Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Political correspondent Tal Schneider and Diaspora affairs correspondent Judah Ari Gross join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Schneider update us on Israel’s shuttle diplomacy after yesterday Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held back-to-back phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Next, Israel has been working on putting up a field hospital along Ukraine’s border, but it has hit some snags. What is going on?

Gross explains how Israel is stepping up for the potential influx of tens of thousands of new immigrants. How is Israel changing its policy to accommodate more potential immigrants, faster?

Relatedly, we hear about next-level concerns regarding refugees, now that Israel is opening the doors to increasing numbers. Also, how the Minister of Immigration and Absorption responded to the easing of Ukrainians' paths to Israel.

And finally, Schneider brings us the tale of Rabbi Marc Schneier, an influential and controversial rabbi to American celebrities and Gulf sheikhs alike, and his role in bringing Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan together. And we should note, it’s been confirmed.

Discussed articles include:

Live blog March 15, 2022

Bennett holds back-to-back phone calls with Putin, Zelensky on ceasefire efforts

Israel rolls out plan to help incoming waves of new immigrants

Israel to significantly shorten entry process for would-be immigrants from Ukraine

Hundreds of new immigrants from Ukraine arrive Sunday in largest one-day airlift

Behind Israel’s rekindled flame with Turkey, a rabbi with a penchant for matchmaking

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This Times of Israel podcast is sponsored by Thirty-Six, in which host Justin Hayet scours Israel to find the 36 most wonderful, interesting people doing the most wonderful, interesting things. Subscribe to Thirty-Six on your favorite podcast platform.

IMAGE: Israeli Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption arrives for a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, March 14, 2022. (Jack Guez/Pool via AP)

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