Inside Israel with Joel Chasnoff

Joel sits down with Benji Lovitt, his closest friend in Israel and co-author of Israel 201, who is permanently leaving for the United States. They talk about why he's going, what he hopes to find there, and what he'll miss most about Israel.---------------Support Inside Israel: ContributeBook Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.comTo learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.comJoel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/showsJoel 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

Last week, Joel attended the funeral of Itamar Sapir z’’l, a fallen soldier from Ra’anana. In this week's episode, Joel will share a dozen small, random observations from the funeral — what it says about the state of the army, where the country is headed, the possibility for national unity, and more. A series of reflections from the funeral that, together, tell a much larger story about where Israel stands right now — twelve small details that reveal the bigger picture.---------------Support Inside Israel: ContributeBook Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.comTo learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.comJoel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/showsJoel 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

After four weeks traversing the US, Joel is back in Israel with a backpack full of observations and a fresh lens on both countries. From the subtle shifts in American culture to the stark contrasts of life back home, he’ll share what he saw from the outside looking in.---------------Support Inside Israel: ContributeBook Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.comTo learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.comJoel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/showsJoel 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

Joel argues that the hit musical Rent, had we been paying attention, might have been an early sign that Israel's position in world opinion would change for the worse — and he offers a novel solution for how to fight the wave of anti-Israel sentiment now.---------------Support Inside Israel: ContributeBook Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.comTo learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.comJoel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/showsJoel 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

Last week's episode left many of you feeling depressed—and I understand why. This week, I want to go deeper into why I can't sugarcoat the dire situation Israel is facing right now, and what it means for the country's future.---------------Support Inside Israel: ContributeBook Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.comTo learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.comJoel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/showsJoel 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

Joel answers listener questions from Sioux Falls, SD during his spring comedy tour. We’ll be covering war with Iran, life during wartime, freedom of expression, the new political landscape, and the possibility that he might one day leave Israel.---------------Support Inside Israel: ContributeBook Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.comTo learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.comJoel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/showsJoel 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

This week Joel talks about the Yamim — the days — Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, Yom HaAtzmaut: the emotional burden of going from sadness to joy, and what Israel's commemoration of these days says about Israeli society and its people. He notes that 170 soldiers have been killed since last year's Yom HaZikaron, and discusses the debate in Israel over whether victims of terror should be included in the Day of Remembrance.---------------Support Inside Israel: ContributeBook Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.comTo learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.comJoel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/showsJoel 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

Joel broadcasts from Amman, Jordan — part of a crazy layover to the USA for his upcoming spring 2026 comedy tour. He shares details of his journey, how it makes him think about the future of the Middle East, and why it's a uniquely Israeli story (and not necessarily in a good way).---------------Support Inside Israel: ContributeBook Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.comTo learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.comJoel’s tour schedule: www.joelchasnoff.com/showsJoel 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