Best Israel Podcasts (2025)

1
The “Never Again, Again” Edition 1:21:36

40m ago1:21:36

1:21:36

Linda and Noah talk about (1) Head of the General Security Agency, or Shabak, Ronen Bar’s affidavits to the Supreme Court that one journalist says “will shape the security and democratic future of the State of Israel”; and (2) The strange quantum-entanglement of the Holocaust and October 7th, and whether we learn anything about the one event from t…

1
The “Never Again, Again” Edition 1:21:36

2d ago1:21:36

1:21:36

Linda and Noah talk about (1) Head of the General Security Agency, or Shabak, Ronen Bar’s affidavits to the Supreme Court that one journalist says “will shape the security and democratic future of the State of Israel”; and (2) The strange quantum-entanglement of the Holocaust and October 7th, and whether we learn anything about the one event from t…

1
#368 - The End of Illusions: Redefining Peace in the Middle East (Dr. Ronen Shoval) 1:10:13

4d ago1:10:13

1:10:13

This episode is sponsored by HOLY CHUTZPAHhttps://holy-chutzpah.com/***It’s been three weeks since Israel resumed its ground operations in Gaza—but the mission still feels undefined. Fifty-nine hostages remain in Hamas captivity, and while the IDF maneuvers cautiously on the ground, the sense that we’re holding back our full strength lingers. At th…

1
Qatar Gate. The Scandal Shocking Israel 17:48

5d ago17:48

17:48

The arrest of Netanyahu's closest advisors in what is known as "Qatar Gate" has rocked Israeli politics. Were his advisors on the Qatar payroll at the time of war? Did Netanyahu know? This is a 12 minute podcast that explains the implications.By Neil Lazarus

1
Writing - The Remedy? 10:26

6d ago10:26

10:26

Hear this Patron-Exclusive Episode on Patreon William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan, literary scholars at Bar Ilan University, are the founders of Writing on the Wall, an online platform for an open and diverse conversation, and co-editors of Balagan, a magazine of Art, Poetry and Perspective that launched earlier this year. What is the power of litera…

1
The “Politics of Words” Edition 1:28:37

9d ago1:28:37

1:28:37

Miriam Herschlag, Sara Hirschhorn and Noah Efron talk about (1) The open-letter from Airforce reservists and retirees, calling on the Government to end the war, the army’s scorched-earth response, and the flood of letters-of-support for the original letter – What’s it all mean?; and (2) The decision by Hebrew University’s elite publishing house, Ma…

1
The “Politics of Words” Edition 1:28:37

9d ago1:28:37

1:28:37

Miriam Herschlag, Sara Hirschhorn and Noah Efron talk about (1) The open-letter from Airforce reservists and retirees, calling on the Government to end the war, the army’s scorched-earth response, and the flood of letters-of-support for the original letter – What’s it all mean?; and (2) The decision by Hebrew University’s elite publishing house, Ma…

1
1948: Open Wounds 37:40

13d ago37:40

37:40

Neta Shoshani's documentary film 1948: Remember, Remember Not was commissioned by Kan, Israel's public broadcaster for the country's 75th Independence Day. Almost two years on, it has yet to be broadcast, in the wake of a right-wing campaign that claims that it defames Israel. In this episode, she talks about the interplay between history, memory a…

1
160: The Hebrew Hobbit - A Passover Special 1:20:54

16d ago1:20:54

1:20:54

There and Back Again: the story of a small group of Israelis who - more than half a century ago - experienced their own exodus from Egypt, and their own journey from captivity to freedom. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Isr…

1
The “Our Version” Edition 1:38:51

16d ago1:38:51

1:38:51

Linda Gradstein, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron talk about (1) the IDF’s at-least-partly debunked explanation for how and why 15 Palestinians in rescue vehicles were shot dead by Israeli soldiers in Rafah, and (2) Prime Minister Netanyahu’s embarrassing visit to the White House this week. All this and new glosses on the Passover Haggadah, a living…

