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.

Today’s panel comprises senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and health reporter Nathan Jeffay, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced late last week that vaccine refusers are endangering the entire nation. How is this spicy language playing out for him in the populace? And who is this unvaccinated minority?

Jeffay gives context to a series of recent articles citing conflicting stats over the coronavirus vaccine. Also, what is the length of efficacy of the shots?

We take a look at two new bills being proposed by Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar that have been dubbed “anti-Bibi” legislation. One pushes for term limits and the other suggests that an indicted politician must not be tapped to be prime minister.

Finally, we hear highlights from the recent Times Will Tell weekly podcast, in which Borschel-Dan spoke with a high-risk pregnancy specialist about her own pregnancy at age 45.

Discussed articles include:

First Tokyo medal: Avishag Semberg wins taekwondo bronze, Israel’s 1st in field

Israeli COVID vaccine in pill form to start clinical trial in Tel Aviv

Israeli study claims major drop in vaccine protection; experts don’t believe it

Sa’ar says he’s preparing bill to ban indicted person from forming government

Shaked opposes bill to ban indicted politician from forming government

Podcast: Pregnancy at 45 explained by Israeli high-risk maternal-fetal expert

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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.

Today’s panel comprises breaking news editor Amy Spiro and cinema writer Jordan Hoffman, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are set to officially open tomorrow and Team Israel is bigger and better than ever. We discuss medal chances -- the Associated Press has predicted an unprecedented seven medals this Olympics -- and a profile of swimmer Andi Murez, who happens to also be a third-year medical student in her spare time. Also, how did the Holocaust suddenly get involved with the opening ceremony?

New Apple TV musical series "Schmigadoon!" is burning up the streaming service. Hoffman dives into his hilarious interview with director Barry Sonnenfeld -- who really, really dislikes musicals.

And finally, was Superman a Jew? A new book by Roy Schwartz sets out all the reasons to believe so in 400 pages.

Discussed articles include:

From gymnastics to judo, Israel primed to strike Olympic gold in Tokyo

AP predicts Israel to win 7 medals in Tokyo, including gold in men’s gymnastics

Olympic opening ceremony director fired over Holocaust joke in 1998 comedy act

A marvel in comics: 2012 interview with Stan Lee

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IMAGE: The glove of Israel Olympic baseball player Jake Roseberg sits on the field at Salt River Fields spring training facility, Wednesday, May 12, 2021, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Israel has qualified for the six-team baseball tournament at the Tokyo Olympic games which will be its first appearance at the Olympics in any team sport since 1976. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises political correspondent Tal Schneider and United States correspondent Jacob Magid, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

We again dip into the media meltdown over the recent Ben & Jerry's announcement that it will no longer distribute its politically flavored ice cream in the West Bank after the current Israeli franchise contract is up. Israeli Ambassador to the US Gilad Erdan has tapped over 30 US governors to apply their states' anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) legislation and pull state employees' pension funds from Unilever investments.

Next, Schneider brings us the last chapter in a curious court case involving the son of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair. The social media butterfly was accused of slander for statements he posted on his robust Twitter account accusing Wexner fellowship alumni of being part of an alleged Jeffrey Epstein-led "pedophile cult."

And finally, we take a deeper look at a disturbing poll that came out of the US last week, which saw a quarter of US Jews believing that Israel is an "apartheid state."

Discussed articles include:

US states’ fully baked anti-BDS laws could put the freeze on Ben & Jerry’s

Israeli envoy urges 35 US states to activate anti-BDS laws against Ben & Jerry’s

Yair Netanyahu apologizes to Wexner fellowship alumni for ‘pedophile cult’ claim

Poll finds a quarter of US Jews think Israel is ‘apartheid state’

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IMAGE: View of the Ben & Jerry's factory shop in Yavne, July 20, 2021. (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.

Today’s panel comprises Zman Yisrael editor Biranit Goren and health reporter Nathan Jeffay, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

We begin with a blitz of updates regarding the progress of the coronavirus in Israel. Jeffay presents new research out of Jerusalem which re-purposes existing drugs to fight COVID. Since they are already FDA-approved for other maladies, the time to market, if re-approved, will be light speed as opposed to new pharmaceuticals.

Next, we take highlights from a recent interview with Bar-Ilan University Prof. Cyrille Cohen, who gives the COVID big picture. What he has to say about children under 12 is especially intriguing.

Then we turn to the current scandal lighting up Jewish media headlines: The decision of Ben & Jerry's United States-based parent company to no longer sell its Israeli franchise's products in the West Bank. Is this just ice cream, or the beginning of a larger wave of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns?

