Miriam Herschlag, Sara Hirshhorn and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Ending this F*#!ing War—

What should we make of the hostage release and “permanent cessation of hostilities” agreement with Hamas, and why is the agreement only signed now (and not eight months ago or eight months from now) and does what it means politically?

—A Utopic Future, Right Before Our Eyes—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: You may say I’m a dreamer, but I am not the only one.

Plus, a new record by Idan Amedi that started in a hospital bed, recovering from an explosion in Gaza that almost took Amedi’s life. And an appreciation of Avraham Luria, proprietor of Israel’s oldest and best costume emporium and a beloved figure in the world of Tel Aviv theater.

Songs

• Lidfo ta’rosh 
• Latet la-Hayyim lirkod 
• Shum Davar Aher

Linda Gradstein, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Thinkin’ Blinken—

What are we to make of Antony Blinken’s interview with the times, in which he said it was Hamas, not Prime Minister Netanyahu, who have scuttled the hostage negotiations until now?

—Making an Offense of Defense—

What are we to think about the Palestinian campaign to have low-level IDF soldiers arrested abroad for war crimes, as part of an effort to criminalize fighting in Israel’s army?

—The American Historical Association Censures Israel for “Scholasticide”—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What is “scholasticide,” and why has the American Historical Association censured Israel for doing it?

Plus, a kind word for Haredim and Jean Shepherd, with music by Bekka.

Linda Gradstein and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Standard Deviation—

An expose in the New York Times shows that on October 7th the IDF took an extraordinary decision to double the number of civilians whose lives it was willing to risk in order to attack Hamas leaders and rank-and-file fighters. What should we make of that?

—Again, This Time With Less Feeling—

Anthropologist Amalia Sa’ar asserts that Israeli political discourse is filled-to-the-gills with a “narrative of trauma” that keeps us from being able to have rational political discourse and make rational political and military decisions. Is she right?

—New Year’s Resolutions—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: It’s January.  What are our political political “resolutions” for the new year?

Plus, Yehudit Ravitz with a new record at 68.

Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron are live from the astonishing, brilliant, taste-of-the-world-to-come Limmud Festival in Birmingham, England.

—What’s Changed, Here?—

How we in Israel, and the lives we lead, have changed since, and because of, October 7th.

—What’s Changed, Everywhere Else?—

How Jews around the world, and the lives they lead, have changed since, and because of, October 7th.

Plus, how a 56 year old Soviet song came to express our longing and fears today. Plus, International Dalek Remembrance Day.

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and scholar-extraordinaire Sara Hirschhorn discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment

—(Un)settling—

Why do Israeli Jews who think it might be a good idea to set up Jewish towns in Gaza, think what they think?

—Hostage (Dis)agreement—

Would an agreement that brings home some of the hostages might, in the end, be worse than no agreement at all?

—Safe, Save for the Bombs and Bullets—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Why do most Israelis think the safest place in the world for Jews is Israel when, statistically, that’s not even close to being true?

Plus, a remembrance of Corinne Allal, may her memory be for a blessing.

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Linda Gradstein and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Gradually, then Suddenly, then OMG—

The shocking, sudden fall of strong-man ophthalmologist Bashar al-Assad from power in Syria left Jihadist Islamists poised to replace him. What does it all means for, well, us?

—Day in Court—

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes the stand to testify on his own behalf in his four-years-and-running bribery, fraud and breach of trust trial. What does it all means for, well, us?

—Quo Vadis, Adis?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: The renowned and storied DC Conservative Synagogue, Adis Israel, disinvites former Israeli Foreign Minister Yoav Gallant, after congregants complain about this community hosting an architect of Israel’s war in Gaza, and a man indicted by the ICC for war crimes. We ask, Quo Vadis, Adis?

Plus, a remembrance of the man who hanged Adolf Eichmann, and a tribute to the star quality of the impossibly-talented and enchanted daughter-of, Naomi Sommer!

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Boogie Unbound—

Former IDF Chief of Staff and former Defense Minister Moshe “Boogie” Ya’alon’s flatly asserts that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Gaza policy amounts to ethnic cleansing.

—Putting the Press in Suppression and Depression—

A Knesset declaratory motion resolves that the government will no longer advertise in Ha’aretz, after its publisher Amos Schoken presses the world to sanction and boycott Israel on account of its “war crimes.”

—“ALL HELL TO PAY?”—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: We talk about the social media post by once and future President Donald Trump calling for the return of all hostages by the time he enters the Oval Office.

Plus, Omer Neutra and an encouraging word about El Al.

Linda Gradstein, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

—For the Time Being, Anyway—

The cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah: It ain’t victory and it sure ain’t peace.

—ICC You—

Why does the world court want to put our prime minister in the slammer?

Plus, An Ethiopian Room-of-Their-Own, before-and-after selfs, and an exploration of the age-old question, “When is a challah not a challah?”

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Noah Efron and Tova Cohen discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—“Hope Is Patience With the Lamp Lit” (With Apologies to Tertullian)—

A voice in the wilderness. Should we listen?

—“Cabinet of Wonders”—

Is Donald Trump’s new cabinet more pro-Israel than most Israelis?

—Freshman Leninism at Berkeley—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: We talk about the fufera that developed over a Berkeley course description. We ask, “WTF?”

Plus, Nir Oz votes to go home and Eden Hasson comes out.

Miriam Herschlag, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Jabalia, Again—

Israel conquers northern Gaza for a third deadly time.

—The “J” is Silent—

Is Amsterdam a harbinger?

—Limping Towards the Light—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: We talk about the essay written by Rachel Goldberg-Polin that was recently published on the Times of Israel.

Plus, a tribute to Prof. Aharon She’ar Yashuv,  the Orthodox Rabbi son of an Waffen SS officer father. And music for these troubled days.

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Gallantry—

Is it o.k. to sack the guy in charge of your army, while generals in Iran are planning to attack?

—Trumpery—

Prime Minister Netayahu tweets to once-and-future US President Donald Trump that his “huge victory” in “history’s greatest comeback” is “a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.” But what will Trump’s win mean to the Middle East?

—12 Hours That Shook, Well, Us—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: How did we handle the Gallantry & Trumpery one-two punch, and how do we now gather our broken selves and move forward?

All that and more music of our times.