A New Year and a year since. What are we remembering when we remember October 7?

Elul is here and people all over the country are keeping the before-the-high-holidays tradition of saying Selihot, asking for forgiveness and offering atonement. All this as rockets and planes fly, and bombs fall.

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

Hear the Extra-Special Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Major Pager Rager—

A stunning attack-by-pager left dozens of Hezbollah militiamen dead and thousands maimed and wounded. What are we to make of a thing like that?

—Commemoration Vexation—

How do you memorialize October 7, when October 7 hasn’t ended yet?

—Testicles in the Twitterverse?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: Hezbollah pagers explode, social media memes erupt, but not all Israelis are laughing.

All this and the music from the remarkable new record רוח באה מדרום (Wind Comes from the South).

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

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Not Too Brotherly, Not Much Love—

How did the “Philadelphi Corridor” become a matter of life and death?

—Errors of Omission and Commission—

The government hasn’t investigated itself, so a bunch of citizens took it on itself. Is that a good thing?

—Much Ado About a Handful of Sand—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: A 27-year-old Tel Aviv resident was arrested for allegedly tossing wet sand at National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Was the minister being purposely provocative for personal political gain?

Songs

• Tuna — Bein ha-Ir LaPardes
• Pe’er Tasi — Yoni
• Yarin — Ein Laila

For 331 days, Rachel Goldberg-Polin went everywhere, spoke to everyone and did everything to save her son, Hersh.

703 IDF soldiers have fallen since October 7th. Each was an entire world. This is a small bit of the story of one of them, Zachariah Haber.

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

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Bennett, Done That—

Israel’s next prime minister will be … Naftali Bennett?

—Jewish Life During Wartime—

Why does war make more-secular Israelis more secular, and less-secular Israelis less secular?

—Our Flights Are Cancelled—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What happens when every airline stops flying to Israel?

Plus, a reflection on how time itself has stopped working, and music by women we’ve loved for decades, speaking now to our present moment.

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

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—TIME Is on His Side?—

Prime Minister Netanyahu gives his longest interview since October 7. What’s it tell us?

—Time Is on HIS Side?—

How is this man growing more popular at this time, after everything?

—Fraying at the Edges—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: How we doin’ at this moment?

Plus, co-joined Kibbutzim, Tisha B’Av at Hostage Square, and the bipolar music of Tamir Grinberg.

Miriam Herschlag, Linda Gradstein and Noah Efron discuss two topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Dead to Rights?—

When, if ever, is it o.k. to assassinate deadly enemies?

—Now, in the Awful Quiet of the Moment—

Six-packs of water and go bags: Are we doing this imminent-attack-from-Iran thing right?

—Days of Wine and Jelly Beans?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: How are the 3 of us reacting to this tense moment?

Plus, the Olympics, John Lennon glasses and new music by artists from just outside of Gaza.

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

Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

—Will Israel and Hezbollah (and Who Knows? Maybe Iran) Go to War?—

Will Hezbollah’s murder of twelve kids in Majdal Shams lead to all out war?

—Druze Clues—

What is it like to be Druze in Israel?

—Et tu, MCU?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: The folks at Marvel are turning Sabra into a Marrano?

Plus, the Olympics, science breakthroughs and music of our troubled times.