Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use.

After Borschel-Dan reads out a listener's cottage cheese-themed email, Hoffman brings us a news "Jangle" involving "Marty Supreme" actress Odessa A'zion.

Next, we hear how to pickle lemons, and then we turn to an Israeli student film, "The Butcher's Stain," that is up for an Oscar this year for Best Short Film. Hoffman weighs in on its chances.

Finally, we explore Spike Lee's 2018 "BlacKkKlansman," which has several surprisingly deeply Jewish moments.

Check out the "meh plus!" and "not bad" films in this week's The Reel Schmooze.

The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jordan-hoffman/">Jordan Hoffman</a> and host <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/">Amanda Borschel-Dan</a>, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use.
After Borschel-Dan reads out a listener's cottage cheese-themed email, Hoffman brings us a news "Jangle" involving "Marty Supreme" actress Odessa A'zion.
Next, we hear how to pickle lemons, and then we turn to an Israeli student film, "The Butcher's Stain," that is up for an Oscar this year for Best Short Film. Hoffman weighs in on its chances.
Finally, we explore Spike Lee's 2018 "BlacKkKlansman," which has several surprisingly deeply Jewish moments.
Check out the "meh plus!" and "not bad" films in this week's The Reel Schmooze.
The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what’s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what&rsquo;s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

The Daily Briefing

'BlacKkKlansman' and 'The Butcher's Stain': Evil racism at its most entertaining

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Like all Israelis, Fabian is experiencing the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran first-hand. We hear that his area of the country has been more battered of late, and about his onsite reporting from a crater caused by a several-hundred-kilogram warhead yesterday.

We turn to the IDF's airstrikes on Iran and what it is targeting now that the majority of military targets have been struck. Who turned out the lights in Iran yesterday?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel would capture additional territory in southern Lebanon to expand a security zone on Israel’s northern border, as the Israel Defense Forces expanded its ground operation against the Hezbollah terror group. Fabian explains what this could look like.

We learn about the IDF's Alpinist Unit -- IDF soldiers on skis -- who conducted a rare border crossing in snowy mountains from Syria to Lebanon.

The IDF is pulling the Menashe Regional Brigade’s 941st “Netzah Israel” Battalion, a reserve unit made up mostly of former soldiers of the Kfir Brigade’s ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda Battalion, out of the West Bank. We learn why.

And finally, we hear what is happening on the ground in Gaza as operations continue there.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Iranian missile attack sparks blaze in chemical plant, fears of hazardous leak

Blackouts hit parts of Tehran as Israel conducts strikes in Iran amid peace talks

PM says Israel to expand south Lebanon buffer zone as IDF pushes deeper into territory

IDF chief: Detention, alleged assault of CNN crew in West Bank ‘grave ethical incident’

IDF pulls entire battalion from West Bank action after alleged assault of CNN crew

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and edited by Ari Schlacht.

IMAGE: A poster shows former Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, at the site of a destroyed house that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Sarafand village, south Lebanon, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/emanuel-fabian/">Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian</a> joins <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/">host Amanda Borschel-Dan</a> for today's episode.
Like all Israelis, Fabian is experiencing the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran first-hand. We hear that his area of the country has been more battered of late, and about his onsite reporting from a crater caused by a several-hundred-kilogram warhead yesterday.
We turn to the IDF's airstrikes on Iran and what it is targeting now that the majority of military targets have been struck. Who turned out the lights in Iran yesterday?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel would capture additional territory in southern Lebanon to expand a security zone on Israel&rsquo;s northern border, as the Israel Defense Forces expanded its ground operation against the Hezbollah terror group. Fabian explains what this could look like.
We learn about the IDF's Alpinist Unit -- IDF soldiers on skis -- who conducted a rare border crossing in snowy mountains from Syria to Lebanon.
The IDF is pulling the Menashe Regional Brigade&rsquo;s 941st &ldquo;Netzah Israel&rdquo; Battalion, a reserve unit made up mostly of former soldiers of the Kfir Brigade&rsquo;s ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda Battalion, out of the West Bank. We learn why.
And finally, we hear what is happening on the ground in Gaza as operations continue there.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-30-2026/">Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.</a>
For further reading:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-missile-attack-sparks-blaze-in-chemical-plant-fears-of-hazardous-leak/">Iranian missile attack sparks blaze in chemical plant, fears of hazardous leak</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/blackouts-hit-parts-of-tehran-as-israel-conducts-strikes-in-iran-amid-peace-talks/">Blackouts hit parts of Tehran as Israel conducts strikes in Iran amid peace talks</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-says-israel-to-expand-south-lebanon-buffer-zone-as-idf-pushes-deeper-into-territory/">PM says Israel to expand south Lebanon buffer zone as IDF pushes deeper into territory</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-chief-detention-alleged-assault-of-cnn-crew-in-west-bank-grave-ethical-incident/">IDF chief: Detention, alleged assault of CNN crew in West Bank &lsquo;grave ethical incident&rsquo;</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-confirms-battalion-pulled-early-from-west-bank-action-after-alleged-assault-of-cnn-crew/">IDF pulls entire battalion from West Bank action after alleged assault of CNN crew</a>
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042"> Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89">YouTube,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and edited by Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: A poster shows former Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, at the site of a destroyed house that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Sarafand village, south Lebanon, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

IDF set to vastly expand buffer zone in Lebanon

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Health editor Diana Bletter and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

With the northern city of Kiryat Shmona and surrounding towns facing constant fire from Hezbollah rockets, Bletter reports on the sense of desolation and concern from residents that the IDF won't finish the job in Lebanon, requiring them to go through another round of war in another six months' time.

