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Israel Story

232 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1.2K ratings

Israel Story is an award-winning podcast that tells true stories you won't hear on the news. Hosted by Mishy Harman, the bi-weekly show brings you extraordinary tales about ordinary Israelis. The show is produced in partnership with The Jerusalem Foundation. For Hebrew episodes, see סיפור ישראלי, or go to our website: israelstory.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episodes

Wartime Diaries: Sasha Ariev

October 12, 2023 13:00 - 13 minutes - 30.9 MB

Everything in this corner of the world has changed since Saturday, October 7. All around us, friends, family, colleagues, people have died. People are missing. People have been kidnapped. There’s a lot of uncertainty and we’re all involved in dozens of initiatives but we’re also going to bring you some voices and testimonies that try to paint a picture of these devastating times. The end song is Nekuda Tova (“Good Point”), by Shuli Rand with Ehud Banai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

64: Tell Saki – Part II

October 02, 2023 07:00 - 54 minutes - 124 MB

It’s been fifty years since the Yom Kippur War. And as such, we want to share our Tell Saki project, which first came out in 2021. Over the course of two episodes, we go back to the horrors of the war, and specifically to one small hill in the Southern Golan Heights where - over the course of thirty-six hours - a group of young IDF soldiers went to hell and back. Stay connected with us on Facebook, the platform formally known as Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newslet...

63: Tell Saki – Part I

September 24, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 140 MB

It’s been fifty years since the Yom Kippur War. And as such, we want to share our Tell Saki project, which first came out in 2021. Over the course of two episodes, we go back to the horrors of the war, and specifically to one small hill in the Southern Golan Heights where - over the course of thirty-six hours - a group of young IDF soldiers went to hell and back. Stay connected with us on Facebook, the platform formally known as Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok,  and by signing up for our newsle...

94: A Life After Death - Part II

September 18, 2023 07:00 - 28 minutes - 65 MB

In part two of “A Life After Death,” Gal describes the days and months following Noah’s death - the funeral, the grief and the hope of creating a new life. Stay connected with us on Facebook, the platform formally known as Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok,  and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

93: A Life After Death - Part I

September 04, 2023 07:00 - 28 minutes - 65.2 MB

On a warm winter day in February 2018, Gal Zaychner’s worst nightmare came true: Her 11-month-old son, Noah, didn’t wake up from his nap time. Our episode tells the tragic story of a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Please take that into account when deciding whether to continue listening. Stay connected with us on Facebook, the platform formally known as Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok,  and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our s...

92: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Meir Argov

July 31, 2023 07:00 - 21 minutes - 48.1 MB

Our series continues with Meir Argov (Grabovsky), a World War II veteran and a Petach Tikvah-based labor organizer who loved chazanut, or cantorial music, and was Israel’s first - and longest serving - chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

91: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Herzl Rosenblum

July 10, 2023 07:00 - 27 minutes - 62.9 MB

Our series continues with Herzl Rosenblum (AKA Herzl Vardi), a Revisionist and prize-winning journalist who stood at the helm of the Yedioth Ahronoth daily for 38 years and penned no less than 11,400 editorials. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

90: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Yitzhak Meir Levin

July 03, 2023 07:00 - 34 minutes - 79 MB

Our series continues with Yitzhak Meir (“Itche Meiyer”) Levin, the foremost Haredi rabbi to have signed the Declaration of Independence. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

89: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Moshe Kol

June 19, 2023 07:00 - 21 minutes - 49.3 MB

Our series continues with Moshe Kol (Kolodny), who - for nearly two decades - headed the Jewish Agency’s Youth Immigration Division, and was responsible for bringing more than 100,000 unaccompanied minors from 85 different countries to Israel. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

88: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Pinchas Rosen

June 05, 2023 07:00 - 21 minutes - 50.3 MB

Our series continues with Pinchas Rosen - a lover of classical music, an enthusiastic chess player, an avid reader of Goethe, and Israel’s first Justice Minister. A quintessential yekke, or German-born Jew, he was - more than any other signatory of the Israeli Declaration of Independence - the true ideological heir of Theodore Herzl. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The ...

