Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with The Times of Israel's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur.

The body of the final hostage, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, was recovered from the Gaza Strip this week and buried on Wednesday in his hometown of Meitar.

Rettig Gur delves into the deep Jewish roots and societal promise to bring every last person home that led to this moment of relief.

We then hear about the likelihood of realizing the vision that US envoy Jared Kushner laid out last week about a flourishing, reconstructed "New Gaza."

And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now.

What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

IMAGE: A man walks through tents sheltering displaced Palestinians amid the ruins in Gaza City, January 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/">Amanda Borschel-Dan</a> speaking with The Times of Israel's senior analyst <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/haviv-gur/">Haviv Rettig Gur</a>.
The body of the final hostage, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, was recovered from the Gaza Strip this week and buried on Wednesday in his hometown of Meitar.
Rettig Gur delves into the deep Jewish roots and societal promise to bring every last person home that led to this moment of relief.
We then hear about the likelihood of realizing the vision that US envoy Jared Kushner laid out last week about a flourishing, reconstructed "New Gaza."
And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now.
What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/times-will-tell/id1067953235?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5Hqgs4Cy5VkdXB51eW2jjd">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMHmmVLVJUNrE198zXKQWna">YouTube</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: A man walks through tents sheltering displaced Palestinians amid the ruins in Gaza City, January 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

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

Haviv Rettig Gur: Hamas is holding Gazans hostage

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, we hear scintillating updates on Hoffman's test drive of his new snow blower before launching into our two Schmoovies of the week. 

First, we discuss "33 photos from the Ghetto," which explores the saga of a trove of previously unpublished photographs of the Nazis brutally suppressing the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Revolt that was captured in secret by a Polish firefighter while German forces set the Jewish ghetto ablaze. We learn how the images were accidentally discovered -- and how they complement another set that was sent to the United States decades earlier.

The film, distributed on HBO Max since International Holocaust Remembrance Day, evokes mixed feelings from our team.

We then turn to Jesse Einsenberg's 2024 "A Real Pain." It was a second viewing of the film for our duo and one of them had a change of heart from the repeat performance.

Check out the one "meh" and one "not bad" film (our highest mark) 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, we hear scintillating updates on Hoffman's test drive of his new snow blower before launching into our two Schmoovies of the week.&nbsp;
First, we discuss "33 photos from the Ghetto," which explores the saga of a trove of&nbsp;previously unpublished photographs of the Nazis brutally suppressing the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Revolt that was captured in secret by a Polish firefighter while German forces set the Jewish ghetto ablaze. We learn how the images were accidentally discovered -- and how they complement another set that was sent to the United States decades earlier.
The film, distributed on HBO Max since International Holocaust Remembrance Day, evokes mixed feelings from our team.
We then turn to Jesse Einsenberg's 2024 "A Real Pain." It was a second viewing of the film for our duo and one of them had a change of heart from the repeat performance.
Check out the one "meh" and one "not bad" film (our highest mark) in this week's The Reel Schmooze.
The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

Comic neuroses in Jesse Eisenberg's 'A Real Pain'

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.

On January 17, a statement from heads of Jerusalem churches touched off a firestorm. It blasted Christian Zionism, leading to an online fight over religious authority, divine promises, and ecclesial divisions.

Christian Zionists, including US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. fought back, releasing robust defenses of their theology and love for Israel and the Jewish people.

ICEJ Senior Vice President David Parsons, who has lived in Israel for over two decades, explains why Christian Zionists back Israel, and what it has to do with the nature of God's promises. He addresses the charge that Christian Zionists are secretly trying to get Jews back to Israel to spark the Armageddon, and answers questions about whether they take sides in partisan issues in Israel.

Parsons reveals surprising details on the effectiveness of ICEJ as a diplomatic tool for Israel, and why continued US support for Israel depends on the tens of millions of Christian Zionists.

Moving to a lighter topic, Parsons discusses the ICEJ's keystone event, the annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Jerusalem, in which thousands of Christians from dozens of countries come to march in the capital -- even at the height of the war against Hamas.

