories of motherhood we've ever aired.In 2015, on the very last day of a month-long assignment in Nepal, Israeli journalist Danna Harman ran into three local street girls. She had just finished several unsuccessful rounds of IVF, and – back in Tel Aviv –she began daydreaming of an instant family. When one of the girls contacted her following Nepal's devastating earthquake, these dreams took on an unexpected life of their own. I
From the Vault: A Biblical Bond
Today is Yom HaZikaron - the day of remembrance for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. With everyone instructed to stay home, the typically-packed military cemeteries throughout Israel are largely empty. So we wanted to bring you one of our favorite stories.In 2003, Susi Döring Preston was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand. That's where she met Tsiki Eyal, at a nightclub. Their passionate love affair would ultimately lead her to the sleepy Israeli town of Mazkeret Batya. There, surround
IsraPalooza
Join us for a day filled with back-to-back interviews, concerts, workshops and classes in celebration of Israel's Independence Day!Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the Vault: A Severe Case of Second Generation
It's Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Over the years we’ve aired many stories and episodes that relate to the Holocaust in different ways. But today we wanted to replay one of our favorites.Lizzie Doron was born in Tel Aviv in the early 1950s. Like many others of her generation, she grew up in the shadow of the Holocaust, and her childhood was filled with silence. Questions about her family’s past were left unanswered or ignored. So, in a neighborhood where traumatic memories were relived
We Want To Hear From You!
We want your feedback! Please fill out our listener survey.Head to israelstory.org/survey and help us keep the show free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
50: Keep Calm and Carry On
What does it mean to be 'in it for the long haul'? In our fiftieth episode, which is also our season finale, we explore this question in the context of both creating a podcast and forging a relationship.Some people operate within the confines of reality. Others don't. Instead, they will things into existence. Today we'll meet one such determined woman who - faced with countless obstacles - decided to keep calm, put one foot in front of the other, and carry on in pursuit of love.Stay connect
From the Vault: Whistle-Stop Tour
Back in 2014, we met Elik Fromchenko. During the day he works at an auto magazine, but - just like Clark Kent - he has a secret superpower: Elik is a world-class whistler. And, in an adventure that could only happen to an Israeli backpacker, he found himself in an ambassadorial role in Hebei Province, China.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See
"An Audio Egg Roll"
If you happen to associate Christmas Eve with egg rolls, hot-and-sour soup and sesame chicken, tune in to tomorrow's re-release of one of our Season One classics - our sole China-related story.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
49: We Share The Same Sky
Rachael Cerrotti was a college freshman when she first came to Israel on a Birthright trip. Shortly thereafter, back in Philadelphia, she and her grandmother - Hana Dubova - started sitting down for what they called "storytelling sessions." The result was a ten-year-long journey in which Rachael retraced her grandmother's steps during, and in the wake of, WWII.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, hea
Short: "Achoti"
In our last episode, "Achi" (my brother), we told the tale of two siblings and their unusual life together. And today, we're sharing a little companion bonus track, in which senior producer Yochai Maital talks to his older sister Temira Finesilver about their very different lifestyles. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for
48: "Achi"
When God first spoke to Benjamin, he was reading the newspaper. That was just the start of a wild journey that led two Orthodox brothers from the Bronx to a new life, a new homeland, a new lord and - above all - to each other.Growing up, Benjamin and Reuven Berger never imagined they'd be roommates well into their seventies. Nor did they imagine their lives would unfold as brothers in faith. But from their majestic home in the serene village of Ein Kerem, they reflect on an unusual, almost bibli
Short: The Last "Rabbi" of Baghdad - A Thanksgiving Special
Jews have been in Iraq for more than two-and-a-half millennia. Today, the entire Jewish community of Baghdad can fit in a single car. In this special Thanksgiving bonus, we bring you a conversation between Mishy Harman and Emad Levy, the last "rabbi" of Baghdad.It's a busy week. Many of you will be traveling, and those of you staying put will probably be cooking turkeys and preparing cranberry sauce. And while you are doing all that, we wanted to keep you company.With the kind of storytelling we
47: By the Rivers of Babylon
A century ago, close to one-third of Baghdad's population was Jewish. Today, just five Jews remain in the city. In today's episode, we explore the story of the Jews of Iraq, all the way from Nahum the prophet to a Jerusalemite grandma who became the unlikely champion of kidnapped Yazidi girls.Jews first arrived in what is today Iraq in the 6th century BC, after the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar sacked Solomon's Temple. It was from there that Ezra and Nehemiah led returning exiles back to Jerusa
From the Vault: Herr Eichmann
To most, Adolf Eichmann - the mastermind behind the Nazis’ ‘Final Solution’ - is the ultimate symbol of evil. But to a small group of Israelis, he was no more than a gaunt and balding middle-aged prisoner. This is the story of those who looked evil in the eye, and lived to tell the tale.Last week we aired a story about Dr. Yonah Elian, the anesthesiologist who sedated Eichmann during his capture back in 1960. And today we bring you a rerun of another Eichmann story we aired back in a 2016 episod
46: The Needle
In May 1960, the Mossad captured Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires, and brought him to stand trial in Jerusalem. It's one of Israel's most glorified chapters, right up there with Entebbe, the bombing of the Iraqi Nuclear Reactor and Operation Solomon. So why did the doctor who sedated the Nazi mastermind minimize his role in the saga? And what can that tell us about the legacy of World War II, eighty years after its start?Last month, the world marked the eightieth anniversary of Hitler's invasion o
45: Explosive Confession - A Yom Kippur Special
The special was recorded in Ben Wallick’s studio and was mixed by Sela Waisblum.Repentance, prayer and charity, we are told, are our saving graces when Yom Kippur comes around. And, of course, confession is a big part of that trifecta. But do we still get the coveted brownie points if that confession took thirty years?In 1989, Robby Berman - a recent Yeshiva University grad and enthusiastic Zionist - made aliyah and was drafted into the IDF. But nothing in his basic training prepared him for the
44: Dear God - A Rosh HaShanah Special
Rosh HaShanah is cleanup time, even at the Kotel. But what happens to the millions of notes tucked away in its cool crevices? And what on earth does that have to do with Leonard Cohen, impromptu sword-fights and carp fish in the bathtub?For many folks, visiting the Kotel is emotional, meaningful and - more than anything - private. In fact, the single most common experience people have at the Western Wall is inherently personal - putting a kvittel, or note in between its ancient ashlar stones. Wh
43: "The Wall" Part IV - This Wall is My Wall
In its final installment, our 'Wall' series comes full circle, back to where we began - the Kotel. But this time we won't be meeting Holocaust-survivors-turned-Palestinian-housewives. Instead, we will meet Jews who - in the name of their Judaism - have set off on a lifelong crusade.Walls can make us feel safe, warm and protected. But that's also their greatest danger. After all, walls can cut us off from what is going on outside, and hiding behind them can give us a false sense of security and s
Welcome, Shalom and Call Home
If you are new to the show, there are so many episodes for you to check out. Why not start with Operation Hulda, Love Syndrome, and Milk, Honey and Sweet Mary Jane?You can also sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.And lastly, whether you are new to Israel Story, or have been following us from day one, do us a favor - go to Apple Podcasts, rate us and leave a review.Thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
42: "The Wall" Part III - The Invisibles
After visiting two of Israel's most visible walls, we shift gears to slightly more abstract ones. Walls, both new and old, that you might have a harder time finding on the ground, but will - nevertheless - show us where we came from and where we are going.Walls are something you can see. Something you can touch. Something you can run into and get a nasty bump on your head. Or... are they?! In our episode today - part three of our miniseries - we tell the stories of three walls that won't appear
41: "The Wall" Part II - The Other Side
Some call it the 'security fence,' while others prefer the 'West Bank barrier.' But to most around the world it is known simply as the 'separation wall.' Our series continues with a visit to what is perhaps the most divisive symbol of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But as usual, we'll go beyond the politics, to the people.For the last seventeen years, when people say "the wall' and "Israel" in the same sentence, they're usually referring to something very specific: A four-hundred-and-forty-mi
40: "The Wall" Part I - Operation Hulda
And... we're back! We kick off our fourth season with a brand new miniseries - "The Wall." Today's roller-coaster of a mystery begins with Israeli paratroopers liberating the Kotel, continues with a symbolic mid-war birth, and ends up going in the most surprising direction imaginable.Everywhere we turn these days, it seems as if walls are staring back at us. Their powers are magical: They protect and alienate; keep people both in and out; and can even - as we have all seen - bring mighty governm
Now That’s a Buzzword!
A quick note from a big celebration.For more, head to our site. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
39: "Mixtape" Part IV – War, Peace and Bumper Stickers
In our season finale, we explore two songs that - perhaps more than any others - capture the complex and intermingled nature of Israeli society.Over the last four episodes, we’ve told the stories behind some of Israel’s most iconic songs. When we set off on this musical journey, we hoped to find a unicorn, a unifying island of Israeliness that escapes the usual polarization which dominates most conversations about Israel. Instead, however, we discovered that music not only reflects, but often am
38: "Mixtape" Part III – Eastward Bound
In a music scene dominated by Ashkenazi culture, Mizrahi singers had to patiently pave their way to the Israeli mainstream one song at a time. In Part III of our miniseries, we meet two Yemenite trailblazers,In Israel today, Mizrahi – or “Eastern” – music is ubiquitous. In fact, to many, it is practically synonymous with Israeli music. But that wasn’t always the case. For decades, Israeli radio stations ignored Mizrahi tunes and exclusively played music rooted in Ashkenazi traditions. That began
37: "Mixtape" Part II – Iron and Gold
Our musical journey through the intricacies of Israeli society continues. And this time we explore a song that, ever since the dramatic month that forever changed Israeli history, has become the country's soundtrack: "Jerusalem of Gold."In 1968, an up-and-coming left-wing politician by the name of Uri Avnery brazenly suggested replacing Israel’s national anthem, HaTikvah. His proposal was surprising, given the fact that the would-be replacement was the unequivocal anthem of the Si
36: "Mixtape" Part I – Our Hope?
Welcome to 'Mixtape,' our very first mini-series. Over the course of the next four episodes, we will go on a musical journey through anthems, songs of yearning, of war, of peace, and hear the stories behind some of Israel's most iconic tunes.Let’s face it – when it comes to Israel, everything is complicated. Politics are complicated, religion is complicated, democracy is complicated, the conflict is complicated. Even our complications are complicated. These are the things that take us out to the
35: Whither Thou Goest
Ruth the Moabite said she'd follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, anywhere. That blind devotion has since made her an enduring symbol of loyalty, faith and determination. And, just in time for our smorgasbord of cheesecakes, lasagnas and blintzes,Somewhere between post-Passover fatigue and summer-is-around-the-corner excitement, Shavout tends to be overlooked. But in reality, it is the secret gem of the Jewish calendar: A festival that’s all about strong women, wheat harvests, creamy cheese
34: Coming Out, Getting In
Payam Feili is a gay Iranian poet. Nadav Schwartz is an Orthodox Israeli Jew. But in ways both astoundingly similar and utterly different, both men have journeyed out of their communities, leaving behind almost everything but their identity.Tonight, Jews around the world will gather together at their seder tables. They will drink wine, ask questions, search for the Afikoman and recite the obligation to see themselves as if they personally had come out of Egypt. And that is, really, what the sede
33: Milk, Honey and Sweet Mary Jane
Cannabis in the Holy Land is clearly a booming business. Through the unlikely story of Amos Silver, the Israeli 'Green Giant,' we take a deep dive into the world of Telegrass, the hot application that has made buying weed as easy as ordering a pizza.According to a recent study conducted by the Israeli Anti-Drug Authority, the Holy Land might as well be rebranded as a ‘Weedtopia.’ More than a quarter of adults aged 18 to 40 reported having used marijuana within the last month. This stat, says the
32: King of the Hill
From the top of Tell El-Ful, an abandoned hilltop in East Jerusalem, you can see all the way from Amman to Tel Aviv, from Jerusalem to Ramallah. And you can also travel back and forth in time.Imagine an abandoned White House, covered with graffiti, open to the winds, full of trash, broken bottles and condom wrappers. Now go a step further and picture it against the background of the most beautiful Middle Eastern panorama you can conjure up. Ever since we learned about the existence of a deserted
Short: Fed-Ex Over Your Snow
People in one-hundred-and-eighty-seven countries around the world – including Iran, Iraq and Papua New Guinea – tune in to Israel Story. And today, we went out to talk to a few, very special, fans: our youngest and oldest listeners.For more, head to our site. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31: Dear Lord Rothschild
One hundred years after a single-page letter boosted the Zionist cause and changed the course of Jewish history, we go out in search of Balfour, and his declaration, in modern-day Israel.On November 2, 1917, Arthur James Balfour – Britain’s mustached Foreign Secretary – signed his name at the bottom of a short, typed letter addressed to a shy banker-turned-zoologist by the name of Lionel Walter Rothschild. “His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national ho
30: Food Fight
Forget politics, forget territorial disputes, forget religion. Our new episode explores the real Middle Eastern battleground - food.Food, it turns out, is a serious business. And as we recently came to appreciate, it can lead folks to embark on all kinds of unlikely crusades. In today’s episode we tell two stories, from almost diametrically opposed perspectives, about the ways in which recognition and pride matter, especially when it comes to what we eat and drink. The first, about a Jerusalemit
29: A Better Place?