87: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Sa’adia Kobashi

May 29, 2023 07:00 - 25 minutes - 58.2 MB

Released exactly 114 years after he left his native village of Khubesh, Yemen, and set out for Jerusalem, our series continues with Sa’adia Kobashi - a rabbi, a licensed poultry slaughterer, an educator and the lone representative - among the signatories of the Declaration of Independence - of Yemenite Jewry. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted...

86: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Daniel Auster

May 19, 2023 07:00 - 20 minutes - 48 MB

On “Jerusalem Day,” our exploration of the signatories of Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Israeli Declaration of Independence, continues with Daniel Auster, the first Jew to be appointed Mayor of Jerusalem since Byzantine times. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

85: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? David Remez

May 01, 2023 14:11 - 22 minutes - 52.5 MB

Our deep dive into Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence, continues with a man known for his linguistic flair, his love of organized labor and, of course, his oversized autograph - David Remez. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: The Siren

April 29, 2023 17:54 - 21 minutes - 48.1 MB

Immediately following the Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) siren, six of Israel Story’s producers entered the studio to discuss their (very different) perspectives on the day. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: What Would Israel’s Founders Think About It At 75?

April 27, 2023 16:59 - 31 minutes - 71.2 MB

Mishy Harman and Mitch Ginsburg take us behind the scenes of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered?” on the Times of Israel’s “The Daily Briefing” podcast, with Amanda Borschel-Dan. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: The Broadcast

April 26, 2023 07:00 - 8 minutes - 19.3 MB

The Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948, was not only the birth of a state, it was also the birth of Israeli radio. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: Mr. Female Members of Knesset

April 24, 2023 07:00 - 27 minutes - 62.6 MB

Since the earliest days of the State, women have been severely underrepresented in the Israeli parliament. But no one knows more about the trailblazing female legislators who did make it than Shavit Ben-Arie. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

84: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Rachel Cohen-Kagan

April 23, 2023 07:00 - 18 minutes - 43.4 MB

Our deep dive into Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence - continues with a pioneering feminist, the head of WIZO and one of the two women who signed the Declaration - Rachel Cohen-Kagan. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: United We Fall

April 21, 2023 07:50 - 23 minutes - 53.4 MB

In 1952 a fierce ideological split divided Kibbutz Ein Harod into two separate kibbutzim, Ein Harod Ichud and Ein Harod Meuchad. Here’s what happened. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

83: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Mordechai Schattner

April 17, 2023 07:00 - 20 minutes - 47.3 MB

Our new series - a deep dive into Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence - continues with an ardent socialist who knew how to compromise - Mordechai Schattner. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

82: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Zorach Warhaftig

April 04, 2023 10:39 - 22 minutes - 52.6 MB

Our new series - a deep dive into Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence - continues with one of the most important early leaders of the religious Zionist movement, Zorach Warhaftig Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

81: Signed, Sealed, Delivered? David Ben-Gurion

April 03, 2023 07:00 - 18 minutes - 42.6 MB

We kick off our new series - a deep dive into Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence - with the man who needs no introduction: Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We Hereby Declare

March 30, 2023 07:43 - 3 minutes - 7.33 MB

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered?" looks at our founding moral compass - Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence. Through the descendants of the men and women who, with the strike of a pen, gave birth to this country of ours, we ask questions about ourselves and about Israel, on the eve of its 75th birthday. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel....

80: Introducing “Signed, Sealed, Delivered?”

March 27, 2023 07:00 - 29 minutes - 66.6 MB

We’re excited to introduce our brand new series, a fresh look at Israel’s founding moral compass - Megillat Ha’Atzmaut, or the Declaration of Independence. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[From The Vault] 13: Sacred Plants

March 20, 2023 08:00 - 55 minutes - 87.2 MB

In honor of the first day of Spring, we bring you two stories of how we change nature and nature changes us, from wildflower picking in Israel to ayahuasca retreats in Peru. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[From The Vault] 35: Whither Thou Goest

March 13, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 94.7 MB

Ruth the Moabite has become a feminist icon, a symbol of acceptance and dedication. In today’s episode, we will hear three modern-day incarnations of Ruth’s story – a trio of tales about determined women who will follow their hearts to the ends of the earth for love, family and companionship. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok,  and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Aca...

