Sababoosh

What role does comedy play in a society under constant pressure? Can laughter do more than entertain—can it actually help people heal? In this episode of Sababoosh , I sit down with Israeli stand-up comedian Yochay Sponder to explore the unique role comedy plays in Israeli life. We discuss how humor helps people process pain, bridge differences, and find moments of connection even during the most...

Journalism in Israel doesn’t happen at a distance. It happens up close, in hallways, offices, and crowded Knesset corridors where everyone knows everyone — or at least knows someone who knows someone. Covering Israeli politics means being physically present, making endless cold calls, chasing down statements on tight deadlines, and building relationships that can determine whether a story moves fo...

In this episode, we sit down with Joseph Cedar, director of the Oscar-nominated film, Footnote, to explore the world of Israeli cinema. From moral ambiguity to inventive storytelling, Cedar discusses what makes Israeli film uniquely compelling — how it thrives in the gray, turns limitations into creativity, and tells deeply personal yet universal stories. We dive into his filmmaking process, the c...

In this episode, we hear from Yonatan Nir as he explores how documentary film in Israel functions not only as storytelling, but as a therapeutic act. Drawing on his work as a filmmaker and pioneer of docutherapy, he examines what happens when the camera becomes a space for listening, witnessing, and emotional repair. The conversation moves between the personal and the collective - how individual s...

In this episode of Sababoosh, we dive into mentalism through a conversation with Guy Bavli. What mentalism actually is, how it works, and why it sits in the gray zone between psychology, performance, intuition, and illusion. A close look at why Israelis are disproportionately drawn to this field: constant situational awareness, reading people under pressure, improvisation, and skepticism as surviv...

Coffee carts in Israel are not a trend. They are an institution. What began as improvised roadside setups has become a defining feature of Israeli public life: espresso machines on wheels at the edge of highways, outside moshavim, near bases, in industrial zones, and at the margins of cities. They serve soldiers, commuters, farmers, freelancers, families, and early-morning regulars who plan their...

Although Sababoosh is meant to be light and its soul can be found in music, food, TV, art, sports, and other aspects of Israeli culture. Reserve duty is a major aspect of Israeli culture. This episode won't get into the war that much itself, but it will focus on how the families of reservists are impacted when their spouse or parent is away for an average of 70 days, but possibly far longer -...

A re-release of an especially moving episode. One of my personal favorites. All about Galgalatz and its place as the heartbeat of Israel.

This episode of Sababoosh features a conversation with Alex Rif on the struggle for full belonging among Russian-speaking Israelis. Examination of conversion demands, marriage barriers, burial restrictions, and the cultural stereotypes that shaped her book More Jewish Than You .

In this episode, Jake speaks with Daniel Brill, founder of the Israeli a cappella group Rabotai, about the unique soundscape of religious weddings, and celebrations in Israel. Together they explore how a cappella has become the heartbeat of so many Israeli simchas. From spontaneous harmonies under the chuppah to the creative energy of Israel’s religious music scene, this conversation reveals the b...

In this episode of Sababoosh, I sit down with Assaf Gil, the creative force behind some of Israel’s most iconic reality shows, including Chatunami and Baby Boom . These programs have become part of the fabric of Israeli life, sparking conversation, laughter, and tears around the country. Assaf takes us behind the scenes of how these shows capture the intensity of human emotions - from the highs an...

When people think about Israel’s diversity, the Druze community isn’t always the first that comes to mind. And yet, the Druze - about 140,000 citizens in Israel - are a vital thread in the country’s fabric. They serve in the army at some of the highest rates, live mainly in the Galilee and Carmel regions, and hold a faith that’s at once ancient, private, and deeply philosophical. You can’t convert...

Welcome back for our Season 4 premiere! For more than a century, the kibbutz has stood as one of Israel’s most iconic — and idealistic — experiments. Born from socialist and Zionist dreams in the early 20th century, the kibbutz movement sought to build not just a place to live, but a new kind of society — one built on equality, community, and shared purpose. In its early days, life on the kibbutz...

For so many young Israelis, finishing the army isn’t just the end of one chapter — it’s the beginning of another. Within weeks of trading uniforms for backpacks, thousands set off across South America, India, the Far East, or even closer to home, searching for freedom, identity, and sometimes a bit of healing. What is it about post-army travel that makes it such a defining rite of passage in Israe...

Our guest has taken the Jewish music scene and social media feeds around the world by storm. DJ Raphi is more than just a DJ; he’s an entertainer, educator, and cultural innovator. With his high-energy mixes, choreographed dances, and viral videos, he’s managed to take Jewish tradition and give it a beat that resonates with a global audience. What makes DJ Raphi so unique is the way he bridges wor...

In this episode of Sababoosh, we’re hitting the road with Yair Agmon. Yair is a writer, filmmaker, and storyteller whose work captures the beauty and contradictions of Israeli life. You may know him from his show on Kan and his unforgettable short films, where everyday encounters turn into windows onto the soul of Israel. In this conversation, we’re diving into the world of tremping (hitchhiking i...

In this episode of Sababoosh, we’re diving into the fascinating, quirky, and sometimes surprising world of the Hebrew language — from ancient roots to modern slang. Our guest, Elon Gilad, is a journalist, author, and language enthusiast whose work explores how Hebrew evolved , adapted, and reinvented itself over thousands of years. We’ll talk about the revival of Hebrew, the forces that shaped it...

In this episode, we explore the rich and often overlooked middle ground of Jewish life in Israel—beyond the binary of Haredi and secular. Our guest, Rabbi Noga Brenner Samia, offers a deep and nuanced look at pluralism in Israeli society, where many are forging meaningful Jewish identities outside traditional categories. As the Executive Director of Hillel Israel and a leading voice in the plurali...

In this episode, we’re joined by two of the most beloved figures in Israeli pop culture — Maya and Yehuda Devir, the husband-and-wife illustrator duo behind One of Those Days , the wildly popular comic series that captures the ups, downs, and hilarity of everyday life. With over 9 million devoted followers around the world, Maya and Yehuda are the most-followed Israeli creators after Gal Gadot — t...

🎉Sababoosh's 25th Episode🎉 In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Elkhoury—a gay, Christian, Lebanese-Israeli—to explore what it's like to hold multiple identities in an already complicated country. From his childhood as the son of a South Lebanon Army officer who fled to Israel, to his experiences navigating Israeli society as an Arab, a Christian, and a proud Zionist, Jonathan shar...

Today, we're diving into one of Israel’s proudest and most fascinating exports: hi-tech innovation. From the invention of the USB drive to cutting-edge cybersecurity and mobile apps used worldwide, Israel has earned its nickname — the “Start-Up Nation.” But how did this tiny country, with limited natural resources and constant geopolitical tension, become a global powerhouse of innovation? A b...

In a world that often keeps generations apart—in separate spaces, rhythms, and conversations—a quietly revolutionary Israeli TV show called שמונים וארבע /  4 + 80  asks: what if we brought them together? The show follows a beautiful experiment that pairs kindergartners with residents of retirement homes, creating a shared space for joy, curiosity, vulnerability, and connection. On the surface, it...

When you think about what brings people together — across borders, languages, and beliefs — few forces are as powerful as music. And in a country as complex as Israel, the need for connection, empathy, and unity has never been greater. That’s where Koolulam comes in. Founded on the simple but radical idea that strangers singing together can shift hearts and build bridges, Koolulam has become a glo...

In this episode, we dive into a part of Israeli society that is often seen but not always fully understood: the Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, community. In Israel, the relationship between Haredim and other sectors of society can be tense — shaped by deep differences in lifestyle, belief, and visions for the country's future. Too often, the Haredi world is viewed only through stereotypes, political h...

In this episode, we journey into the heart of Israel’s cultural and intellectual heritage with a deep dive into the National Library of Israel. This institution isn’t just a repository of books—it’s a living archive of the Jewish people’s story, a keeper of memories that spans millennia. Here, ancient manuscripts and modern texts alike converge, preserving the enduring spirit of Jewish scholarship...