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.
This month marks the 60th anniversary of the pioneering sci-fi series, Star Trek. Expert in all things Trekky, Hoffman, when he's not schmoozing with Borschel-Dan, also hosts the STARLOG podcast and co-wrote The Star Trek Book of Friendship.
So this week, the duo nerd out on all things Jewish behind the beloved franchise -- Spock's famous hand gesture is adapted from the Priestly Blessing, in one notable example. Eventually, we laser in on two episodes that illustrate the show's ethos.
From the original Star Trek television series, Hoffman chose "The City on the Edge of Forever." We hear about how, when time-traveling to 1930s New York, Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock faced a tough decision to stave off a potential global Nazi takeover.
And in Deep Space Nine's "In the Hands of the Prophets," we see how the program deals with themes of religious extremism versus science.
Let’s hear who gave this series 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 What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt.
As antisemitism surges worldwide by some 900% over the past decade, Greenblatt explores how the 113-year-old organization's mission to protect Jews has -- and has not -- evolved to meet the new challenge.
In light of the drastic uptick in hate, Borschel-Dan jokes that the ADL commands more money than a very small sovereign state (she erroneously names Nauru) and asks if the organization has failed in its mission.
Greenblatt assures her that a $100 million annual budget is a drop in the bucket against well-oiled hate machines funded by petrol states and says the ADL, like all other Jewish organizations, is working to regain its footing in a post-October 7 world.
We learn how the foundational anti-hate body has had to make some tough choices and how it is increasingly leaning on AI to reinforce its human staff.
And so this week, we ask Jonathan Greenblatt what matters now.
What Matters Now podcasts are available for download 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.

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.
US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
Amid the resumed US-Iran fighting, US President Donald Trump is playing down the potential for escalation, reports Magid, and telling Israel not to worry.
Additionally, Magid discusses the administration's attempts to pressure Iran with economic sanctions, a lengthy process that will impact pricing for Americans at the gas pump, and will also require cooperation from a range of countries with diverse interests, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and China.
The US issued slightly stronger condemnation than usual of West Bank settler violence, denouncing criminal violence and calling for investigations, arrests and prosecutions, but didn’t specifically mention settlers, or Israel, in its statement, notes Magid.
The US-backed Board of Peace called out Israel's continued strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, Magid also reports, as the Israeli government appears to be waiting until after the October 27 elections to make any substantive policy shifts.
Magid also updates us on a Palestinian banking crisis, which was averted at the eleventh hour, with Israeli banks Discount and Hapoalim agreeing to continue providing correspondent banking services until January 1.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party is attempting to reconcile internal feuds ahead of planned Palestinian legislative elections at the end of November.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Trump: ‘Israel should not worry’ about latest Iran clashes, war will wind down soon
US issues harsher censure of ‘West Bank violence,’ without explicitly blaming Israel
Board of Peace envoy knocks Israel’s ‘unacceptable’ Gaza policy as disarmament plan stalls
Palestinian banking crisis averted, as Israeli bank delays plan to halt collaboration
Feuding Fatah officials meet as internal rifts risk poor showing in November election
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ari Schlacht produced this episode.
IMAGE: US bureau chief Jacob Magid appears on the Times of Israel Daily Briefing with host Jessica Steinberg (AP)
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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.
Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
“Special forces” of the Shin Bet captured the commander of Hamas’s internal security apparatus in a “bold operation” in Gaza City on Tuesday morning, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the military, and the domestic security agency. It is the first time since the ceasefire that Israel is publicizing a raid deep inside the Gaza Strip. Fabian takes us through what we know.
The IDF on Tuesday dismissed a reservist commander who, along with his troops, was filmed in early August praying with settlers besieging the Palestinian village of Qusra, rather than removing them from their illegal outpost. Fabian reviews the timeline of the siege on the village and how the IDF is -- or is not -- dealing with the extremist settlers conducting it.
The commander of the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion on Sunday sentenced 16 of his troops to prison after they refused to enter an armored personnel carrier in the Gaza Strip for operational activity last week because a female paramedic was attached to the force. We discuss the evolving roles of women in the military and whether it could even function without female soldiers.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Israel confirms capturing Hamas internal security chief in Gaza City raid
IDF ousts reservist who prayed with besieging settlers; still no arrests for Qusra attack
16 Givati soldiers sent to prison for refusing to enter APC with female paramedic
Bar Kalifa tapped as top IDF West Bank officer, weeks after Katz announced move on TV
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.
Ruling out a nuclear option, US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed a response to Iran’s overnight strikes on US forces in Jordan, as tensions again ramped up between the sides after a monthlong lull in fighting. Horovitz brings us up to speed with what is happening -- and not -- with the war right now.
Some 2.6 million students and preschoolers returned to school Tuesday morning at some 28,000 institutions around the country, as Israel marked the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year. Horovitz delves into some of the challenges the system faces and how critical it is to overhaul it.
Ra’am party head Mansour Abbas and Yoav Segalovitz — a Jewish, Zionist former police official, lawmaker and deputy minister — announced Monday evening that Segalovitz will run with Ra’am, an Arab party, in the October 27 election. We hear about the reasons for the merger as well as its immediate blowback.
Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, insinuated without evidence in an interview aired Monday that left-wing politician Yair Golan had advance notice of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, onslaught. Of course, this drew a furious response from Golan's Democrats Party, but could the Israeli public believe this conspiracy theory?
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Trump vows response to Iranian strike on US troops in Jordan as tensions ratchet up
‘What a stupid question’: Trump rules out idea of nuking Iran amid renewed tensions
2.6 million students return to school amid teacher shortages, systemic challenges
In unprecedented move, Abbas and Segalovitz announce joint run, bringing Jewish lawmaker to Arab party’s slate
Full speech: Yoav Segalovitz joins Arab party Ra’am with hopes for ‘a shared future’
Breaking silence, Netanyahu decries ‘criminal violence’ after settlers again raid besieged village
Sara Netanyahu pushes conspiracy theory that left-wing leader Golan had advance knowledge of Oct. 7
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.