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

Looking for the extra segment?

Your Services are No Longer Needed

More than 40% of Knesset representatives are new to the job, and turnover among legislators is at an all-time high. Why? What does this augur for Israeli politics?

For a Song

New regulations will prevent Israeli mayors from paying more than 20,000 bucks to pop stars to perform at gala Independence Day celebrations. A blessed return to sanity, or government sticking its nose where it doesn't belong?

What's a Good Book Good For?

Secular Israelis used to love the Independence Day Bible Contest, and religious ones hated it. Now religious Israelis dominate the Bible Contest, and secular ones ignore it. What does the odd career of the Annual Bible Contest tell us about the changing nature of the Israeli soul?

This War Stuff Takes a Real Toll on Us

For our most extremely generous Patreon supporters, we discuss in our extra-special, special extra segment what the hell just happened between us and Hamas in Gaza, and why it leaves us dazed, confused and sad.

Music

All this and the IsraEthiopian genius of Ground Heights:

• Yehiyot Nuro
• Hiola
• Sun is High
• Aynoche