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.

US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

The US and Iran are set to hold indirect talks in Geneva today, with little indication of potential compromise as the United States continues its economic sanctions and ramps up its military presence in the Middle East while Iran holds large-scale maritime exercises. We hear what may be on the table as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner hold negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Israel plans to afford Hamas a 60-day period to disarm, and if it does not, the Israeli military will go back to war in the Gaza Strip, according to Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs on Monday. How does this align with the inaugural session of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, which is set for this Thursday? We learn which countries may be joining and what is hoped to be accomplished.

And finally, last Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that President Isaac Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not granting a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is standing trial for alleged fraud, bribery and breach of trust. Why were these remarks made out of the blue -- and do they actually help the Prime Minister?

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

For further reading:

Trump ally to ToI: Ayatollah staying in power would be ‘strategic victory for Iran’

Top Netanyahu aide: Hamas will have 60 days to disarm or IDF will ‘complete’ mission

Indonesia says 8,000 troops ready to deploy to Gaza by June as Trump touts progress

Sa’ar to represent Israel at inaugural Board of Peace meeting, after PM declines to attend

Trump says Herzog should be ‘ashamed of himself’ for not pardoning Netanyahu

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

IMAGE: A huge banner showing hands firmly holding Iranian national flags as a sign of patriotism, in Tehran, Iran, January 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)

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/jacob-magid/">US bureau chief Jacob Magid</a> joins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/">host Amanda Borschel-Dan</a>&nbsp;for today's episode.
The US and Iran are set to hold indirect talks in Geneva today, with little indication of potential compromise as the United States continues its economic sanctions and ramps up its military presence in the Middle East while Iran holds large-scale maritime exercises. We hear what may be on the table as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner hold negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Israel plans to afford Hamas a 60-day period to disarm, and if it does not, the Israeli military will go back to war in the Gaza Strip, according to Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs on Monday. How does this align with the inaugural session of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, which is set for this Thursday? We learn which countries may be joining and what is hoped to be accomplished.
And finally, last Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that President Isaac Herzog &ldquo;should be ashamed of himself&rdquo; for not granting a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is standing trial for alleged fraud, bribery and breach of trust. Why were these remarks made out of the blue -- and do they actually help the Prime Minister?
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-17-2026/">Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.</a>
For further reading:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-ally-to-toi-ayatollah-staying-in-power-would-be-strategic-victory-for-iran/">Trump ally to ToI: Ayatollah staying in power would be &lsquo;strategic victory for Iran&rsquo;</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-netanyahu-aide-hamas-will-have-60-days-to-disarm-or-idf-will-complete-mission/">Top Netanyahu aide: Hamas will have 60 days to disarm or IDF will &lsquo;complete&rsquo; mission</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/indonesia-says-8000-troops-ready-to-deploy-to-gaza-by-june-as-trump-touts-effort/">Indonesia says 8,000 troops ready to deploy to Gaza by June as Trump touts progress</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/saar-to-represent-israel-at-inaugural-board-of-peace-meeting-after-pm-declines-to-attend/">Sa&rsquo;ar to represent Israel at inaugural Board of Peace meeting, after PM declines to attend</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-herzog-should-be-ashamed-of-himself-for-not-pardoning-netanyahu/">Trump says Herzog should be &lsquo;ashamed of himself&rsquo; for not pardoning Netanyahu</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 Podwaves and Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: A huge banner showing hands firmly holding Iranian national flags as a sign of patriotism, in Tehran, Iran, January 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)

Will US sanctions bring Iran to heel in nuclear talks?

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.

ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

While the prospect of American intervention in Iran appears to be receding, Horovitz discusses the mixed signals from the US and Iran and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's repeated remarks that Israel has multiple requirements for any deal that might take shape.

As election season nears, Horovitz reviews the latest efforts by the prime minister to minimize the blame attached to him for October 7, including recasting the war in Gaza as a war of revival, with that term used on the gravestones of the fallen.

Following a Haredi riot in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bnei Brak in which a mob attacked two young female soldiers visiting an ultra-Orthodox soldier, Horovitz discusses the riot, the lack of an immediate response from the police, and the idea that IDF soldiers can't move around freely in Israel.

Finally, Horovitz and Steinberg discuss some of the latest issues facing the former hostages, as some choose to share the atrocities of their captivity, others have taken to crowdfunding to raise funds for their rehabilitation, and many are staying firmly out of the public eye.

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

For further reading:

New anti-government chants reported across Iran after major rallies abroad

Trump told Netanyahu he’d back Israeli strikes on Iran if talks fail – report

2 female soldiers attacked by rioting Haredi mob in Bnei Brak, rescued by police

Former hostage couple dreams of space (travel) and time to recover and rebuild their home

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: A recycle bin for papers set on fire after two female Israeli soldiers were rescued from riots that broke out while they were performing a welfare visit in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, Israel, February 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Associated Press, Oded Balilty)