1
The “Our Version” Edition 1:38:51

16d ago1:38:51

1:38:51

Linda Gradstein, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron talk about (1) the IDF’s at-least-partly debunked explanation for how and why 15 Palestinians in rescue vehicles were shot dead by Israeli soldiers in Rafah, and (2) Prime Minister Netanyahu’s embarrassing visit to the White House this week. All this and new glosses on the Passover Haggadah, a living…

1
#367 - The Supreme Court vs. the Government: Israel’s Battle for Power (Prof. Talia Einhorn) 1:01:11

20d ago1:01:11

1:01:11

Support the podcast! Buy us a coffee☕:https://buymeacoffee.com/2njb***Not long ago, the biggest story in Israel was the tidal wave of protests against the government’s proposed judicial reforms. Week after week, hundreds of thousands flooded the streets, warning that the very foundations of Israeli democracy were under threat. The demonstrations re…

1
The “Status Quo Post” Edition 1:31:28

23d ago1:31:28

1:31:28

Linda Gradstein, Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron talk about (1) the anti-Hamas demonstrations in Gaza and what, if anything, we learn from them about the hearts and minds of Gazans, and (2) on the fifth anniversary of the pandemic, how, if at all, COVID-19 changed us as a society and as individuals. All this and bagels, boondoggles and kabbalistic ble…

1
The “Status Quo Post” Edition 1:31:28

23d ago1:31:28

1:31:28

Linda Gradstein, Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron talk about (1) the anti-Hamas demonstrations in Gaza and what, if anything, we learn from them about the hearts and minds of Gazans, and (2) on the fifth anniversary of the pandemic, how, if at all, COVID-19 changed us as a society and as individuals. All this and bagels, boondoggles and kabbalistic ble…

1
Between Diplomacy and Commemoration: The Origins of the Study of Antisemitism 32:30

27d ago32:30

32:30

Tom Eshed, postdoctoral fellow at the Hebrew University’s Jacob Robinson Institute for the History of Individual and Collective Rights, discusses knowledge production on Antisemitism in the wake of the Second World War in Israel and abroad. This episode is made possible by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Jacob Robinson Institute for the Histor…

1
The “Not a Citadel, a Sanhedrin” Edition 43:45

1M ago43:45

43:45

A hundred years ago this week, a Hebrew University was founded in Jerusalem.

1
The “Not a Citadel, a Sanhedrin” Edition 43:45

1M ago43:45

43:45

A hundred years ago this week, a Hebrew University was founded in Jerusalem.

1
Qatar's Remarkable Rise 15:55

1M ago15:55

15:55

"Qatar: Power, Politics, and Influence in the Middle East" Welcome to today’s episode, where we dive deep into one of the most fascinating and controversial players in the Middle East—Qatar. From its vast natural gas wealth to its bold diplomatic maneuvers, #Qatar has positioned itself as a key power broker in the region, balancing relationships wi…

1
The “Cessation’s Cessation” Edition 1:51:28

1M ago1:51:28

1:51:28

Miriam Herschlag, Don Futterman and Noah Efron talk about (1) Israel’s return to active fighting in Gaza, and what it may mean for the hostages, for Gazans and for the rest of us here and (2) Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to sack Ronen Bar, the head of the General Security Services, the Shabak, and what it says about the state of Israel’s gov…

1
The “Cessation’s Cessation” Edition 1:51:28

1M ago1:51:28

1:51:28

Miriam Herschlag, Don Futterman and Noah Efron talk about (1) Israel’s return to active fighting in Gaza, and what it may mean for the hostages, for Gazans and for the rest of us here and (2) Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to sack Ronen Bar, the head of the General Security Services, the Shabak, and what it says about the state of Israel’s gov…

1
159: Wartime Diaries - Oran Almog 18:59

1M ago18:59

18:59

In the impossible arithmetic of hostage transfers, how does it feel to be told that the terrorist who shattered your world will walk free? The end song is Achshav Tov ("Good Now") by Gilad Segev. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
On Censorship 40:29

1M ago40:29

40:29

Adam Shinar, Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law, at Reichman University, discusses the recent return of Israel's Film and Theatre Review Board from oblivion, to serve the government's political goals. How did Israel's censorship laws evolve over the years?

