Joel shares three big takeaways from the JNF Global Conference: what it felt like to be there, why Europe still clings to the idea of a Palestinian state, and how Israel can move forward in shaping its public image. Plus: a wild political scandal, listener questions about rabbis, Yom Kippur, and more.

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Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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Last week, I asked for your ideas to help repair Israel’s image in the world—and you delivered. 

This week, I share more of your most creative suggestions – from reimagining Birthright as an internship program to empowering more Israeli voices in business, culture, and politics to speak out. 

We’ll also talk about the uphill battle of countering the “genocide” narrative, why a new kind of spokesperson may be needed, and what all this reveals about how the Jewish world sees itself today.

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Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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Last week, I asked you to send me your ideas for how Israel can repair its image in the world.

You flooded my inbox with response–so today, I’ll share the first batch of listener ideas, as well as a few of my own. 

From rebuilding trust with American Jews to showing the world the truth about Hamas, your messages didn’t just focus on PR—they revealed deeper issues within the Jewish world itself, issues we clearly need to fix too.

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Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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The hostages are home — at last. Joel unpacks the ceasefire deal that no one saw coming: how it happened, who made it happen, and whether it will last. He also shares how Israelis are feeling in this moment of relief and uncertainty, and six takeaways for what comes next.

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Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Joel covers the big news in Israel — reports of a possible ceasefire that could finally end the war and bring all hostages home — and the shocking Yom Kippur attack on a synagogue in Manchester, UK. Plus, listener questions about last week’s controversial episode on the case for destroying Gaza City, and a look at one of the country’s most unique phenomena: Yom Kippur is a bike holiday for kids and bicycle-riding adults alike throughout Israel. 

Please note: this is the final week of our fall fundraiser in support of the podcast. If you still haven't made a contribution, please do so at www.joelchasnoff.com. 

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To be clear, I don’t believe the IDF should destroy Gaza City. But many Israelis do. In today’s episode, I’ll share their arguments for why some feel Israel has no choice—and why that belief has only grown stronger in light of recent declarations by the UK, France, and others officially recognizing a Palestinian state.

It won’t be an easy episode. The views I’ll present are not politically correct, but they are essential if you want to understand the Israeli mindset and where the country stands today.

We'll also be continuing our fall fundraiser in support of the podcast. If you still haven't made a contribution, please do so at www.joelchasnoff.com. 

---------------

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this milestone episode of Inside Israel, I sit down with Professor Dan Ben-David of Tel Aviv University and the Shoresh Institute to tackle a big question: What will Israel look like in 40 years—or will it even be here as we know it? 

Rather than relying on emotions, this conversation dives into hard data—demographics, statistics, and facts—to explore the realistic scenarios for Israel’s future.

And just a quick note: our Inside Israel fundraiser is underway. If you haven’t had a chance to support yet, now’s the time! Check the link below.

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Support Inside Israel: Contribute

Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Joel takes you inside Parents’ Night at his child’s high school. From a principal who criticized the Ministry of Education and drew applause, to a homeroom teacher who explained he may be absent over the next few weeks due to being called up for his fifth round of IDF reserve duty, to a photo montage at the school entrance honoring recent graduates who’ve fallen in Gaza since October 7—these are the tiny details of Israeli life that reflect the reality of the country today. Joel also explores why, despite this school’s strengths, the broader education system faces deep challenges. 

Plus: the annual Inside Israel fundraiser kicks off at joelchasnoff.com.

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Support Inside Israel: Contribute

Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of Inside Israel, I talk about what it’s like teaching my 18-year-old daughter to drive here. In Israel, even after passing the driving test, new drivers must spend three months with a licensed adult beside them. Which means I’ve been in the passenger seat a lot lately.

But here’s the twist: the advice I give her in Israel is very different from what I would say if she were learning in the U.S. Because driving here isn’t just about steering and signaling—it’s about navigating a culture where drivers behave in their own… unique way.

I’ll share what I’ve learned from being her co-pilot, and what these lessons reveal about life on Israeli roads.

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Support Inside Israel: Contribute

Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The news out of Israel can often feel heavy, and the Inside Israel podcast is no exception. 

But this week, for a change, Joel brings you something different: genuinely positive Israel-related news, inspired by his recent trips overseas to Cyprus and the US (yes, really!).

And as always, Joel takes time to answer listener questions.

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Support Inside Israel: Contribute

Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back when I was a lone soldier in the IDF, most Israelis had never even heard the term “lone soldier,” let alone understood who we were or what we were doing there.

That changed in the summer of 2006, when Michael Levin z”l, a lone soldier from Philadelphia, was killed in Lebanon.

On today’s episode of Inside Israel, I sit down with Michael’s mother, Harriet Levin, to talk about her son’s legacy and the work she and her husband, Mark, continue through the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation in his memory.

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Support Inside Israel: Contribute

Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

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Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week marks 19 years since the death of Michael Levin z”l, the lone soldier from Philadelphia who fell in the 2006 Lebanon War. Ahead of next week’s special conversation with Michael’s mother, Harriet Levin, I take a closer look at the reality of lone soldiers in Israel today. 

From surprising statistics—like the fact that half of the IDF’s 7,000 lone soldiers were born and raised in Israel—to the challenges they face, I’ll share key insights you need to know about this important part of Israeli society.

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Support Inside Israel: Contribute

Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

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Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach the two-year mark since October 7, 2023, it's time to take a hard look at the war in Gaza—and how we got here. 

In this episode, I revisit the goals we were told would guide the war effort, and the assumptions behind them. 

I also share personal conversations I’ve had with various Israelis about the war, explore shifting public sentiment in Israel, and examine how the world now sees us. From military strategy to the war narrative to the question of a Palestinian state, I’ll attempt to change your perspective on what Israel needs to do next. 

Because if we’re serious about protecting Israel’s future, we have to be willing to rethink everything—even the things we once thought were sacred.

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Support Inside Israel: Contribute

Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

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Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In everyday Hebrew, chinam means “free.”

But as we approach Tisha B’Av—the day we mourn the destruction of the Temple—chinam takes on a darker meaning.

Our sages say the Temple was destroyed because of sin’at chinam, which I translate as “hatred without cost.” 

In today’s episode, I’ll speak about the current divisions in Israeli society and why these very divisions are the greatest threat to Israel’s existence – far greater than that posed by Hamas, Hezbollah, or even Iran. 

I’ll also offer reasons for hope. 

And, as always, I answer listener questions.

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Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Inside Israel, listener reactions pour in after last episode’s revelations about FIDF. Joel responds to powerful messages—from outrage over donor betrayal to personal stories of involvement—and explains why, despite his own concerns, he didn’t blow the whistle himself.

Plus: A deep dive into one of Israel’s most remarkable systems—the emergency response network. Why does Israel have no government budget for ambulances? The answer reveals a uniquely Israeli combination of volunteerism, resilience, and public trust.

Also in this episode: soldiers jailed for refusing another round in Gaza, hostage talks stall again, and disturbing anti-Israel attacks in Europe leave many Jews wondering how visible they can afford to be.

And finally, a bittersweet goodbye to our podcast editor, Adina—and a warm welcome to our new one, Yael.

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Book Joel during his fall 2025 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com

Support Inside Israel: Contribute

To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

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Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two weeks ago, seven Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza in what first seemed like a tragic, one-in-a-million accident. 

But new details reveal a painful truth: this wasn’t random bad luck—it was preventable.

In this episode, I break down what really happened, what it says about the Israeli army and mindset, and why this human, flawed side of the IDF is rarely talked about. It’s an aspect of the IDF that has led to the death of far too many IDF soldiers in the past, and one that I witnessed firsthand when I myself was an IDF soldier in the Armored Corps.

And of course, I’ll answer your questions.

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To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Joel reflects on three deeply emotional events that took place within 48 hours—attending the funeral of a fallen soldier, going to a shiva visit for another soldier killed in Gaza, and, l’havdil, attending his son’s middle school graduation ceremony in a nearby park. 

In Israel, the phrase l’havdil—used to separate the sacred from the mundane—isn’t just a superstition, it’s a coping mechanism. 

Joel explores how this strange, almost absurd linguistic habit helps Israelis navigate the emotional whiplash of daily life. And, of course, Joel answers your questions. 

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Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode of Inside Israel finds the country navigating a shaky ceasefire with Iran.

While the war is officially "over," the conversation here is anything but. Today, I'll explore two deeply conflicting narratives: Was this war a decisive victory, setting back Iran's nuclear program for years and embarrassing them globally? Or were Israelis "played," with heavy sacrifices – 13 dead, 10,000 families homeless, and a crippled economy – for a temporary reprieve, leaving critical questions about Gaza hostages and soldiers' deaths unanswered?

We'll talk about the the unspoken consequences, too: the shattered faith in Iron Dome, the disruption to daily life, and the emotional toll on a nation. I'll also share a bit about my personal experience of economic impact, providing a candid look at life on the ground.

Plus, listener questions tackle everything from NYC mayoral politics to the global understanding of the conflict.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Inside Israel: as the conflict intensifies following the US attack on Fordo, Joel shares what Israelis are really saying about "Operation Rising Lion" and Bibi's role. 

We’ll talk about Iran's new, disturbing retaliation tactics and the true human cost: 10,000 displaced families and the growing national exhaustion. 

In attacking Iran, Israel is doing the world a favor. So why don’t more Americans see it that way? We’ll talk about that too, plus, listener questions answered.

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Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's it like when war begins in the dead of night? 

In this episode, Joel brings you a firsthand account from Israel as the conflict with Iran unfolds. From the shocking 3 AM air raid siren that marked the war's start, to what we've learned about the Mossad's role, and the heartbreaking truth behind civilian fatalities, Joel discusses it all. 

He'll also talk about how the rhythm of our lives has shifted to the constant anticipation of ballistic missile attacks, and why, amidst the tension, Israelis overwhelmingly agree on the necessity of this fight. 

As always, Joels answers your most pressing questions about this evolving situation. 

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Support Inside Israel: Contribute

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Joel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/shows

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.