LET’S GET LIT: Shout out your dreams

Novelist Yuval Abramovitz talks about the life-changing slip that led to his writing The List: Shout Out Your Dreams, a book which has soared to the top of Amazon’s Bestseller list in the month it’s been out. Get your pen and paper – “The List” might encourage you to start making yours.

TALKING TURKEY: Louis Fishman

Turkey-expert Louis Fishman, an academic and journalist who divides his time between Istanbul and New York, talks about anti-Semitism in Turkey, what’s happened to the Israel-Turkey relationship, ISIS, and his forthcoming book on Ottoman Palestine.

ILENE IN: On shopping for gender-free toys

Is it possible to buy gender-free toys? Or should we just resign ourselves to princess paraphernalia for girls and Power Rangers for boys?

Boxing day unpacked

TLV1’s Laragh Widdess gives a Brit's-eye view of what Boxing Day is all about: Shopping, watching sports, nursing a hangover, and eating Christmas dinner number two.

No New Years here, or else

Israeli restaurants and hotels can lose their kosher certification if they put up Christmas decorations or even hold parties for New Year’s Eve, which Israelis call Sylvester. Rabbi Uri Regev of Hiddush, Freedom of Religion for Israel, says the Rabbinate’s policies reflect a deep hostility toward Christianity and non-Orthodox Judaism.

Rock in the Red Zone

People are used to hearing about rockets over Sderot, but not about the rock scene in Sderot. The southern town under fire has produced a huge number of rock bands, whether because of or despite its uncomfortable proximity to Gaza. Filmmaker Laura Bialis joins TLV1 to talk about her new music documentary, “Rock in the Red Zone.”

Ziv Koren: Writing With Light

Photography means writing with light, explains leading Israeli photojournalist Ziv Koren. His cutting edge work documenting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as photographs from 27 countries around the world are now on display in a special tribute to his work at Hangar 16, Namal Tel Aviv

Comedy for a change

Today many people get their news from comedy television shows like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Israel’s Matzav HaUma, State of the Nation, both of which spin reality into humor. But comedy has always had the power to drive social change. TLV1 correspondent Shoshi Shmuluvitz visited the JJJ Comedy for a Change conference held this week in Jerusalem.

Little town of Bethlehem

On Christmas Day, Bethlehem becomes a melting pot as people from all over the world gather to enjoy the holiday spirit in Manger Square. Despite the grim reminders of the occupation that decorate some parts of the square, it is the Christmas atmosphere that prevails, bringing people of all religions and nationalities together, even if it is only for 24 hours. TLV1's Paul Sánchez reports.

Music:

Ur Kasdim - Elimor

Totemo - Host

Sezen Aksu & Los Pasharos Sefaradis - Leha Dodi

Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

John Legend - All of Me

Lorde - Tennis Court

Teapacks - Stam

Adele - Chasing Pavements

Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing

Efraim Shamir - Roked Lekol Habanot