1
The “Horror Vacui” Edition 1:28:08

1M ago1:28:08

1:28:08

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —Horror Vacui— There’s an odd mélange of diplomatic proposals for what-comes-next-in-Gaza, from an Egyptian and Arab League pla…

1
The “Horror Vacui” Edition 1:28:08

1M ago1:28:08

1:28:08

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —Horror Vacui— There’s an odd mélange of diplomatic proposals for what-comes-next-in-Gaza, from an Egyptian and Arab League pla…

1
Reporting or Distorting 22:45

2M ago22:45

22:45

Welcome to the latest episode of the podcast with Neil Lazarus. Today, we cut through the media spin and tackle one of the biggest challenges in reporting on the Middle East—manipulation. His guest is Adam Levick from The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA), an organization dedicated to holding journalists accounta…

1
The “Out of Phase” Edition 1:34:36

2M ago1:34:36

1:34:36

Sara Hirschhorn, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. —Out of Phase— With the stalled ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas giving way to the emergence of the mysterious “Witkoff Plan,” what might (and should) happen ne…

1
The “Out of Phase” Edition 1:34:36

2M ago1:34:36

1:34:36

Sara Hirschhorn, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. —Out of Phase— With the stalled ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas giving way to the emergence of the mysterious “Witkoff Plan,” what might (and should) happen ne…

1
#366 - Reality Check: Dr. Eli David on Gaza, AI, and Israel's Future 1:12:32

2M ago1:12:32

1:12:32

Support us at: buymeacoffee.com/2njb***On October 7th, Dr. Eli David found himself uniquely poised as the right person in the right place at a pivotal moment. With an X account boasting over 750K followers—mostly conservative Europeans and Americans— he was already a force to be reckoned with, known for his provocative takes on AI, data, and the ab…

1
Chronicles of Destruction 53:23

2M ago53:23

53:23

Dr Lee Mordechai, a historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, discusses Bearing Witness to the Gaza War, a comprehensive database of facts and figures that he meticulously collected since October 7, 2023. How did a Byzantine historian come to meticulously collect evidence about the atrocities of the current war, still ongoing? The episode is…

1
The “Unsettling Findings” Edition 1:45:36

2M ago1:45:36

1:45:36

Linda Gradstein, Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —Findings— The IDF shares its investigation of itself and what it did and did not do on October 7 with the victims of …

1
The “Unsettling Findings” Edition 1:45:36

2M ago1:45:36

1:45:36

Linda Gradstein, Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —Findings— The IDF shares its investigation of itself and what it did and did not do on October 7 with the victims of …

1
The “Synagogues & Stadiums” Edition 1:44:27

2M ago1:44:27

1:44:27

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —Why Does a Knitted Kippah Mean Keep-on Fighting?— Religious-Zionists oppose the hostage and prisoner release…

1
The “Synagogues & Stadiums” Edition 1:44:27

2M ago1:44:27

1:44:27

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —Why Does a Knitted Kippah Mean Keep-on Fighting?— Religious-Zionists oppose the hostage and prisoner release…

1
“It Is the Crown Jewel of My Career in Public Service” 41:13

2M ago41:13

41:13

Elyakim Rubinstein has had an incredibly prolific career in academia, politics, diplomacy and the judiciary. Among his many accomplishments, he served as cabinet secretary, attorney general, chargé d’affaires in Israel’s embassy in Washington, and deputy chief justice until his retirement in 2017. He is the only living Israeli who has taken part in…

1
The “Sins: Past, Present & Future” Edition 1:37:02

2M ago1:37:02

1:37:02

Sara Yael Hirschhorn, Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —Rite of Return— How and why did the images of the gaunt, shrunken, clearly-tortured hostages change something an…

1
The “Sins: Past, Present & Future” Edition 1:37:02

2M ago1:37:02

1:37:02

Sara Yael Hirschhorn, Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —Rite of Return— How and why did the images of the gaunt, shrunken, clearly-tortured hostages change something an…

1
Trump's Gaza Proposal Controversy 8:40

3M ago8:40

8:40

The latest proposal by President Trump to encourage Gazans to leave has ignited a political and diplomatic firestorm, sparking intense debate on the international stage. This controversial move has raised critical questions about its implications for regional stability, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the future of Israeli-Palestinian relation…

1
The “No One Expects the Pax Trumpiana!” Edition 1:29:33

3M ago1:29:33

1:29:33

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —Nobody Expects the Pax Trumpiana!— What’s behind US President Donald Trump’s plan to move Gazans to Jordan and Egypt and turn …

1
The “No One Expects the Pax Trumpiana!” Edition 1:29:33

3M ago1:29:33

1:29:33

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —Nobody Expects the Pax Trumpiana!— What’s behind US President Donald Trump’s plan to move Gazans to Jordan and Egypt and turn …

1
The ‘Big Data’ of Hebrew Literature 38:27

3M ago38:27

38:27

Dr. Yael Dekel, a literary scholar at the Open University and Ben Gurion University of the Negev and a lead fellow at Brandeis University's Institute of Advanced Israel Studies, talks about the Literary Laboratory: how can digital methods be used to study the canon of Hebrew literature - and redefine it, along the way? This episode is part of a ser…

1
#365 - "October 7th Was No Surprise": Einat Wilf on Palestinianism and the Gaza War 1:10:01

3M ago1:10:01

1:10:01

Support us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/2njb***Dr. Einat Wilf has never been one to shy away from challenging the status quo. Born into a Labor Zionist family, she grew up believing in the dream of peace through compromise and coexistence. But her time working in foreign policy, education, and politics led her to some tough realizations. Over the y…

1
The “Justices Supreme and Crises Constitutional” Edition 1:35:24

3M ago1:35:24

1:35:24

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —A New Crisis, and this Time, It’s Constitutional— What does it augur when the Justice Minister refuses to “recognize” the newl…

1
The “Justices Supreme and Crises Constitutional” Edition 1:35:24

3M ago1:35:24

1:35:24

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon —A New Crisis, and this Time, It’s Constitutional— What does it augur when the Justice Minister refuses to “recognize” the newl…

1
Operation Northwoods Revealed 10:54

3M ago10:54

10:54

In the depths of America's classified history lies a document so shocking, it seems more like a Hollywood thriller than historical fact. But this is no fiction. A chilling #podcastBy Neil Lazarus

1
Lebanon Elects Joseph Aoun as President 10:13

3M ago10:13

10:13

On January 9, 2024, #Lebanon was able to finally appoint the next president of the Republic during a period of major power changes in the Middle East. The leader of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), Joseph Aoun, received an absolute majority of the vote and was elected president in two rounds. Findout more in this fascinating #podcast…

1
Wartime Diaries: Karina is Home 14:11

3M ago14:11

14:11

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.

1
The “Word” Edition 1:43:57

3M ago1:43:57

1:43:57

Miriam Herschlag, 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 —You Be the Judge— Is the new “compromise” proposal for judicial reform any good, and is now the time to debates su…

1
The “Word” Edition 1:43:57

3M ago1:43:57

1:43:57

Miriam Herschlag, 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 —You Be the Judge— Is the new “compromise” proposal for judicial reform any good, and is now the time to debates su…

1
158: Wartime Diaries - Sarah Tuttle-Singer 20:06

3M ago20:06

20:06

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.