Discussed articles include:

Daily virus cases top 1,300 in 4-month high, as Israel set for new restrictions

3 existing drugs fight coronavirus with ‘almost 100%’ success in Jerusalem lab

Top immunologist: Douse Israel’s Delta ‘fire’ before it needs lake-full of water

Israel expected to require all travelers entering the country to self-isolate

Ben & Jerry’s says it will end sales in ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory’

Ben & Jerry’s board in dispute with owners Unilever over remaining in Israel

Big chill: Jewish world reacts to Ben & Jerry’s exit from Israeli settlements

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IMAGE: Ben & Jerry's ice creams on sale at a shop in Jerusalem on July 19, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/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.

Today’s panel comprises Arab affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman and breaking news editor Emanuel Fabian, as well as host Raoul Wootliff.

On today's show, after we focused yesterday on the meaning of the Temple Mount and the possible changing of the status quo at the contentious site, we update on Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's confusing statements on Jewish freedom of prayer there and his backpedaling from the comments this morning.

Yesterday saw over 1,000 Jewish visitors to the complex. We look at the reactions from the Arab world to the visits – both regionally and internally.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid made a formal request yesterday evening to further delay the impending demolition of Khan al-Ahmar. We assess the ongoing saga of the Bedouin village in the West Bank that Israel says was built illegally.

And finally, turning our eyes to the north, we hear about Lebanon's ongoing financial crisis, Israel's offer for help, and how things are looking on Israel's northernmost border.

Discussed articles include:

Bennett backpedals after appearing to say Jews free to pray on Temple Mount

On Tisha B’Av, Bennett speaks of ‘freedom of worship’ for Jews on Temple Mount

Amid tensions at Temple Mount, some 1,000 Jews visit holy site for Tisha B’Av

Ra’am: Al-Aqsa Mosque ‘is solely the property of Muslims’

Jordan, Egypt, Turkey all condemn Jewish visits to Temple Mount on Tisha B’Av

Lapid requests delay in contentious demolition of West Bank Bedouin village

Gantz offers Lebanon humanitarian aid amid financial meltdown

Smuggled guns from Lebanon were meant for terror; largest bust in years — TV

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PHOTO: Current Prime Minister Naftali Bennett prays at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on March 16, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/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.

Today’s panel comprises editor David Horovitz and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur, as well as host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Today is Tisha B'Av, which marks the destruction of both the First and Second Temples and many other tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people over the millennia. We center our discussion on a new Channel 12 television eye-witness report of Jews openly praying on the Temple Mount -- the holiest site in Judaism -- while police look on. How is this blatant transgression of the 1967 status quo a reflection of Israeli society?

To begin the commemoration of Tisha B'Av Saturday night, the Reform and Conservative movements conducted a traditional reading of the Book of Lamentations at Ezrat Yisrael, the Robinson's Arch pluralistic prayer platform, south of the Western Wall pavilion. Several hundred Orthodox youth brought a mechitza (gender divider) and disrupted the prayer. Why is this so contentious on this particular holiday?

And finally, we discuss the Temple Mount Sifting Project, which attempts to salvage precious artifacts from tonnes of earth that were unceremoniously dumped from the Temple Mount during the illegal construction of an underground mosque in the late 1990s. Hear about what are some of its most important scientific contributions.

Discussed articles include:

Amid tensions at Temple Mount, some 1,000 Jews visit holy site for Tisha B’Av

Israel quietly letting Jews pray on Temple Mount, in break with status quo — TV

Orthodox activists disrupt Tisha B’Av prayer at Western Wall pluralistic plaza

Podcast: On 9 B’Av, find evidence of destruction at Temple Mount Sifting Project

And check out these articles from our archives:

As support widens for Jewish prayer on Temple Mount, should we fear apocalyptic consequences?

Western Wall egalitarian area used daily for gender-segregated Orthodox prayer

Muslim cleanup project ‘illegally disturbed, removed’ ancient soil on Temple Mt

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IMAGE: A group of ultra-Orthodox Jews pray near the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, June 18, 2018. Officially, Jewish prayer atop the mount is forbidden (Amanda Borschel-Dan/Times of Israel)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gir and deputy Jewish World editor Yaakov Schwartz, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and alternate PM Yair Lapid were sworn in a little over a month ago. How is their odd-couple relationship faring? Rettig Gur brings lessons learned from the former parity government and this risky new concept that Bennett and Lapid are basing their relationship upon -- trust.

