PODCAST · arts
Israeli Bytes
by Writing on the Wall
Our conversations on Israeli Bytes explores the nuance and complexity of Israel today.***About the Hosts:William Kolbrener, Executive DirectorBill, a religious American, lives in Jerusalem, is a professor of English Literature at Bar-Ilan University.Ronit Eitan, Creative DirectorRonit, a secular Israeli novelist, lives in Tel Aviv, is a PhD in the English Dept at Bar-Ilan University.
Episodes
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Ep. 17 - "They're Coming Home"
🎧 Israeli Bytes, Episode 17: “They’re Coming Home.” 🎗️ Bill and Ronit talk about the news of a ceasefire deal and the return of the hostages — the disbelief, the hope, and what comes next for Israel. 🕊️ Listen now #IsraeliBytes #Podcast #Israel #Hostages #Ceasefire #Hope
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Ep. 16 - "Stories of Food"
In this episode of Israeli Bytes, Bill and Ronit sit down to reflect on BALAGAN’s Food Issue — a project they call a labor of love with a touch of defiance.They discuss how food can be more than recipes: a mirror of memory, identity, and resilience. From Tel Aviv’s shifting realities to the…
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Ep. 15: "Questions and Kippahs"
What does your kippah say about you? William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan unpack Jewish identity—from Naftali Bennett’s tiny cap to doubt, liturgy, and visible Jewishness in a fearful world. Episode 15 of Israeli Bytes is now live.
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Ep. 14: "Haredi Draft Showdown: Anger, Politics, and the Costs of Exemption"
Bill and Ronit unpack the backlash against draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Israelis after four Haredi soldiers were killed. From coalition arithmetic and public fury to lived experience inside the yeshiva world—and the daily ritual of doom-scrolling—they trace how one fault-line now threatens...
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Ep. 13: "Keep Calm and Carry On"
Bill and Ronit discuss life in Israel after the so-called ceasefire, and the strange pressure to return to “normal” — whatever that means.
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Ep. 12: "Day 3: Life Under Fire"
A raw, unscripted conversation between two Israeli parents—William Kolbrener in Jerusalem and Ronit Eitan in Tel Aviv—recorded during the third day of the latest wave of Iranian missile attacks. We talk fear, faith, phones, bomb shelters, and the strange choreography of routine in crisis. This is...
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Ep. 11: "The Drones are Coming" #Israel #Iran #War
🎙️This episode captures the fear, absurdity, and preparation on the ground—sirens, pitchers of water, biblical references, and kids half-asleep in living rooms.A war within a war, as lived from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. With Prof William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan
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Ep. 10: "600 Days" #HostageCrisis #Israel #Gaza #War
Bill and Ronit reflect on the 600-day mark of the hostage crisis—on showing up, even in silence.They speak about despair, unfinished stories, and the right to speak—even from positions of privilege.
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Ep. 9: "Wait, They Like Us?!" #Eurovision #Israel
🎙️ This week, Bill and Ronit talk #Eurovision, post-vote euphoria, and what happens when Israelis feel — briefly — embraced. What does it mean when the world cheers? And what happens the day after? 🎧 Listen now. #Eurovision2025 #Israel #WritingOnTheWall #BillAndRonit #Podcast
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Ep. 8: "Who Do You Trust Now?" with Prof Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan
In this special edition of Israeli Bytes, Ronit and William respond to the release of American hostage Edan Alexander. Gratitude meets grief, and a deeper disillusionment sets in: what does it mean when release depends on a foreign passport? What happens when governments—ours, theirs—stop making...
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Ep. 7: "Missiles, Boycotts, and What It’s Like Right Now" with William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan
Bill and Ronit talk through what it feels like to live inside a war—airport missile alerts, boycotts, wildfires, and everything in between. No big claims, just the small, strange facts of daily life in a place that keeps going even when it doesn’t make sense.
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Ep. 6: "Between Sorrow and Celebration" with Prof. William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan
Memorial Day and Independence Day in Israel stand side by side, forcing a difficult emotional passage — from the deep grief of loss to the cautious joy of independence. This reflection by Prof William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan explores how, especially this year, the sirens, the silences, and the...
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Ep. 5: “The Aftermath” with Prof. Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan
Prof. William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan reflect on the aftermath of the October 7th attacks one year later, discussing how the events profoundly changed them, reshaping their identities, and how it inspired the creation of Writing on the Wall.
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Ep. 4: "Iranian Nights" with Ronit Eitan and William Kolbrener
Ronit Eitan and William Kolbrener come together for an impromptu conversation on the missile attack from Iran on Israel just hours ago, sharing stories from the miklat (shelter) and reflecting on the challenges of moving forward during the Rosh Hashana holiday and beyond.
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Ep. 3: "Hiding in Closets Again" with Prof. Vered Tohar
In Episode 3 of Israeli Bytes, we speak with Vered Tohar, a professor in the Department of the Literature of the Jewish People at Bar-Ilan University. As a third-generation Holocaust survivor, Prof. Tohar reflects on her poem "Miklat," dedicated to her grandmother, and discusses the devastating...
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Ep. 2: "Similes and Sacrifices" with Geula Geurts
In her discussion of her poem, ‘Jerusalem Caesarian,’ dedicated to Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the poet Geula Geurtz talks about language, identity, the creative process of writing, and the sacrifices of a mother since October 7th. Read the full poem here: https://writingonthewall.io/jerusalem-caesarean/
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Ep. 1: “From a Face to a Story” with Dr. Yaakov Mascetti
Dr. Yaakov Mascetti, Chair of the Comparative Literature Department at Bar-Ilan University, reflects on presence—both human and divine in his poem ‘Tell Me,’ dedicated to the memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American-Israeli hostage killed in captivity in Gaza. Read the full poem on...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Our conversations on Israeli Bytes explores the nuance and complexity of Israel today.***About the Hosts:William Kolbrener, Executive DirectorBill, a religious American, lives in Jerusalem, is a professor of English Literature at Bar-Ilan University.Ronit Eitan, Creative DirectorRonit, a secular Israeli novelist, lives in Tel Aviv, is a PhD in the English Dept at Bar-Ilan University.
HOSTED BY
Writing on the Wall
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Israeli Bytes have?
Israeli Bytes currently has 17 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Israeli Bytes about?
Our conversations on Israeli Bytes explores the nuance and complexity of Israel today.***About the Hosts:William Kolbrener, Executive DirectorBill, a religious American, lives in Jerusalem, is a professor of English Literature at Bar-Ilan University.Ronit Eitan, Creative DirectorRonit, a secular...
How often does Israeli Bytes release new episodes?
Israeli Bytes has 17 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Israeli Bytes?
You can listen to Israeli Bytes on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Israeli Bytes?
Israeli Bytes is created and hosted by Writing on the Wall.
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