The Jerusalem Post Podcast

Pfizer vaccines saved millions of lives, but how good are they really?

The Jerusalem Post Health & Wellness Podcast with Maayan Hoffman and Rossella Tercatin

In their last episode of 2021, Senior COVID Analyst Maayan Hoffman and Health Reporter Rossella Tercatin look back at year two of coronavirus.

Where did Israel do well? How could the country have improved?

They also put a strong focus on the year of the vaccines, how Pfizer came into Israel and how many lives the shot saved. At the same time, they acknowledge the challenges with the vaccine and think about what might be next for combatting the pandemic. 

Photo credit: Avshalom Sassoni/Maariv

Breaking kosher phones

The Jerusalem Post Podcast with Yaakov Katz and Lahav Harkov

Editor-in-chief Yaakov Katz and Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov sit down with Israel's Minister of Communications Yoaz Hendel for a candid conversation about his battle to break up ultra-Orthodox autonomy in Israel, 5G, China and his future in politics.

Photo credit: Rami Zinger, as seen on jpost.com

Christmas in the Holy Land - listen!

The Jerusalem Post Podcast - Travel Edition
Special Christmas episode

David and Mark get festive and go ho-ho-ho in the snow, snow, snow. 

They pop in to the Old City of Jerusalem to visit Santa Claus in his grotto to tell him what they want for Christmas.

Then, in search of snow and inspiration, they travel to Park City in Utah to hear about a ski in/ski out Friday night synagogue service.

Loay Alshareef: Real change is happening in the Arab world

This week on The Jerusalem Post Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Yaakov Katz and Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov start by discussing the headline from the Teheran Times, where a map was published indicating the dots of supposed potential attacks by the Iranians against Israel.

The irony is that their alleged "attacks" include Shchem, Jenin and areas in Lebanon, as well as the Gaza strip and Golan Heights.

They continue and talk about Israel-US relations, specifically the obsession of the Biden administration regarding the Israeli settlements.

We can see Increased tension between Israel and the US on this issue, which should not come as a surprise as Biden was part of the Obama administration and the Palestinian issue always created disagreements between the two countries in Obama's era.

Next, they discuss Bennett's historic visit to Abu-Dhabi and the content of the talks such as cooperation around health, tech, trade and R&D. They talk about the feelings on the streets in Dubai, specifically around the Iran talks in Vienna.

Another issue they discuss is the Israeli official aircraft, "Wings of Zion." Why is this airplane not being used? 

And what is a podcast without discussion of COVID. Lahav asked, "Why are we having an International beauty contest in Eilat and not allowing Jews from around the world get into the country?"

They end up the podcast speaking to Loay Alshareef , a social media activist and an expert on Israeli-UAE relations, who talks about Bennett's visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Alshareef believes that as a content creator and social activist his role is to bring people together, educate them and share his knowledge. He speaks about a real change that is happening in the Arab world and hopes to visit Israel this Passover.

Photo credit: Reuters, as seen on jpost.com

Six secrets to a happy life and everything we know about Omicron

The Jerusalem Post Podcast - Health & Wellness Edition 

In this special edition of the Jerusalem Post Podcast - Health & Wellness Edition, Senior Health Analyst Maayan Hoffman and Health Reporter Rossella Tercatin conduct a fascinating interview with Michael Shpigelmacher CEO of Bionaut Labs, an Israeli-American start-up that designs remote-controlled micro-robots revolutionizing the treatment of central nervous system disorders, targeting deep brain structures safely and precisely. Find out how this robot could save lives.

This time, "It's all about Omicron!"

Though everyone hoped the winter would look differently, we are faced with a yet another variant outbreak and on the verge of the country's fifth COVID-19 wave. Omicron cases are rising, Hoffman and Tercatin explain, though serious cases and mortality rates are going down.

Omicron is at least four times more infectious than the Delta variant, research is starting to show. 

Israel reacted swiftly by shuttering Israel's airport once again to foreigners, a decision that was extended through December 22. All Israelis are likewise asked to isolate for a minimum of three days on return to the country from abraod. 

