The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Diaspora correspondent Judah Ari Gross and New York correspondent Luke Tress join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode.

We begin with the case of Yeshiva University versus a campus club YU Pride Alliance that made it all the way to the Supreme Court — only to be slapped down. Tress explains more.

A transgender woman left her teaching position at an Orthodox Jewish New York City day school this week after an uproar over her identity. Tress spoke with Talia Avrahami, an ultra-orthodox woman married to a man with whom she has a daughter.

This controversy comes as New York yeshivas are already under fire for a perceived lack of secular education. What’s happening there?

Gross follows up on last week's astounding report in which the Polish government is asking Germany for reparations for Polish lives lost during the Nazi-led Holocaust — including for Jews killed by Poles. We hear what kind of justifications he was you told.

To end with, we learn about a highly unusual debate that took place on television Saturday night between the head of the Haredi United Torah Judaism party, Moshe Gafni and an unlikely opponent.

Discussed articles include:

Yeshiva University suspends all student clubs as it seeks to block LGBTQ group

New York yeshiva asks transgender teacher to leave amid uproar over her identity

Haredi MK finds himself debating Maimonides in TV interview

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IMAGE: A poster advertises an LGBTQ event at Yeshiva University, Dec. 15, 2020. (Courtesy of Yeshiva University student organizers)

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Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz and settlements, police and legal affairs reporter Jeremy Sharon join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Horovitz discusses the killing of five protestors in Iran by security forces Monday during the demonstrations over the death of a young woman imprisoned for going without a head covering in public.

Sharon explains the story of Hafez Hureini, an injured Palestinian in Israeli detention following apparent violence instigated by Jewish outpost settlers, and why he's paying close attention to the unfolding events.

Horovitz talks about the pageantry surrounding the Monday funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the legacy she leaves behind, as well as her particular place in history.

Discussed articles include:

Iranian forces kill 5 protesters amid unrest over woman’s death — rights group

Palestinian injured in ‘settler attack’ still in prison, settlers not questioned

Why we’ll all miss the queen

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

IMAGE: The State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II following her State Funeral at Westminster Abbey, in London on September 19, 2022. (Zac Goodwin / POOL / AFP)

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Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Health reporter Nathan Jeffay and news editor Amy Spiro join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode.

We start with new tailor-made COVID shots coming Israel’s way. When will we see them?

Fixing weak electric currents in part of the brain may treat Parkinson's, according to Israeli scientists. Jeffay explains how.

Israeli inventors are working on a foam to reverse gum recession in humans, after running a successful test on dogs and starting to market the product for canine use. When can we expect to see this on the market?

Spiro recently interviewed novelist Yishai Sarid about his troubling new novel recently translated into English under the title, "Victorious."

To end with, we discuss the new reality TV show, "Bnot Brak," which follows ultra-orthodox women in the religious stronghold, Bnei Brak. What is the motivation of these women to participate?

Discussed articles include:

Israelis to start getting new variant-tailored shots by end of month — COVID czar

Fixing weak electric current in part of brain may treat Parkinson’s — Israeli lab

Israeli foam to reverse receding gums soon set for human use, after success on dogs

The Haredi women not afraid to step outside the box — and onto the screen

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IMAGE: An illustration showing the evolution of the main coronavirus variants that infected Israel. (CIPhotos via iStock by Getty Images)

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Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Political correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn and military correspondent Emanuel Fabian join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

Ahead of the November 1 elections, political parties’ candidate lists were filed on Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday night ended with what Keller-Lynn calls potentially the most pivotal moment of the elections. What happened?

Also earlier last week, we finally found out where the so-called rebel MKs would land for these elections. What did Likud offer former Yamina MKs Amichai Chikli and Idit Silman?

Israeli authorities were set Sunday to reopen two checkpoints between Israel and the northern West Bank that were closed last week after two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at troops along the security barrier, killing Maj. Bar Falah, 30, the deputy commander of the elite Nahal reconnaissance unit. We learn whether these closures are a deterrence.

Military chief Aviv Kohavi is scheduled to travel to France and Poland this week to meet with his counterparts from the two European nations and discuss the Iranian threat and Hezbollah. What should we expect from this?

