Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

A Palestinian terrorist who took part in abducting Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or during the October 7, 2023, onslaught was killed in an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, the military and Shin Bet announced Sunday. Fabian fills us in on the strike, which was conducted by a special police unit. We discuss the renewed Hamas efforts to build up its forces and how it is using young children as weapons mules and human shields for operatives.

Two years to the targeted killing of the former Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah, the terrorist group launched an explosive drone at Israeli troops operating in the southern Lebanon buffer zone Saturday night. We hear that the IDF keeps a list of targets to strike in response to Hezbollah drones during this ongoing fragile ceasefire.

On Thursday, the Israeli filmmakers of the new controversial documentary "NAZA" (Collateral Damage) held a screening in Tel Aviv for local journalists, including from The Times of Israel, though the directors themselves were not present. Fabian weighs in on the experience of watching the film and the lack of journalistic practices exhibited in it.

Also last week, Fabian boarded the INS Drakon — or Dragon — on the final leg of her maiden journey to the Haifa Naval Base from Germany. We hear about the IDF's plans to expand the Navy's capabilities and what it was like to submerge on this "beast of a machine."

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Terrorist from abduction of Noa Argamani, Avinatan Or on Oct. 7 killed in strike – IDF

Hezbollah fires explosive drone at troops, prompting strikes in response — IDF

NAZA’s claims about IDF conduct in Gaza are grave. So are the film’s journalistic flaws

Israel’s newest, largest submarine arrives, deepening Navy’s stealth capabilities

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Berman, just back in Israel from the United Nations General Assembly, discusses how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 15th address to the hall on Thursday was in some ways a classic Bibi presentation -- and in many ways not. We hear what was said and unsaid during the 40-minute speech.

A flurry of reports has come out in the past several weeks surrounding what the prime minister was briefed on ahead of the October 7, 2023, onslaught by Hamas on southern Israel, including a statement from former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant this morning. Berman unravels which seem credible and why.

Finally, Iran stood firm Sunday on its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump rejected its proposal. While the Iranian offer had created some optimism around the prospect of breaking the war stalemate, there's one ToI analyst who has long said that nothing will change in the near future. Berman explains why.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

What Netanyahu didn’t say at the UN was as telling as what he did

Days before Oct 7, PM ordered security forces to ‘minimize escalation’ in Gaza – report

Former PA minister details Sinwar’s pre-Oct. 7 warning to Israel of coming ‘earthquake’

Despite pre-Oct. 7 warnings, PM reportedly opposed strikes on Hamas leaders, feared harming Saudi peace talks

Iran vows not to back down after US rejects its Hormuz proposal

Trump rejects Iranian ceasefire proposal, reportedly plans to renew strikes after midterms

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode.

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Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use.

Hoffman starts off with two quick Jangles -- news with a Jewish angle- before we devote the program to the original 1927 "The Jazz Singer" and a technicolor 1991 The Simpsons parody episode, "Like Father, Like Clown."

Now in the public domain, a pristine digitally remastered version of the 99-year-old film can be viewed freely on YouTube. Although still primarily a silent film -- complete with hammy acting and text cards -- it features the world's first lines of synched dialogue and half a dozen songs.

Hoffman recounts how the story was written especially for its star, Al Jolson, who was born to a rabbinical family in Lithuania that moved to the United States when he was five.

The plot unfolds on the eve of Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement, and pits a fifth-generation cantor father against his entertainer son. The film is bookended by the Kol Nidre service and its famous melody.

Unfortunately, "The Jazz Singer" is likely best known for its controversial blackface scenes. In what is unimaginable today, Hoffman explains that Jolson's trademark act was incredibly popular in that era -- and especially among Black Americans.

In the final section of our program, we turn to 1991 The Simpsons comic riff on the film. After Krusty the Clown's past comes to light, Bart and Lisa learn rabbinic literature to help mend bridges with his rabbi father.

Let’s hear who gave this film and television episode an “oy,” “meh” or the prized “not bad” this week on The Reel Schmooze.

The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

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Welcome to "A Mandatory Listen," a new weekly podcast in which The Times of Israel deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan asks the big questions facing Israel and the Jewish people.

For this inaugural episode, who better to ask "Is the IDF justified in picking off Hamas terrorists?" than The Times of Israel's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur.

Last week, as headlines roiled world media condemning the IDF following the screening of "NAZA," which alleges Israel is using AI to commit genocide in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s determination to eliminate Hamas terrorists in the Strip.

In the past several months, the IDF has conducted a series of strikes targeting Hamas operatives in Gaza. Since the October 2025 ceasefire in Gaza, the Hamas-run Health Ministry claims 1,400 Gazans -- without differentiating between Hamas operatives and civilians -- have been killed by the IDF.

Rejecting the notion that “Hamas is protected” within the area it controls in Gaza, Netanyahu asserted that “we are settling accounts with these murderers who murdered our people, our daughters, our women and our children on October 7,” adding: “There are not many left because we are dealing with them.”

But is this manhunt moral?

Rettig Gur sets the stage for his answer with a deep dive into history and the ideological underpinnings of the Hamas terrorist organization still ruling the Gaza Strip.

We then turn to what Borschel-Dan calls a "spillover" effect, in which this manhunt may allow a kernel of far-right extremist settlers to perpetrate violence against their Palestinian neighbors in the West Bank.

How can Israel rid itself of what Rettig Gur labels "Jewish terrorism"?

A Mandatory Listen podcast episodes are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

US bureau chief Jacob Magid and NY correspondent Luke Tress join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's combative speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday included expected themes, such as the threat Iran poses to the world and the Jewish people’s determination to stand up to antisemitism as well as attempts to annihilate them. Magid was inside the room where it happened. We delve into which props were employed this year and the surprising amount of time devoted to the prime minister's brother, Yoni Netanyahu.

A few hours before Netanyahu's speech, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas delivered recorded remarks in which he railed against the United States' decision not to issue visas for the Palestinian delegation. We learn the reasons behind this and the thrust of Abbas's condemnations of Israel.

Tress has also had a busy week with over half a dozen protests for and against Israel outside the United Nations. He describes the multitudes that attended and how there was something for almost everyone.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

In fiery UN speech, Netanyahu blasts Iran, Qatar, Turkey, slams Gaza genocide accusation

Netanyahu’s UN speech: Israel prevented ‘the genocide Mamdani’s Hamas buddies would have done to us’

PA’s Abbas at UN: Israel trying to force Palestinians out with ‘genocidal war,’ ‘settler terrorism’

Anti-Zionist protesters put Netanyahu effigy in a noose outside UN headquarters

NYC’s Chevalier, Susan Sarandon arrested at anti-Israel protest outside UN

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter's son, Neria, is hospitalized in serious condition after a car-ramming attack mowed down the reservist soldier at a checkpoint in the central West Bank yesterday. This morning, Leiter updated reporters that doctors have stabilized Neria’s condition overnight. Horovitz tells us about the groundswell of support for the ambassador, who suffered the death of his son Moshe during the war in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address the United Nations General Assembly today at 9 pm Israel time. Horovitz describes the secrecy surrounding the premier's travel arrangements and what he is likely to focus on during his address. We also hear a sampling of the anti-Israel rhetoric and allegations from world leaders this week so far.

The Central Elections Committee voted Wednesday in favor of petitions to disqualify the Joint List slate — made up of Balad, Hadash, and Ta’al — altogether as well as Mansour Abbas’s Ra’am party from running in the October 27 election, effectively barring all majority Arab parties from running in the election. Horovitz weighs in on whether any of these disqualifications could be upheld by the High Court of Justice next week upon appeal.

It's only five weeks until the elections and Horovitz wonders: Why hasn't the Gadi Eisenkot campaign moved into high gear?

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Son of Israel’s US envoy, a soldier, seriously hurt in car-ramming attack in West Bank; assailant shot dead

Election panel disqualifies all Arab parties, in move likely to be overturned; Balad leader also barred

Eisenkot does not have this election sewn up. So why is he barely campaigning?

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

After Bezalel Smotrich's far-right Religious Zionism party published a campaign platform calling for further, radical constraints on the judicial system, Sharon discusses the history and aspects of the finance minister's plans and his use of an AI-generated video to advertise the overhaul plan, depicting Supreme Court justices and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara getting dragged away from a protest rally.

Following the approval of the purchase of Channel 13 by a philanthropic group, funded by a group of entrepreneurs headed by anti-government tech titan Assaf Rapaport, Sharon reports on Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi's reaction, after months of attempting to circumvent the sale that he deemed "unlawful," given Rapaport’s outspoken criticism of the government.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Religious Zionism launches plans for more radical judicial overhaul after election

Coalition scored successes in judicial overhaul, but High Court, elections, will decide its fate

Sale of Channel 13 to government critic approved; minister calls decision ‘unlawful’

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.

IMAGE: Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon appears on the Daily Briefing podcast with host Jessica Steinberg (Flash 90)

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Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

News editor Ben Sales joins host Gabriella Jacobs for today’s episode.

On Sunday afternoon, a terrorist opened fire near Neve Tzuf in the West Bank, resulting in the death of Netanel Shukrun, father of six, who was buried on Monday night. On the other side of the globe, an assailant opened fire outside an Ontario synagogue during prayers on Yom Kippur eve, leaving a police officer in critical condition. Sales updates us on these two recent attacks.

The fallout from the cancellation of the pro-Palestinian rapper Macklemore from Ed Sheeran’s tour continues. Sales highlights that the amplification of Macklemore’s message following his removal exemplifies a puzzle that advocates for Israel are still struggling to figure out: how to quash anti-Israel invective without drawing even more attention to their opponents.

Finally, what’s on the minds of Israeli voters and politicians? Sales notes that, though a recent poll put economics and the cost of living at the top of voters’ priorities, a cursory look at the candidates’ heated rhetoric makes it seem like the economy barely exists. We discuss why economic issues are rarely at the forefront of the political agenda in Israel and what politicians are doing to address them away from the political spotlight.

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.

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As we at The Times of Israel prepared for the Jewish Day of Repentance, we were reminded of an episode that aired last year on Israel Story, our partner podcast. The outfit kindly allowed us to run the Yom Kippur episode in full.

Here's how Israel Story described the episode last year:

Exactly two years ago, in September 2023, we were in the final stages of working on an episode that we planned to release for Yom Kippur. A bunch of production hiccups made us decide to postpone publication by a week or two. Then came October 7th.

Fast forward to today. Yom Kippur is, once again, upon us, and we decided to dust off that never-aired 2023 episode. Since we bring it to you as it was, the episode feels a bit like a fossil -- like a relic of a distant, saner time. But because it was recorded and edited in an entirely different reality, hearing it now somehow only accentuates the craziness of our times.

First up: It's the season to reflect and repent, forgive and forget. As part of that, millions of Jews all around the world send and receive conciliatory messages. These humble pleas are usually an intimate exchange, something that happens between two people and them alone. However, one former high-school teacher from Jerusalem chose a completely different path in pursuit of forgiveness. Adina Karpuj brings us the tale of Channa Pinchasi's unusual search for absolution.

In act two, we revisit the weeks leading up to Yom Kippur of 2023, when we converted two old train cars in Jerusalem’s First Station into confession booths. One was labeled “Sorry,” and the other “Not Sorry.” Hundreds of passersby stepped into one, or both, of these booths and anonymously shared their regrets and secrets. Zev Levi created a mashup of the confessions we collected.

To close the episode, we explore Etgar Keret's story about his not-yet-four-year-old son Lev getting on an easily-irritable taxi driver's wrong side. Lev learned an important and difficult lesson: that saying you're sorry is a very hard thing to do. The short story, voice acted by Ofer Carmel, first appeared in Etgar's award-winning nonfiction collection, 'The Seven Good Years.'

Our end song is Lu Yehi ("Let It Be") performed by HaGashash HaHiver.

Produced in partnership with The Times of Israel.

Subscribe to Israel Story on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

The Israeli military said on Friday that it was ramping up its forces on all fronts ahead of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, which starts on Sunday evening and ends on Monday night. Fabian explains what this means in practice.

A Hamas commander who invaded Israel during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, onslaught was killed in an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip last week, the Israel Defense Forces announced Saturday, as Palestinian media reported several people killed in separate Israeli strikes across the enclave. We learn of additional targeted killings and reports of civilian fatalities alongside these strikes.

Southern Lebanon saw renewed tensions over the weekend, with two IDF soldiers wounded by a Hezbollah roadside bomb and Israeli and Lebanese troops facing off near the military’s buffer zone. Fabian compares the activity in Lebanon and Gaza.

Iran is rapidly advancing the reconstruction of a nuclear facility that was previously bombed by Israel, according to satellite images cited in a report Thursday by the Institute for Science and International Security. We hear Fabian's assessment of the likelihood of a third Israeli strike on the site.

A senior intelligence officer who is believed to have played a key role in the failures that led to the Hamas terror group’s October 7, 2023, onslaught was formally dismissed from the military on Thursday, following months of deliberations over the matter. We hear why this still isn't exactly the end of the saga that includes pooh-poohing intel that could have prevented the massacre.

President Isaac Herzog said Saturday evening that he had granted a pardon to Elor Azaria, a former IDF soldier convicted of killing an incapacitated Palestinian attacker in the West Bank city of Hebron in 2016, after the military opposed giving the pardon. Fabian reminds us of the controversial case and explains how the IDF opposes the presidential pardon that expunges Azaria's criminal record.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Ahead of Yom Kippur, IDF bolsters forces on all fronts; Gaza crossing to close Sun-Mon

IDF says Oct. 7 invader killed in Gaza; strikes across Strip reportedly leave 5 dead

IDF says it struck Hezbollah sites after terror group’s bomb wounded 2 troops

Satellite images show Iran rapidly working to rebuild nuclear site bombed by Israel

Gaza Division intel officer on October 7 formally dismissed from the IDF

Herzog pardons soldier who killed incapacitated Palestinian stabber in 2016, against IDF position

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.