Not that long ago, an Israeli vehicle was about to change the world. But it didn’t. In today's episode, we find out why the Better Place electric car generated such excitement and inspired such devotion, and why its ultimate demise was so devastating.In 2007, long before Tesla and Elon Musk became household names, a thirty-nine-year-old Israeli tech entrepreneur by the name of Shai Agassi came out with an announcement that rattled the world: He was going to revolutionize transportation, make cou
28: On the Outs
There are a zillion ways of being an outsider. That, of course, we all know. But what does it mean to belong, why do we want it so badly, and just how far are we willing to go in order to be on the 'inside'?Eli Amir, Eliyahu Rips and Eliezer Sonnenschein couldn’t be more different: the first is a celebrated Baghdad-born author, the second is a brilliant mathematician from Latvia, and the third is the enfant terrible of modern Israeli art. But they are all, in their own unique ways, out
27: Jarab
They're enemies and cousins, neighbors and rivals, lovers and haters, and at times even one and the same. Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the complicated world of Israel's Arabs and Jews.More often than not, we think of Jewish-Arab relations in Israel as being adversarial. We frequently hear tales of hatred, violence, animosity and discrimination. But reality is, of course, much more complicated: Not only are some Jews actually Arabs, and vice-versa, but there is a tremendous amount of intermin
26: Oath of Blood
Imagine getting the worst news possible, learning it isn’t true, and then realizing it is after all — in the span of a single day. That’s what happened to the Harels of Jerusalem, in the chaotic frenzy of the First Lebanon War.In the early summer of 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon. The First Lebanon War — as it would later be called — would ultimately lead to thousands of casualties, an eighteen-year-long Israeli presence in Southern Lebanon, and growing political disillusionment around the region.
25: Peace Now. Almost.
In the immediate aftermath of the Six-Day War, a Palestinian lawyer and two Israeli reservists nearly brokered a peace agreement. Just imagine how history would have unfolded had they succeeded.Though few people grasped it at the time, the Six-Day War put the young state of Israel on an entirely new trajectory. Some see the war’s outcome as a historic triumph and almost messianic return of the Jews to their ancestral lands. Others, of course, view it as the start of a downward spiral that led to
24: Losing My Religion
From secret bathroom texting all the way to negotiating a divorce in Venice (of all places...), we bring you heart-wrenching tales of lost faith.In 1991, REM’s Michael Stipe famously sang, “That’s me in the spotlight, losing my religion, trying to keep up with you, and I don’t know if I can do it.” Just over a quarter-century later, we set out to explore what happens when religious couples no longer see eye to eye. Do you follow your heart? Do you tell your partner? And can the package stay inta
23: A Severe Case of Second Generation
Lizzie Doron always felt there was an invisible ghost in her life. She wasn't wrong.Early next week we will mark Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. There are just about 160,000 Holocaust survivors still living in Israel, but they are rapidly vanishing. More than forty survivors die each day. And that means that the memory of the Holocaust, and the stories we tell and hear about the Holocaust are also changing. There are fewer and fewer first-hand testimonies, and more and more tales – like
22: And in the End…
Our season opener takes us right to the end... An episode full of surprising stories that explore how we die, and what comes next.It’s springtime in Israel and renewal is in the air: Wildflowers are blooming, short pants make their first appearances of the year, and – most importantly – we are back with the start of our third season. But of course, it wouldn’t be Israel Story if there wasn’t a twist, and indeed our season opener takes us… right to the end. So tune in for an episode full of surpr
21: 68 and Counting- Part II
In the second installment of this two-part series (and our season two finale), we pick up where we left off last week: Presenting small stories – one per decade – that took place on Israel’s Independence Day, Yom Ha’Atzmaut, and that, in some way, reflect their era. Part I, took us from 1948 to 1978. In today’s episode, which begins in 1988 and brings us all the way to the present, we encounter a Soviet ‘refusenik’ celebrating his first Yom Ha’Atzmaut in Israel; an American couple building a new
20: 68 and Counting- Part I
This is the first in a two-part series that takes us through Israel’s short but dramatic history. Over the last few months, we’ve spent many hours, in all kinds of archives, learning all we could about Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. The result is a mosaic of stories that took place on Yom Ha’Atzmaut itself, in ten year intervals, and that in some way reflect their era.Part I will take us from 1948 to 1978: We’ll visit Israel’s first makeshift national radio studio, we’ll ride a bicyc
