Israel Story

When Mario Karpuj walked out of his brother Jorge's wedding, he didn't know it would take him years to find his way back into his life.

Our end song is Cholem B'Sfaradit ("I Dream in Spanish") by Shlomo Yidov.

The episode image is courtesy of the Karpuj Family

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Here's the second half of our double episode from 2016, where each story is separated by a decade, and takes place on Israeli Independence Day.

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On the tenth anniversary of our 2016 Yom Ha'Atzmaut (or Independence Day) project, we want to revisit the stories we shared from Yom Ha'Atzmaut over the years.

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Today is Yom HaZikaron, Memorial - or Remembrance - Day, here in Israel. And as such, we wanted to share our 2017 episode, Oath of Blood.

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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.

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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.

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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 https://www.dreamstime.com/

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Just a moment to decide what's most important.

The end song is Od Chozer HaNigun ("The Melody Returns") by Chava Alberstein.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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In honour of the 58th anniversary of soldiers in war running to help, we bring you a story of twisting journeys and changing identities.

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Ruth the Moabite said she'd follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, anywhere. That blind devotion has since made her an enduring symbol of loyalty, faith and determination. And, just in time for Shavuot, we're playing a favourite episode of ours from the vault.

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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.

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