Podcasts about Tel Aviv

Pelvic Girdle Pain, also known as pubic symphysis dysfunction, affects an estimated one in five pregnant women. It is often mild but can sometimes be debilitating and it's been highlighted by a BBC news report that has come out today. It's not harmful to the baby, but it can affect simple things like the mother's mobility. Kylie Pentelow speaks to Victoria Roberton, who experienced Pelvic Girdle Pain during her first pregnancy - she is now coordinator at the Pelvic Partnership, and Dr Nighat Arif, a GP specialising in women's health.It's been one month since the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire began, aimed at halting the war, returning hostages, and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the truce. Despite the fragile ceasefire, some see hope for lasting peace. Kylie is joined by Layla Alsheikh from the West Bank, and Mor Ynon from Tel Aviv - both are members of the Parents Circle Families Forum, a group of bereaved families working for reconciliation.Witches are haunting London's Kiln Theatre for a brand new, all-female musical about the 1633 Pendle Witch Trials. Co-composer of Coven, Rebecca Brewer, and one of its stars, Diana Vickers, join Kylie to talk about sisterhood, survival and whether their show could be the next SIX.There's a brand new podcast launching today: CBeebies Parenting Download. It will focus on topical parenting stories, hearing real life experience along with expert advice and parenting dilemmas. Kylie is joined by its presenters: Radio 1 host, author and mum Katie Thistleton, and award-winning rapper and dad of two, Guvna B. Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Corinna Jones

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 joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. President Isaac Herzog announced Wednesday that US President Donald Trump had written him to ask him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently standing trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Magid brings other instances in which the US president has pushed for the end of Netanyahu's trial and describes the contents of this new “Free Bibi” letter. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said “there’s some concern” about events in the West Bank undermining efforts to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza, in his first remarks on the latest spate of settler violence. This comes after a week in which dozens of Israelis launched a large-scale arson attack on Palestinians in the West Bank, targeting factories and farmland between the major cities of Nablus and Tulkarem. Magid reports on Rubio's statements, gives the context for them, and explains how they mark a departure for the Trump administration. Early this week, Magid exclusively reported that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas fired his finance minister for allowing payments to Palestinian security prisoners through an old mechanism -- often called “pay-to-slay.” These stipends are awarded to the prisoners or their families, giving them monthly salaries based on the length of their sentence, which correlates to the severity of the crimes. We hear why these payments raise such red flags for Israelis and Americans. Syria’s leader Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the White House on Monday and made a media splash as the former terrorist was shot shooting hoops and enjoying Trump's branded cologne. In an interview with The Washington Post, al-Sharaa claimed the US president supports his insistence on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory as a condition for a comprehensive security deal between the long-warring neighboring countries. Magid weighs in. US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the Central Asian, Muslim-majority country of Kazakhstan will be the first country to join the Abraham Accords in his second term. Since the nation established diplomatic relations with the Jewish state in 1992, shortly after it broke away from the Soviet Union, what does either country gain by this step? Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump writes to Herzog asking him to pardon Netanyahu amid ‘unjustified’ trial What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: The case for pardoning Netanyahu Rubio says ‘there’s some concern’ West Bank violence could undermine Gaza ceasefire France says it will help draft constitution for Palestinian state as Abbas visits Paris Abbas fires his finance minister over illicit payments to Palestinian prisoners — sources Sharaa says Trump backs demand for Israel to withdraw forces from Syrian territory Kazakhstan, which already has relations with Israel, to join Abraham Accords Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: President Donald Trump walks with Israel's President Isaac Herzog, left, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport, October 13, 2025, near Tel Aviv. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Jason Blitman talks to award-winning Irish writer Gráinne O'Hare about her debut novel, Thirst Trap. Conversation highlights include:❤️‍

With Jon still on the road, Zak Paine and Ghost team up for an intense, globe-spanning episode of Baseless Conspiracies. The duo dives into the new “Trump World Order,” unpacking the shocking meeting between President Trump and Syria's new leader, once an Al-Qaeda operative, and how Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Russia are shaping the next chapter of global realignment. They connect the dots between deep-state players like Lindsey Graham and John McCain, who literally stood beside future ISIS leaders, and expose how U.S. money and intelligence created the chaos in the Middle East. From the alleged Hamas inside job on October 7th and Netanyahu's funding scandal to the Mossad's blackmail networks and Zionist propaganda psyops, Zak and Ghost lay out a web of corruption, manipulation, and spiritual deception stretching from D.C. to Tel Aviv. The conversation heats up with the “Tucker is not MAGA” campaign, Mark Levin's deep-state ties, and how Trump's global chessboard may be turning Israel's war narrative on its head. Explosive, fearless, and unfiltered...this is Baseless Conspiracies at its boldest.

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. Hamas announced that the body of IDF officer Lt. Hadar Goldin, held by the terror organization since 2014, will be returned to Israel at 2 p.m. We learn about Operation Protective Edge, the Hamas operation to ostensibly recover Goldin’s body that occurred yesterday, as well as what’s happening with the 150-odd Hamas gunmen who are trapped in a tunnel in the same part of the southern Gaza strip in an IDF-controlled area. Military representatives on Saturday morning notified the family of Lior Rudaeff that his body was returned to Israel by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad on Friday night, after forensic experts completed their identification. Fabian describes what we know of Rudaeff's killing on October 7, 2023. Former military advocate general Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi was hospitalized this morning. This comes a day after her elusive phone was discovered on a Tel Aviv beach by passersby. Fabian takes up the thread of the Hollywood-esque narrative about Tomer-Yerushalmi, who is accused of multiple crimes, including obstruction of justice. We also hear about Itai Ofer, who has been named as Tomer-Yerushalmi's replacement, and the obstacles he faces to secure the role. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday he was “declaring war” on weapon smuggling via drones over the Egyptian border, instructing the military to declare a closed military zone in the area and the Shin Bet to define such attempts as terrorism. Fabian describes the uptick in smuggling and weighs in on the measures currently taken against it. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Hamas claims to recover body of Hadar Goldin, IDF soldier killed and abducted in 2014 war PM rules out granting safe passage to 200 Hamas gunmen stuck in IDF-held Rafah Body of Lior Rudaeff returned from Gaza; he died battling Islamic Jihad terrorists on Oct. 7 Ex-IDF legal chief sent to house arrest, as her missing phone is found in the sea Katz taps ex-Defense Ministry legal adviser as next military advocate general after scandal Katz orders IDF to declare Egyptian border closed military zone over drone smugglings Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. Check out yesterday’s episode here: https://youtu.be/fiPzmecX8RM?si=EhCcG0fiPRv16R9U ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE: Troops investigate a Hamas attack tunnel in southern Gaza's Rafah, in a handout photo issued on August 23, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just when it seemed that we might enjoy a lull with the ceasefire, a fresh scandal overtakes the public sphere in Israel. This one is a homegrown domestic mess but it could lead to far reaching, international consequences. In July, 2024, allegations of prisoner abuse at Sde Teiman prison in southern Israel began to surface. This is the prison where detainees captured in the Gaza Strip were held. Then a video - purporting to show physical abuse by IDF soldiers in the prison - was released. The video, in fact, is very grainy and does not show what has been suggested. Nevertheless, when it was leaked an international uproar ensued. Several IDF soldiers were indicted on serious criminal charges but it is unclear exactly what they pertain to.The indictments of IDF reservists sparked serious riots in Israel, when civilians broke into two IDF bases. A series of probes within the legal system were conducted, and we didn't hear much more - until Wednesday, October 29. On that day, the top lawyer in the IDF - Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi - was put on leave. Two days later she resigned and admitted, in writing, that she had leaked the video. So now we have a leak and cover up at the highest levels. During the last week there has been high drama in this case. Yerushalmi disappeared for a few hours - causing major alarm. Her phone disappeared and was found five days later in the sea. Incredibly, it still worked. She was held in custody for five days and then released to house arrest. Tonight she is in hospital following an overdose and what appears to be a suicide attempt. Everything about this case is sensational and horrible; the personal suffering and indignity and the profound implications for the justice system in Israel. We discuss it all with former IDF MAG lawyer, Ben Wahlhous, who now works as an attorney in private practice in Israel. Wahlhous explains the role of the unit and what is concerning about this case. He also puts it into perspective - making clear that this case demonstrates how strong and ethical the Israeli justice system remains.Because the facts of this case are so - complicated - and important to understand….and there is so much going on, I have divided this podcast into four parts:Part 1 - Introduction and The Facts 00:00 - 14:25Part 2 - Interview with Ben Wahlhous, attorney and former lawyer in IDF legal unit - MAG 14:26 - 41:39Part 3 - Update on the Facts Current to the evening of Sunday, November 9 41:40-44:28Part 4 - A Little Levity - An iPhone Experiment Conducted on a Top Political Analysis Show 44:29 - endShow your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast NotesBen Wahlhaus served for many years as an officer in the IDF's International Law Department. He has been a member of Israel's defense team at The Hague against South Africa's allegations of genocide, advised on Israel's peace treaties and agreements, and appeared in international media explaining the IDF's commitment to international law. Today Ben serves in the International Law Department as a reserve duty officer, and works in private practice.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

The current exhibition at the Zimbalista Gallery in Tel Aviv, “Blind, Bound, Bowed, Naked," presents a striking and contemporary look at Ofra Zimbalista’s work, exploring existence, human suffering, and compassion. At the heart of the exhibition stands the monumental installation “Game” (1994), created after the First Lebanon War, and which assumes additional layers of significance in these current times. Zimbalista's son, conductor and percussionist Chen Zimbalista, spoke with reporter Naomi Segal. (Photo: Courtesy Zimbalista Gallery)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In diesem außergewöhnlichen Interview spricht Samy Molcho, weltberühmter Pantomime, Körpersprache-Experte und Autor zahlreicher Bestseller, über seinen faszinierenden Lebensweg. Er erzählt von seinen Anfängen in Tel Aviv, den prägenden Jahren als international gefeierter Künstler und Professor in Wien sowie von großen Herausforderungen. Mit beeindruckender Offenheit berichtet er über Rückschläge und Scheitern – und zeigt gleichzeitig, wie er daraus neue Stärke gewinnen konnte. Darüber hinaus gibt Samy Molcho sehr persönliche Einblicke in sein Leben: seine Philosophie der Stille, die Kraft nonverbaler Kommunikation und die Prinzipien, die ihn bis heute tragen. Er spricht über die Magie von Präsenz und Wirkung – und verrät seine Erfolgsstrategien für Bühne, Beruf und Alltag. Ein Interview voller Inspiration, Lebensweisheit und Klarheit, das weit über die Kunst der Pantomime hinausgeht.

The Israeli government is facing what it calls a “public relations disaster” after a video surfaced showing soldiers torturing and sexually assaulting a Palestinian prisoner - a clear war crime under any legal system. Public outrage in Israel has focused less on the abuse itself and more on the leak. And the military's chief prosecutor, who admitted leaking the footage, has been arrested and branded a traitor. The saga is yet another example of Israeli society's unwillingness to confront what it has become. Contributors: Chris Doyle - Director, Council for Arab-British Understanding Mairav Zonszien - Senior Israel analyst, International Crisis Group Ori Goldberg - Academic and political commentator Yara Hawari - Co-director, Al-Shabaka On our radar: After an 18-month siege, the Sudanese city of el-Fasher has fallen to the RSF, triggering mass atrocities under a near-total media blackout. With journalists killed, captured, or missing, satellite imagery has become one of the few remaining windows into the violence. Ryan Kohls reports on the city's fall and the growing evidence of a potential genocide in Darfur. Kenya's most nicknamed president In Kenya, political satire often takes the form of sharp, witty nicknames - and President William Ruto has earned plenty. As his popularity wanes, young Kenyans online are using these nicknames to mock and challenge his leadership in ways that traditional media cannot. The Listening Post's Nic Muirhead reports on Ruto's long, growing and politically problematic list of nicknames. Featuring: Paul Kelemba (Maddo) - Cartoonist Nanjala Nyabola - Political analyst and writer Wandia Njoya - Professor of literature, Daystar University Producers: Soumayya El Filali & Nicholas Muirhead Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X : https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #aljazeera #aljazeeraenglish #aljazeeranewslive