19: Of Numbers and Names
This Thursday, May 5th, Israelis observe Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. At 10 a.m., according to custom, an air raid will sound and the country will fall quiet for two long minutes.Silence won’t do for a podcast, so instead we bring you two stories. Act I, “B-1367,” is about an elderly father and his 53-year old son, and the inked number that binds them. In Act II, “Herr Eichmann,” we meet up with a group of men for whom Eichmann is not a symbol of Nazi evil, but a gaunt, baldin
18: Thicker Than Water
On Today’s show, we delve into the messy territory of family bonds—how they’re formed, challenged, and change over time. We’ll meet three families who are all, at the end of the day, happy, but are not (contrary to Tolstoy’s claim) in any way alike.First we hear from Mishy’s family—Dorothy, David, Danna and Oren—who like to talk to each other. A lot.In Act I, “The Missing Moms,” producer Shoshi Shmuluvitz introduces us to Tali Griffel, a thirty-six-year-old physical therapist from Jerusalem who
17: Stop That Bus!
Israeli buses regularly make international headlines, be it for suicide bombings, fights over gender segregation or clashes concerning Shabbat schedules. On today’s episode of Israel Story, we delve into the world of lesser known bus-related conflicts.In Act I, “The White Elephant,” Yochai Maital walks us through the history of Tel Aviv’s ‘New’ Central Bus Station — a derelict eight-story behemoth and modern day Tower of Babel — which mirrors much of modern Israeli history, with its grand vision
16: Over and Out
In the last episode of Israel Story, we met couples in love. But for every story of love found, there are, of course, piles and piles of broken hearts. So today on our show, “Over and Out.” We’ve got three stories of relationships that have ended, and the things (the often slightly nutty things) that people do once they no longer see eye to eye. We’ll journey back to the early dates of the State of Israel, and then travel all around the world, to London and New York, even to Beijing.Stay connect
15: Love, Revisited
Three couples look back at their time together—on a kibbutz, in verse, and in a hospital.The stories in today’s episode come from our most recent live show, “Israel in Love.” We’ll meet three couples looking back at their love affairs from very different vantage points.Zvi and Regina Steinitz’s romance has been going on the longest—in fact, it’s been going on since the very birth of the state of Israel. Danna Harman shares their story in Act I, “Like A Stone.”Act II, “There’s a Wall Between Us,”
14: Besties
How Moshe Dayan’s wife and Yasser Arafat’s mother-in-law became bosom buddies, and other tales of unlikely friendships.When Raymonda Tawil met Ruth Dayan in 1970, they seemed well-primed to be enemies. Ruth, the then wife of Israeli war hero and Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan, was visiting a hospital in the Palestinian city of Nablus to deliver dolls to children. Tawil, of Palestinian aristocracy, was there to witness this exercise in diplomacy. She was not impressed. Today, these elder statesw
13: Sacred Plants
How we change nature and nature changes us, from wildflower picking in Israel to ayahuasca retreats in Peru.There have already been a few sightings of anemones in Israel, and that means it’s the start of wildflower season. Many Israelis track wildflowers with a passion. There are traffic jams near popular flower-carpeted hills and even websites that tell you what’s popped up where. But what Israelis (or at least the vast majority of them) don’t do is pick those flowers. That restraint does not s
12: Now Boarding
For the year’s heaviest week of travel, Israel Story brings tales of love and interrogation at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion AirportThe first place travelers to Israel encounter is usually Ben Gurion Airport. What they’ll remember of that experience depends in part on their relationship to the country. Are they coming home? Arriving to a place they’ve always dreamed of visiting? Passing through, with fear or wariness, en route to someplace else?In this week’s episode of Israel Story, we hear from p
11: Herzl 48 Live
Israel Story producers crisscrossed the small country, visiting every 48 Herzl Street and collecting stories from whomever they encountered.There is nothing inherently special about the people who live at 48 Herzl Street, an address that shows up in big cities, small outposts, and everything in between throughout Israel. But symbolically, it’s about as freighted an address as they come. Theodore Herzl was the father of modern Zionism, and there are 54 streets named after him in Israel—more than
10: Birthstory
In this very special episode, Israel Story teams up with Radiolab to tell the story of Tal and Amir-- an Israeli couple who went to Nepal to pick up their three babies from two surrogates and then discovered that the transaction is not so straightforward.How many people does it take to start a family? Well, if you are a gay Israeli couple, both men, and you’d like your children to be biologically related to you, it may take the two of you, plus a Ukrainian egg donor, an Indian woman to serve as
9: Man, I Feel Like a Woman
What do you do when you realize that in order to be true to yourself, you have to shatter everything around you, including the lives of those you love most?Yiscah Smith lives in Nahlaot, in Jerusalem. But her journey to this Orthodox-meets-hipster neighborhood took her through what seems like four lifetimes. She was born in Long Island, as Jeff Smith, to a Conservative Jewish family. Jeff married a woman, they became more religious, and moved to Israel. Jeff became Yaacov, a Chabad Rabbi, and al
8: Rabin Is…
Rabin is a symbol. An icon. But in Israel of 2015, twenty years later, it isn't so simple to understand what he really stands for anymore.Who is Yitzhak Rabin today, twenty years after his murder? In this episode, we discover that for many Israelis, he represents completely different – and often conflicting – things: Rachel Rabin remembers her older brother as a shy kid, who forced her to be the goalie in neighborhood soccer games. His ‘fixer,’ Me’ir Palevsky, tells how a crude joke might have s
7: Out of Africa… And Back Again
Two journeys - in very different directions, and taken for very different reasons - out of, and then into, Africa.Israel is embroiled in Middle Eastern geopolitics. That, at least, everyone knows. We also aspire to be part of Europe, and never miss a chance to reiterate our “special relationship” with the US. But what about Africa, our next door neighbors? Our history stretches all the way back to the earliest hominids leaving Africa and marching through what is today Israel. Since then there’s
Promo
A look back and a peek ahead.Starting October 21st, we’ll be releasing a new episode of Israel Story every two weeks. A new reason to love Wednesdays!For more, head to our site. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
6: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Tales of love, romance, and the pursuit thereof.Valentine’s Day is not native to Israel, but the country does not lack for tales of love, romance, and the pursuit thereof. In this, our sixth episode, we bring you stories of love and all the ways it’s got to do, got to do with it.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m
5: Holy Cow!
An episode all about sacred bovines!The stories of four featured moo-ers: a red heifer that some think will bring the messiah, a cow that’s become the symbol of radical Israeli veganism, buffalos that hold the future for a self-described “Israeli redneck,” and the golden calf that was biblical big-business.Cowabunga!Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site o
4: A Man on a Mission
The stories of three Israelis who are not religious but have pursued unusual hobbies with missionary zeal.In this, our fourth episode, we introduce three Israelis who are not religious but have pursued unusual hobbies with missionary zeal. One is a hitman-for-hire, another collects a highly specific classification of autographs, and the third is a professional whistler. This has earned them, variously, animus, accolades, and celebrity in far-flung places.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitt
3: People of the Book
Three stories revolving around people who rescue books, chase after books, or otherwise allow books to determine their destiny.Are Jews still “the people of the book”? Are Israelis? What does that even mean today? In the third episode of Israel Story, we’ve got three stories that all revolve around people who rescue books, chase after books, or otherwise allow books to determine their destiny—from a Yiddish book collector based in the Tel Aviv central bus station to a lonely college student
2: Love Syndrome
Chaya Ben Baruch grew up as Enid, in a Conservadox Jewish family in Far Rockaway, NY. Midway through college, she left that world behind to study sea otters in Fairbanks, Alaska.Fast-forward a decade: Enid is now married to a nice Catholic salmon fisher named Stan. She’s just given birth to her sixth child, and discovers he has Down syndrome. Many parents in her position would be devastated. Some might place their baby in an institution, or put him up for adoption. For Enid, the birth of An
1: Faking It
From our relationship with Ira Glass to priceless antiquities all the way to coveted sick passes – Israeli stories that are anything but real. In our very first episode, the Israel Story team delves into the realm of fakes, forgeries, and mimicry. Three stories, from different periods and places, of people pretending to to be something they are not.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to ou