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/david-horovitz/">ToI founding editor David Horovitz</a> joins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/">host Jessica Steinberg</a>&nbsp;for today's episode.
While the prospect of American intervention in Iran appears to be receding, Horovitz discusses the mixed signals from the US and Iran and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's repeated remarks that Israel has multiple requirements for any deal that might take shape.
As election season nears, Horovitz reviews the latest efforts by the prime minister to minimize the blame attached to him for October 7, including recasting the war in Gaza as a war of revival, with that term used on the gravestones of the fallen.
Following a Haredi riot in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bnei Brak in which a mob attacked two young female soldiers visiting an ultra-Orthodox soldier, Horovitz discusses the riot, the lack of an immediate response from the police, and the idea that IDF soldiers can't move around freely in Israel.
Finally, Horovitz and Steinberg discuss some of the latest issues facing the former hostages, as some choose to share the atrocities of their captivity, others have taken to crowdfunding to raise funds for their rehabilitation, and many are staying firmly out of the public eye.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-16-2026/">Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.</a>
For further reading:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-anti-government-chants-reported-across-iran-after-major-rallies-abroad/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&amp;utm_medium=desktop_site&amp;utm_campaign=liveblog-february-16-2026">New anti-government chants reported across Iran after major rallies abroad</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-told-netanyahu-hed-back-israeli-strikes-on-iran-if-talks-fail-report/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&amp;utm_medium=desktop_site&amp;utm_campaign=new-anti-government-chants-reported-across-iran-after-major-rallies-abroad">Trump told Netanyahu he&rsquo;d back Israeli strikes on Iran if talks fail &ndash; report</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/2-female-soldiers-chased-by-rioting-haredi-mob-in-bnei-brak-rescued-by-police/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&amp;utm_medium=desktop_site&amp;utm_campaign=bnei-brak-violence-follows-years-of-rabbinic-incitement-and-anti-draft-campaigns">2 female soldiers attacked by rioting Haredi mob in Bnei Brak, rescued by police</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-hostage-couple-dreams-of-space-travel-and-time-to-recover-and-rebuild-their-home/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&amp;utm_medium=desktop_site&amp;utm_campaign=2-female-soldiers-chased-by-rioting-haredi-mob-in-bnei-brak-rescued-by-police">Former hostage couple dreams of space (travel) and time to recover and rebuild their home</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: A recycle bin for papers set on fire after two female Israeli soldiers were rescued from riots that broke out while they were performing a welfare visit in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, Israel, February 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Associated Press, Oded Balilty)

Female soldiers under attack in Israel

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.

A group of at least five armed Palestinian terror operatives on Saturday evening emerged from a tunnel and approached troops in the northern Gaza Strip, on the Israeli side of a ceasefire line. We learn of the retaliatory strikes.

Fabian, who was embedded with IDF troops outside of Gaza City last week, describes what he saw on the ground even as the IDF is finalizing plans for a potential renewed operation. We learn about the new policy for reservists as the army faces budget cuts.

As part of “upgrading readiness for future threats” -- read: Iran -- the Defense Ministry said last week it successfully completed a series of “complex” tests with the David’s Sling medium-range air defense system. We learn the economic impact of repurposing the system.

And finally, an Israeli military reservist and a civilian were indicted last week for using classified information to place bets regarding military operations on the popular Polymarket prediction market. What is this website and how dangerous was the intel leak?

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

For further reading:

IDF strikes gunmen who approached troops in north Gaza after emerging from tunnel

Anti-Hamas militia says it is destroying terror group’s tunnels in Gaza

IDF readying new Gaza offensive to disarm Hamas by force

IDF says cutting back superfluous reservists, will reduce duty time

Eyeing future missile threats, Israel successfully completes ‘complex’ David’s Sling tests

Two indicted for using classified info to place online bets on military operations

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: Smoke and flames rise from an Israeli military strike on a building in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, February 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

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>&nbsp;for today's episode.
A group of at least five armed Palestinian terror operatives on Saturday evening emerged from a tunnel and approached troops in the northern Gaza Strip, on the Israeli side of a ceasefire line. We learn of the retaliatory strikes.
Fabian, who was embedded with IDF troops outside of Gaza City last week, describes what he saw on the ground even as the IDF is finalizing plans for a potential renewed operation. We learn about the new policy for reservists as the army faces budget cuts.
As part of &ldquo;upgrading readiness for future threats&rdquo; -- read: Iran -- the Defense Ministry said last week it successfully completed a series of &ldquo;complex&rdquo; tests with the David&rsquo;s Sling medium-range air defense system. We learn the economic impact of repurposing the system.
And finally, an Israeli military reservist and a civilian were indicted last week for using classified information to place bets regarding military operations on the popular Polymarket prediction market. What is this website and how dangerous was the intel leak?
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-15-2026/">Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.</a>
For further reading:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-strikes-gunmen-who-approached-troops-in-north-gaza-after-emerging-from-tunnel/">IDF strikes gunmen who approached troops in north Gaza after emerging from tunnel</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/anti-hamas-militia-says-it-is-destroying-terror-groups-tunnels-in-gaza/">Anti-Hamas militia says it is destroying terror group&rsquo;s tunnels in Gaza</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-readying-new-gaza-offensive-to-disarm-hamas-by-force/">IDF readying new Gaza offensive to disarm Hamas by force</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-cutting-back-superfluous-reservists-will-reduce-duty-time/">IDF says cutting back superfluous reservists, will reduce duty time</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/eyeing-future-missile-threats-israel-successfully-completes-complex-davids-sling-tests/">Eyeing future missile threats, Israel successfully completes &lsquo;complex&rsquo; David&rsquo;s Sling tests</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-indicted-for-using-classified-info-to-place-online-bets-on-military-operations/">Two indicted for using classified info to place online bets on military operations</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: Smoke and flames rise from an Israeli military strike on a building in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, February 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

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

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

In 1 playlist(s)

The Daily Briefing

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips