Share
Israel Story
63: Tell Saki - Part I
We embark on a two-episode journey back to the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and specifically to one small hill - a dormant volcanic tell - in the southern Golan Heights. There, we follow a group of young IDF soldiers who, trapped in a small bunker for thirty-six hours, went to hell and back.
Yochai Maital produced, scored and sound-designed the episode. Mishy Harman edited it. Sela Waisblum created the mix. Thanks to the Friendship and Heritage Foundation, an NGO set up by the survivors of Tell Saki to commemorate their fallen friends. Thanks also to Aviram Barkai, Moshe Givati, Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History, Halli Lerman, Reuven Gal, Boaz Dekel, Suri Krieger, Sharon Rapaport and Ya’akov Seh Lavan for his help in fact-checking this story. Ya’akov also leads tours of Tell Saki and runs an escape room experience on the mound. Much of the music in the episode is by Leat Sabbah, with additional music by Jorge Mejia, Doug Maxwell and Yochai Maital. The end song, Adaber Itcha (I Shall Talk to You), is sung by Chava Alberstein. Its lyrics were written by Rachel Shapira, and its music by Alona Turel.
Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine.
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.
More episodes
View all episodes
92. 167: Flower Power
27:05||Season 1, Ep. 92Black 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.
91. 166: Frankly, My Deer
53:10||Season 7, Ep. 91Fine 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
90. 165: Sorry, Not Sorry
43:52||Season 7, Ep. 90A 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.
89. 164: Wartime Diaries - Pazit Noyberger and Radwan Abu Arara
22:13||Season 7, Ep. 89In 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.
88. 163: Iran to Israel, Tehran to Tel Aviv
16:17||Season 7, Ep. 88In 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.
87. Bonus: 90 Seconds
06:05||Season 7, Ep. 87Just a moment to decide what's most important.The end song is Od Chozer HaNigun ("The Melody Returns") by Chava Alberstein.
86. 162: Israel to Iran, Tel Aviv to Tehran
11:34||Season 7, Ep. 86We 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 ZamirThe end song is Boker Tov Iran ("Good Morning Iran") by Aviv Geffen.
13. 34: The Hasbara Hero
33:35||Season 3, Ep. 13While 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.
85. 161: Wartime Diaries - Amir Ofer
17:11||Season 7, Ep. 85An 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.