# Echoes from the Safe Room

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc-7884133/echoes-from-the-safe-room
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc-7884133/echoes-from-the-safe-room.md
Podcast: [Shalom From Tel Aviv with Paul Maleary & Nigel Lithman KC](https://stenobird.com/podcast/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc-7884133)
Published: 2026-06-10T09:21:15+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc/episodes/echoes-from-the-safe-room
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6a18c72069630795d8cfed98/e/6a292c8ca917ce4c70b861ab/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/shalom-from-tel-aviv-with-paul-maleary-nigel-lithman-kc-7884133/episodes/echoes-from-the-safe-room
Duration seconds: 2911

## Resource

Overview In this episode, Paul and Nigel discuss life in Israel amidst recent regional tensions, dive into the logistics and "creature comforts" of safe rooms, compare the cost of living between the UK and Israel, and share local anecdotes ranging from medical visits to the cultural quirks of phone shops and a mutual confusion over cricket. Key Discussion Points Security & Safe Rooms: Nigel details spending two recent sessions in his safe room due to incoming missiles from Iran. He describes the room as a "Spartan" spare bedroom equipped with a steel door, steel window shutters, air conditioning, and a tiny TV with Netflix. He also notes seeing a six-story building under construction in Jerusalem with these concrete safe rooms built onto every floor. Local Interactions & Culture: Nigel recounts a trip to his GP to drop off a 24-hour urine specimen, praising his "lovely" Israeli Arab nurse. He also shares a humorous story about visiting a local phone shop to get help with a new computer from the owner's sister, who was hiding out from the hairdressers with her hair covered in tin foil. The Economy & Cost of Living: The pair discuss the shifting value of the shekel, noting it has moved from 10 shekels to the pound 22 years ago down to 3.9 today. Nigel shares local grocery prices via his wife Debbie: a carton of milk costs 7 shekels (£2) and a sliced loaf of bread costs 15 shekels. He emphasizes that while the country is doing remarkably well economically, the high cost of living makes it incredibly difficult for regular citizens to get by without family support. The History of the Shekel & Antiquities: Nigel debunks stereotypes by explaining that the shekel's origin dates back to the Old Testament census in Exodus. He also mentions visiting an antiquarian…

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## Transcript

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