The “Means, Ends & Mean Ends” Edition

Linda Gradstein, Gilad Halpern and Noah Efron discuss (1) What to make of the New York Times Magazine’s percussive essay called, “How Netanyahu Prolonged the War in Gaza to Stay in Power,” and (2) The “humanitarian city” that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz propose to build, and how they possibly think it is a good idea. Plus, queer shuls, queer musicals, and a tribute to the great songwriter, Sheika Paikov, may his memory be for a blessing. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Why does Mandy Patinkin’s angry angst matter to so many of us?

Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron discuss (1) Prime Minister Netayahu’s trip to DC to break bread with President Donald Trump, to dot the I’s an cross the T’s on an expected-at-any-moment temporary cease-fire and hostage release deal with Hamas, and (2) Should Israeli doctors do triage on hostages, helping politicians choose who should come home first and who last in the upcoming cease-fire and hostage return deal with Hamas? Plus, a Trump hotel in Tel Aviv, talking teddy bears of people slain on October 7, bees, and a tribute to a remarkable man, Berhanu Yoseph, may his memory be for a blessing. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Et Tu, Grok?

Linda, Don and Noah discuss (1) U.S. President Donald Trump’s Truth Social posts demanding the immediate cancellation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trial—calling Netanyahu a ‘great hero’ who, along with Trump, ‘saved Israel’—and how figures across Israel’s political spectrum have more or less fallen in line; and (2) what to make of a Haaretz “expose” about the IDF and the new humanitarian aid centers in Gaza. Plus, a simulated daughter offering real comfort, and the varied aftermaths of the “Twelve Day War.” Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Def, def to the IDF?

In this wartime-fever-dream-inflected special episode Miriam Herschlag and Noah Efron talk about (1) the only thing any of us have talked about for the past weeks, what US President Donald Trump called “The Twelve-Day War,” and (2) several things we have NOT talked about for the past weeks, but maybe ought to have, including what’s going on in Gaza, a joint-Palestinian-Israel efforts to get humanitarian aid to Gaza, and an Israeli Rabbi and a Melburnian Bar Mitzvah boy working together to create unity. All this and music and cats on rooftops, plus as moving a wedding as we’ve ever seen. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Despair, anxiety, hope and exhaustion: What we’re feeling now.

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron talk about (1) whether and how this week’s war on Iran reshapes our understanding of the more than 20 months of war in Gaza that preceded it, and (2) what we can learn from a moving essay by American journalist Isaac Saul called, “I think I’m Leaving Zionism, or Zionism is Leaving Me.” All this and what we learn about Iran from the Persians living among us, and music by these self-same Persians. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What it is like, living from siren-to-siren, shelter-to-shelter (Spoiler alert: Scary and weird, with surprising moments of grace.)

Sara Yael Hirschhorn, Noah Efron and beloved prodigal podcaster Ilene Prusher talk about (1) The vote to disperse the Knesset that looked like it would succeed, until it failed and (2) Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to give guns to a Gaza militia run by a former drug-lord, ISIS support: What could go wrong? All this and a fight in the Knesset over women wearing tfillin, and new songs of LGBTQ pride! Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What’s it like these days to teach on an American campus, and to raise Israeli-born kids on the mean streets of Boca Raton? World famous journalist and professor Ilene Prusher’s got some answers.

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron talk about (1) How the left and right disagree about whether Israel ought to end the fighting in Gaza “now” and “forever”, and what these disagreements say about each political position and (2) Plans to disrupt the wedding of Avner Netanyahu, the son of the Prime Minister, and whether or not it’s o.k. to disrupt the family life of politicians one disagrees with. All this and a meditation on anti-Israel protestors, and another on when wildlife is not wild life. Plus, the infused-with-spirit music of Hovav Paller. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: The weird and scary moment we find ourselves in, after a guy in Boulder, Colorado improvises a flamethrower to immolate mid-aged Jews running a 5K in support of the hostages in Gaza, this just a couple of weeks after two Israeli embassy workers are murdered in DC. Are these things awful anomalies or just the new (awful) normal?

The holiday of Shavuot, once about one thing, and then about another, is now about, well, everything. (For your convenience and for the sake of quality control, this episode includes time-tested, proven bits from prior shows!)

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron talk about (1) Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to reinstate the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza: why did this happen now and why the hell did it not happen before; and (2) What we learn (if anything) from the fact that Israel won the popular vote in this week’s Eurovision Song Contest, and what we learn (if anything) from the fact that Israel came in 15th (!) in the contest’s professional “jury” vote, and what we learn (if anything) from juxtaposing the two votes. All this and the sixtieth anniversary of the execution-by-hanging of Eli Cohen, “our man in Damascus”.  Plus, more music of these times. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Yair Golan, head of the “Democrats Party” (what used to be Labor and Meretz), says that Israel “wages war against civilians” and “kills babies for a hobby”. Well, what can you say to that?

Linda Gradstein, Sara Hirschhorn and Noah Efron talk about (1) The “Pacts Americana,” being the trade and investment pacts that US President Donald Trump is reaching with Gulf states on his visit to the region this week, and where it leaves Israel; and (2) The “Cracks Americana,” being awkward ambivalence some Israelis feel about a hostage being released solely because he has an American passport and the American government intervened on his behalf, doing what Israel’s government could not or would not do. All this and the return of a fallen soldier after 43 years, plus more music of these times. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Why does Israel go to such great length to return the bodies of soldiers and hostages killed and held beyond our borders?