Inside Israel with Joel Chasnoff

A few weeks ago, I found myself at a Shabbat dinner with a diehard supporter of Netanyahu. No matter what criticism I raised, she had a response—a counter-argument I couldn't refute. In this episode, I'll share what it is, how it’s so effective, and what this argument means for the country moving forward. -------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lectur...

Last week, I attended an event featuring Naftali Bennett, head of Beyachad and the primary challenger to Netanyahu. While I haven't committed to supporting him, I wanted to hear directly from him as he outlined his platform and vision for Israel's future. In this episode, I'll recap his key points, analyze the viability of his candidacy, and assess his chances in the coming elections. ------------...

This week, we examine the implications of the US-Iran truce agreement and its critical impact on Israeli security. I'll analyze why this agreement falls short of protecting Israel's interests, and discuss the strategic steps Israel must take to ensure its safety in the coming months and years. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comed...

Joel recently spent three days in Brooklyn surrounded by people opposed to Israel—pro-Palestine gestures, the Park Slope Food Coop voting to ban Israeli products, and a sea of anti-Israel sentiment. In today’s episode, he’ll attempt to see Israel through their eyes.  --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasno...

Joel reflects on his weekend performing comedy at Camp Moshava in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where 150 IDF soldiers — many in therapy for PTSD after months in Gaza and Lebanon — came to heal, laugh, and decompress. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a qu...

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: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn more about Ins...

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 Isra...

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: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff....

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: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn mo...

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: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn more about Inside Israel, and t...

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: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn more about...

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 th...

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: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www....

Joel talks about Iran's plans to disrupt Israelis’ Passover seder – what Israelis expected, and what actually happened. He also discusses the latest news coming out of Israel as we move into this pivotal sixth week of the war. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn more about Inside Israel, and...

Joel talks about parenting in times of war — parents trying to work in cafes with babies in strollers, grandparents helping out, frustration with Zoom school, and his personal sense of guilt that he can't parent better. Plus a news update on what's happening in Israel as we move into Passover. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comed...

Joel talks about one of the biggest surprises of the current war – Hezbollah — and the Israeli feeling that they were lied to by a government who assured them this Iranian proxy in Lebanon had been defeated, once and for all.  --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn more about Inside Israel,...

As Israel enters its third week of war with Iran, we look at the IDF's secret plan to keep Iran off-guard before the strike, where things stand now, and whether Israel's strategy makes me bullish or bearish on what comes next. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn more about Inside Israel, and...

Two weeks into what may be a long war, Joel reports from Ra'anana on how Israeli families are coping — and why Hezbollah's decision to join the fight may turn out to be a gift. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, vi...

Joel shares what Israelis are saying, thinking, and feeling about the war with Iran — from his underground bomb shelter in his apartment building. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 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/podca...

On this week's episode, Joel covers a mishmash of topics — including a surprising revelation about a group of Israelis who were actually hoping for a war with Iran. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 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.joel...

Joel revisits real estate in Israel — one of the topics he's emailed about the most — with a focus on how you never really know what you're getting when you buy. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 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.joelcha...

Joel explores Israeli culture through one of its most exciting and misunderstood phenomena — the Israeli wedding — where jeans are optional, weddings are massive, and there's no registry because all gifts are known ahead of time. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn more about Inside Israel, a...

For the first time since 2014, there are no hostages in Gaza — and instead of marking the moment with a timeline or recap, Joel gets personal, pulling up three Israel-related memories from the last twelve years. It's not about the big headlines; it's about what actually stuck. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelc...

In this month’s "Ask Joel Anything," Joel answers listener questions on everything from Purim traditions and Israeli college life to the latest headlines regarding military service and the Israel Prize. --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book Joel during his spring/fall 2026 lecture and comedy tour: www.joelchasnoff.com To learn more about Inside Israel, and to submit a question for...

Joel reflects on the upheaval in Iran—and what Israelis are actually talking about right now. Beyond the very real fear of an Iranian attack, there is growing anger over what many here see as global hypocrisy: a world that protested loudly over Gaza, yet remains largely silent as thousands of Iranians are killed by their own government.  --------------- Support Inside Israel: Contribute Book...