Does the vaccine work? They talk about when we will really know. And also look at why Israel's vaccination remains at only 60%. 

As we expect the weather to get colder this upcoming week, another issue that was brought to the table is the flu outbreak in Israel. Last winter, the flu completely disappeared. There was not even one case in Israel. We can assume this was caused at least in part by social distancing, lockdowns, wearing masks and washing hands.

But this year flu cases are quickly going up. There were 300 people hospitalized with flu as of the weekend, nearly double the number we saw in 2019. And, here too, vaccination numbers are really down. 

They end up the episode on a happy note, sharing with us the six things you must do to have a happy and healthy life.

Photo credit: Ingimage

Is Israel heading toward another stabbing Intifada?

The Jerusalem Post Podcast with Lahav Harkov and Yaakov Katz

This week on The Jerusalem Post Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Yaakov Katz and Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov start their conversation with the Iran talks, shift to discuss the Mediterranean region and Israel's relationship with Turkey, and finish by discussing the possibility of yet another stabbing Intifada after facing six terror attacks in the last two and a half weeks.

When it comes to Iran, Katz said that Israel is worried about the possibility of ending up with a "bad deal," as the US seems to be withdrawing from the Middle East, which could be disastrous for Israel if its withdraw looks anything like the Afghanistan model.

Both Katz and Lahav recall how both Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid were hopeful that they could work differently with the White House than former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu - keeping their disagreements behind closed doors. But they said it is not really working out the way the leaders hoped. 

They also talk to Anna Ahronheim, the Jerusalem Post Military Correspondent, about her interpretation of the Iran talks and a possible strike against the regime.

Later on in the episode, they discuss how Israel is hosting leaders from Cyprus and Greece to discuss regional developments around gas and natural resources. Is having these meetings sending a message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan?

Next, they talk about recent terror attacks, and in particularly this week's attack in Jerusalem where a border police neutralized a terrorist and were criticized for this.  

They end the episode with the role of digital diplomacy in Israel's position in worldwide through a fascinating conversation with Yiftah Curiel, director of digital diplomacy at the Foreign Ministry and former spokesmen of the UK Embassy in London. He shares with them the work the ministry in Israel's propaganda war across social media. Curiel also talks about the next challenges and goals of 2022, including having a TikTok account.

Photo credit: Israel Police

Barcelona: Michelin-star kosher food, soccer Mecca and Gaudi greatness

The Jerusalem Post Podcast - Travel Edition, Episode 22

The Jewish history of Barcelona and Spain in general is front and center in Mark and David's latest travels. They taste out-of-this-world cocktails and the best kosher food in Europe and even touch the hallowed turf graced by Messi at FC Barcelona.

This time:

• Welcome to Barcelona, capital of the Catalonia region
• A soccer pilgrimage with a VIP behind-the-scenes tour
• EXPOSED: The secret recipe of a great Catalan cocktail
• Inside the oldest occupied building in Barcelona - It was in Jewish hands and is today too!
• Inside the ancient Jewish quarter
• Where Nahmanides disputed
• Where the Inquisition left its mark
• Up in the sky with Antoni Gaudi
• Mark tastes the very best of kosher

Photo:  Casa Mila designed by Gaudi

Exclusive: Interview with NBA superstar Enes Kanter

The Jerusalem Post Podcast with Lahav Harkov and Yaakov Katz

This week on the Jerusalem Post Podcast, Editor-in-chief Yaakov Katz and Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov share an exclusive interview with NBA superstar Enes Kanter. 

Kanter, a Muslim, has been playing basketball for more than a decade and recently has been using his popularity to help heal the world - talking about issues of social justice and democracy.

“Live for others” is Kanter’s message, he told the Podcast. “We rise by lifting others.”

He said he also has a message of respect: “It does not matter what your religion is, whatever you are, respect other religions and countries.”

Kanter has most recently been tweeting about the human rights abuses in Turkey and China. He said that the young generation of Turks is growing up anti-West and antisemitic because Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regularly shares those messages at his rallies. 

“It breaks my heart,” Enes said, “people growing up hating Israel, burning Israeli flags - and this is all Erdogan’s fault.”

Also on the podcast: We know Omicron is more contagious, however is it more dangerous?

This is a question Katz and Harkov tackle as Israel closes itself from the rest of the world once again due to the Omicron variant outbreak. 

They argue that Israel might be taking the Omicron variant more seriously than the rest of the world.

"Maybe instead of closing the country to foreigners who contribute to the country's economy, there should be more enforcement of existing COVID-19 rules?" 

Harkov said that she believes the government should be putting its efforts into convincing unvaccinated citizens to get the vaccine.

They also discuss Israel's role as the Jewish state in the lives of Jews who don’t live in Israel, as Diaspora leaders have expressed their dissatisfaction over the situation. 

And what is a Jerusalem Post Podcast without discussion of Iran?

They talk about how the Iranians are sitting down for talks - including the idea of lifting sanctions in exchange for limiting their nuclear program. 

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Could the Omicron variant have developed in African AIDS patients?

In a special edition of the Jerusalem Post Podcast - Health & Wellness Edition, Senior Health Analyst Maayan Hoffman talks with Prof. Cyrille Cohen, head of the Immunology Lab at Bar-Ilan University, explains what is concerning health experts.

The burning question: How did the world get a COVID variant with more than 50 mutations, including over 30 on the virus’ spike protein?

According to Cohen, SARS-CoV-2 mutates at a rate of about one mutation every two weeks. So a variant like Omicron would mean that it started mutating almost two years ago, “which does not add up with what we know.”

So, why are we seeing so many mutations at once in a variant?

Partly because this variant was developing for a few months under the radar until it acquired enough mutations to be what the Omicron is today as a variant of concern. And the likelihood, said Cohen, is that it could have incubated in people with defective immune systems, like for example in people with AIDS.

“In normal people, not vaccinated, infection lasts five to 10 days,” he said. “This lapse in time is what the virus has to change until you infect someone else. In vaccinated people, the virus has around a day - meaning the virus would not thrive as it does in unvaccinated people. That is why it is so important to get vaccinated in order to stop the spread of the variants.

“But in immunosuppressed people, you might end up with a kind of chronic infection in which the virus lingers for a month or so,” he continued. “And during that time, the virus could actually dodge the immune system and accumulate more and more mutations.”

The virus is just replicating over and over in the person’s body because the immune system is not able to stop it. 

“Africa should definitely be granted access to vaccines as fast as possible,” Cohen contended, “because this is a global fight and only when all of the population will have access to vaccines can we stand a chance of minimizing the cases we will see.”

Other items during the discussion:

> Children’s vaccination
> Shuttering Israel’s airport
> The effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines - against the variant and in general 

Photo credit: REUTERS, as seen on jpost.com

Is terrorism on the rise in Jerusalem?

Is terrorism on the rise in Israel?

This is a question that Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov and Editor-in-chief Yaakov Katz tackle on this week’s Jerusalem Post Podcast. They reflect on the recent murder by a Hamas terrorist of a young South African immigrant right outside the Western Wall plaza.

“It was a real tragedy, and it raises some questions, like is terrorism on the rise in Jerusalem and across Israel,” Katz says. 

The terrorist was a teacher at an Islamist school in east Jerusalem. After the event, one of the news stations interviewed a student who said, “he was the nicest teacher, he never cursed anyone except for the Jews.”

They also discuss international negotiations about re-joining the Iran deal and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s comments this week that Israel is not obligated to whatever outcome there is of the negotiations. He said that since Israel is not a party to the Iran deal, the country will maintain freedom of action. 

He said Israel will continue to be prepared. 

Finally, they also talk with Jerusalem Post correspondent Yonah Jeremy Bob about former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trial, which continued this week at the Jerusalem District Court. 

Photo credit: Eli Kay, the 26-year-old South African oleh who was killed in a Hamas terrorist attack in the Old City of Jerusalem (Credit: Courtesy)