Surkes discusses Israeli organizational efforts to help the Arab community in the north build emotional resilience during wartime, given concerns over a lack of adequate shelter in their communities and the terrible wave of internal violence.

After the Health Ministry budget was cut by $20 million, Bletter reports on fundraising efforts by Israeli hospitals, which are running their operations underground during the war.

Finally, Surkes briefly examines how birds struggle to breed in open spaces amid the noise pollution from nearby roads.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Northern residents concerned IDF won’t be allowed to ‘finish the job’ against Hezbollah

In mixed Haifa, weary residents face near-constant Iranian and Hezbollah missile fire

Facing violence on all fronts, Arab Israelis are unprecedentedly open to mental health help

As Iranian missiles rain down, hospitals scramble to raise funds for underground shelters

Road racket killing the mood for birds breeding in half of Israel’s open spaces – study

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

IMAGE: Israeli security and rescue forces at the scene where a missile fired from Lebanon toward Israel caused damage in Kiryat Shmona, March 24, 2026. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/diana-bletter/">Health editor Diana Bletter</a> and <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/">environmental reporter Sue Surkes</a> join <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/">host Jessica Steinberg</a> for today's episode.
With the northern city of Kiryat Shmona and surrounding towns facing constant fire from Hezbollah rockets, Bletter reports on the sense of desolation and concern from residents that the IDF won't finish the job in Lebanon, requiring them to go through another round of war in another six months' time.
Surkes discusses Israeli organizational efforts to help the Arab community in the north build emotional resilience during wartime, given concerns over a lack of adequate shelter in their communities and the terrible wave of internal violence.
After the Health Ministry budget was cut by $20 million, Bletter reports on fundraising efforts by Israeli hospitals, which are running their operations underground during the war.
Finally, Surkes briefly examines how birds struggle to breed in open spaces amid the noise pollution from nearby roads.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-29-2026/">Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.</a>
For further reading:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/northern-residents-concerned-idf-wont-be-allowed-to-finish-the-job-against-hezbollah/">Northern residents concerned IDF won&rsquo;t be allowed to &lsquo;finish the job&rsquo; against Hezbollah</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-mixed-haifa-weary-residents-face-near-constant-iranian-and-hezbollah-missile-fire/">In mixed Haifa, weary residents face near-constant Iranian and Hezbollah missile fire</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/facing-violence-on-all-fronts-arab-israelis-are-unprecedentedly-open-to-mental-health-help/">Facing violence on all fronts, Arab Israelis are unprecedentedly open to mental health help</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-iranian-missiles-rain-down-hospitals-scramble-to-raise-funds-for-underground-shelters/">As Iranian missiles rain down, hospitals scramble to raise funds for underground shelters</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/road-racket-killing-the-mood-for-birds-breeding-in-half-of-israels-open-spaces-study/">Road racket killing the mood for birds breeding in half of Israel&rsquo;s open spaces &ndash; study</a>
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042"> Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89">YouTube,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: Israeli security and rescue forces at the scene where a missile fired from Lebanon toward Israel caused damage in Kiryat Shmona, March 24, 2026. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)

Northerners feel grim amid war but firm on need to defeat Hezbollah

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use.

This week, the team takes our listeners -- and our boss -- up on their recommendations.

After Borschel-Dan asked listeners for their favorite stand-up comedians, we received a deluge of responses. We decided to launch our stand-up tour with "Modi: Know Your Audience," which is available freely on YouTube. While both had heard of the very Jewish performer, this was their first-time watching a full-length show. 

Next, we discuss "The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel," which is now streaming on Netflix. The documentary sheds light on the origins of the still-hot band and focuses on its original guitarist Hillel Slovak. Born in Israel, gifted guitarist Slovak was the catalyst that brought both bassist Flea and lead singer Anthony Kiedis to the music world. For our duo of reviewers, it was a chance to revisit their high school soundtrack.

Stick around to see who got the "oy," the "meh" and the "not bad" marks in this week's The Reel Schmooze.

The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jordan-hoffman/">Jordan Hoffman</a> and host <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/">Amanda Borschel-Dan</a>, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use.
This week, the team takes our listeners -- and our boss -- up on their recommendations.
After Borschel-Dan asked listeners for their favorite stand-up comedians, we received a deluge of responses. We decided to launch our stand-up tour with "<a href="https://youtu.be/_9i45nN7JXY?si=ouPPo68mz-n2qVV5">Modi: Know Your Audience</a>," which is available freely on YouTube. While both had heard of the very Jewish performer, this was their first-time watching a full-length show.&nbsp;
Next, we discuss "<a href="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-rise-of-the-red-hot-chili-peppers-our-brother-hillel-release-date-news">The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel</a>," which is now streaming on Netflix. The documentary sheds light on the origins of the still-hot band and focuses on its original guitarist Hillel Slovak. Born in Israel, gifted guitarist Slovak was the catalyst that brought both bassist Flea and lead singer Anthony Kiedis to the music world. For our duo of reviewers, it was a chance to revisit their high school soundtrack.
Stick around to see who got the "oy," the "meh" and the "not bad" marks in this week's The Reel Schmooze.
The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

'BlacKkKlansman' and 'The Butcher's Stain': Evil racism at its most entertaining

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