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

—Golan Heights?—

We just witnessed the huge victory of IDF Reserve Major-General and former deputy chief-of-staff Yair Golan in the primary for Labor leadership (he got more than 95%). Will a new war-hero general at the head of the Labor Party bring back Rabin-era glory?

—History Lesson—

A viral lachrymose TV sketch comedy troupe portrays Jewish history as one damn-pogrom-after-another, up to and including October 7. Is Jewish history, up to and including now, just a trail of tears?

—What It’s Been Like to Be on an Ivy-League Campus This Past Year—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: The executive director of Cornell’s Hillel, Rabbi Ari Weiss, tells us about what it has been like to be on an Ivy-League campus this past year, for students and Hillel directors alike.

Plus, losing our words, and more music of these troubled times.

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

—Gantz and Gallant Game the Endgame—

Two of five of the members of Israel’s “War Cabinet” tell Prime Minister Netanyahu that he has to figure out what comes next in Gaza. Or else!

—Unwarranted—

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court seeks warrants for the arrest of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant, the first time warrants have been sought for democratically-elected politicians. So will the world start arresting Israeli politicians when they travel abroad?

—A Huge Win Despite the Loss—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: When sorority sisters turn on sorority sisters, you know sh*t’s gotten real!

All that and a memorial appreciation of Yael Dayan and a good bye to the old TLV1 studios. Plus more music in the sad spirit of our times.

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

—Now, Rafah—

What are we to make of Israel’s rolling incursion into Rafah? Oy.

—On Film—

There’s a new hour-long movie about the rape and sexual assault of Israeli women on October 7 and since. Oy.

—A Huge Win Despite the Loss—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Eden Golan’s amazing adventure at the Eurovision song contest.

All this and more music of these troubled times.