Journalism in Israel doesn’t happen at a distance. It happens up close, in hallways, offices, and crowded Knesset corridors where everyone knows everyone — or at least knows someone who knows someone. Covering Israeli politics means being physically present, making endless cold calls, chasing down statements on tight deadlines, and building relationships that can determine whether a story moves forward or hits a wall.

A reporter covering the Knesset isn’t just observing power; they’re constantly negotiating access to it. That can mean interviewing prime ministers and senior ministers one day, and the next day trying to convince a spokesperson to pick up the phone, answer a WhatsApp, or confirm a quote before a deadline hits. In a small country, relationships matter. Trust matters. Knowing how — and when — to ask for a comment matters.

Today’s guest lives inside that world. Lahav Harkov is a journalist who covers Israeli politics from the Knesset, navigating the pace, proximity, and pressure that define Israeli journalism. In this conversation, we talk about what it actually means to report from inside Israel’s political system — how stories get made, how access works, and how the job has changed in the age of social media and AI.

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In this episode, we sit down with Joseph Cedar, director of the Oscar-nominated film, Footnote, to explore the world of Israeli cinema. From moral ambiguity to inventive storytelling, Cedar discusses what makes Israeli film uniquely compelling — how it thrives in the gray, turns limitations into creativity, and tells deeply personal yet universal stories. We dive into his filmmaking process, the challenges and surprises of telling Israeli stories, and why ambiguity, nuance, and ingenuity define cinema from Israel.

In this episode, we hear from Yonatan Nir as he explores how documentary film in Israel functions not only as storytelling, but as a therapeutic act.

Drawing on his work as a filmmaker and pioneer of docutherapy, he examines what happens when the camera becomes a space for listening, witnessing, and emotional repair. The conversation moves between the personal and the collective - how individual stories of trauma, memory, and identity intersect with Israel’s broader social reality, and how the process of filming itself can foster healing, insight, and transformation.

This episode looks beyond documentary as art or journalism and asks what it means for film to actively participate in care, resilience, and meaning-making.

As mentioned in the episode, Yonatan is also the host of DocuNation, an organization that publicizes Israeli documentaries for the world to see. You learn more here.

In this episode of Sababoosh, we dive into mentalism through a conversation with Guy Bavli. What mentalism actually is, how it works, and why it sits in the gray zone between psychology, performance, intuition, and illusion. A close look at why Israelis are disproportionately drawn to this field: constant situational awareness, reading people under pressure, improvisation, and skepticism as survival skills. Mentalism as a cultural mirror, not a magic trick. How attention, perception, and uncertainty shape both the performer and the audience.

Learn more about Guy on his website here.

And check out his book, "Smile for a Change: How the World's Favorite Expression Can Affect Your Life", here.

Coffee carts in Israel are not a trend. They are an institution.

What began as improvised roadside setups has become a defining feature of Israeli public life: espresso machines on wheels at the edge of highways, outside moshavim, near bases, in industrial zones, and at the margins of cities. They serve soldiers, commuters, farmers, freelancers, families, and early-morning regulars who plan their routes around a specific cart.

In this episode, I’m joined by Michal Sapir, founder of Coffee Trail, to trace how coffee carts moved from informal side projects to everyday institutions. We talk about what makes the cart format work in Israel: speed over ceremony, consistency over branding, and community without commitment. We examine what these spaces reveal about Israeli social habits after years of disruption and change.

This conversation uses coffee as a lens to understand something larger: how Israelis gather, pause, and connect in public without pretense. The cart is not about artisanal beans or aesthetics. It is about movement, access, and trust.

An episode about coffee, yes, but more accurately, about how a society builds shared space on the fly.

Check out the Coffee Trail website here.

Although Sababoosh is meant to be light and its soul can be found in music, food, TV, art, sports, and other aspects of Israeli culture.

Reserve duty is a major aspect of Israeli culture. This episode won't get into the war that much itself, but it will focus on how the families of reservists are impacted when their spouse or parent is away for an average of 70 days, but possibly far longer - hundreds of days. Often back and forth for Shabbat or holidays here and there but many large periods of time away.

Rachel and her organization, Haogen, have done some incredible work - helping out 35,000 reservist families. with all sorts of help that she will tell you about.

Why did I choose Rachel for this episode?

She and her organization Haogen are very much the address for help for miluim families and she provides their story in an informative way. She also has been a member of Knesset, on the Jerusalem city council, and the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, so she understands how the government can help, as well as what is lacking. That hole is what is filled by HaOgen.

More info on HaOgen:

https://www.haogenmiluim.org.il/abouthaogen

Their crowdfunding campaign:

https://azm.org/israel-relief/haogen/

A re-release of an especially moving episode. One of my personal favorites. All about Galgalatz and its place as the heartbeat of Israel.

This episode of Sababoosh features a conversation with Alex Rif on the struggle for full belonging among Russian-speaking Israelis. Examination of conversion demands, marriage barriers, burial restrictions, and the cultural stereotypes that shaped her book More Jewish Than You.

In this episode, Jake speaks with Daniel Brill, founder of the Israeli a cappella group Rabotai, about the unique soundscape of religious weddings, and celebrations in Israel. Together they explore how a cappella has become the heartbeat of so many Israeli simchas. From spontaneous harmonies under the chuppah to the creative energy of Israel’s religious music scene, this conversation reveals the blend of spirituality, artistry, beatboxing, and pure human voice that defines these moments of celebration.

In this episode of Sababoosh, I sit down with Assaf Gil, the creative force behind some of Israel’s most iconic reality shows, including Chatunami and Baby Boom. These programs have become part of the fabric of Israeli life, sparking conversation, laughter, and tears around the country.

Assaf takes us behind the scenes of how these shows capture the intensity of human emotions - from the highs and lows of relationships to the drama and joy of welcoming new life. He explains why Israeli audiences connect so deeply with these stories and how reality TV has become more than entertainment: it’s a mirror reflecting love, family, and society itself.

Through insider knowledge, Asaf reveals how reality television in Israel isn’t just watched - it’s felt, discussed, and remembered, shaping cultural moments and collective experiences along the way.