//The Wire//2300Z November 6, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: RIOTS ERUPT IN BIRMINGHAM AS SPORTS MATCH TRANSITIONS FROM GENERAL HOOLIGANISM INTO LARGER GEOPOLITICAL CONFLICT. OVAL OFFICE PRESS CONFERENCE HALTED DUE TO PHARMA EXEC COLLAPSING SUDDENLY.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-United Kingdom: A state of civil unrest has emerged following a soccer match inflaming local tensions. Following a much-anticipated soccer match between a team from Tel Aviv and the local Aston Villa team in Birmingham, riots broke out overnight as rival gangs took their disputes to the street. Riot police were deployed to the stop the roving bands of "youths" from destroying property and generally causing disarray. Throughout the day today, the unrest has continued as long-held social tensions in Birmingham reached the boiling point. Over 700x police officers have been called up for duty tonight as the riots are planned to become much more significant with tonight's match against Tel Aviv.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - This afternoon the White House announced a special press conference on the topic of pharmaceuticals. Most notably the press conference was called to announce a partnership with Novo Nordisk to lower the price of the Ozempic drug when purchased through the TrumpRX program.Analyst Comment: The press conference was abruptly cut short after Gordon Findlay, one of the senior executives of Novo Nordisk (the maker of Ozempic) collapsed in the Oval Office during the live broadcast. Dr. Oz, who was a part of the conference tried to render aid to him, and the rest of the press conference was delayed while Findlay received medical treatment. It's not certain why he dropped, but the White House stated that he was okay but feeling a bit lightheaded after the incident.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Once more, the misfortune of our friends across the pond gives Americans absolutely critical insight as to how things might go if a similar series of events were to pop off here in a major American city. For obvious reasons, a relatively nondescript soccer match is less about the sport and more about social and political issues, thus the unrest concerns. In short, it's a fairly kinetic and complex situation that serves in many ways as an indicator of the future to come.Birmingham has become a huge focal point for migrant housing, and these riots were not the work of the indigenous English. However, as with all soccer hooliganism, the rioting is almost never just one-sided. In this case, some (not all) Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned by British authorities from the Aston Villa stadium after starting a riot themselves, according to police. This resulted in two things happening simultaneously: the Islamic population of Birmingham rejoiced at this perceived geopolitical victory (and celebrated by breaking things and causing a ruckus), while many other Maccabi Tel Aviv fans lashed out in anger (again, also by breaking things and causing a ruckus). However, during the general state of unrest, rival gangs of mostly black and Islamic migrants (which had no interest in soccer) started fighting amongst themselves, adding in more diversity to the evening fray. Others still showed up to protest for more political purposes, but remained relatively calm throughout the evening. When the police arrived to restore order as this was getting underway last night (the day before the match), the more active elements of the crowds turned on them, targeting them with fireworks (which were probably used due to yesterday being Guy Fawkes Night). It is this unrest that continued from last night, throughout the day today, to tonight as well (the night of the match). So this is a two-day affair, not just a one-and-done scuffle, but a more prolonged period of unrest.In short, what's going on in Birmingham right now is more or less a state of mild pandem

The election of Zohran Mamdani is unique on many levels, and none of them good. In June 2025, during an interview on the podcast The Bulwark, Mamdani was asked about the slogan “Globalize the Intifada”. Far from condemning it, he was in favor of it, describing it as a symbolic expression of “a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights.” Considering there are more Jews in New York City than live in Tel Aviv, he's an interesting choice for mayor, wouldn't you say?“Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.” Isaiah 14:29 (KJB)On this episode of the Prophecy News Podcast, this is Day 2,061 of 15 Days To Flatten The Curve and our end times activity meter is pinning the needle all the way to the right, pushing it to the breaking point. Cries of ‘escape from New York' threaten a mass exodus from the ‘greatest city in the world', as Mamdani comes out swinging in his first interview. He declared war on capitalism, on Republicans, on the rich, and on Donald Trump and all his voters. Speaking of MAGA, Republicans are at each other's throats with infighting, and the government shutdown just might end air travel as we know it. Tucker Carlson is now lowkey promoting white nationalism and antisemitism, and Poland is preparing to fight Russia in WWIII. Join us as we amp up the crazy and show you just how close we are to Flight #777 taking off.

C'est l'histoire d'une collaboration artistique de prestige entre Londres et Tel-Aviv qui s'effondre. Le Royal Ballet & Opera du Royaume-Uni a annulé sa participation à Tosca, refusant d'associer son nom à l'opéra israélien. En cause : le soutien affiché de l'institution à l'armée israélienne dans la guerre à Gaza. Les Britanniques dénoncent un lieu qui « récompense et légitime ouvertement les forces même, responsables des meurtres quotidiens de civils à Gaza », en référence aux billets gratuits offerts aux soldats. Mais loin d'annuler, l'opéra israélien contre-attaque : il monte l'œuvre seul et promet une version éminemment politique. De notre envoyé spécial à Tel-Aviv  « Quand les canons ont tonné, les muses ne se sont pas tues », proclame Nili Cohen, la présidente du conseil d'administration de l'opéra israélien de Tel-Aviv. Et c'est précisément ce qui est reproché à cette institution dans une lettre ouverte de plus de 200 membres du Royal Ballet and Opera de Londres, qui ont annulé une coproduction de la Tosca de Puccini. « C'est un alignement délibéré avec un gouvernement actuellement engagé dans des crimes contre l'humanité », affirment les signataires du texte. Tali Barash Gottlieb, directrice générale l'opéra israélien, raconte : « Nous avons rencontré de grandes difficultés au cours de l'année qui s'achève. Et nous nous attendons à des problèmes pas moindres lors de la prochaine saison. Et c'est pour cela que nous mettons l'accent sur la participation de créateurs israéliens. C'était, de toute façon, notre intention pour cette quarantième saison qui est véritablement l'occasion de présenter sur le devant de la scène des talents israéliens, car les productions internationales présentent un grand défi. » La Tosca est donc au programme de cette nouvelle saison emblématique. Mais dans une production purement israélienne donc. Une situation qu'Anat Czarny, mezzo-soprano à l'Opéra de Tel-Aviv, regrette profondément. « Je peux comprendre les deux protagonistes concernés. Mais j'étais très déçue, car je crois que l'art est quelque chose de sacré. C'est quelque chose produit pour rapprocher les gens les uns des autres. J'ai un peu l'impression que ce n'est pas la politique qui est gagnante, mais plutôt l'art qui est perdant », se désole la chanteuse.  Après la période du Covid-19, et surtout depuis le 7 octobre 2023, la profession de chanteuse lyrique est très précaire en Israël. Mère de deux enfants, Anat Czarny va entamer une carrière parallèle d'infirmière, un de ses rêves d'enfance : « Le matin, je suis soit à l'hôpital, soit à l'opéra. Le soir, soit à l'opéra, soit à l'hôpital. Mais quand même, je veux être chanteuse d'opéra. C'est tout ce que je voudrais faire. »  Également au cœur de cette nouvelle saison de l'opéra israélien : le Dibbouk, histoire dans la tradition juive kabbaliste d'un esprit qui entre dans le corps d'un vivant pour le posséder, à la suite de mauvaises actions. Tout un programme. À lire aussi«J'ai retrouvé mon enfant démembré»: à Gaza, les bombes israéliennes non-explosées sèment la terreur

After 70 years of exile in Babylon Cyrus, the king of Persia, who had recently conquered the city of Babylon, decreed that the exiled Jews be allowed to return to Judea and to rebuild Jerusalem. The decree was made in BC 537. Read it aloud in verses 2-4 of Ezra 1. Two thousand five hundred and twenty years later the Embassy of the USA is relocated from Tel Aviv of Jerusalem and a coin is minted showing Cyrus on one side and the then American president, Donald Trump. The uncirculated coin - meaning the coin is not legal tender - is inscribed with the words from Ezra 1verses2. The gold and silver vessels of the former temple at Jerusalem which had been stored in the treasure house in Babylon are returned to the new temple that is to be built in Jerusalem. Chapter 2 of Ezra gives us an inventory of the vessels and speaks the faithful remnant who with Ezra the scribe. King Cyrus makes a generous donation towards the cost of rebuilding Jerusalem. The vessels represent the saintsverses Isaiah 22verses24; 2 Timothy 2verses20-21.Hosea 5 deals with the judgment to come upon faithless Israel and Judah. Yahweh would, like a lion, tear His people because of their rebellious ways firstly through the Assyrian lion who would carry Israel captive; and then Judah would experience a similar fate 120 years later at the hands of the Babylonians.Acts 21 records Paul's journey to Jerusalem. The Apostle comforts and encourages many groups of disciples as he heads to Jerusalem. An old prophet, named Agabus, attempts to persuade Paul to go no further. Paul will not, like his lord, be dissuaded from going. The first thing Paul does on his arrival is to see James who advises him of the best course of action to be taken so as to avoid trouble. The Apostle is advised to complete his Nazarite vow and to cover the expenses of four other brothers who are completing their vows. James reiterates to Paul that the only binding requirements on Gentile believers are the keeping of the four matters agreed upon at the Jerusalem Conference. However, Paul cannot peacefully complete his vow since he is arrested in the temple by Asian Jews. These hostile Jews mistakenly believe that Paul has profaned the temple by bringing Trophimus, a Gentile Ephesian into the temple. A Tribune from the Roman fort of Antonia rescues Paul and commands that he be chained. The crowd clamours for the Apostle's blood, just as they had for his Lord's some three and a half decades earlier. In the barracks Paul speaks with the Tribune dismissing many of the fanciful thoughts as to who Paul might be. Paul asks for permission to address the crowd from the steps of the fort and his speech is recorded in chapter 22. Paul gives his defence in Hebrew and initially the crowd pays close attention. The aged Apostle describes his own education in the Pharisaic tradition under Gamaliel and his zeal for the Law. After this he tells of his experiences on the Damascus road, his conversion to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says that he is warned by Jesus his Lord to immediately leave Jerusalem since his testimony will not be accepted. The Jews attentively listen until Paul speaks of being sent to the Gentiles. Once again uproar follows and the Tribune commands that Paul be scourged that the Tribune might understand why the multitude were so angry with the Apostle. Paul, on this occasion, uses his Roman citizenship to avoid a pointless flogging. The chapter concludes with the Tribune intending to have Paul examined by the Jewish Sanhedrin on the next day.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow

The Sports Rabbi Josh Halickman and Moshe Halickman the head of The Sports Rabbi Hebrew Website talked about Deni Avdija who is turning into a superstar while we also looked back at Hapoel Tel Aviv's Euroleague win, Maccabi Tel Aviv's struggles along with all of the other basketball and soccer action from around the Holy Land.Make sure to subscribe to The Sports Rabbi Show on iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts.Also download our fabulous new App available for both Android and iPhone!Click here for the iPhone AppClick here for the Android App

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In this episode of The Data Chief, Ilan Twig, co-founder and CTO of Navan, shares why large language models will revolutionize our relationship with technology—just like the mouse did for the keyboard. From pushing AI to its limits to launching Navan Cognition, built for zero critical hallucination, Ilan reveals what it really takes to lead through change and build AI that people can trust. He also dives into a critical question every company must face: Will you build AI from scratch, or build with AI partners?? And if you're curious about the next frontier, Ilan paints a bold vision of agent-to-agent communication—where AI services talk to each other and your admin work disappears into the background.  A must-listen for anyone building the future of AI-powered user experiences.Key Moments:Agent-to-Agent Communication (A2A) (17:00): Ilan envisions a future where dedicated AI services communicate with each other in natural language, without the need for an API. This "mother of all bots" would manage administrative tasks by talking to other bots, simplifying complex tasks for the user.AI as a "Human" Experience (27:16): Ilan was surprised by the release of ChatGPT in 2022 because it was the first time a technology felt human. This led him to spend four months building and testing the technology's boundaries, including its ability to lie or be "jailbroken" with creative prompts.Identifying the Core Business (31:43): Ilan advises companies to decide if they want to become an "AI company" or simply use AI. He explains that building a core AI platform requires a huge commitment.A Case Study in Building (35:32): The conversation furthers, as a light is shed on the building of “Navan Cognition”, because no solution existed at the time to prevent critical hallucinations in AI models. This system includes a supervisor agent that works to catch and correct undesirable responses, creating a "zero critical hallucination" experience for its users.Key Quotes:"LLMs would do to the mouse what the mouse did to the keyboard when it comes to how humans interact with computers."  - Ilan Twig“My role is to always apply the best technology in order to drive, to create the best product and best experience. That's my role. And it is not technology for the sake of technology. It is technology for the sake of creating value for the users." - Ilan Twig“We ended up using ThoughtSpot. We also applied the generative AI capabilities that you guys have built into your product. That's build versus buy. That's the benefit of buy.”  - Ilan TwigMentionsNavan Introduces World's Smartest T&E Personal AssistantNavan CognitionAI jailbreak method tricks LLMs into poisoning their own contextSurely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)  - Richard P. FeynmanGuest Bio Ilan Twig is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Navan, the leading modern travel and expense management platform, globally. As CTO, Ilan drives Navan's product development and engineering efforts, leveraging cutting-edge technologies — including AI — to enhance user experience and operational efficiency. This is Ilan's second successful venture with Navan CEO Ariel Cohen, following their previous company, StreamOnce, a business multimedia integration platform acquired by Jive Software. With nearly two decades of engineering experience, Ilan has a proven track record of leading innovative research and development teams. He previously held key roles at Hewlett-Packard and Rockmelt, where he managed large-scale engineering initiatives. Ilan holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Academic College of Tel-Aviv, Yaffo. As a forward-thinking technologist, Ilan is passionate about integrating AI-driven solutions to redefine the future of corporate travel and expense management. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

