Inside Israel with Joel Chasnoff

In this episode of Inside Israel, titled "Joel's Dilemma," I reflect on the conflicting emotions I have as the host of this podcast, about the story I convey to you about Israel and my life here. 

On one hand, I’ve always wanted to showcase the beauty, magic, and uniqueness of living in Israel. That’s why I wrote Israel 201 and launched this podcast exactly one year ago. 

But on the other hand, I’m feeling increasingly pessimistic about the future, especially in the short term. While I’m hopeful for long-term peace and stability (where “long-term” means 60 or so years down the road), the current situation leaves me questioning the path forward.

In tonight’s pod, I explore a few specific areas of concern, starting with Gaza. With hostages still being held and ongoing violence, I wonder if Israel’s decision to pull out in 2005 was a mistake. 

I also delve into the complexities of Lebanon and Iran, both of which seem to have no clear endgame in sight. I even ask whether revolutions in these regions are the only hope for lasting change. 

Closer to home, the rise of terrorism within Israel itself, as well as from the West Bank, leaves the country in a state of dysfunction, with inadequate resources to even protect citizens, as evidenced by recent attacks and logistical failures in mobilizing the Reserves.

Finally, I address listener questions, ranging from the media’s lack of attention on displaced Israelis in the north to sightings of U.S. soldiers in Israel. 

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To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.com

Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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

In this special 50th episode of Inside Israel, I focus on the breaking news of Israel’s elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. While I originally planned this episode as a reflection on the past year of the podcast, the significance of this event was too big to ignore. To help you better understand how Israelis are reacting to the news of Nasrallah’s death and Israel’s current war with Hezbollah, I break down seven key takeaways, including the blow to Hezbollah’s power, the ripple effect on Iran’s coalition, and the political responses here in Israel.

I also touch on how this development has brought much of Israel together, with a few exceptions like Betzalel Smotrich and Yair Lapid. I also dig into the reactions from the Arab world and call out the international media, from NPR to the New York Times, for their biased and flat-out backwards coverage of recent events.

While this episode highlights Israel’s success, we cannot forget the hostages still held in Gaza and the haunting questions from the October 7th attacks.

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Commemorate the one year anniversary of October 7th with Joel

Register here: A Year in Hebrew Words with Joel Chasnoff

Date: Monday, October 7

Time: 2 PM EDT

Duration: Approx. 30 minutes

Cost: Free

Zoom link and registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckdeqsqjsjEtKt7YRFmseDXPL3zFXiknK8

Support the Inside Israel fundraising campaign

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To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.com

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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

For the past eleven months, I’ve been predicting that, eventually, Israel will go to war with Hezbollah.

Well, guess what: the war has come!

In this episode of Inside Israel, I dive into the latest developments in the conflict I’ve been talking about. This “war” is unfolding in unexpected ways—from covert missions against Hezbollah leadership to a barrage of missiles that have left the country on edge. I break down the psychology behind Hezbollah’s actions and speculate on what’s coming next, all while giving you a feel for the unique mood in Israel—a mix of resilience, frustration, and that unmistakable Israeli toughness.

In addition to the usual content, I have some exciting news: I’m launching a fundraising campaign to keep Inside Israel going strong! Inside Israel is free, and I plan to keep it that way. That said, producing this podcast costs $10,000 a year, and I’m asking for your help to hit that goal. Whether it’s $10 a month or even just a dollar, every contribution makes a difference. And hey, if you’re feeling generous, a $250 donation allows you to sponsor an episode in honor or memory of someone you care about.

To contribute, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast.

Links for Joel’s weekly live Inside Israel broadcasts and video recordings of the most recent episode: www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Joel on Instagram: www.instagram.com/joelchasnoff  or @joelchasnoff

Contact Joel with a question or feedback: joel@joelchasnoff

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

Comedian and Israel 201 coauthor Benji Lovitt is currently suffering through one of the most frustrating Israeli experiences of all: hunting for a new rental apartment in Tel Aviv. As Benji describes it, there’s no order to the system – landlords renege on their agreements to rent to you should they find a better deal, and renters are often left to repair any loose wires or paint chipping walls themselves. 

On the bright side, however, after 49 years of bachelorhood Benji finally has a serious girlfriend of her own. The one caveat: she’ll only move in with him if he gives up his wild and incessantly barking dog. 

In today’s episode of Inside Israel, I speak with Benji about the Israeli dating scene, apartment scene, and what it’s been like to perform comedy during the current war. 

We also talk about how collaborating with me on Israel 201 transformed how he sees Israel and his place in it. 

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.com

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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

I created this podcast because I wanted to share the magic and beauty of what I call “Israeliness” – the unique way that Israelis interact with each other and think about the country they love. 

But what happens when I stop feeling the magic…and when Israelis no longer feel the positive connection with Israel as we did before. 

On today’s episode of Inside Israel, I’ll explore the hard truths of what it really means to live in Israel right now. 

Lately, I’ve been seeing and hearing a lot of distress among my fellow Israelis. There’s a palpable sense of hopelessness, frustration, and anxiety that seems to pervade daily life. It’s not just in the conversations we’re having or the news we’re reading—it’s in the air. You can feel it in the way people interact with each other, in our physical well-being, even in how we drive.  The stress is manifesting as sickness, heightened anxiety, and a constant tension that makes everything feel heavier.

