04.10.2026 • 6 Min.

This is the English version of a German episode. In Israel, everyone addresses everyone else by their first name: students address their teachers that way, employees address their bosses that way. Even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is just called “Bibi” by everyone. The reason lies in Hebrew itself, which has no formal form of address, in the history of the kibbutzim, and in the ideal of the “sabra” — the direct, blunt-spoken Israeli. There is, however, one exception where Hebrew does turn formal after all. You'll find out what it is in this episode. Want to support the work behind “Israel, Explained”? Become a monthly supporter, with an optional name credit and ad-free episodes: https://patreon.com/Israelkurzerklart Or make a one-time contribution of any amount: https://buymeacoffee.com/israelkurzerklaert Thank you! Questions, feedback, or topic suggestions: podcast@elisabeth-krafft.de Editorial & Production: Elisabeth Krafft Originally published in German as: Nora Meissner: Weshalb duzt in Israel jeder jeden? This podcast was translated with the help of AI.