Breaking news update: Itay Chen's body was identified as the body handed over from Gaza City. He's the last American hostage. Tomer-Yerushalmi remains in custody as leak investigation expands; Trump administration drafts UN plan for international force to govern Gaza and disarm Hamas; Knesset advances death penalty bill for convicted terrorists & hear from Sudanese voices in Tel Aviv who are worried sick over the heinous violence unfolding in their country of origin.Israel Daily News website: https://israeldailynews.orgYOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@israeldailynews?si=UFQjC_iuL13V7tyQIsrael Daily News Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shannafuldSupport our Wartime News Coverage: https://www.gofundme.com/f/independent-journalist-covering-israels-warLinks to all things IDN:⁠ https://linktr.ee/israeldailynews⁠Music: NO MUSIC! Spotify is taking us down

What if the Torah isn't just a sacred text—but a divine structure hidden for 3,000 years?   What God Actually Wants From You (It's Simpler Than 3,000 Years of Religion Made It).Tel Aviv scholar and author Saul Sadka believes he's uncovered a pattern that rewrites how we understand the Bible itself. His discovery: the Torah is divided into 80 sections, repeating divine patterns of 13 and 8—symbols of oneness and covenant.In this episode, Sadka explains:How every book of the Torah fits a precise mathematical designWhy the current chapter-and-verse system was never part of the original textHow 13 and 8 reveal the blueprint of monotheismWhy rediscovering this structure could revive our lost connection to the sourceIf Sadka's right, this could be the most important Torah discovery in modern times—a map hiding in plain sight. Once you see the pattern, you'll never read scripture the same way again.Most things you rely on daily have an Israeli component.  Subscribe to discover how Israelis are improving YOUR life.   80% of your phone's security? Israeli. That life-saving medical device? Israeli. Your car avoiding crashes? Israeli.    Headlines show conflict. We show contribution. YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJHxFfzVypMfwHa6I6ckf-A Torah code, Saul Sadka, Israeli Trailblazers Show, hidden structure of the Bible, Jewish mysticism, Torah secrets, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Baal Shem Tov, biblical patterns, faith and reason, Israel innovation, Jewish thought, spirituality, monotheism, covenant, 13 and 8, Deuteronomy structure, Genesis code, religious discovery, modern Torah study, hidden wisdom https://pod.link/1585604285https://findinginspiration.substack.com/

On this week's episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber and Israel Policy Forum Director of Strategic Initiatives and IPF Atid Shanie Reichman discuss the state of play in the Gaza ceasefire, the recent scandal over the IDF military advocate general and the Sde Teiman abuse, the American Jewish community after the ceasefire, the NYC election and Jewish community reactions to it, remembering Yitzhak Rabin z”l, and more.Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Episode 73 of What Gives?—the Jewish Philanthropy Podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, Andrés speaks with Ronen Koehler, a former submarine commander and a leader of Brothers and Sisters in Arms. We recorded this conversation during Israel's war with Iran, with Ronen joining us from inside a public shelter in Tel Aviv. He reflects on the urgent, grassroots work of transforming neglected public shelters into safe and humane spaces, the evolution of Brothers and Sisters in Arms since October 7th, and the leadership lessons he carries from military service to civil society. It's a conversation about resilience, responsibility, and the power of citizens to step up when systems falter. Take a listen.

On today's podcast I chat once again with Paul Kearns, urban planner, author and journalist who has been living in Tel Aviv with his young family for the last 8 years. Paul brings us his insights from inside Israel since the Trump brokered cease fire - were there celebrations, who is credited with the ceasefire, what is the general mood like, what is the current standing of Netanyahu and what will happen with his corruption trial? He spoke about the trauma of this war for those in Israel, for those in Gaza and the West Bank, and how he tries his very best to explain the war to his very curious 9 year old girl. This was a difficult conversation, and in all honesty it is impossible to see a peaceful path forward, but yet, life goes on for everyone who will have to do their best to recover from the psychological trauma of this utterly pointless war. This world of ours has to do a better job in making sure this does not happen again. Just a day after our conversation Gaza was attacked again and over 100 people were murdered. Thanks for listening ..    Podcast Production by Greg Canty Greg's blog Greg on Twitter  Greg on LinkedIn Email Greg with feedback or suggested guests: greg@fuzion.ie

What if the Torah isn't just a sacred text—but a divine structure hidden for 3,000 years?   What God Actually Wants From You (It's Simpler Than 3,000 Years of Religion Made It).Tel Aviv scholar and author Saul Sadka believes he's uncovered a pattern that rewrites how we understand the Bible itself. His discovery: the Torah is divided into 80 sections, repeating divine patterns of 13 and 8—symbols of oneness and covenant.In this episode, Sadka explains:How every book of the Torah fits a precise mathematical designWhy the current chapter-and-verse system was never part of the original textHow 13 and 8 reveal the blueprint of monotheismWhy rediscovering this structure could revive our lost connection to the sourceIf Sadka's right, this could be the most important Torah discovery in modern times—a map hiding in plain sight. Once you see the pattern, you'll never read scripture the same way again.Most things you rely on daily have an Israeli component.  Subscribe to discover how Israelis are improving YOUR life.   80% of your phone's security? Israeli. That life-saving medical device? Israeli. Your car avoiding crashes? Israeli.    Headlines show conflict. We show contribution. YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJHxFfzVypMfwHa6I6ckf-A Torah code, Saul Sadka, Israeli Trailblazers Show, hidden structure of the Bible, Jewish mysticism, Torah secrets, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Baal Shem Tov, biblical patterns, faith and reason, Israel innovation, Jewish thought, spirituality, monotheism, covenant, 13 and 8, Deuteronomy structure, Genesis code, religious discovery, modern Torah study, hidden wisdom https://pod.link/1585604285https://findinginspiration.substack.com/

BOOK NOW FOR OUR LA SHOW - Nov 12 at Sinai Temple with special guest Ronen Bergman. Last stop for 2025! Use the coupon code UIH20 to get a discount on your tickets: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unpacked.bio/UIHLA25 Thirty years after Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated at a peace rally in Tel Aviv, we revisit one of the most defining moments in Israeli history. Originally released in Season 1, this episode now features new reflections from host Noam Weissman. It traces Rabin's journey from Palmach fighter to Oslo peace architect, explores the divisions and extremism that led to his murder, and asks: did the assassination kill the peace process—or was it already doomed? This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Next week, Noam sits down with journalist Haviv Rettig Gur to explore how Israel has changed, and stayed the same in the thirty years since Rabin's assassination. This episode is generously sponsored by Dr. Neil and Pam Weissman. Note: This episode was originally produced by Rachel Kastner with research and writing by Avi Pozen, Akiva Potok and Yitz Brilliant. Edited by Rob Pera. Check us out on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ------------------- For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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. The intrigue surrounding the leaked surveillance camera footage from the Sde Teiman detention facility is unabating as a search continues at Hatzuk Beach in Tel Aviv for the phone of the former military advocate general, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, whom police reportedly suspect of intentionally tossing it into the sea when she briefly disappeared Sunday evening. Horovitz updates us on the complicated case implicating the Military Advocate General’s Office and its many dramatic moments in the past few days. The Trump administration’s draft UN Security Council resolution to establish an international force in Gaza would reportedly give the US and other participating countries a broad two-year mandate to govern Gaza and be in charge of security there, according to an Axios report. We discuss the implications for such a step and whether it could be a way of bypassing the idea of a council of Palestinian technocrats ruling the strip. As media watchdog groups are denouncing a bill from the Communications Ministry that passed its first reading yesterday, saying that it is a step towards the end of free press and that the legislation would “give the government political control” over content and news broadcasts. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi claims it is a way to take the news out of the hands of the monopoly of billionaires who own the media. Horovitz discusses some of the details of the bill and why many are concerned. During an era of public fissure in Israel, prime minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated 30 years ago today. Horovitz weighs in on that terrible day and why he insists there is hope for bridging Israel's gaps and moving toward societal healing. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: IDF’s former top lawyer said to have approved leak of abuse video in group chat Timeline of a scandal: The 17 months of the Sde Teiman abuse and video leak affair Draft UN resolution would grant US and partners two-year mandate to govern Gaza Likud minister’s contentious media regulation bill passes first reading in Knesset Three decades on, a return to Rabin Square gives the slain premier’s right-hand man hope Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: US Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media as US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner stand next to him, in Kiryat Gat, Israel, October 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ya'akov Katz is back in Israel following a two-week book promotion tour in the U.S. See the information below. It is a beautifully written, incisive analysis of what went wrong on October 6 and 7. A page turner.It was great to have him on the podcast to take a close look at what is going on in the Gaza Strip - and what is not happening. It is almost one month since the Trump Peace Plan was signed and hope was high. Less so in Israel, perhaps, where so many weak spots were apparent. But it was something. And the first phase ensured that all living hostages would be released within days of signing. That alone was so important to the majority of Israelis. Incredibly, they did come out on Monday, October 13, after two years in captivity. A miracle that many thought would never come to pass. But then the chicanery began. Hamas has been dragging out the return of bodies of the hostages murdered in captivity. Why? Each day buys them time; to re-arm and regroup. And that is exactly what they are doing. Hamas controls approximately 50% of the Gaza Strip now and has no intention of relinquishing power or surrendering arms. They never did. They are brutalizing the people under their control and also conducting ambushes of IDF soldiers in the area that is controlled by Israel. The situation is volatile and operations are somewhat stalled. Just who will disarm Hamas remains unclear. And this is what Ya'akov Katz and I discuss today. Whereto from here?Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast Notes:“Crisply written... draws on excellent sources within Israel's military and intelligence services.” —The Wall Street JournalA powerful indictment of the political and military decisions that led to October 7While Israel Slept tells the gripping inside story of how Hamas, Israel's weakest enemy, succeeded in launching a surprise attack on one of the world's most powerful militaries. Through a detailed examination of the events leading up to October 7, 2023, the book exposes the intelligence and strategic failures that enabled this devastating invasion. It takes readers back in time, showing how years of complacency, mistaken intelligence analysis, and a misguided policy of containment enabled Hamas to prepare for an assault that Israel did not believe was possible and that would change the Middle East.The book unveils the dramatic events of the night before the attack, highlighting the cracks in Israel's military and political leadership. It provides unprecedented details on how key warnings were missed, and how Israel ignored the growing threat from Hamas, believing that the group was weak and deterred. By exposing these failures, While Israel Slept offers a stark, sobering account of how overconfidence and complacency paved the way for disaster, while underscoring the critical lessons Israel must embrace to safeguard its future.Yaakov Katz is an Israeli-American author and journalist. Between 2016 and 2023, Yaakov was editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post where he continues to write a popular weekly column.He is the author of three books: “Shadow Strike – Inside Israel's Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power”, “Weapon Wizards—How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower” and “Israel vs. Iran: The Shadow War.”Prior to taking up the role of editor-in-chief, Yaakov served for two years as a senior policy adviser to Naftali Bennett during his tenure as Israel's Minister of Economy and Minister of Diaspora Affairs.In 2013, Yaakov was one of 12 international fellows to spend a year at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.Originally from Chicago, Yaakov has a law degree from Bar Ilan University. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Chaya and their four children.Find Yaakov Katz on X.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

durée : 00:35:25 - Le 18/20 · Un jour dans le monde - Le 4 novembre 1995, le Premier ministre israélien était assassiné à Tel-Aviv par un étudiant d'extrême droite. Yitzhak Rabin, c'est celui qui a signé les Accords d'Oslo pour une paix durable entre Israël et la Palestine. Mais depuis 30 ans, où sont ceux qui militent pour la paix ? Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

durée : 00:12:20 - L'invité d'un jour dans le monde - Il y a 30 ans, Yitzhak Rabin était assassiné à Tel-Aviv par un étudiant d'extrême droite. Il avait porté les Accords d'Oslo pour une paix durable entre Israël et la Palestine. Mais depuis 1995, où sont ceux qui militent pour la paix ? Réponse avec notre invité du jour, Denis Charbit Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

