The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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 reporter Luke Tress joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
WATCH the full episode here:
Following reports of an anti-Zionist protest in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square, Tress discusses concerns that the rhetoric at such gatherings has become more violent.
After the final grassroots rally for hostages held at New York City's Central Park, Tress reports on the weekly gatherings, which continued until the body of the last hostage, fallen police officer Ran Gvili, was brought home for burial.
More details have emerged on the perpetrator of the car ramming last week at the Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn, reports Tress, although the full story remains murky.
Finally, Tress reviews the formation of an antisemitism task force in the New York City Council, whose speaker, Julie Menin, offers a more centrist Democratic approach than that of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
‘All these people are so devoted’: Hostage advocates bid farewell at last NYC rally
Suspect in Chabad HQ ramming charged with hate crimes; had previously attended event there
NYC Council launches antisemitism task force; new bill would limit synagogue protests
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; The last rally for Israeli hostages, in Central Park, New York City, February 1, 2026. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
As Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warns of a regional conflict in the case of a US attack, Fabian reports that the IDF is on high alert and in contact with its US counterparts, with expectations of updates if US President Donald Trump decides to strike the regime.
Gaza's Rafah Crossing with Egypt is being prepared ahead of its official opening on Monday, reports Fabian, when approved Gazan residents will be able to return to Gaza and leave the Strip.
Fabian discusses the IDF report regarding the accuracy of the Hamas-led Health Ministry toll of around 70,000 Gazans during the war, noting that the overall number doesn't include a breakdown between civilians and terrorists.
As the IDF Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters goes dormant with the release of the final hostage body of fallen police officer Ran Gvili, Fabian discusses some of the work of the unit that opened after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack, including intelligence gathering and rescue missions.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Zamir spoke with US officials over weekend amid tensions with Iran
Israel confirms Gaza’s Rafah Crossing will reopen Sunday to pedestrians in both directions
IDF believes 70,000 Gazans killed in war, as claimed by Hamas; civilian-combatant ratio unclear
‘We did not assess all would return’: IDF shutters its Hostages HQ 846 days after Oct. 7
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.
IMAGE: Palestinian patients wait at Rafah Crossing to leave Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 2, 2025. (Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/ Flash90)
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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)
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.