Dan Ben-David: Israel is on the brink of a spiral of collapse

Dan Ben-David: Israel is on the brink of a spiral of collapse

Author: The Times of Israel August 5, 2026 Duration: 51:10

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with leading economist Prof. Dan Ben-David.

Ben-David heads the Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research and is a senior faculty member in the Department of Public Policy at Tel-Aviv University.

Before Israel heads to the ballot box on October 27, Ben-David is on a crusade to raise awareness of just how crucial these elections are to stave off an almost inevitable "spiral of collapse."

In economics, a "spiral of collapse occurs when a country starts to collapse economically; the first to leave are the most educated, the most skilled, the people with options, which means that there's a greater burden on those who remain," explains Ben-David. Right now, due to decades of sectoral politics, Israel is headed towards such a cliff, he feels.

But through careful planning and a complete overhaul of Israel's education system, the country can still bounce back. Ben-David explains how the Jewish state needs to create one unified core curriculum for all of its citizens -- and teach it well.

And so this week, we ask Dan Ben-David, what matters now.

What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Each week, What Matters Now from The Times of Israel focuses deeply on a single, pressing story. This isn't a rapid-fire news recap, but a thoughtful dive into the one topic currently defining life in Israel and influencing Jewish communities worldwide. You'll hear from journalists, analysts, and people directly affected, providing clarity and context on complex developments. The conversation moves beyond headlines to examine the historical roots, present-day realities, and potential futures of each chosen subject. Tune into this weekly podcast for a sustained and nuanced look at the forces at play. It’s an essential listen for anyone seeking to understand the evolving narrative of the region, offering a dedicated space to truly grasp what matters now.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

What Matters Now
Podcast Episodes
Aron Heller: 1.5 million-strong Jewish band of brothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:27
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with journalist and debut author Aron Heller. Some 1.…
Angela Buchdahl: This Passover, have faith in the story of the Exodus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:12
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Jessica Steinberg speaking with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl. Buchdahl speaks about being a rabbinic fi…
Matti Friedman: Israel's forever wars in Lebanon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:44
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with author and journalist Matti Friedman. The first half of our ep…
Einat Wilf: Fall of Iran an opportunity to uproot 'Palestinianism' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:42
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Einat Wilf, a former MK, author and CEO of the newly formed Oz…
Micah Goodman: How Israel and the US may prevent World War III [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:14
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with author and public intellectual Micah Goodman. In the sixth day…