durée : 00:35:25 - Le 18/20 · Un jour dans le monde - Le 4 novembre 1995, le Premier ministre israélien était assassiné à Tel-Aviv par un étudiant d'extrême droite. Yitzhak Rabin, c'est celui qui a signé les Accords d'Oslo pour une paix durable entre Israël et la Palestine. Mais depuis 30 ans, où sont ceux qui militent pour la paix ? Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training How would you go about making acquisitions to accelerate your growth? Would you buy for revenue, culture fit, or client roster? Would you be willing to fire big clients that are holding your agency back? Most agency owners chase growth by saying "yes" to everything, from new services, new clients, and every new opportunity. Today's featured guest built one of the fastest-growing mobile and digital agencies in the world by narrow focusing, firing bad-fit clients, and mastering the art of strategic acquisitions. Today he'll unpack how his agency evolved from a small mobile startup in Tel Aviv to a global digital powerhouse working with brands like Google, Uber, Samsung, and Microsoft. Gilad Bechar is the CEO and founder of Moburst, a mobile-first marketing and digital transformation agency with offices in Tel Aviv, New York, and San Francisco. Since 2013, Moburst has helped startups and Fortune 500s alike scale their reach through creative, data-driven, and tech-forward strategies. Under Gilad's leadership, the agency has raised capital, acquired multiple specialized firms, and built proprietary technology that keeps them ahead of the curve in AI, mobile UX, and cross-platform performance. In this episode, we'll discuss: The similarities between the mobile boom and the new AI era. Raising capital without losing control. Using acquisitions as a growth strategy. The power of saying no and focusing on fit. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. From A Mobile-First Niche Focus to Global Agency Powerhouse When Moburst launched in 2013, the agency world was flooded with "digital experts" who claimed to understand mobile. Most didn't. Gilad noticed that agencies were simply repurposing desktop experiences for smaller screens without real mobile UX thinking, no data-driven optimization, and definitely no understanding of how users behaved differently on apps. That insight became Moburst's edge. Instead of trying to compete as another full-service digital shop, they doubled down on mobile-first marketing. They mastered app store optimization (ASO), performance tracking, and mobile UX design. That focus helped them land early wins with major clients who were desperate for expertise in a fast-changing environment. As Gilad puts it, "When you show big clients that a critical piece of their marketing is being ignored, and you can fix it, that's your entry point." The AI Parallel: Most Agencies Talk, Few Deliver Gilad sees history repeating itself with AI. Just like the early mobile days, everyone's suddenly an "AI expert." But the difference between hype and real expertise shows up fast in a conversation. He believes the proof lies under the hood. Real experts can answer deep implementation questions: which tools integrate best, how to handle data security, and what AI models perform for specific tasks. Pretenders can't. For agencies, this is a reminder that credibility is earned through insight, not jargon. Clients see through the buzzwords. And the ones who don't will eventually learn when the work doesn't deliver. Raising Capital Without Losing Control Unlike most agency founders, Gilad took venture funding, not once, but three times. But he did it differently. Instead of giving away huge equity chunks, Moburst only diluted small percentages (around 6% each round). The investors came to them after seeing how fast their clients were growing. Without that, his agency wouldn't have its current success in the US market and would probably still be a very local agency in Israel. That capital gave him the means to hire a team in New York and then eventually move there to lead that office. It was the start of many new opportunities for the agency, like building internal tech tools that set them apart. It was also the way his team has stayed ahead of the curve from competitors that are not investing in the future and stay too focused on the right here and now. Furthermore, despite having 11 investors, Moburst kept full control. Only one board seat represents all investors, and it can't override the founders' decisions. According to Gilad, that control is what allowed them to make hard but smart moves, like firing clients and cutting costs in 2017 when growth was strong but profitability wasn't. The Hard Reset That Saved the Agency and Restored Profitability In 2017, Moburst was scaling fast but losing money just as quickly. The agency was adding clients and headcount, but without the right systems to manage profitability. At one point, they were bleeding up to $70,000 a month. So Gilad made the tough call: he cut unprofitable clients, reduced staff, and rebuilt the agency around systems that supported healthy margins. "It was brutal," he admits. "We let go of big, well-known clients we loved working with. But it didn't make sense to keep losing money just to say we worked with them." That painful reset worked. By 2018, the agency was profitable again and positioned for sustainable growth. That reset set the stage for their next evolution: acquisitions. How to Use Acquisitions as a Growth Strategy (Not a Gamble) Moburst's acquisition strategy wasn't about buying revenue or chasing vanity growth. It was about buying capabilities that solved their biggest operational gaps. Their first acquisition was a video production studio they had already worked with for over a year. The partnership was strong, the culture aligned, and the collaboration was smooth. So they brought them in-house in 2019 and the agency's offerings instantly expanded. Then they looked at their next biggest outsourced expense: web and app development. So in 2022, they acquired a dev shop after a successful collaboration period. In total, Moburst has made five acquisitions, each one following a simple rule: test first, integrate later. As Gilad says, "We don't buy to solve problems. We buy what already works and multiply it." When asked about whether or not these brands keep their names after acquisition, Gilad says it all depends on their brand authority. If they do great work and have a solid team but their brand isn't as strong, then it's best to just bring it under the Moburst umbrella. In case they do have a strong brand, then they'll just make sure their website reflects they are part of a larger group. How to Structure an Agency Acquisition Deal the Smart Way For agency owners eyeing their own M&A moves, Gilad shared his preferred deal structure. Each acquisition has four key components: Cash upfront - Rewards founders for their hard work. Equity - Gives them a stake in the larger vision. Dividends - Paid yearly so they benefit from the agency's profits. Performance bonuses - Tied to the profitability of their specific business unit. This structure keeps founders motivated and aligned for years to come, without the traditional burnout that comes from rigid earnouts. Everyone wins when growth is sustainable and collaborative. Why Firing Bad Clients Helps Scale Smarter One of the biggest lessons Gilad takes away from journey is the courage to say no: to clients, deals, or directions that don't fit. Agencies often cling to bad accounts out of fear of losing revenue, but simply put, that's a silent killer. If you're not profitable on a client, you're not just breaking even; you're paying for the privilege of overworking your team. Moburst's growth didn't come from doing more — it came from doing what mattered most. By focusing, pruning, and strategically acquiring, Gilad turned a niche mobile startup into a global digital powerhouse. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Elior's Quest: A Journey to Solar Innovation at Campus Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-11-02-08-38-20-he Story Transcript:He: המוזאון עמד בלב העיר תל אביב.En: The museum stood in the heart of the city of Tel Aviv.He: היה זה היו סתיו, זמן שבו העלים רוקדים ברוח הקרה.En: It was autumn, a time when the leaves dance in the cold wind.He: אליאור, יושב תחת הכיפה הגבוהה והזכוכית של מוזאון המדע, הביט מסביבו בהתרגשות.En: Elior, sitting under the high glass dome of the science museum, looked around excitedly.He: הוא חשב על פרויקט הקיימות שלו באוניברסיטה ורצה למצוא רעיונות חדשים.En: He was thinking about his sustainability project at the university and wanted to find new ideas.He: לצידו עמדו ליאורה ומתן, חבריו הטובים.En: Beside him stood Leora and Matan, his good friends.He: הם גם התעניינו בשינויים שהעולם עובר על רקע שינויי האקלים.En: They were also interested in the changes the world is undergoing against the backdrop of climate change.He: "נראה שזה הזמן המתאים לקיים פרויקטים חשובים," אמרה ליאורה בעוד עיניה נוצצות.En: "It seems like the right time to undertake important projects," said Leora, her eyes sparkling.He: החג סוכות בדיוק הסתיים, והמבקרים במוזאון היו מלאי השראה מההסתגרות בחיק המשפחה והטבע.En: The Sukkot holiday had just ended, and the museum visitors were full of inspiration from the seclusion with family and nature.He: אליאור התרכז בפינה מסוימת של המוזאון והוביל את חבריו לתצוגה העוסקת באנרגיה חלופית.En: Elior focused on a specific corner of the museum and led his friends to an exhibit about alternative energy.He: "כאן אני אמצא את הפתרון," הוא לחש לעצמו.En: "Here I will find the solution," he whispered to himself.He: היה שם מודל פשוט לשימוש באנרגיה סולרית.En: There was a simple model for using solar energy.He: בזמן שהסתכל על התצוגה, לבו של אליאור התרגש.En: As he looked at the display, Elior's heart swelled with excitement.He: איך יוכל ליישם זאת באוניברסיטה?En: How could he apply this at the university?He: הזמן עבר במהירות בזמן שעמד והתעמק בפרטים, קורא את כל המידע שמולו, עונה לשאלות האינטראקטיביות באצבעות מהירות.En: Time passed quickly as he stood and delved into the details, reading all the information before him, answering the interactive questions with quick fingers.He: לבסוף, הרגע של ההארה הגיע.En: Finally, the moment of enlightenment came.He: "זהו!" הוא קרא, "הפרוטוטייפ הזה - פשוט אבל כל כך רלוונטי! אפשר להטמיע אותו בקמפוס!".En: "That's it!" he exclaimed, "This prototype—simple yet so relevant! It can be implemented on campus!"He: אליאור פנה מיד למדריך במוזאון ושאל שאלות על הפרוטוטייפ.En: Elior immediately turned to the museum guide and asked questions about the prototype.He: השיחה הייתה פורייה; המדריך סיפק תשובות מעמיקות ונתן תובנות שעשויות להועיל לאוניברסיטה.En: The conversation was fruitful; the guide provided deep answers and offered insights that could benefit the university.He: עם שבסיים את ביקורם במוזאון, חיוך גדול נפרש על פניו של אליאור.En: As they finished their visit to the museum, a big smile spread across Elior's face.He: הוא לא רק מצא רעיון לפרויקט שלו, אלא גם קיבל את התמיכה והמידע הדרושים.En: He had not only found an idea for his project but also received the support and information he needed.He: מאז, היה ברור לו שיש לו את היכולת ואת הביטחון להוביל שינוי אמיתי.En: It was clear to him that he had the ability and the confidence to lead real change.He: הוא נשבע בלבו להפוך את העולם למקום טוב יותר, החל מהקמפוס שלו.En: He vowed in his heart to make the world a better place, starting with his campus. Vocabulary Words:autumn: סתיוdome: כיפהsustainability: קיימותundertake: לקייםinspiration: השראהseclusion: הסתגרותalternative: חלופיתprototype: פרוטוטייפenlightenment: הארהimplement: להטמיעcampus: קמפוסmuseum: מוזאוןvisitors: מבקריםinteractive: אינטראקטיביותexhibit: תצוגהfruitful: פורייהinsights: תובנותbackground: רקעfocused: התרכזdisplay: תצוגהdelved: התעמקswelled: התבטאguide: מדריךconfidence: ביטחוןundertaking: פרויקטsparkling: נוצצותproject: פרויקטsolar: סולריתsolution: פתרוןbenefit: להועילBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Send us a textDr. Miki Ben-Dor is a returning guest on our show! Be sure to check out Dr. Ben-Dor's first appearances on episodes 77, 323, 428, and 684 of Boundless Body Radio!Dr. Miki Ben-Dor is a paleoanthropologist, researching the association between diet during the Paleolithic and human evolution. He specializes in understanding the period of our evolution known as The Stone Age.He retired from his successful career as an economist at age 52 to pursue his passion for learning about the evolution of our species and got his PhD in Archeology from the University of Tel-Aviv. He also has a bachelor's degree in Economics and a master's degree in business administration.He has released several studies, including his fantastic and critically acclaimed paper called Man the Fat Hunter. He is the author of the book Live Paleo Style: Overcome The Ancestral-Modern Mismatch to Regain Your Natural Wellbeing, which has recently been translated to English from the original text in Hebrew.Find Dr. Ben-Dor at-http://www.paleostyle.com/TW- @bendormikiBook- Live Paleo Style: Overcome The Ancestral-Modern Mismatch to Regain Your Natural WellbeingResearch Gate- Dr. Mike Ben-DorYT Video- Turning scientific constraints into breakthroughs - Janna LevinFind Boundless Body at- myboundlessbody.com Book a session with us here!