79: My Dad, David

March 06, 2023 10:14 - 37 minutes - 85.8 MB

David Harman believed in people, in social justice and in our ability to overcome almost anything. He was an eternal optimist, a patient peacemaker and a living history book. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok,  and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

78: Hello Operator

February 27, 2023 08:00 - 50 minutes - 91.6 MB

As younger and younger kids around the world demand - and get - their own phones, we harken back to a completely different telephonic reality. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok,  and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Re-release] 6: What's Love Got To Do With It?

February 13, 2023 08:00 - 56 minutes - 129 MB

Our new Season Seven episodes will come out every other Monday. But throughout the season, in our off-weeks, we’ll be replaying some of our favorite episodes from the show’s first six seasons. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok,  and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

77: Free as a Bird

February 06, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 84.1 MB

Today’s episode has three stories that are ostensibly about birds, but are really about the heights to which the human spirit can soar, and the depths to which it can plunge. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok,  and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here We Go Again!

February 05, 2023 15:03 - 35 seconds - 1.37 MB

The long wait is finally over. Israel Story's Season Seven starts tomorrow! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe for Bonus Content Today!

January 11, 2023 12:31 - 1 minute - 1.56 MB

All Israel Story episodes are - and will remain - free. But if you want special bonuses, behind-the-scenes extras, conversations with producers and more, become a paying subscriber today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's to a Story-Filled 2023!

December 30, 2022 09:18 - 7 minutes - 16.9 MB

Especially now, it is crucial that the diverse voices we showcase on our show be heard and amplified. And in order to do so, we need your help! Please pitch in by going to our site, israelstory.org, and hitting the 'Support Us' button. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Major Announcement!

December 23, 2022 06:13 - 6 minutes - 14.9 MB

Something very exciting is happening at Israel Story, and we want you to be the first to know! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Stories Do For Me

February 24, 2022 20:21 - 1 minute - 3.97 MB

Have a say in what stories we produce next! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Come Work With Us!

February 10, 2022 13:24 - 1 minute - 2.94 MB

Israel Story is hiring! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

76: Going, Going, Gone

January 19, 2022 15:47 - 59 minutes - 95 MB

In our season finale, we tell four short stories of things that, like our current season, are coming to an end: From a toddler parting with a “special friend” to a couple seeing their life's work go up in flames, and from a stubborn hold-out in a dying industry to an unusually long marriage. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

Sneak Peek: Till Death Do Us Part

January 18, 2022 08:00 - 16 minutes - 37.4 MB

Shlomo and Sarah Adani were married for longer than most people are alive. They grew up together in the small village of Dalah in Yemen, and were practically inseparable for more than eight decades. Renana Adani, their granddaughter, describes a partnership that began before the invention of color TV, atomic energy or super glue, and ended in Jerusalem within a span of forty-eight hours.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sneak Peek: Baby Steps

January 17, 2022 08:00 - 13 minutes - 31.1 MB

No matter who we are, where we live, or what religion we practice, there are certain ceremonies and rituals that accompany us from birth to death (and, in some cases, beyond). Many of these rites of passage are a source of much joy and anticipation, but some - such as the one Tanya Huyard observed at Jerusalem's "pacifier tree" - elicit more ambivalent feelings. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sneak Peek: Candid Camera

January 16, 2022 08:01 - 18 minutes - 41.7 MB

At the very end of Allenby Street in Tel Aviv, right before the city spills into the Mediterranean Sea, there's a hole-in-the-wall store called Photo Doron. It's a repair shop for film cameras - one of the last of its kind, like a fossil of a different era. Skyler Inman stepped in and discovered why - though his profession is closer to appearing in history books than in newspaper headlines - 79-year-old Ya'akov Barzilai has no plans on going anywhere anytime soon. See acast.com/privacy for ...

You Tell Us!

January 13, 2022 22:37 - 2 minutes - 6.42 MB

We’re one episode away from the end of Season Six, and it's time for our annual listener survey. Understanding who you are, what you want to hear and what you think about our work is crucial to us. Your feedback makes our show better! Just click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

75: Sbarro - Twenty Years Later

December 31, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 83.2 MB

On August 9, 2001, 22-year-old Izz al-Din al-Masri blew himself up at a Sbarro branch in downtown Jerusalem, killing 15 people and injuring over 130. This particular terrorist attack is still etched in the nation's collective memory. In our episode today, we hear from those most affected by the tragedy. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. Se...

74: Shatnez

December 17, 2021 13:01 - 59 minutes - 82.3 MB

In Israel, there are many things that usually don't - and according to some, never should - mix: Jerusalemites and the beach, Tel Avivis and the Kotel, HaPoel and Macabbi fans, Haaretz and Yisrael HaYom readers. But our episode today explores the most complicated and fundamental duo in terms of mixing and not-mixing - Jews and Arabs. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet ...

73: DIY

December 06, 2021 08:00 - 35 minutes - 81.4 MB

'Doing It Yourself' is part of the Israeli DNA. But our episode today tells the story of what is perhaps the most inspiring, audacious and famous example of Israeli ingenuity in recent history. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Free Bonus: Yalla Banaat

November 29, 2021 08:00 - 25 minutes - 58 MB

It’s Giving Tuesday, and we really hope you’ll support our show. But because we don’t want to ask for your help without giving something in return, we produced a special bonus, as our way of saying thank you. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Free Bonus: Turkey Time!

November 25, 2021 14:23 - 16 minutes - 38.6 MB

Mishy goes to the Freedom Farm near Netanya, and chats with Dani Pudim, the educational director. Together they meet Shirley, Iris, Orna, Maital and Orly - the farm’s five turkeys. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

72: Lost and Found - Part II

November 15, 2021 08:00 - 43 minutes - 79.2 MB

In an episode that explores a central religious taboo and pushes the boundaries of what many might deem acceptable within Jewish tradition, we ask whether Cat Stevens was on to something when he sang that the "first cut is the deepest." Zev Levi scored and sound-designed the episode with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Sela Waisblum created the mix. The end song, Bidyuk Kmo SheAni ("As I Am"), was written and arranged by Ravid Plotnik (Nechi Nech) and Shai Or, and performed by Plotnik. Stay con...

71: Lost and Found - Part I

November 08, 2021 08:00 - 47 minutes - 86.5 MB

Forgotten glasses, a misplaced eye (!) and an ancient jacuzzi? In today’s episode - the first in a two-part series on losing and finding - we explore what we find when we lose things, and what we lose once we find them. Zev Levi scored and sound-designed the episode with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Sela Waisblum created the mix. The end song, El Borot HaMayim ("To the Watering Holes"), was written and arranged by Naomi Shemer and performed by Rona Kenan. Stay connected with us on Facebook, ...

Free Bonus: Behind the Scenes of “Soul Food”

November 04, 2021 07:00 - 17 minutes - 41.5 MB

On Christmas Eve 2014, Erwin Prabhu and Tali Aronsky met in a wine shop in Jerusalem. This was the start of an unusually close bond. In our most recent episode - “Soul Food” - we heard Tali’s side of the story. Now, all the way from Bangalore, we hear Erwin’s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: ‘Returning to Pittsburgh’

October 31, 2021 07:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MB

We’ll be back next week with a brand new Israel Story episode. But in the meantime, we want to share something that - though it doesn’t take place in, or have to do with, Israel - we think many of you might find meaningful and moving. It’s an episode that our friends at Tablet Magazine’s Unorthodox podcast created to mark the third anniversary of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up f...

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