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Israel Story

Israel Story

Israel Story is an award-winning podcast that tells true stories you won't hear on the news. Hosted by Mishy Harman, the weekly show brings you extraordinary tales about ordinary Israelis. The show is produced in partnership with The Jerusalem Foundation and The Times of Israel. For Hebrew episodes, see סיפור ישראלי, or go to our website: israelstory.org

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  • 22 episodes
  • Avg 33 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • S7 · E99
    Yesterday · 11 min

    174: Tea with Rachel

    Touching history while sipping tea with someone who reminds you of your grandma - an afternoon with Rachel Rabin Yaakov, Yitzhak Rabin's little sister, who just died at 101. Our end song is BaGalil ("In the Galilee") by Arik Einstein. The episode image is courtesy of the Israel National Photo Collection. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E98
    September 10 · 18 min

    173: Confessions of a Reluctant Dish Heiress

    This Rosh HaShana, as we pour tea from our great-grandma’s precious pot into our grandma’s delicate china and do our very best not to drip any honey on our mother’s favorite tablecloth, we’ll be aware - somewhere in the back of our minds - of the passage of time. Our end song is Ima ("Mom") by Elai Botner and Yaldei Hachutz. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E97
    July 29 · 1 hr

    172: It's a Date!

    Just in time for Tu Be'Av, the Jewish Valentine's Day, we bring you stories of dates that could only happen in this crazy corner of the globe. Our end song is Chof Mivtachim ("Safe Shore") by Yogev Glusman, with Ninet Tayeb. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E94
    April 20 · 46 min

    169: Oath of Blood

    In honor of Yom HaZikaron - Israeli Memorial Day

  • S7 · E93
    April 16 · 28 min

    168: A Tale of Two Sisters

    Two sisters, straddling the ninth decade of their lives, suddenly find themselves as unexpected roommates during a war. Our end song is Shalom Achot ("Hey Sister") by Aya Korem. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S1 · E92
    Dec 31, 2025 · 27 min

    167: Flower Power

    Black markets, propaganda, and ... wildflowers - the story of the most successful marketing campaign in Israel's history. Our end song is Waltz Lehaganat HaTzome'ach ("Waltz for the Protection of the Flora") by Jane Bordeux and Aya Zahavi Feiglin. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E91
    Dec 15, 2025 · 53 min

    166: Frankly, My Deer

    Fine caviar, Persian carpets, the malignant presence of a possibly former-Nazi zookeeper, a cameo from a sensuous Mossad agent and cold-blooded murder. This is the improbable, totally true story of a flying Dutchman and some of the last "olim" to leave Iran before the Revolution. Our end song is Gan Eden Shel Ha'Adam ("Man's Paradise") by Gilad Segev. Image licensed from Dragan Ilic at Dreamstime.com Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E90
    Oct 1, 2025 · 43 min

    165: Sorry, Not Sorry

    A never-aired Yom Kippur episode from before the war that asks what does it mean to be sorry? Our end song is Lu Yehi ("Let It Be") performed by HaGashash HaHiver. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E89
    Sep 2, 2025 · 22 min

    164: Wartime Diaries - Pazit Noyberger and Radwan Abu Arara

    In the messy tension of war, Pazit had to make a life-or-death decision for someone else. The end song is "Hymn to the Soul" by LAOR. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E88
    Jul 23, 2025 · 16 min

    163: Iran to Israel, Tehran to Tel Aviv

    In the middle of a war, we reached out to the other side. They answered. Note: The content in this episode was written by real people. To protect the anonymity of participants, some audio voices were produced by AI. Episode art credit: Reuters. The end song is Dror Yikra ("Proclaim Freedom") performed by Mike Rauss, Yael Dagon, and Ardavan Hatami. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E87
    Jun 26, 2025 · 6 min

    Bonus: 90 Seconds

    Just a moment to decide what's most important. The end song is Od Chozer HaNigun ("The Melody Returns") by Chava Alberstein. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E86
    Jun 23, 2025 · 11 min

    162: Israel to Iran, Tel Aviv to Tehran

    We thought the people of Iran should get the chance to hear the voices of regular Israelis, describing daily life in this war within a war. And we want to hear from Iranians too. What is your daily life like right now? What do you want us to know? Send us your voice notes on social media, Whatsapp (+972-58-540-8822), or Signal (@JayLevi.59). Episode art photo credit: Yossi Zamir The end song is Boker Tov Iran ("Good Morning Iran") by Aviv Geffen. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S3 · E13
    Jun 15, 2025 · 33 min

    34: The Hasbara Hero

    While all kinds of very unwanted things are flying to Israel from Iran these days, we wanted to remind you of someone wonderful who came here from Iran. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E85
    Jun 13, 2025 · 17 min

    161: Wartime Diaries - Amir Ofer

    An unlikely intergenerational friendship between two soldiers tasked with freeing civilian hostages. The end song is HaCholmim Achar Hashemesh ("Those Who Dream of the Sun") performed by David Lavi and Tamar Philosof. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S4 · E1
    Jun 6, 2025 · 44 min

    40: “The Wall” Part I – Operation Hulda

    In honour of the 58th anniversary of soldiers in war running to help, we bring you a story of twisting journeys and changing identities. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E84
    Apr 11, 2025 · 1 hr 20 min

    160: The Hebrew Hobbit - A Passover Special

    There and Back Again: the story of a small group of Israelis who - more than half a century ago - experienced their own exodus from Egypt, and their own journey from captivity to freedom. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S7 · E83
    Mar 20, 2025 · 18 min

    159: Wartime Diaries - Oran Almog

    In the impossible arithmetic of hostage transfers, how does it feel to be told that the terrorist who shattered your world will walk free? The end song is Achshav Tov ("Good Now") by Gilad Segev. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes