The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use.
Last week, Borschel-Dan threw down a challenge: Can anyone suggest a Sukkot-themed film?
Dozens of loyal listeners wrote in with 2004's "Ushpizin," directed by Gidi Dar.
The unforgettable Israeli film -- which both of our Schmoozers had actually seen decades ago and blanked on -- explores the life of an unlucky ultra-Orthodox couple about to celebrate the Sukkot holiday.
The couple, played by Shuly Rand (who also wrote the script) and his then-wife Michal Bat Sheva Rand, is fairly new to religion, but extremely devout. And so when their last shekel is spent, they pray fervently for a miracle. As they say, God works in mysterious ways, and so when their prayers are answered, a pair of reprobates made sure to stir the pot.
Let’s hear who gave this film an “oy,” “meh” or the prized “not bad” this week on The Reel Schmooze.
The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.
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Welcome to "A Mandatory Listen," a new weekly podcast in which The Times of Israel deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan asks the big questions facing Israel and the Jewish people.
For this second episode in the new series, who better to ask the big questions than a philosopher? We turn to author and public intellectual Micah Goodman for an in-depth conversation on the one burning issue that unites America's radical right and left.
Spoiler: They hate Israel.
But the reasons why the far left and the far right despise the Jewish state come from very different narratives, explains Goodman. Likewise, their "final solutions" for Israel would result in divergent conclusions.
In the second half of the program, we turn the tables and ask: Are Israelis aware that the fate of the Jewish state is an election issue in the US? Why is this fissure in the essential US-Israel relationship trumpeted as a main existential issue on Israeli politicians' campaign trails?
Israelis, says Goodman, need to wake up.
But will they?
A Mandatory Listen podcast episodes are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.
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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
It was a stormy week politically in Ireland.
It wasn't over an attempted terrorist attack like we had here in Israel this week.
It wasn't over the rising cost of energy or immigration, like elsewhere in Europe.
It was a soccer match against Israel. That was enough to dominate the country's headlines.
How did Ireland become so focused on Israel, and so hostile to the Jewish state?
Alan Shatter, a leading Jewish figure in the country and former justice and defense minister, says a pro-Palestine 'cult' has taken over the country's politics.
The country has always had a checkered past with its Jews, he said. The Provisional IRA had deep ties with Palestinian terrorists, and their political movement Sinn Fein 'contaminated' Irish politics by putting the Palestinian cause front and center.
That obsessive focus has spread from politics across Irish society, Shatter lamented, and now trade unions, teachers, artists, and athletes have significant pro-Palestinian movements.
The angst over the soccer match against Israel a new "level of complete and utter absurdity," he said. Now, he said, many Jews are asking whether they have a future in the country in the face of daily abuse online and a toxic environment around Israel.
"There's a deep problem here," Shatter said. "It's one the government refuses to recognize. It's one the government is contributing to."
Lazar Focus is available on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and video edited by Ari Schlacht.
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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
Political correspondent Ariela Karmel joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
As details trickled in regarding the attempted attack on the flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, Karmel discusses how the event became a political flashpoint, with less than a month before the October 27 election and the fast-approaching third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack. She reviews the political rhetoric from the government allies and the opposition, which created a split-screen reality.
With the High Court of Justice holding hearings on the disqualification of Arab parties and candidates from the October 27 election, Karmel reviews the case of Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, which is expected to be upheld by the court in a rare occasion of consensus, in large part because of an article he wrote after October 7 in which he expressed support for Hamas.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Flydubai attack becomes election flashpoint as opponents draw Oct. 7 parallels
Election panel disqualifies all Arab parties, in move likely to be overturned; Balad leader also barred
AG: Disqualification of Balad leader from election ‘should be seriously considered’
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: Political correspondent Ariela Karmel appears on the Daily Briefing with host Jessica Steinberg (Flash 90)
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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
Just ahead of recording today's episode, headlines began surfacing about the flydubai plane that signaled an emergency during its flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv and safely landed in Saudi Arabia. IAF fighter jets were scrambled and top Israeli leadership was given emergency briefings. Horovitz discusses what is known and still unknown this morning. (As this is a developing story, please check our live blog for real-time updates.)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday condemned the massive overnight attack and riot by Jewish extremists in the West Bank the previous night. His call to prosecute the perpetrators “to the fullest extent of the law,” was joined by similar condemnations from Defense Minister Israel Katz and head of the Yesha settlement umbrella council Yisrael Ganz. All leaders, however, downplayed the attack as being perpetrated by a “small number” of people. Why the rare spate of condemnations?
Also on Tuesday, Netanyahu claimed that there are concerns that “enemies” of Israel may attempt to attack it ahead of the October 27 election. By day's end, opposition leader Yair Lapid was briefed with details on the ostensible threat -- and subsequently dismissed them as fear-mongering. We hear more about the campaigns, four weeks until elections.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
PM blames ‘small number’ of West Bank rioters as mass settler attack draws wide condemnation
Over 100 settlers attack West Bank village, block Palestinian family’s return home
Netanyahu claims indications of attack plot by ‘enemies’ ahead of election; Lapid, briefed, derides him
Shin Bet won’t provide Eisenkot with security detail, despite earlier report to contrary
Price at pump set to hit record high of NIS 8.27 per liter
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.