Lazar Focuscan be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/friday-focus/">Lazar Focus</a>. Each Friday, join host&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/">diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman</a> for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
On January 17, a statement from heads of Jerusalem churches touched off a firestorm. It blasted Christian Zionism, leading to an online fight over religious authority, divine promises, and ecclesial divisions.
Christian Zionists, including US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. fought back, releasing robust defenses of their theology and love for Israel and the Jewish people.
ICEJ Senior Vice President David Parsons, who has lived in Israel for over two decades, explains why Christian Zionists back Israel, and what it has to do with the nature of God's promises. He addresses the charge that Christian Zionists are secretly trying to get Jews back to Israel to spark the Armageddon, and answers questions about whether they take sides in partisan issues in Israel.
Parsons reveals surprising details on the effectiveness of ICEJ as a diplomatic tool for Israel, and why continued US support for Israel depends on the tens of millions of Christian Zionists.
Moving to a lighter topic, Parsons discusses the ICEJ's keystone event, the annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Jerusalem, in which thousands of Christians from dozens of countries come to march in the capital -- even at the height of the war against Hamas.
Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

David Parsons: Why Christian Zionists support a strong 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.

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

Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's unprompted and incendiary allegation on Tuesday that a Biden administration "embargo" directly caused the deaths of Israeli soldiers, Horovitz explains what might have prompted his remarks and highlights their implications for Israel's already-strained relationship with the Democratic Party.

As US President Donald Trump is expected to decide whether to launch airstrikes against Iran, Horovitz discusses one of the presumed aims of an attack: to weaken the regime's ability to crack down on future protests, and by extension, encourage the Iranian public to return to the streets with greater prospects of bringing down the leadership.

Horovitz also reviews Hamas's revival in Gaza as Trump moves to advance phase two of his peace plan, and the prime minister's press conference acknowledgement that there is next to nobody in the Strip without ties to the terror group or to the Palestinian Authority.

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

For further reading:

Trump wants to create conditions for ‘regime change’ in Iran — US sources

Israel warns Hamas may soon formally cede Gaza to technocrats, but maintain actual power

Netanyahu’s incendiary accusation against Biden underlines need for the state inquiry he opposes

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

IMAGE: President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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.
Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's unprompted and incendiary allegation on Tuesday that a Biden administration "embargo" directly caused the deaths of Israeli soldiers, Horovitz explains what might have prompted his remarks and highlights their implications for Israel's already-strained relationship with the Democratic Party.
As US President Donald Trump is expected to decide whether to launch airstrikes against Iran, Horovitz discusses one of the presumed aims of an attack: to weaken the regime's ability to crack down on future protests, and by extension, encourage the Iranian public to return to the streets with greater prospects of bringing down the leadership.
Horovitz also reviews Hamas's revival in Gaza as Trump moves to advance phase two of his peace plan, and the prime minister's press conference acknowledgement that there is next to nobody in the Strip without ties to the terror group or to the Palestinian Authority.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-january-29-2026/">Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.</a>
For further reading:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-wants-to-create-conditions-for-regime-change-in-iran-us-sources/">Trump wants to create conditions for &lsquo;regime change&rsquo; in Iran &mdash; US sources</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-says-hamas-may-soon-cede-gaza-to-technocrats-but-will-keep-grip-on-strip/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&amp;utm_medium=desktop_site&amp;utm_campaign=trump-wants-to-create-conditions-for-regime-change-in-iran-us-sources">Israel warns Hamas may soon formally cede Gaza to technocrats, but maintain actual power</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahus-incendiary-accusation-against-biden-underlines-need-for-the-state-inquiry-he-opposes/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&amp;utm_medium=desktop_site">Netanyahu&rsquo;s incendiary accusation against Biden underlines need for the state inquiry he opposes</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 Pod-Waves.
IMAGE: President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Haviv Rettig Gur: Hamas is holding Gazans hostage

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