What will it take to change this? It's not necessarily about electing a new government, or about sweeping political shifts. What people here desperately need is closure—bringing our hostages and the bodies of those we've lost home from Gaza, and returning our residents to the north. 

As we go through this episode, I hope you can understand the complexity of the situation here. Life in Israel isn’t easy right now, and while I would love to share only the good, I feel a responsibility to be honest about the challenges. This is the truth, even when it’s difficult to talk about.

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.com

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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

Earlier this week, the IDF extracted the bodies of hostage Hersh Polin z’’l and five others from a tunnel in Gaza.

In this episode of Inside Israel, titled "No More Yellow Shirts," we examine the implications of this devastating news, and the renewed conversations it has sparked about the true nature of organizations like Hamas and Students for Justice in Palestine.

We also explore whether this tragedy will lead to a broader call for action among Israelis against their own government, and whether it will prompt institutions like the University of Maryland to reconsider their stance on controversial events like the upcoming pro-Palestine October 7th gathering.

The episode’s title, "No More Yellow Shirts," captures two sentiments: first, the frustration with symbolic gestures, like school children wearing yellow shirts or people tying yellow ribbons to that now seem insufficient;  and second, a call to move beyond mere demonstrations and take more concrete actions.

In our Q&A segment, we address listeners' pressing questions about Israel's military strategy and future, such as the controversial decision to keep troops in the Philadelphi Corridor and how this impacts the overall safety and security of Israel.

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Links for Joel’s weekly live Inside Israel broadcasts and video recordings of the most recent episode: www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Joel on Instagram: www.instagram.com/joelchasnoff  or @joelchasnoff

Contact Joel with a question or feedback: [email protected]

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

"In Israel, a woman can fly F-15s in the Air Force, be the CEO of a high-tech unicorn, and even become Prime Minister – but she can’t file for divorce.” 

So says Susan Weiss, Executive Director and founder of the Center for Women’s Justice in Jerusalem. 

In this episode of Inside Israel, I talk with Susan about how and why Israel’s laws of marriage and divorce are biased against women as well as men. Susan will also share examples of some of the most marriage- and divorce-related cases she’s taken to court over her storied human rights career. 

Finally, in the Hebrew Is Magic Segment, Susan shares an eye-opening (and shocking) insight about the word kadosh, commonly translated into English as “holy.” 

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.com

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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

Since October, the phrase Yachad Nena’tzeach—“Together We Will Win”—has become the rallying cry of Israeli society.

But how realistic is this mantra?

With 115 hostages still in Gaza, over 300 soldiers killed in action, more than 60,000 Israelis displaced from their homes, and the constant threat of Iranian and Hezbollah attacks, do we even have the right to speak about “victory”?

In this week’s episode of Inside Israel, I explore three possible interpretations of “Together We Will Win” and suggest one way that victory might actually be within reach.

I also tackle listener questions about the Tzir Philadelphi—the Philadelphia Corridor in Gaza—and discuss the likelihood of the current hostage-ceasefire deal coming to fruition.

Today’s broadcast coincides with the 24th birthday of Romi Gonen, who was kidnapped from the Nova Festival on October 7th. We hope and anticipate that Romi and the other 114 hostages will return home to Israel soon.

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Links for Joel’s weekly live Inside Israel broadcasts and video recordings of the most recent episode: www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Joel on Instagram: www.instagram.com/joelchasnoff  or @joelchasnoff

Contact Joel with a question or feedback: [email protected]

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

Ra’anana resident Yoav Cohen is a husband and father of three, and he works at one of the most successful Israeli high-tech companies in the world. 

Yoav is also a Master Sergeant in the IDF’s Magav Unit (Border Police). In late October 2023, he and his platoon deployed to Israel’s northern border for what would ultimately be a hundred days of military reserve duty. 

On this week’s episode of Inside Israel, I speak with Yoav about the impact that extended reserve military service has had on him and his family, as well the implications for his job. 

We discuss the prevalence of PTSD among IDF reservists and what the government is doing about it (if anything at all), and the month Cohen and his fellow soldiers spent living in a youth hostel in the north with Israeli civilians who’ve been evacuated from their homes since the outbreak of the current war. 

Finally, in the Hebrew Is Magic segment, Yoav explains the part of Hebrew he finds most magical of all: that any noun can be conjugated into a verb. 

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.com

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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

In this week's episode of Inside Israel, I’ll perform a cost-benefit analysis of the recent eliminations of two significant figures: Senior Hezbollah Commander Fuad Shukr and Hamas Political Leader Ismail Haniyeh.

These high-profile assassinations, executed through precise operations, highlight Israel's ongoing efforts to thwart terrorist activities and send a powerful message to its enemies.

I’ll start by discussing the benefits of these actions, such as diminishing the chances of future terror plots, demoralizing enemy ranks, and exposing vulnerabilities within their intelligence networks. However, the costs are significant too, including the potential hindrance to hostage negotiations and the looming threat of retaliatory strikes.

In the listener questions segment, I’ll tackle inquiries about the preferred approach to the war against Hamas and Hezbollah, the awareness of potential dangers on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, and the necessity of political system changes in Israel.

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.com

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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