The upcoming Hebrew New Year marks the beginning of a shmita year, in which the land must lay fallow. Schwartz explains what this biblical commandment is and how it may affect one of Israel's booming agricultural industries: medical cannabis.

Finally, Borschel-Dan dons her Indiana Jones hat and discusses a First Temple-era fortification wall that the Bible may, or may not, have said was destroyed following the Babylonian conquest of 586 BCE, commemorated on the upcoming Tisha B'Av holiday.

Discussed articles include:

Trust or bust: New honor system coalition learns from Netanyahu’s fall

As Israel’s biblical farming sabbatical nears, medical cannabis is budding issue

First Temple-era walls, razed in biblical account, found unbreached in Jerusalem

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IMAGE: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid during a signing agreements ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 24, 2021. (Amit Shabi/POOL)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises political correspondent Tal Schneider and Palestinian affairs reporter Aaron Boxerman, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

The new United Arab Emirates embassy opened this morning in Tel Aviv. Schneider was there -- and will explain who was not and why.

In 2015, new national security advisor Eyal Hulata -- a career analyst at the Mossad -- declared that the Iran nuclear deal, the JCPOA, is actually the "lesser evil" for Israel. Why is this significant?

This week, much media attention was paid to the denial of jailed PFLP member Khalida Jarrar from attending her daughter's funeral. Boxerman brings the nuance behind the story.

This week, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas phoned up new Israeli President Isaac Herzog. After a striking low under former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could this be a warming of ties between the two peoples?

And finally, Schneider recently spoke with top United States political advisor Mark Mellman, who has accompanied Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on his rise to the top over the past decade. Mellman explains how now may be the time for a renewal of bi-partisan relations with the US -- but it comes with a big price tag.

Discussed articles include:

‘Just the beginning’: UAE opens Tel Aviv embassy as sides hail ties

In 2015, new national security adviser saw Iran nuclear deal as ‘lesser evil’

Israel bars jailed senior PFLP member from attending her daughter’s funeral

PA’s Abbas calls to congratulate Israel’s new president

Lapid’s US pollster sees 10 years of work come to ‘dramatic, emotional’ fruition

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IMAGE: UAE Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al Khaja and Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the opening ceremony of the UAE embassy in Tel Aviv, July 14, 2021. (Miriam Alster/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.

Today’s panel comprises diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and breaking news editor Amy Spiro, along with host Raoul Wootliff.

On today's show, amid a flurry of diplomatic activity, newly sworn-in President Isaac Herzog spoke yesterday with Turkey's Erdogan. We discuss the significance of the call and the future of Israel-Turkey ties.

At the same time, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met yesterday in Brussels with European Union foreign ministers and publically backed a two-state solution with the Palestinians. We hear about his efforts to reshape Israel's foreign policy.

And from the West to the East, we try to understand the effect on the Jewish State of the burgeoning rivalry between Saudi Arabia and new Israeli ally the United Arab Emirates.

Finally, with the Olympics around the corner, we hear about one Israeli athlete looking to fulfill her dreams at the games and how Israel's medal hopes could play out in Tokyo.

In possible sign of thaw, Turkey’s Erdogan talks with new Israeli president

Stressing new coalition’s liberal values, Lapid looks to revive ties with EU

As Saudis and Emiratis take aim at each other, Israel could get hit by ricochets

With feathers flying, NY native guides Israel to its Olympic equestrian debut

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PHOTO: Foreign Minister Yair Lapid meets with 26 EU foreign ministers in Brussels, July 12, 2021. (European Union)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises health reporter Nathan Jeffay and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

We begin our program with a blitz of questions for Jeffay about the surge of COVID in Israel. Is it time to be worried yet?

Next, Rettig Gur discusses how the new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett-led government is slipping and losing control of the Knesset. It's not over the big-headline issues, he says, rather the day-to-day workings of the parliament, including a plethora of committees that are not getting staffed and creating a real bottleneck. Are the MKs in need of a stronger ringmaster?

Finally, Borschel-Dan delves into a newly published inscription that dates from the time of the Book of Judges -- and may be the nickname of Gideon son of Joash, "Jerubba'al." There's a bit of controversy surrounding the inscription's reading, so stay tuned.

Discussed articles include:

Minister says at-risk Israelis can get COVID booster; HMOs unaware of plan

Israeli data seems to show COVID vaccine protection starts fading after 6 months

Bennett: New vaccines to arrive August 1, allowing teen inoculation to continue

Five-letter inscription inked 3,100 years ago may be name of biblical judge

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IMAGE: Medical technicians test passengers for COVID-19 at the Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on July 12, 2021. (Flash90)

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