It’s been a year and a half since October 7, and as Passover approaches—a holiday also known as the Festival of Spring—we ask: Springtime, but for who? 

In this episode, I’ll talk about the psychological state of Israelis right now, through the lens of several unfolding stories: Netanyahu’s European vacation, the firing of Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, the Gaza ambulance strike, and talk of an upcoming conflict with Iran. 

What connects them all is a public that feels increasingly powerless.

I’ll also takes your questions—from Pesach hikes into Syria and ethics in the IDF. 

Don’t forget: the Inside Israel live broadcast is now Wednesdays only, with the next episode airing April 20 at 1pm ET.

Grab our free Passover PDF at joelchasnoff.com, and check out our comedic Passover shorts on Instagram, @joelchasnoff.

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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.

I’m in the U.S. this week to perform comedy at Beren Academy, an Orthodox Jewish day school in Houston.

In this episode of Inside Israel, I reflect on what it’s like to be back in America. The longer I live in Israel, the more the cultural differences stand out — and the more I realize just how Israeli I’ve become. 

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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.

What does it mean for the future of the Jewish state that 22% of our population isn't Jewish? 

And more importantly, how do Jewish Israelis feel about it?

On today's episode of Inside Israel, we explore this complex demographic reality through the lens of two recent experiences Joel had while in Israel.

And, as always, Joel answers listener questions.

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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.

Despite what we hear in the meida, the Israeli army's code of military ethics, Tohar HaNeshek—meaning "Purity of Arms"—is one of the strictest and most comprehensive in the world.

In today's episode of Inside Israel, I speak with Dr. Asa Kasher, a professor at Tel Aviv University and the lead author of Purity of Arms.

While most Western militaries have an ethical code, Israel’s stands out, particularly for its focus on the sanctity of human life—even that of the enemy.

Asa and I speak about why this is so, and explore why it took nearly fifty years for Purity of Arms to be created. We discuss whether his views on battlefield ethics have evolved since the shocking Hamas attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023.

I also challenge Dr. Kasher with a tough question: Is there such a thing as being “too cautious” when it comes to avoiding unnecessary harm to our enemies? After all, shouldn't the IDF’s top priority be the safety and well-being of Israeli civilians, regardless of the cost to our foes?

And in the "Hebrew is Magic" segment, Dr. Kasher shares three Hebrew expressions that hold personal significance for him, including the phrase ruach tzahal (“the spirit of the IDF”).

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.

This week, the IDF released its official report on the failures that enabled the October 7 massacre. 

Findings include a severe underestimation of Hamas, ignored intelligence warnings, and an over-reliance on border defenses like fences and cameras. When the attack came, these systems failed, and the military was unprepared.

The delayed response was particularly shocking. Many soldiers were caught off guard on a Shabbat and holiday, with no reinforcements sent south for hours. At Nahal Oz, a base less than a kilometer from Gaza, Hamas easily overran unarmed soldiers. IDF Chief of Staff Halevi had warned about the base’s vulnerability, but funding was denied.

This report shakes public trust in the IDF, long seen as Israel’s most respected institution. The army isn’t just an organization—it’s made up of Israelis' own children. Meanwhile, frustration grows over government spending, with billions allocated to Haredi communities while the military lacks resources. The big question: Can the IDF rebuild trust and reform?

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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.

We’re thrilled that over the past few weeks, we’ve received an overwhelming number of questions from our listeners! 

Regular listeners know that we’re a bit behind – so this week, we’re opening up the mailbag to answer as many of your questions as possible. We’ll cover topics from the war in Gaza to Israeli comedy and the state of Judaism in the US.  

Joel will also provide a brief overview of where things stand now, including updates on the possibility for Stage 2 of the hostage negotiations actually happening, and what the day-after plan for Gaza looks like.

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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.

If Judaism were a basket of stocks, Joel would short the Reform and Conservative movements—but he’d go long, very long, on Chabad.

In today’s episode of Inside Israel, Joel explains why he’s such a fan of Chabad, drawing from two perspectives:

First, as a comedian who’s performed at Chabad Houses around the world, seeing their work up close. And second, as a traveler who’s relied on Chabad for Passover Seders, Sukkot dinners, and Shabbat gatherings across South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Plus, as always, he’ll break down the latest news from Israel and tackle listener questions.

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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 week's episode, Joel reflects on the 12 months he’s spent in the US over the past two years and what he’s observed about Jewish life in America.

Questions he plans to address include: 

• Why is synagogue attendance mostly down—yet in some places, rising?
• Are Jewish teenagers connected to Judaism and informed about Israel?
• What does the future of American Judaism look like?

This episode will be blunt—Joel won’t be sugarcoating anything. But as always, our goal is to give you an honest, unfiltered take.

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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.

Joel shares the reasons behind his pivot to stand-up comedy in Israel. 

After 23 years of entertaining Jewish communities across the U.S., he’s ready for a new challenge. But beyond the personal shift, there’s something deeper driving this change: a seismic shift he sees unfolding in the American Jewish community.

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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.

Joel’s going back to school!

Comedy school, that is. 

In this week’s episode of Inside Israel, Joel shares his latest career move: his decision to perform stand-up comedy in Israel, in front of Israeli audiences, in Hebrew.

This episode kicks off a multi-part series on Israeli comedy and how humor might just be the sharpest mirror a society can hold up to itself.

And don’t worry—Joel isn’t stepping away from the news. He’ll still break down the biggest stories coming out of Israel and answer your questions.

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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.