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: High Stakes: The Gamble That Changed Noa's Life Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-10-31-07-38-20-he Story Transcript:He: בתוך החדר האפלולי והמלא עשן במועדון תל אביבי, השולחן סביבו ישבו נועה וארי היה במרכז העניינים.En: In the dim, smoke-filled room of a Tel Avivian club, the table around which Noa and Ari sat was at the center of attention.He: החדר היה מלא בריח מתוק של משקאות הסתיו, אנשים לחשו והצ'יפים הקליקו בנעימות.En: The room was filled with the sweet scent of autumn drinks, people whispered, and the chips clicked pleasantly.He: הרקע המוזר הזה דווקא הקנה תחושת אינטימיות לכולם, אבל המתח דווקא גבר ככל שהמשחק התקדם.En: This peculiar backdrop actually granted an intimate feeling to everyone, but the tension increased as the game progressed.He: נועה, מתכנתת מוכשרת ומעט שקטה, הביטה בארי, מנהל מוצר מלא כריזמה.En: Noa, a talented and somewhat quiet programmer, looked at Ari, a charismatic product manager.He: היא הייתה צריכה לנצח, היה לה חוב שנערם וזו הייתה ההזדמנות שלה להוכיח את עצמה.En: She needed to win; she had accumulated debt and this was her chance to prove herself.He: ארי, מנגד, נהנה מההתרגשות שבקריאת פני המתמודדים מולו, ובמיוחד הפעם הזו.En: Ari, on the other hand, enjoyed the thrill of reading the expressions of the opponents around him, especially this time.He: הסתיו, עם רוחותיו הקרירות, בדיוק הביא את ליל כל הקדושים.En: Autumn, with its chilly winds, had just brought Halloween.He: אף שכאן לא חלפו בבתים לאסוף ממתקים, התחפושות היוו תירוץ מושלם למסיבה קלילה במועדון.En: Although here no one went door-to-door collecting sweets, the costumes provided the perfect excuse for a light-hearted party at the club.He: כולם הסתובבו מחופשים – כמו פרקים מתוך סרטים.En: Everyone moved around in disguises—like scenes from movies.He: המשחק התנהל הייתה ביניהם כמו ריקוד, כשהדילר מחלק את הקלפים, וארי מעלה את ההימור.En: The game was like a dance between them, with the dealer dealing the cards, and Ari raising the stakes.He: "את לא משחקת בטוח, נועה," הוא העיר, מה שהוסיף לקהל סביבם שתיקות מלאות מתח.En: "You're not playing it safe, Noa," he remarked, adding to the tension-filled silence of the crowd around them.He: נועה נשמה עמוק.En: Noa took a deep breath.He: היא ידעה שהיא חייבת לקחת סיכון.En: She knew she had to take a risk.He: רגע האמת הגיע, והיא בחרה ללכת עם הלב.En: The moment of truth had come, and she chose to follow her heart.He: היא העלתה את ההימור ככל שביכולתה, יד רועדת מעט כשהניחה את כל הצ'יפים במרכז השולחן.En: She raised the stakes as much as she could, her hand trembling slightly as she placed all the chips in the center of the table.He: ארי הרצין, מסתכל על הקלפים ואחר כך על פניה של נועה, מנסה לפענח את כוונותיה.En: Ari grew serious, looking at the cards and then at Noa's face, trying to decipher her intentions.He: בסופו של דבר, הוא הציב את הקלפים בצד וקרא להימור שלה.En: In the end, he laid his cards aside and called her bet.He: "בואי נראה מה יש לך," הוא אמר, חיוך קלווילי על פניו.En: "Let's see what you've got," he said, a sly smile on his face.He: נועה חייכה, חושפת את הקלפים שלה.En: Noa smiled, revealing her cards.He: סדרה!En: A flush!He: ארי הופתע, השתקפות של הערכה ניבטה בעיניו.En: Ari was surprised, a reflection of admiration in his eyes.He: "וואו, נועה, את באמת מדהימה!En: "Wow, Noa, you're truly amazing!"He: " הוא אמר בהוקרה.En: he said appreciatively.He: באותו רגע, נועה חשה שינוי בתוכה.En: At that moment, Noa felt a shift within her.He: היא הצליחה.En: She succeeded.He: היא ניצחה.En: She won.He: לא רק במשחק הפוקר, אלא בסיפור האישי שלה על ביטחון עצמי ויכולת לקחת סיכונים.En: Not just in the poker game, but in her personal story of self-confidence and the ability to take risks.He: עכשיו ידעה שהיא לא רק מתכנתת טובה, אלא גם מישהי שיודעת לשחק את המשחק של החיים.En: Now she knew she was not just a good programmer, but also someone who knew how to play the game of life. Vocabulary Words:dim: אפלוליwhispered: לחשוpeculiar: מוזרintimate: אינטימיותtension: מתחcharismatic: כריזמהaccumulated: נערםopponents: מתמודדיםdisguises: מחופשיםstakes: הימורremarked: העירtrembling: רועדתdecipher: לפענחintentions: כוונותsly: קלוויליadmiration: הערכהshift: שינויself-confidence: ביטחון עצמיcenter of attention: מרכז הענייניםgranted: הקנהthrill: התרגשותexpressions: פניexcuse: תירוץlight-hearted: קלילהdealer: דילרtruth: אמתreveal: חושפתflush: סדרהappreciatively: בהוקרהprove: להוכיחBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

On this week's episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Dan Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel. They discuss the method and timing behind the Trump-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal, comparisons with the Biden administration's diplomacy, whether senior U.S. officials are really coming to Israel to "Bibi-sit,” the prospects for Phase I of the deal holding, the challenges looming in Phase II, whether more regional normalization is really at hand, what's next on the Iran front, and more. Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Gaza has seen its deadliest day since the ceasefire began just over two weeks ago. The Israeli strikes come after Israel accused Hamas of an attack that killed an IDF soldier and allegedly staging the discovery of a deceased hostage. But Hamas says it has "no connection" to the attack and remains  committed to the deal. To discuss, former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas joins Christiane from Tel Aviv.  Also on today's show: Mustafa Barghouti, President, Palestinian National Initiative; journalist/historian Garrett Graff; author Michael McFaul, former US Ambassador to Russia  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica as a category 5 storm. President Trump is in Japan where he met the country's newly elected prime minister and touted the use of the U.S. military to achieve his top priorities. NBC News International Correspondent Matt Bradley reports live from Tel Aviv, Israel as Prime Minister Netanyahu orders strikes on Gaza. NBC News National Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki analyzes the latest poll in the New York City mayoral race. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Zohar Bronfman spends most of his time in Tel Aviv, Israel these days. He has a focused academic background, specifically in philosophy and neuroscience. He was always intrigued by the question - how do we know what we know? - which led him to get a PhD in Philosophy. While doing that, he also became fascinated with he human mind and empirical decision making, which took him down the road of obtaining another PhD in AI & Neuroscience, essentially emulating brain processes. Outside of tech, he has 3 kids and a startup. He loves a good book in the philosophy or neuroscience space, and is a big fan of sports. Specifically, he loves the NBA and claims to be a Knicks fan.Zohar and his now co-founder were digging into predictive models, as an extension of their academic studies. They were curious as to why companies, though they were running predictive models, were not making accurate predictions. They soon realized that this was because the AI modeling expertise was centralized at couple of well known companies.This is the creation story of Pecan AI.SponsorsVentionCodeCrafters helps you become a better engineer by building real-world, production-grade projects. Learn hands-on by creating your own Git, Redis, HTTP server, SQLite, or DNS server from scratch. Sign up for free today using this link and enjoy 40% off.Full ScalePaddle.comSema SoftwarePropelAuthPostmanMeilisearchLinkshttps://www.pecan.ai/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zohar-bronfman/https://demandforecast.ai/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/code-story-insights-from-startup-tech-leaders/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Reuniting Under the Sukkah: A Family's Heartfelt Homecoming Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-10-28-22-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: העלים המשיר מהעצים ברחבי נתב"ג, לובשים צבעי זהב של סתיו.En: The leaves shedding from the trees around Ben Gurion Airport are taking on the golden hues of autumn.He: היה זה חג סוכות, ונוסעים עוברים במתחם הנמל מתבוננים בסוכות הקטנות שהוקמו בסמוך.En: It was the holiday of Sukkot, and travelers passing through the airport area observed the small Sukkahs that had been set up nearby.He: איליעב עמד מחוץ לאולם קבלת הפנים, נרגש ונפעם.En: Eliyav stood outside the arrivals hall, excited and moved.He: הוא לא ראה את מירים אחותו כבר שנה שלמה, ועכשיו היא שבה מניו יורק עם טליה, הבת הקטנה שאימצה.En: He hadn't seen his sister Miriam for an entire year, and now she was returning from New York with Talia, the young girl she had adopted.He: על הפנים של איליעב ניכרו קווי מתח, תוצאה של ימים ארוכים בעבודה כאדריכל בתל אביב.En: Visible on Eliyav's face were lines of tension, the result of long days working as an architect in Tel Aviv.He: אך ברגע שראה את מירים דוחפת את העגלה עם טליה, הוא הרגיש קרן של שמחה.En: But the moment he saw Miriam pushing the stroller with Talia, he felt a beam of joy.He: בלב הוא רצה לנטוש את כל הלחץ בעבודה ולחזק את קשרי המשפחה, במיוחד עכשיו עם טליה.En: In his heart, he wanted to abandon all the work stress and strengthen family ties, especially now with Talia.He: מירים צעדה בזהירות, מרגישה את המבטים עליה, מהאני משפחת חדשה בארץ המוכרת לה כל כך.En: Miriam walked cautiously, feeling the eyes upon her, part of a new family in a land so familiar to her.He: היא חששה, בתקווה שאיליעב ושאר המשפחה יקבלו את טליה באהבה.En: She was apprehensive, hoping that Eliyav and the rest of the family would accept Talia with love.He: טליה, למרות גילה הצעיר, היתה תינוקת רכה ושלווה, ואנרגיה חיובית הקיפה אותה.En: Talia, despite her young age, was a gentle and serene baby, surrounded by positive energy.He: כשראה איליעב את אחותו נאבקת עם המזוודות וטליה חסרת מנוחה, הוא רץ לעזור לה.En: When Eliyav saw his sister struggling with the luggage and a restless Talia, he ran to help her.He: הוא חייך חיוך רחב, ואחז בתינוקת.En: He flashed a broad smile and held the baby.He: "ברוכה הבאה הביתה," אמר, והאמירה הרגיעה את הלב של מירים.En: "Welcome home," he said, and the statement eased Miriam's heart.He: במהלך סוכות, המשפחה ישבה יחד בסוכה החדשה, נהנתה מארוחה חגיגית.En: During Sukkot, the family sat together in the new Sukkah, enjoying a festive meal.He: הרוח נשבה בחוץ, אך בתוך הסוכה היה חם ומשפחתי.En: The wind was blowing outside, but inside the Sukkah, it was warm and familial.He: איליעב, שהקדיש את כל זמנו למשפחה, הרגיש פתאום שחרור וקרבה שלא חווה זמן רב.En: Eliyav, who had devoted all his time to the family, suddenly felt a release and closeness he hadn't experienced in a long time.He: "אתה יודע," אמרה מירים, תוך כדי שהיא מביטה בטליה משחקת בדשא, "אני כל כך שמחה לחזור.En: "You know," said Miriam, as she watched Talia play on the grass, "I am so happy to be back."He: " איליעב הנהן והתמלא באהבה וחוזק מחודש.En: Eliyav nodded, filled with renewed love and strength.He: העבודה תמתין, הוא הבין כעת שהמשפחה היא באמת במקום הראשון.En: The work could wait; he now understood that the family truly came first.He: הם חייכו אחד לשנייה, שמחים להתאחד תחת אותה הסוכה, תחת אותו הלב.En: They smiled at each other, happy to reunite under the same Sukkah, under the same heart. Vocabulary Words:shedding: המשירhues: צבעיautumn: סתיוobserved: מתבונניםcautiously: בזהירותapprehensive: חששהeased: הרגיעהfestive: חגיגיתrelease: שחרורcloseness: קרבהrenewed: מחודשreunite: להתאחדstruggling: נאבקתgentle: רכהpositive: חיוביתrestless: חסרת מנוחהfamilial: משפחתיdevoted: הקדישstroller: עגלהarchitect: אדריכלbeam: קרןabandon: לנטושserene: שלווהwelcomed: ברוכהstruggling: נאבקתadopted: אימצהaccept: יקבלוsmiled: חייכוfeeling: מרגישהenergy: אנרגיהBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Jessica Steinberg speaking with Orna and Ronen Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra, a tank platoon commander who was killed on October 7, 2023, his body taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. The Neutras, Israeli-born Americans who have been living in the US for the last 20 years, talk about the last days since the start of the ceasefire, the joyous return home of 20 living hostages, as the bodies of 13 hostages are still held in Gaza. Orna Neutra discusses how they knew they would never hug their son again, but how difficult it is to reconcile his death until they can bury his body. Ronen Neutra offers more details about October 7, 2023, his son's heroic final moments as a commander on the so-called White House IDF post near the Gaza border. The Neutras discuss their alliance with both the Biden and Trump administrations over the last two years, their more than 40 visits to Washington, DC, and how each US administration embraced the hostage families. Yet, says Orna Neutra, there is still the challenge of explaining that a deceased hostage is still a hostage, and can't remain in Gaza. Ronen Neutra talks about the gray zones of the ceasefire agreement concerning the deceased hostages, and how this war is not over until the last hostage is back. And so this week, we ask Orna and Ronen Neutra, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra, killed on October 7, 2023, his body still held in Gaza, at the October 18, 2025 rally at Tel Aviv's Hostages Square (Tzachi Dovrat/Israeli Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastors' Point of View Ep. 379 with Dr. Andy Woods “Prophecy Update”In today's Pastors' Point of View: Peace TreatyGlobalismEurocentric NWOGlobal ReligionAre we watching prophecy unfold in real-time? The psychology of desperation is setting the stage for what Scripture predicted thousands of years ago.Israel is searching for another Cyrus—a deliverer, a protector, a guarantor of peace. Billboards across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are already declaring modern leaders as their "Cyrus the Great." But this desperate search for security reveals something deeper: a nation primed to embrace a false peace that won't last.Daniel 9:27 tells us the tribulation period will begin with a treaty between the Antichrist and Israel. What we're seeing today isn't just politics—it's prophetic preparation. From peace deals that Hamas openly admits are just temporary truces, to global carbon taxes pushing us toward one-world government, to interfaith dialogue merging world religions, the pieces are coming together.The Trump peace plan may have freed hostages, but it's a band-aid over a wound that won't heal until Israel receives her true King. Hamas leaders have already stated they don't even have a word for "peace"—only "truce." They're regrouping, not surrendering.Meanwhile, Europe is consolidating power, the Vatican is opening Muslim prayer rooms, and global governance is being pushed under the guise of climate crisis. Everything the Bible predicted about the end times is accelerating.But here's the hope: before the tribulation begins, the church will be removed in the rapture. Titus 2:13 calls this our "blessed hope." The world is being prepared for judgment, but believers are being prepared for glory.The signs are undeniable. The stage is set. Are you ready?#BibleProphecy #EndTimes #Daniel927 #BlessedHope #Rapture #ProphecyUpdate #Israel #GlobalGovernment #OneWorldReligion #LastDays

