The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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. Diaspora affairs reporter Zev Stub and reporter Diana Bletter join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As Spain implements the largest state-level boycott of Israel, Stub reviews elements of the embargo and whether it could set a precedent of similar gestures from other countries. Bletter reports on a recent visit to the northern city of Kiryat Shmona, badly damaged during the year of Hezbollah strikes, and still struggling to revitalize itself. A look at Israel's population numbers shows that more people exited the country in 2024 than entered it, reports Stub. This came even as statistics paint a nuanced picture of rising immigration to the country amid skyrocketing antisemitism globally. Finally, Bletter reports on the resilience and diversity of Israeli science and medical research, including research on coral reefs, and how cancer can help heal ailing hearts. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: With new trade restrictions, Spain looks to trigger EU cascade against Israel Spanish Jews warn map of local Jewish and ‘Zionist’ businesses will lead to violence Half-empty and scarred by war, Kiryat Shmona sees protests – and grassroots rejuvenation More than 69,000 Israelis left Israel in 2025, as population reached 10.18 million In surprising breakthrough, scientists in Israel find cancer may help heal the failing heart Israeli scientists say tiny organisms can revamp their own RNA to survive extreme heat New Israeli research shows coral reefs shape the ebb and flow of local microbial life 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 pro-Palestinian demonstrator holds a banner reading: 'Boycott Israeli apartheid' during a protest in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Bernat Armangue/AP Photo)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. The "Schmoovie" of the week is "Marty Supreme," starring Timothée Chalamet (who also co-produced), Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara and Fran Drescher. It was produced and directed by Josh Safdie, who also co-wrote the script, alongside Ronald Bronstein. Like the very Jewish film it is, it arrived to the world on December 25 and so Borschel-Dan had to make a rare outing into a Jerusalem cinema. She brings back the unique impressions from an Israeli crowd watching this utterly Yiddishe story set in 1950s Lower East Side New York -- especially how they reacted to Holocaust references. Hoffman, who recently interviewed director Safdie about the film for Vanity Fair, gives us the inside scoop on the crazy cast of characters that flesh out the "junkyard Jews" at the heart of the tale. The pair keeps the conversation very general -- no spoilers! -- for the first half of the episode, but then get Talmudically into the weeds for the second. Hear about our very first unreserved top-marking "not bad" from both hosts on this week's The Reel Schmooze. The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts. IMAGE: Timothée Chalamet attends the premiere of 'Marty Supreme' at Regal Times Square on December 16, 2025, in New York. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, catch diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. This week, while Berman was in Florida to cover the summit between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan invited senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur to sit in the hot seat and prepare five scenarios for Israel for 2026. Rettig Gur came prepared -- plus one -- and the two spend the first half discussing the three main fronts of the war, Lebanon, Gaza and Iran. In the second half, we learn about more domestic/political issues, including Rettig Gur's projection that Israel will begin to wean itself from US aid as the political winds shift in the States. Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: A man walks down to the Western Wall as the Dome of the Rock at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound appears in the background in the Old City of Jerusalem on December 4, 2025. (JOHN WESSELS / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Political reporters Ariela Karmel and Sam Sokol join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Following the High Court's Wednesday ruling temporarily halting a transfer of funds to ultra-Orthodox schools, Sokol and Karmel discuss the implications of the petition against the transfer, reactions from ultra-Orthodox leadership, and the broader context of judicial reform amid budget tensions and coalition politics. After Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened High Court President Isaac Amit over a ruling regarding Army Radio, Karmel reports on the ostensible incitement and the willingness expressed by some members of the government to defy court rulings against the backdrop of the coalition's attempts to neuter the power of the courts. As several Haredi parties battle over appointments to the Jerusalem rabbinate, the argument has spilled over into national politics, says Sokol, highlighting divisions in ultra-Orthodox politics. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: High Court halts transfer of NIS 1 billion to Haredi schools as it reviews case Lapid petitions High Court to halt billion-shekel transfer to ultra-Orthodox schools Supreme Court chief says Smotrich crossed ‘red line’ by pledging to ‘trample’ him Smotrich vows to ‘trample’ Supreme Court president in blistering attack Shas, Degel HaTorah trade barbs in fight for control of Jerusalem religious council 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: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on December 29, 2025 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. NY correspondent Luke Tress joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is set to become the city's leader at midnight as the apple falls in Times Square. According to a report from the Anti-Defamation League, at least 20 percent of Mamdani’s 400 administrative appointees are connected to anti-Zionist US activist groups, such as Students for Justice in Palestine. Tress zooms into the case of Catherine Almonte Da Costa, who was initially named as his administration’s director of appointments. Tress delves into which of Mamdani’s policies are particularly worrisome for NY Jews, including security, schools and the annual Israel parade. In the second half, we focus on the new Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ) and how it sees itself as a new way of framing hatred against Jews. Scholar Adam Louis-Klein and MAAZ are part of a network of academics and activists pushing the Jewish community to focus on anti-Zionism as a distinct hatred, with its own ideology and tactics, moving on from the antisemitism paradigm as a framework for understanding discrimination against Jews. We debate whether this is needed even as it grows in traction in the US. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: What are Mamdani’s policy proposals that could directly impact Jewish New Yorkers? At least 20% of Mamdani appointees have ties to anti-Zionist groups, ADL says High-level Mamdani appointee resigns after old antisemitic comments surface 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 and Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on December 17, 2025 in New York. (ANGELA WEISS / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.