Hey! We want to tell you a bit about our baby, the project that has kept us busy, day and night, over the past eighteen months: The Israeli version of NPR’s ‘This American Life’ - Sipur Israel, or Israel Story.

We are four childhood friends who grew up together. After the army we all went our separate ways – two stayed on to serve as officers in the IDF, and two went abroad to study in colleges in the States. When we all returned to Israel we began a small podcasting project. But before we knew it, the show mushroomed into our life passion.

We began this project knowing next to nothing about radio. Our friends at This American Life taught us everything, and now we have just finished our first highly successful and critically-acclaimed season on primetime. Our initial success is encouraging and exciting, and we feel that we are constantly learning and improving. We have brought the show thus far with no funds whatsoever, relying just on our own enthusiasm. But now it is time to grow, time to make it real. Help us make this happen. Help us tell a story - the Israel Story.

What are we doing?

Israel Story is a new radio initiative aimed at introducing high quality, long-form non-fiction content to, and about, Israel. Each of our first season’s eleven episodes - which aired on prime time on Israel’s leading radio station - reached an estimated audience of hundreds of thousands. The response has been overwhelming; we got a lot of press, tens of thousands visited our site, downloaded our podcasts, and wrote in expressing their enthusiasm. So now, in addition to vigorously working on our second season - we want to bring these stories to you - people interested in Israel who don’t speak Hebrew.

Why? 

Our primary goal is to amplify voices that are rarely heard, to tell the story of a different, diverse Israel. By bringing you multi-faceted narratives on thought-provoking themes, Israel Story aims to become a refreshing alternative. No longer Bibi or Lapid, the threat of the Iranian bomb or Security Council resolutions. Instead, we present stories that are not aired anywhere else: Everyday stories, told by - and about - regular Israelis.  

What do we need? How can you help?

With your support, we will be able to continue working toward our dream of becoming a lasting fixture in Israel's cultural landscape. But what is more, if funded, we plan to produce a mini-season of five Israel Story episodes in English that we'll release this spring. Your generous contributions will help us build a team of writers and reporters, have access to more studio time and travel across the country to collect the best stories you’ve ever heard from Israel. We have received partial funding for a second season from a large Jewish American foundation, and are now raising funds to make what is essentially a great leap for us – from a self-financed 'hobby' to a professional, first-rate radio show with a full time staff. With your help, we believe we will succeed!

In addition to contributing, help us spread the word - tell your friends, share news of your support on your facebook profile, “like” our FB page, tweet about us, use the indiegogo share tools, call your grandma, leave a note for your neighbor. Whether you can give zero dollars or twenty thousand, a share and a good word are always priceless.

What do YOU get? 

In addition to hours of fascinating tales, showcasing the plurality of communities and traditions that comprise the Israeli population, we have a whole set of amazing perks for you. So not only will your contributions allow us to bring you touching love stories, intelligent historical yarns, and hilarious accounts, but a contribution will also mean that you join us in the process of creating Israel Story. You will help us shape the episodes, select the music, sit in on staff meetings, and even trek around Israel for a full Israel Story experience. Additionally, we will be giving out amazing new Israel Story merchandize, signed books by some of the renowned contributors to the show, and even the opportunity to have one of your own stories produced into an Israel Story piece. We will be adding exciting new perks throughout the campaign, so be sure to check in often.

Final Word: 

If you are a curious person and if you care about Israel, our show is just for you. By entering the homes and lives of the people living in Israel – Jews, Muslims and Christians, Russians, Bedouin and Ethiopians, Filipino foreign workers and Eritrean refugees, orthodox and secular, Palestinians and settlers, Tel Avivis, Jerusalemites and Kibbutzniks, hawkish right wingers and diehard liberals – we wish to expose a different side of our country and tell stories that don’t make it into the mainstream media coverage. We strongly believe that personal tales allow us to identify, to step out of our own realities for a moment and view life through someone else’s eyes. With your help, we can do it!