How did the Israeli economy react to the war against Hamas?  Hear from a major player on the ground – Dr. Eugene Kandel, former economic adviser and Chairman of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, discusses Israel's financial resilience after the war against Hamas. Having made aliyah from the Soviet Union in 1977 with his family, Dr. Kandel covers the stock market rebound, missed economic opportunities with Jordan and Egypt, and the success of the Abraham Accords.  *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC. Take Action: Elected Leaders: Demand Hamas Release the Hostages  Key Resources: AJC's Efforts to Support the Hostages Listen – AJC Podcasts: Architects of Peace The Forgotten Exodus People of the Pod Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman:   Professor Eugene Kandel served as economic adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel from 2009 to 2015, and with Ron Sor is a co-founder of Israel's Strategic Futures Institute. He is also chairman of the Tel Aviv stock exchange, the only public stock exchange in Israel, known locally as the Bursa. He is with us now to talk about the impact of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza on Israel's economy, the potential and impact so far of the Abraham Accords, and how history could one day view October 7 as a turning point for Israel's democracy.  Dr. Kandel, welcome to People of the Pod. Eugene Kandel:   Thank you. Thank you for having me.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Before we begin, your family came to Israel in 1977. Can you share your family's Aliyah story? Eugene Kandel:   Yeah, when I was 14, my family was living very comfortably in the Soviet Union. My father was a quite known writer, playwright, a script writer. And around him was a group of Jewish people of culture that were quite known in their domains, mostly Jewish. And so at some point in 67 he sort of had this vision and started studying Hebrew. But 1970 and then by ‘73 when I was 14 years old, he came to me and said, Look, your mom and I decided to immigrate to Israel. What do you think about it, and I said, I don't know what I think about it. Okay, you know, if we want to immigrate, let's immigrate. I never felt too much belonging there. So unfortunately, Soviet authorities had other ideas about that. So we spent four years as refuseniks. My father, together with Benjamin Fine, were the editors of the underground publication called Tarbut. And for people who did not live there, they put their names on it. So this was, these were typewritten copies of Jewish culture monthly. And there were two names on it. You could go to jail for this. My father was always pretty brave man for his petite size, because during the Second World War, he was very, very hungry, to say the least. So he didn't really grow very much. But he's very big inside.  And so the following four years were pretty tough on them, because he couldn't work anywhere. Just like in McCarty years in this country, people would give work to their friends and then publish it under their own name. That's what he did for his friends, and they would share the money with him, or give him most of the money. There were very, very brave people. And then, you know, there was an incident where they wanted to send a message to my father to be a little less publicly outspoken. And so two KGB agents beat me up.  And that started a whole interesting set of events, because there was an organization in Chicago called Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry. Pamela Cohen. And I actually met Pamela when I was studying at the University of Chicago. And thanked her. So they took upon themselves to harass Soviet cinema and theater and culture officials. And so they were so successful that at some point, the writers league from Hollywood said that nobody will go to Moscow Film Festival unless they release us because they do not want to associate with people who beat up children. I wasn't a child, I was 17 years old, but still. And that sort of helped. At least, that's how we think about it.  So it's worthwhile being beaten up once in a while, because if it lets you out, I would take it another time. And then we came to Israel in a very interesting time. We came to Israel four hours after Anwar Sadat left. So we came to a different Israel. On the brink of a peace agreement with Egypt. And so that was it.  We came to Mevaseret Zion, which was an absorption center. A small absorption center. Today I actually live probably 500 yards from where we stayed. Sort of full circle.  And today, it's a significant, it's about 25,000 people town. And that's the story, you know, in the middle, in between then and now, I served in the military, did two degrees at Hebrew University, did two degrees at the University of Chicago, served as professor at the University of Rochester, and then for 28 years, served as professor of economics and finance at the Hebrew University. So I keep doing these circles to places where I started. Manya Brachear Pashman:   You say you arrived four hours after Sadat's visit to Israel on the brink of a peace agreement with Egypt. Did that peace agreement live up to expectations? Eugene Kandel:   Well, it depends what are your expectations. If your expectation will continue in the war, it definitely did, because, you know, for the last, you know, whatever, 48 years, we didn't have any military activity between Israel and Egypt. And we even have security collaboration to some extent. But if you're thinking about real peace, that would translate into people to people peace, business to business peace, it did not generate that at all. Because there was a very, very strong opposition on the street level and on the intellectuals level.  It actually started to break a little bit, because today you can find analysts on Egyptian television that are saying that we are, we are stupid because we don't collaborate with Israel. It is allowed today, It's allowed to be said in, you know, 20-30, years [ago], that person would have been ostracized and would never be allowed to speak.  So there is some progress, but unfortunately, it's a huge loss for the Egyptian economy. For Israeli economy, it is probably also a loss, but Israeli economy has a lot of alternatives in other countries. But Egyptians don't seem to be able to implement all the things that Israelis implemented a long time ago. You know, whether it's water technologies, whether it's energy technologies. Lots of lots of stuff, and it's really, really unfortunate that we could have helped Egyptian people, the same people who rejected any relations with us. And that's a pity. Manya Brachear Pashman:   The next peace agreement that came was with Jordan in 1994, quite some time later. Did that peace agreement live up to expectations, and where were you in 1994? Eugene Kandel:   1994, I was a professor at the University of Rochester, so I wasn't involved at all. But again, it was a very, very similar story. It was the peace that was sort of forced from above. It was clearly imposed on the people despite their objections, and you saw demonstrations, and you still see. But it was clear to the leadership of Jordan that Israel is, in their case, is absolutely essential for the survival of the Hashemite Dynasty. In the end the Israeli intelligence saved that dynasty, many, many times.  But again, it wasn't translated into anything economic, almost anything economic, until in the early 2000s there were some plants in Jordan by Israeli businessmen that were providing jobs, etc. But I was privileged to be the first to go to Jordan together with American officials and negotiate the beginning of the gas agreement.  We were selling gas to Jordan, because Jordan was basically going bankrupt because of the high energy costs. Jordan doesn't have its own energy, apart from oil shale. Sorry, shale oil. And for some reason they weren't able to develop that. But Israeli gas that we are selling to them as a result of what we started in 2012 I believe. Actually very important for the Jordanian economy. And if we can continue that, then maybe connect our electrical grid, which is now in the works, between the water-energy system.  And now maybe there is a possibility to connect the Syrian grid. If we have an agreement with Syria, it will help tremendously these countries to get economic development much faster. And it will help Israel as well, to balance its energy needs and to maybe get energy, provide energy, you know, get electricity, provide gas. You know, there's all these things where we can do a lot of things together. If there is a will on the other side. There's definitely will on the Israeli side. Manya Brachear Pashman:   In addition to gas, there's also water desalination agreements, as well, right? Eugene Kandel:   Yeah, there was a Red to Dead project, which was to pump the water all the way from the Red Sea along the Arava Valley. And then there is a 400 meter, 500 meter drop. And so to generate electricity through that desalinate that water that you pump, and then send that water to Egypt, send the electricity that was generated and not needed to Israel and then dump this salt stuff into the Dead Sea. Frankly, I don't know where this project is. Nobody talks about it for the last seven, eight years. I haven't heard.  Now there are different projects where you would get energy generated in Jordan and sold to Israel in Eilat, for example, because it's difficult for us to bring electricity all the way South. And so if the Jordanians have large fields of photovoltaic energy they can sell, they can satisfy the needs of a lot, and then in return, we can desalinate water and send it to them. So there's all kinds of projects that are being discussed. Manya Brachear Pashman:   But Israel does provide water to Jordan, correct? Eugene Kandel:   There are two agreements. One agreement, according to our peace agreement, we are supposed to provide them with a certain amount of water. I don't remember the exact amount. But that's not enough, and so we also sell them water. So think about it. There is a sweet water reservoir called Tiberius, Kinneret, in the north, and we sending water from there into two directions according to the agreement. We're sending it to Amman, pumping it up to the mountains, and then we're sending it throughout the Jordan Valley, all the way along the Jordan River, to the Jordanian side. So it's quite striking when I used to go between Jerusalem and Amman, it's actually an hour and a half drive. That's it. You go down, you go up, and you're there.  And so when you're passing the Israeli side, you see the plantations of date palms that are irrigated with drip irrigation. So very, very economically, using the brackish salt water that is pumped out of the ground there. You cross two miles further, you see banana plantations that are flood irrigated at 50-centigrade weather, and the water that comes from them comes on an open canal. So basically, 50% of the water that we send this way evaporates. Growing bananas in that climate and using so much water, it's probably, if you take into account the true cost of water, it's probably money losing proposition, but they're getting the water. The people that are the settlements on that Bank of Jordan River, are getting it for free. They don't care. And if somebody would just internalize that, and instead of sending the water down in an open canal, would send the whole water up to Amman, where there is a shortage of water, enormous shortage of water. And then you would take the gravity and use that water to generate electricity, to clean that water, the sewage, clean it and drip irrigate plantations, everybody would make enormous amounts of money. Literally enormous amounts of money. And everybody's lives would be better, okay? And I'm not talking about Israelis. It's within Jordan. And you can't say that there's no technology for that, because the technology is two miles away. You can see it.  And it just puzzles me. Why wouldn't that be done by some entrepreneurs, Jordanian entrepreneurs. We could really help with that. We could even help by buying the water from them back. The water that we give them, we can buy it back. Because in Israel, the water is very expensive. So we could finance that whole thing just by sending the water back, but that would be probably politically unacceptable, I don't know. But it's really, really . . . for an economist, it's just a sad story. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Missed opportunities. Well, let's go back. I introduced you as the chair of the Tel Aviv stock exchange, the Bursa. And I am curious. Let's talk about the economy. Does Israel treat its stock market the same way we do? In other words, are there opening and closing bells at the beginning and end of every day? How does the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange work compared to the United States? Eugene Kandel:   Well, we do have the opening bell, but it's usually reserved for some events. We don't have the events every day. Usually, if there's a new listing, or there's somebody celebrating, like, 20 years of listing, we have all kinds. Recently, we had Mr. Bill Ackman came and gave a speech and opened the trading together with us.  There are events around Jeffries Conference. But it's much more, you know, ceremony, I mean, it's not really connected to anything. Trading starts whether you press the button or don't. But Israeli stock exchange is unique in the following sense: it is an open limit book. What means that there is, you know, buyers meet sellers directly, and it works like that, not only in stocks, which is similar to what it is everywhere, but it's also in bonds, government bonds, corporate bonds, and in derivatives.  So in that sense, we do have our ceremonies, but the interesting thing is, what is happening with the exchange in the last two years. Accidentally, I joined two years ago as the chairman, and over the last two years, the stock exchange, the indices of Israeli Stock Exchange were the best performing out of all developed countries, by far. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Did that have something to do with the war? Eugene Kandel:   Well, it should have been, you know, in the opposite direction, but, the war is, not this length of war, not this intensity of war . . . but if you look back over at least 25 years, the Israeli economy responds very robustly to military conflict. Usually they're much shorter. If you look at even quarterly returns of the stock exchange, you would not know that there was a war in the middle, definitely not annual. If you look over the last 25 years, and you look at this stock, annual returns of the indices, you would not know that there was anything wrong, apart from our 2003 crisis, and Corona. Even the great financial crisis, you would not see it. I mean it was basically past us, because we didn't have a financial crisis in Israel. We had repercussions from, you know, the rest of the world's financial crisis, but we didn't get our own. And so we do have resilience built in, because we're just so used to it. However, having said that, it's the first time that we have such a long and intensive war on seven, whatever fronts. So it is quite surprising that just like any other time, it took about three months for the stock market to rebound after October 8. It was a big question whether to open the market on October 8. We struggled with it, and we decided that we do not want to give anybody the right to disrupt the Israeli economy.  I mean, it was a really tough decision, because there was certain people were saying, Well, how can you do that? It's a national tragedy. And of course, it was a national tragedy. But closing the market would have meant two things.  First of all, it would have shown the world that our economy can be interrupted. It would have given the benefit to those people that did these atrocities, that they managed to do more damage than they already did. And we didn't want to do that. And it didn't collapse. It went down, of course, but it rebounded within less than three months. By the end of that year, it was back on the same level. And then it did this comeback, which was quite phenomenal. And it's an interesting question, how come? Because during that time, we had some cases where Israel was boycotted by investors, very few, by the way, but we also saw many, many new investors coming in.  You could look at the war from the negative side. Of course, huge costs. But with all that, it was about 10% of annual GDP, because we are, you know, we're a big economy, and we borrowed that very easily because we had a very strong macro position before that. So we now 76% debt to GDP ratio. It's much lower than majority of developed countries. But we still had to borrow that. It was a lot of money, and then the defense budget is going to go up. So there is this cost.  But vis a vis that, A, Israeli technology has been proven to be unmatched, apart from maybe us technology in certain cases, but in some cases, even there, we have something to share. And so we have huge amounts of back orders for our defense industries. During the war, and they were going up when some of the countries that are making these purchases were criticizing us. They were learning from what we did, and buying, buying our equipment and software, etc.  And the second thing, we removed the huge security threat. If you look before October 7, we were quite concerned about 150,000 missiles, some of them precise missiles in Hezbollah's hands, an uninterrupted path from Iran through Syria to Hezbollah, constantly replenishing. We would bomb them sometimes in Syria, but we didn't catch all of them. We had Hamas, we had Hezbollah, we had Syrians, we had Iranians. We had, you know, not, you know, Iraqi militia. So, Hezbollah doesn't exist. Well, it exists, but it's nowhere near where it where was at. And the Lebanese Government is seriously attempting to disarm it. Syria, we all know what happened in Syria. We didn't lift a finger to do that. But indirectly, from what happened in Hezbollah, the rebels in Syria became emboldened and did what they did. We know what happened with Hamas. We know what happened with Iran. Okay, Iran, even Europeans reimposed the sanctions. So that's the side effect.  So if you look at the Israeli geopolitical and security situation, it's much, much better. And in that situation, once the war is over and the hostages are returned, and hopefully, we will not let this happen again, ever, to work hard so we remember that and not become complacent. It's an enormous, enormous boost to Israeli economy, because this security premium was quite big.  So that is on the positive side, and if we play smart, and we play strategically, and we regain sort of good relations with some of the countries which are currently very critical of us, and somehow make them immune to this anti Israeli antisemitism propaganda, we can really get going. Manya Brachear Pashman:   You mentioned investors. There were more investors after the war. Where were those investors coming from, internally or from other countries?  Eugene Kandel:   It's interesting that you asked this question, because in 2020, early 2024 a lot of Israeli institutions and individuals moved to S&P 500, and they got really hammered. Twice. Because A, S&P 500 was lagging behind the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. So there was some other players coming in, because otherwise, when you move money, usually, you should see a drop, but you saw an increase. That meant that there are others came in. But the more interesting thing is that shekel was very weak when they bought dollars, and now shekel is about 15% stronger, so they lost 15% just on the exchange rate. And so a lot of money that went to S&P came back in the last six, eight months. So the internal money came back.  But on top of internal money, we looked at the behavior of foreign investors right after October 7. They didn't flee the country. Some of them sold stocks, bought bonds. And then so Israeli institutions made money on that, because Israeli institutions bought stocks from them at about 10%, 15% discount, and then when it rebounded, they made money. But that money didn't leave, it stayed in Israel, and it was very costly to repatriate it, because the shekel was very weak. And so buying dollars back was expensive. And the money slowly went into stocks. And then people made quite a lot of money on this. Manya Brachear Pashman:   The last topic I want to cover with you is external relations. You mentioned Syria, the potential of collaborating with Syria for water, gas. Eugene Kandel:   Electricity. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Electricity. And I presume that you're referring to the possibility of Syria being one of the next members to join the Abraham Accords. That has been mentioned as a possibility. Eugene Kandel:   Maybe. But we can, we can do something much less. Manya Brachear Pashman: Outside of the Accords. Eugene Kandel:   Outside of the Accords, or pre-Accord, or we can, we can just create some kind of collaboration, just we had, like as we had with UAE for for 15 years before the Accord was signed. Was a clear understanding.  Maybe. But we can, we can do something much less outside of the Accord, or pre-Accord, or we can, we can just create some kind of collaboration, just we had, like as we had with UAE for for 15 years before the Accord was signed. Was a clear understanding.  You know, I was in UAE, in Dubai on the day of signing of the Accord. I landed in Dubai when they were signing on the on the green loan, on the White House lawn. And we landed. It was amazing. It was the degree of warmth that we received from everybody, from ministers in the economy to ministers that came to speak to us, by the dozen to people in the hotel that were just meeting us. They issued, for example, before signing the Accord, there was a regulation passed by by UAE that every hotel has to have kosher food. We don't have that in Israel. I mean, hotels mostly have kosher food, but not all of them, and, and it's not by law.  This was, like, clear, we want these people to feel comfortable. It was truly amazing. I've never, I could never imagine that I would come to a country where we didn't have any relations until today, and suddenly feel very, very welcome. On every level, on the street, in restaurants. And that was quite amazing, and that was the result of us collaborating below the surface for many, many years. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Parity of esteem, yes? Suddenly. Eugene Kandel:   Yeah, they didn't feel they did exactly the important part when the UAE businessman or or Ambassador order you feel completely no chip on the shoulder whatsoever. They feel very proud of their heritage. They feel very proud of their achievements. They feel and you feel at the same level. They feel at the same level, just like you would with the Europeans. We always felt that there was something like when, when, Arab delegations, always tension. I don't know whether it was superiority or inferiority. I don't know. It doesn't matter, but it was always tension in here. I didn't feel any tension. Was like, want to do business, we want to learn from you, and you'll to learn from us. And it was just wow. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Same in Bahrain and Morocco? Eugene Kandel:   I haven't been to Bahrain and Morocco. I think Bahrain wants to do business. They were very even, sort of some of, we sent the delegation to Bahrain to talk about sort of Israeli technology and how to build an ecosystem in the same with Morocco. I think it's a bit different. I think it's a bit different because we didn't see much going on from from these two countries. Although Morocco is more advancing much faster than Bahrain. There are a lot of interesting proposals coming out of it.  There's a genuine desire there. In the last two years, of course, it was difficult for for anybody to do anything in those but interestingly, when almost no European airlines or American airlines were flying to us, Etihad and Emirates were flying to Israel. They were flying. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Past two years? Eugene Kandel:   Yeah, they would not stop. And you're just like, wow. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So would you say the Abraham Accords have had a significant impact on Israel's economy at all? Eugene Kandel:   I do not know. I mean, I don't have data on that by the sheer number. I mean, the the number of Israeli tourists Sue UAE, it's probably 10 or 20 to one to the vice versa. So we've been Israelis flooding UAE. In terms of investments, there are some technology investments. There's some, some more infrastructural investors, like they bought 20% of our gas field. There are collaborations between universities and research centers. So it's hard to measure, but you have to remember that there was a huge amount of trade and collaboration under the surface. So it surfaced. But that doesn't mean that there was an effect on the economy, just people suddenly saw it. So you don't know what the Delta was. If the same amount of business was suddenly coming out of Jordan, we would have seen, you know, big surge. So I'm not sure how much . . . I don't mean to say that there was no impact. I'm just saying that the impact was much more gradual, because there was so much already, right? But I'm sure that it is continuing, and the fact that these airlines were continuing to fly, indicates that there is a demand, and there's a business. Initially a lot of Israelis thought that there was, this was a money bag, and they would go there and try to raise money and not understanding culture, not understanding. That period is over. I mean, the Emiratis conveyed pretty clearly that they not. They're very sophisticated investors. They know how to evaluate so they do when they make investments, these investments make sense, rather than just because you wanted to get some money from somebody. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, thank you so much.  Eugene Kandel:   Thank you.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   If you missed our last episode, be sure to tune in for my conversation with AJC's Director of Congressional Affairs Jessica Bernton. We spoke shortly after receiving the news that a deal had been reached and the hostages from the October 7 Hamas terror attack might finally come home after two years in captivity. That dream was partially realized last week when all the living hostages returned and the wait began for those who were murdered.  

