Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Listen to the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—From Ramallah to Rosh Ha-'Ayin—

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz meet in Gantz's living room. Cause for hope?

—Be-Waldered—

Revered kids-book writer Rabbi Chaim Walder kills himself after it comes out that he sexually abused dozens of women and girls over decades, and ultra-Orthodox leaders don't know what to do and say.

—Dunno Much About Art, But I Know What I Hate—

The mayor of Ramat Gan successfully campaigns to get his municipal art museum to take down a painting he finds offensive. What can we learn from this about who ought to decide what we see in the museums our taxes pay for?

—Our Covid Rollercoaster—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we talk about the official handling of the pandemic at this omicromical moment, which handling seems like an odd mixture of panic and passivity so great, it almost borders on apathy. It feels like we're in a roller coaster car, having just slowly been hoisted to the top of the first steep decline, and we're about to lose our lunch.

All this and the sultry music of Ziv!