A senior Israel Defense Forces officer told reporters on Thursday that the military has identified that Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militias in Syria are beginning to withdraw from the region following a series of airstrikes attributed to Israel in recent weeks. But we’ve heard this before: Israeli defense officials have made such claims previously, most recently in 2020. What's the scoop?

A large sinkhole opened on the main highway in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, causing traffic chaos in the city. There were no injuries and it has since been repaired. But Israelis being Israelis began publishing memes. Let's hear some of them.

Discussed articles include:

Arab-led Joint List splits into 2 factions, shuffling political deck at last minute

Netanyahu adds former rebel MKs who downed Bennett government to his Likud slate

Israel to reopen northern West Bank checkpoints, days after deadly gun battle

IDF chief Kohavi heads to France and Poland to discuss Iranian threat, Hezbollah

Senior officer: Iranian-backed forces withdrawing from Syria due to IDF strikes

Ayalon reopens after sinkhole sealed, HaShalom exit to remain closed until Tuesday

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IMAGE: Members of the Hadash and Ta'al factions in the Joint List register their party for the upcoming elections at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, on September 15, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

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Welcome to a special edition of The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Editor David Horovitz and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan to talk about the Abraham Accords on the ceremonial signing's two-year anniversary.

On September 15, 2020, then United States president Donald Trump hosted the signing of the Abraham Accords, which are essentially normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, and Israel and Bahrain.

The Accords were named after Abraham, a founding father common to all three monotheistic religions.

We begin the episode by hearing excerpts from the White House South Lawn ceremony.

Horovitz and Berman update us on which countries are now part of the accords and which may be next to join. We discuss whether the region has shifted and how, as well as other "allies" of Israel, Jordan and Egypt.

And finally, we talk about whether the accords are helping Israel stave off an Iranian nuclear threat.

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Image: US President Donald Trump, center, with from left, Bahrain Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, during the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, September 15, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

US correspondent Jacob Magid and Tech Israel editor Ricky Ben David join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Magid discusses the current disagreement between Israel and the US regarding Robert Malley, the American envoy for Iran, and how he has handled the Iran nuclear agreement.

Ben-David looks at the top five topics of Israel’s new national research and development priorities, and how the government decides chooses its areas of focus.

Magid talks about the US decision to back off from suggesting different IDF policies following the findings of the accidental shooting and death of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, and how some of their subsequent reactions relate to internal politics and upcoming elections in both countries.

Ben-David reviews the current state of affairs in the Israeli technology industry, looking at investment figures for the year so far.

Discussed articles include:

US redoubles support for Iran talks envoy Israeli official claimed was sidelined

US appears to back off pressuring Israel on IDF rules of engagement after backlash

Food, energy, space tech in top 5 of Israel’s new national R&D priorities

IMAGE: Robert Malley, the Biden administration special envoy for Iran, testifies about the JCPOA during a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill, May 25, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)

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Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Political correspondent Tal Schneider and settlements reporter Jeremy Sharon join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's podcast.

On Sunday morning, Prime Minister Yair Lapid said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting that the purpose of his visit to Berlin was “to coordinate positions on the [Iranian] nuclear program and finalize the details on a strategic, economic and security cooperation document, which we are about to sign with them.” Did Lapid meet his goals?

Lapid is the son of well-known Holocaust survivor Tommy Lapid. He was accompanied by several survivors on the trip, one of whom was shocked when seeing the German soldiers. Schneider tells us more.

Schneider, who recently wrote about the sharp uptick in Israeli defense exports, explains how the trip to Germany was also tied to a deal regarding the purchase of Israel’s Arrow-3 system, one of the most advanced air defense systems in the country’s arsenal. Which other countries are being purchased?

The country mourned the double murder of a mother and her daughter in Lod last week, Manar and Khadar Hajaj. Sharon recently spoke with the head of the Abraham Initiative about fighting crime in the Arab sector. Surprisingly, he is positive.

Finally, Sharon brought us the case of some 50 families who have swapped war-torn Ukraine or politically repressive Russia for a hotbed of conflict in the West Bank. Is this a new trend?

Discussed articles include:

In Germany, Lapid says he gave Scholz ‘sensitive’ information on Iran nuke program

In Berlin, Lapid comforts Holocaust survivor who froze at sight of German soldiers

Israel eases restrictions on defense exports but refuses to disclose its customers

Daughter of slain Lod woman unable to attend funeral due to ongoing threat to life

Switching conflicts: The Jews leaving Ukraine and Russia for the West Bank

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IMAGE: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on podium right, welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, on podium left, with military honors for a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, September 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

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Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and special guests, filmmakers Natan Odenheimer and Eiv Kristal, join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

With a multitude of politicians, from MKs Ayellet Shaked to Yoaz Hendel to Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman anointing themselves as the embodiment of the right, Rettig Gur takes a stab at the burning question: Who actually represents the so-called "normal" right these days?

The Times of Israel has just released the third installment of the Into The Land series with, “A Tale of Two Cities.” The 20-minute documentary is about Ramle and Lod, each mixed cities with about a fifth Arab Israeli residents. The film presents two very different models for Arab/Jewish coexistence in the aftermath of the riots of May 2021. We hear from filmmakers Natan Odenheimer and Eiv Kristal.

And finally, the iconic Krembo dessert is set to get a price hike. Could this be the rallying cry for the next major cost of living protest?

Discussed articles include:

Shaked agrees to run as leader of Jewish Home, days after split with Zionist Spirit

Zionist Spirit’s Shaked and Hendel end their short-lived political partnership

Under banner of ‘real secular right,’ Yisrael Beytenu launches election slate

Into the Land: A Tale of Two Cities

Into the Land: Dead Sea Walking

Into the Land: The Forgery Scandal

Iconic Krembo among Unilever products set for price hike as consumer woes continue

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Image: The production line of the 'Menbo,' the Feldman's Icecream factory's name for the sweet snack better known as 'Krembo' at the factory in Rehovot on October 27, 2015. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

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Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Diaspora correspondent Judah Ari Gross and health reporter Nathan Jeffay join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's podcast.

The Polish government has demanded that Germany pay reparations in the sum of about $1.3 trillion for destruction and loss of life during the German Nazi invasion. Gross discusses his deep dive into the 1,300-plus-page document justifying this demand, called, “The Report on the Losses Sustained by Poland as a Result of German Aggression and Occupation during the Second World War, 1939–1945.”

A research team at Tel Aviv University says it has identified two antibodies that are so powerful in neutralizing the coronavirus that they could eliminate the need for more vaccine boosters. Who is this for?

A different study found that all ten of the most common long COVID symptoms were reduced by at least 50 percent among people who had at least two vaccine shots. Most strikingly, the reduction in shortness of breath, for example, was 80%. So should we all go out and get boosters?

And finally, Israeli scientists say they have invented a blood test that will be able to detect colorectal cancer, which is normally found through an invasive test, and pancreatic cancer, which today has no single diagnostic test. Would this eliminate the need for colonoscopies?

Discussed articles include:

In its $1.3t demand from Germany, Poland seeks reparations for Jews killed by Poles

Two antibodies identified in Israel can fight all known COVID strains, study finds

Israeli study: Vaccines slash long COVID cases, with 80% drop in shortness of breath

In first, new Israeli blood test could detect pancreatic, colorectal cancers

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Image: Former Polish President Alekdander Kwasniewski touches the statue after praying for the dead at a ceremony marking 70 years since Poland's villagers murdered hundreds of their Jewish neighbors during World War II in Jedwabne, Poland, Sunday, July 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

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Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz and military corespondent Mannie Fabian join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Horovitz offers a look back at aspects of Queen Elizabeth's long reign, including her relationship to Israel and to the Jews of England, and how King Charles III will offer a different approach in his new role.

Fabian discusses the details of an IDF shooting on Friday night that is being investigated.

He also talks about recent talks and tensions with Lebanon, as US-mediated talks over a maritime dispute are taking place, while an IAF drone crashed into the sea along Israel's border with Lebanon.

Discussed articles include:

King Charles III: A friend to UK Jewry, with special and historic ties to Israel

US mediator notes progress, but says Lebanon-Israel maritime deal needs more work

Report: IDF sees ‘reasonable possibility’ of clash with Hezbollah over gas dispute

IAF grounds fleet of drones after crash at Lebanon sea border

IMAGE: Images of the late Queen Elizabeth II are pictured at bus stops in Edinburgh on September 9, 2022, a day after Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96. (Oli SCARFF / AFP)

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