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. ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. With the body of hostage Tal Haimi returned to Israel, Horovitz discusses the resilience of and emotional toll on the remaining 15 hostages' families awaiting their loved ones, and whether Hamas is playing games in the slowed process of returning the bodies. As US Vice President JD Vance arrives in Israel, Horovitz talks about his presence in Israel alongside US special envoy Steve Witkoff and White House advisor Jared Kushner, all part of the overt American role in seeing the ceasefire carried out to its conclusion. The Knesset's raucous opening session on Monday reveals deep divisions, says Horovitz, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech aimed to frame the conflict as a victory for Israel, alongside the continued battle over the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Hamas hands over body of hostage Tal Haimi, slain defending his kibbutz on Oct. 7 Vance lands in Israel as US said to fear Netanyahu could collapse Gaza ceasefire Smiles, hugs abound as Witkoff and Kushner meet with released hostages Ohana snubs Supreme Court president at Knesset’s opening session, sparking turmoil ‘War of Revival’: Cabinet approves Netanyahu’s controversial renaming of Gaza war Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Vice President J.D. Vance, right, and Second Lady Usha Vance arrive at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 21, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Israeli military announced the ceasefire in Gaza has resumed after an attack that killed two IDF soldiers and was followed by a wave of airstrikes that according to Palestinians killed 36 people. Hamas accuses Israel of multiple ceasefire violations and said they have not been in contact with their forces in the area of the attack claiming they cannot be responsible for any 'incidents' in the area. Israel continues to press Hamas to fulfill its ceasefire role of returning the remains of all deceased hostages. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Trey Yingst, Chief Foreign Correspondent for the FOX News Channel reporting from Tel Aviv, who says until all deceased hostages are returned to their families the ceasefire seems 'incomplete'. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 and diplomatic reporter Nava Freiberg join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and fellow advisor Jared Kushner arrive in Israel, Berman discusses that Israel has fulfilled its first steps in the ceasefire involving Palestinian prisoners and the 'Yellow Line' to which the IDF has withdrawn in the Gaza Strip, but that Hamas has not kept its part of the bargain, with the remaining 16 hostages' bodies still held in Gaza, and the Hamas attack in Gaza Sunday that killed two soldiers. Witkoff and Kushner will meet with Israel's high-ranking officials and cabinet, says Berman, as two US advisors aim to safeguard the tenuous ceasefire that is one week old. The two US advisors appeared on "60 Minutes" on Sunday night, discusses Frieberg, unveiling details of the process and the steps that led to the announcement of the first stage of the ceasefire deal, and aspects of the more personal conversations with Hamas officials that helped push things forward. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Hamas isn’t acting like a defeated force, which puts the entire Gaza ceasefire at risk Netanyahu denies Trump forced truce on him, says war ends ‘for good’ when Hamas disarmed Hamas says it returned 2 more bodies of hostages; remains taken to forensic lab for ID Israel says resuming Gaza ceasefire after deadly attack on troops led to massive strikes Kushner: Israel must improve Palestinians’ lives if it wants ‘integration’ into region Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: A billboard shows images of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US President Donald Trump, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Tel Aviv on October 12, 2025. (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Sunday, there were major strains on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which has only been in place for a little more than a week. Israel said it carried out strikes across Gaza in response to Hamas attacks on its troops, and announced it’s cutting off aid shipments into Gaza “until further notice.” Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen reports from Tel Aviv. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ralph welcomes Professor Roddey Reid to break down his book “Confronting Political Intimidation and Public Bullying: A Handbook for the Trump Era and Beyond.” Then, we are joined by the original Nader's Raider, Professor Robert Fellmeth, who enlightens us on how online anonymity and Artificial Intelligence are harming children.Roddey Reid is Professor Emeritus at the University of California, San Diego where he taught classes on modern cultures and societies in the US, France, and Japan. Since 2008 he has researched and published on trauma, daily life, and political intimidation in the US and Europe. He is a member of Indivisible.org San Francisco, and he hosts the blog UnSafe Thoughts on the fluidity of politics in dangerous times. He is also the author of Confronting Political Intimidation and Public Bullying: A Handbook for the Trump Era and Beyond.I think we still have trouble acknowledging what's actually happening. Particularly our established institutions that are supposed to protect us and safeguard us—many of their leaders are struggling with the sheer verbal and physical violence that's been unfurling in front of our very eyes. Many people are exhausted by it all. And it's transformed our daily life to the point that I think one of the goals is (quite clearly) to disenfranchise people such that they don't want to go out and participate in civic life.Roddey ReidWhat's broken down is…a collective response, organized group response. Now, in the absence of that, this is where No King's Day and other activities come to the fore. They're trying to restore collective action. They're trying to restore the public realm as a place for politics, dignity, safety, and shared purpose. And that's been lost. And so this is where the activists and civically engaged citizens and residents come in. They're having to supplement or even replace what these institutions traditionally have been understood to do. It's exhilarating, but it's also a sad moment.Roddey ReidRobert Fellmeth worked as a Nader's Raider from 1968 to 1973 in the early days of the consumer movement. He went on to become the Price Professor of Public Interest Law at the University of San Diego (where he taught for 47 years until his retirement early this year) and he founded their Children's Advocacy Institute in 1983. Since then, the Institute has sponsored 100 statutes and 35 appellate cases involving child rights, and today it has offices in Sacramento and DC. He is also the co-author of the leading law textbook Child Rights and Remedies.I think an easy remedy—it doesn't solve the problem totally—but simply require the AI to identify itself when it's being used. I mean, to me, that's something that should always be the case. You have a right to know. Again, free speech extends not only to the speaker, but also to the audience. The audience has a right to look at the information, to look at the speech, and to judge something about it, to be able to evaluate it. That's part of free speech.Robert FellmethNews 10/17/25* In Gaza, the Trump administration claims to have brokered a ceasefire. However, this peace – predicated on an exchange of prisoners – is extremely fragile. On Tuesday, Palestinians attempting to return to their homes were fired upon by Israeli soldiers. Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed those shot were “terrorists” whose attempts to “approach and cross [the Yellow Line] were thwarted.” Al Jazeera quotes Lorenzo Kamel, a professor of international history at Italy's University of Turin, who calls the ceasefire a “facade” and that the “structural violence will remain there precisely as it was – and perhaps even worse.” We can only hope that peace prevails and the Palestinians in Gaza are able to return to their land. Whatever is left of it.* Despite this ceasefire, Trump was denied in his bid for a Nobel Peace Prize. The prize instead went to right-wing Venezuelan dissident María Corina Machado. Democracy Now! reports Machado ran against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 2023, but was “barred from running after the government accused her of corruption and cited her support for U.S. sanctions against Venezuela.” If elected Machado has promised to privatize Venezuela's state oil industry and move Venezuela's Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and in 2020, her party, Vente Venezuela, “signed a pact formalizing strategic ties with Israel's Likud party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” Machado has also showered praise on right-wing Latin American leaders like Javier Milei of Argentina and following her victory, praised Trump's “decisive support,” even telling Fox News that Trump “deserves” the prize for his anti-Maduro campaign, per the Nation.* Machado's prize comes within the context of Trump's escalating attacks on Venezuela. In addition to a fifth deadly strike on a Venezuelan boat, which killed six, the New York Times reports Trump has ordered his envoy to the country Richard Grenell to cease all diplomatic outreach to Venezuela, including talks with President Maduro. According to this report, “Trump has grown frustrated with…Maduro's failure to accede to American demands to give up power voluntarily and the continued insistence by Venezuelan officials that they have no part in drug trafficking.” Grenell had been trying to strike a deal with the Bolivarian Republic to “avoid a larger conflict and give American companies access to Venezuelan oil,” but these efforts were obviously undercut by the attacks on the boats – which Democrats contend are illegal under U.S. and international law – as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeling Maduro a “fugitive from American justice,” and placing a $50 million bounty on his head. With this situation escalating rapidly, many now fear direct U.S. military deployment into Venezuela.* Meanwhile, Trump has already deployed National Guard troops to terrorize immigrants in Chicago. The Chicago Sun-Times reports Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope and a Chicago native, met with Chicago union leaders in Rome last week and urged them to take action to protect immigrants in the city. Defending poor immigrants is rapidly becoming a top priority for the Catholic Church. Pope Leo has urged American bishops to “speak with one voice” on the issue and this story related that “El Paso bishop Mark Seitz brought Leo letters from desperate immigrant families.” Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, also at the meeting with Leo and the union leaders, said that the Pope “wants us to make sure, as bishops, that we speak out on behalf of the undocumented or anybody who's vulnerable to preserve their dignity…We all have to remember that we all share a common dignity as human beings.”* David Ellison, the newly-minted CEO of Paramount, is ploughing ahead with a planned expansion of his media empire. His next target: Warner Bros. Discovery. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Ellison already pitched a deal to WB CEO David Zaslav, but the $20 per share offer was rejected. However, Ellison is likely to offer a new deal “possibly…backed by his father Larry Ellison or a third party like Apollo [Global Management].” There is also talk that he could go directly to the WBD shareholders if the corporate leadership proves unresponsive. If Ellison is intent on this acquisition, he will need to move fast. Zaslav is planning to split the company into a “studios and HBO business,” and a Discovery business, which would include CNN. Ellison is clearly interested in acquiring CNN to help shape newsroom perspectives, as his recent appointment of Bari Weiss as “editor-in-chief” of CBS News demonstrates, so this split would make an acquisition far less of an attractive prospect. We will be watching this space.* In another Ellison-related media story, Newsweek reports Barron Trump, President Trump's 19-year-old son, is being eyed for a board seat at the newly reorganized Tik-Tok. According to this story, “Trump's former social media manager Jack Advent proposed the role at the social media giant, as it comes into U.S. ownership, arguing that the younger Trump's appointment could broaden TikTok's appeal among young users.” Barron is currently enrolled in New York University's Stern School of Business and serves as an “ambassador” for World Liberty Financial, the “Trump family's crypto venture.” TikTok U.S., formerly owned and operated by the Chinese company ByteDance, is being taken over by a “consortium of American investors [including Larry Ellison's] Oracle and investment firm Silver Lake Partners,” among others.* As the government shutdown drags on, the Trump administration is taking the opportunity to further gut the federal government, seeming to specifically target the offices protecting the most vulnerable. According to NPR, “all staff in the [Department of Education] Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), with the exception of a handful of top officials and support staff, were cut,” in a reduction-in-force or RIF order issued Friday. One employee is quoted saying “This is decimating the office responsible for safeguarding the rights of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.” Per this report, OSERS is “responsible for roughly $15 billion in special education funding and for making sure states provide special education services to the nation's 7.5 million children with disabilities.” Just why exactly the administration is seeking to undercut federal support for disabled children is unclear. Over at the Department of Health and Human Services, headed by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS sent out an RIF to “approximately 1,760 employees last Friday — instead of the intended 982,” as a “result of data discrepancies and processing errors,” NOTUS reports. The agency admitted the error in a court filing in response to a suit brought by the employees' unions. Even still, the cuts are staggering and include 596 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 125 at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to name just a few. This report notes that other agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security all sent out inaccurately high RIFs as well.* The Lever reports Boeing, the troubled airline manufacturer, is fighting a new Federal Aviation Administration rule demanding additional inspections for older 737 series planes after regulators discovered cracks in their fuselages. The rule “would revise the inspection standards…through a regulatory action called an ‘airworthiness directive.'...akin to a product recall if inspectors find a defective piece of equipment on the plane…in [this case] cracks along the body of the plane's main cabin.” The lobbying group Airlines for America is seeking to weaken the rule by arguing that the maintenance checks would be too “costly” for the airline industry, who would ultimately have to bear the financial brunt of these inspections. Boeing is fighting them too because such a rule would make airlines less likely to buy Boeing's decaying airplanes. As this report notes, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy – who oversees the FAA – “previously worked as an airline lobbyist…[and] Airlines for America recently selected the former Republican Governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu to be their chief executive officer.”* In more consumer-related news, Consumer Reports has been conducting a series of studies on lead levels in various consumer products. Most recently, a survey of protein powders and shakes found “troubling levels of toxic heavy metals,” in many of the most popular brands. They write, “For more than two-thirds of the products we analyzed, a single serving contained more lead than CR's food safety experts say is safe to consume in a day—some by more than 10 times.” Some of these products have massively increased in heavy metal content just over the last several years. CR reports “Naked Nutrition's Vegan Mass Gainer powder, the product with the highest lead levels, had nearly twice as much lead per serving as the worst product we analyzed in 2010.” The experts quoted in this piece advise against daily use of these products, instead limiting them to just once per week.* Finally, in a new piece in Rolling Stone, David Sirota and Jared Jacang Maher lay out how conservatives are waging new legal campaigns to strip away the last remaining fig leaves of campaign finance regulation – and what states are doing to fight back. One angle of attack is a lawsuit targeting the restrictions on coordination between parties and individual campaigns, with House Republicans arguing that, “because parties pool money from many contributors, that ‘significantly dilutes the potential for any particular donor to exercise a corrupting influence over any particular candidate' who ultimately benefits from their cash.” Another angle is a lawsuit brought by P.G. Sittenfeld, the former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati – who has already been pardoned by Trump for accepting bribes – but is seeking to establish that “pay-to-play culture is now so pervasive that it should no longer be considered prosecutable.” However, the authors do throw out one ray of hope from an unlikely source: Montana. The authors write, “Thirteen years after the Supreme Court gutted the state's century-old anti-corruption law, Montana luminaries of both parties are now spearheading a ballot initiative circumventing Citizens United jurisprudence and instead focusing on changing state incorporation laws that the high court rarely meddles with.The measure's proponents note that Citizens United is predicated on state laws giving corporations the same powers as actual human beings, including the power to spend on politics. But they point out that in past eras, state laws granted corporations more limited powers — and states never relinquished their authority to redefine what corporations can and cannot do. The Montana initiative proposes to simply use that authority to change the law — in this case, to no longer grant corporations the power to spend on elections.” Who knows if this initiative will move forward in Montana, but it does provide states a blueprint for combatting the pernicious influence of Citizens United. States should and must act on it.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Following the ceasefire in Gaza, this week has seen the release of hostages and prisoners on both sides and the beginning of the return of the remains of some of the deceased. Over the past two years, The Fifth Floor has been speaking to language service colleagues reporting on the conflict. This week, we reconnect with them to find out how networks of citizens on both sides have informed and provided new perspectives on their reporting. Amira Dakroury checked in from the BBC's Cairo Bureau where she's part of the team producing Middle East Diaries, formerly Gaza Lifeline; and from Tel Aviv, BBC Arabic's Michael Shuval reflected on reporting the stories of hostage families. Dr Tri Maharani's videos about how to treat snake bites are beginning to be well known in Indonesia. For fifteen years, she's worked to improve outcomes for snakebite victims in her country, where only one antivenom is currently available, but more than eighty species of poisonous snake are a threat. BBC Indonesian's Astudestra Ajengrastri spoke to her. This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world.Presented by Faranak Amidi Produced by Laura Thomas and Caroline Ferguson

