Our conversations on Israeli Bytes explores the nuance and complexity of Israel today.
***
About the Hosts:
William Kolbrener, Executive Director
Bill, a religious American, lives in Jerusalem, is a professor of English Literature at Bar-Ilan University.
Ronit Eitan, Creative Director
Ronit, a secular Israeli novelist, lives in Tel Aviv, is a PhD in the English Dept at Bar-Ilan University.
🎧 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
4 Oct 2025
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 global perception of Israeli cuisine, they explore why food matters now more than ever, and how BALAGAN is cultivating a community of voices that refuse to be silenced.Download the issue here. (https://writingonthewall.io/balagan/)
30 Jul 2025
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.
12 Jul 2025
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 to upend Israeli politics.
25 Jun 2025
Ep. 13: "Keep Calm and Carry On"
Hosts Bill and Ronit explore the complexities of resuming daily life in Israel following a ceasefire, highlighting the challenges of returning to normalcy in a changed environment.
15 Jun 2025
Ep. 12: "Day 3: Life Under Fire"
William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan share a real-time conversation about the fears and realities of parenting in Israel during Iranian missile attacks, revealing the daily challenges of maintaining normalcy amid crisis in this interview.
13 Jun 2025
Ep. 11: "The Drones are Coming" #Israel #Iran #War
Professor William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan discuss the lived experience of a war within a war in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, highlighting the fear and preparation amidst sirens.
Hosts Bill and Ronit reflect on the 600-day mark of the hostage crisis, discussing despair and the importance of showing up, even in silence.
20 May 2025
Ep. 9: "Wait, They Like Us?!" #Eurovision #Israel
Hosts Bill and Ronit analyze Israel's Eurovision experience, exploring the euphoria of international support and its fleeting impact on national sentiment in this episode.
12 May 2025
Ep. 8: "Who Do You Trust Now?" with Prof Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan
Professor Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan discuss the disillusionment following Edan Alexander's release, exploring themes of trust, leadership limits, and accumulating grief in this interview episode.
11 May 2025
Ep. 7: "Missiles, Boycotts, and What It’s Like Right Now" with William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan
William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan describe the realities of daily life in Israel during wartime, including missile alerts and boycotts, offering a glimpse into resilience in the face of adversity in this interview.
11 May 2025
Ep. 6: "Between Sorrow and Celebration" with Prof. William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan
Professor William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan examine the juxtaposition of Memorial Day and Independence Day in Israel, revealing how sorrow and celebration forge national memory and hope in this interview.
7 Oct 2024
Ep. 5: “The Aftermath” with Prof. Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan
Professor William Kolbrener and Ronit Eitan discuss the personal transformations and inspirations that arose from the aftermath of the October 7th attacks in this interview.
2 Oct 2024
Ep. 4: "Iranian Nights" with Ronit Eitan and William Kolbrener
Ronit Eitan and William Kolbrener discuss the recent Iranian missile attack on Israel, recounting experiences in shelters and contemplating the difficulties of progressing through the Rosh Hashanah holiday in this interview episode.
29 Sept 2024
Ep. 3: "Hiding in Closets Again" with Prof. Vered Tohar
Professor Vered Tohar, a Holocaust survivor, discusses her poem "Miklat" and reflects on the parallels between the October 7th events and historical traumas in an interview.
18 Sept 2024
Ep. 2: "Similes and Sacrifices" with Geula Geurts
Geula Geurts discusses her poem 'Jerusalem Caesarian,' exploring language, identity, and maternal sacrifices since October 7th in this interview episode.
16 Sept 2024
Ep. 1: “From a Face to a Story” with Dr. Yaakov Mascetti
Dr. Yaakov Mascetti discusses his poem dedicated to Hersh Goldberg-Polin, exploring themes of presence and memory in the face of loss, offering a poignant reflection on human connection.
Who has been a guest on Israeli Bytes
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
William Kolbrener
Ronit Eitan
Prof Kolbrener
Professor William Kolbrener
Vered Tohar
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
15,678
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
15
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
0
Contact Israeli Bytes
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Israeli Bytes?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