Liberal media is pushing their latest narrative that Antifa does not actually exist, but they have been reporting about Antifa's existence for years. President Trump traveled to Tel Aviv as the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect, and the Middle East celebrates peace. Democrats get caught in their hypocrisy about the government shutdown they caused. ABC's George Stephanopoulos cuts off Vice President J.D. Vance during an interview.    ► Subscribe to “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered”! https://www.youtube.com/@SaraGonzalesUnfiltered?sub_confirmation=1    Today's Sponsors:   ► Relief Factor Visit https://www.relieffactor.com or call 1-800-4-Relief to try the three-week QuickStart for just $19.95.   ► Patriot Mobile Call 972-PATRIOT today, or go to https://www.patriotmobile.com/partners/sara and use promo code SARA for a FREE month of service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anticipation is growing in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv where families and friends of the remaining Israeli hostages have gathered ahead of their expected release by Hamas after two years of captivity in Gaza. Around twenty of them are thought to still be alive. As part of an exchange Israel will free nearly two-thousand Palestinian prisoners under the terms of the ceasefire deal brokered by the Trump administration. The US president, who is travelling to Israel, has said that he believes the ceasefire in Gaza will hold and that the war is over. Also: the leader of an elite army unit in Madagascar that sided with demonstrators against the president has been sworn in as the chief of the country's armed forces, leading to talk of a possible coup; how the temperature of your nose can determine your stress levels; and the actor, Tom Hollander, tells the BBC that live performance is crucial in fighting the growing use of AI on screen.

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump's destructive behavior inside the United States while his closest ally Benjamin Netanyahu is booed in Tel Aviv, Israel. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices