Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

In this landmark 50th episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah celebrates the milestone with his wife, Courtney Ann Platt (Glee, So You Think You Can Dance, Rock of Ages), the world-class dancer, television star, and multiple sclerosis advocate whose journey into Judaism has become a defining part of the traditions and values in their home. From growing up Italian Catholic in New York to becoming a Jewish mother raising three young Platts, Courtney opens up about the turning points that reshaped her life.

With humor and candor, Courtney and Jonah revisit the early days of their relationship, the emotional path of Courtney’s Orthodox conversion, and their commitment to blending two traditions under one roof, from negotiating Christmas celebrations to creating a home where Jewish values are woven into everyday life. Courtney also reflects on motherhood, the visceral awakening she felt after October 7th, and how becoming part of the Jewish people changed her understanding of community, resilience, and responsibility. The conversation touches on spirituality, loss, MS, and what it means to both choose and defend your identity. 

This milestone episode is a celebration of love, tradition, and the family Courney and Jonah have built together. It’s an intimate look at what it means to choose Judaism, and to choose each other.

Other Topics Include:

• The Story of How Jonah and Courtney Met Doing HAIR at the Hollywood Bowl
• Jonah and Courtney’s First Date & First “I Love You”
• How and When to Bring Up “The Conversion Convo”
• Conversion to Judaism: The Process and Challenges
• Protecting Jewish Identity Post-October 7th
• Jewish Day School vs. Hebrew School
• How Jonah Learned to Love Christmas!
• How Grief Affects Our Faith in God
• The Losses of Courtney’s SYTYCD brothers, Stephen “Twitch” Boss & Joshua Allen 
• Courtney’s Life with MS (multiple sclerosis)

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

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Mentioned In The Episode:

Courtney Ann Platt Instagram

Unstoppable: How Professional Dancer Courtney Platt Has Redefined Success While Navigating Society With Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Glee (Disney+)

Hit the Floor (Apple TV)

Rock of Ages (Apple TV)

Camp Rock Two (Disney+)

Adam Shankman 

L.A. Theater Review: ‘Hair’ at the Hollywood Bowl

Angelini Osteria & Alimentari

Camp Ramah in California

Vatican City

The Rich History of Mall Santas

What Happens on the Day of Conversion

Knicks City Dancers

So You Think You Can Dance (Prime Video)

Why Bat Mitzvahs (and other parties) need a dance motivator

BJJP Tiffany Haddish

What Is Rosh Hashanah

Ohr Torah Stone

The Mikvah

What is Niddah?

Why do Jewish Women Wear Wigs?

Tattooing in Jewish Law

The Blessing of Unplugging

Why Fast on Yom Kippur?

Why do we Wear a Kippah?

October 13, 2024 “Day of Jihad”

Being Jewish: Together Mosaic Shabbat

Honeymoon Israel

Joshua Allen, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ season 4 winner, dies in train accident

Remembering Marc Becker

What is Kavanah?

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:

jonahplattinfo@gmail.com

To contact us & all things BJJP:

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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing,  Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald,  Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb,  YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

It’s Turkey Time! In this warm and wonderfully flavorful Thanksgiving episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah sits down with Duff Goldman — celebrity pastry chef, bestselling cookbook author, Food Network Icon, and beloved host of shows like Ace of Cakes, Kids Baking Championship, Buddy vs. Duff, and Duff’s Happy Fun Bake Time.  Together, they dig into the stories and traditions that shaped Duff’s life long before he became America’s favorite baker.

Duff opens up about his personal experiences with anti-Jew bigotry in New England, and how that deepened his connection to Jewish culture, family, and food. They discuss the joys and challenges of Duff’s professional achievements as a master baker, from mentoring young bakers on television to navigating the pressure of high-profile baking competitions. Duff also discusses his upcoming venture — Duff's Deli and Market, opening soon in the Atlanta airport — and his philosophy on food, tradition, and community. Duff shares heartfelt reflections on his recovery from a devastating car accident, and his commitment to tzedakah

This episode is a celebration of resilience, tradition, and the Jewish roots behind Duff’s irresistible warmth and artistry. It’s a perfect blend of heart, humor, and holiday spirit.

Topics Include:

• Duff’s love of “Tzedakah”, the Jewish value of Charity
• Duff’s multicultural Passover Seders & Thanksgiving Dinners
• Kids Baking Championship Insights
• The Birth of the iconic Charm City Cakes
• Jewish-Themed Cakes and Duff's Deli
• Thanksgiving Traditions and Family

This episode is supported by The Dream Raffle. Win a Jerusalem dream home!

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

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Mentioned In The Episode:

Duff Goldman Instagram

Duff Goldman Youtube

Duff Goldman “Tzedakah” Page

Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza by Peter Beinart

Inside the Tunnels of Gaza

The Story of Purim

When Jon Stewart and Peter Beinart Threw Isreal Under the Bus

Save A Child’s Heart

Jacqueline Winch (Duff Goldman’s Artist Mom)

Here’s Who Won the Food Network’s First Ever Hanukkah Cooking Challenge

Duff Goldman Injured in Crash Allegedly Caused by Drunk Driver

Kids Baking Championship (Hulu)

Charm City Cakes

Ace of Cakes

Duff’s Favorite Spots “Best Things I Ever Ate”

Edmart Deli Closed

Foie Grock's Chefs Bruce Kalman & Duff Goldman (YouTube)

Silver Yad

Duff’s Deli and Market - Atlanta

Japan's ancient art of taiko drumming

Japanese Koto

Manzanar War Relocation Center

Michael Voltaggio

Duff’s Food on Goldbelly

Michael Cimarusti

Russ and Daughters

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:

jonahplattinfo@gmail.com

To contact us & all things BJJP:

www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:

Instagram - @JonahPlatt

X - @JonahPlatt

Follow Being Jewish on:

Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast

TikTok - @BeingJewish

Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing,  Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald,  Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb,  YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

In this uplifting episode, Jonah speaks with Jean-Claude Nkulikiyimfura, the Executive Director of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda. ASYV was founded to support orphans of the Rwandan genocide, providing a holistic education model rooted in Jewish principles like Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and Tikkun Ha Lev (repairing the heart). Jonah has a personal connection, having volunteered there soon after college.

Jean-Claude (JC) and Jonah discuss the Youth Village's success in preparing students for adulthood, which a recent Tulane University study highlights with impressive outcomes, including high rates of college placement and employment. The conversation covers impactful initiatives like the Inheritance Theater Project, which empowers young women, and the broader context of societal healing in post-genocide Rwanda. Jean-Claude also shares his personal experience as a refugee and details the future vision of ASYV, including the "Anything is Possible" campaign aimed at sustaining and expanding their vital mission.

The conversation covers:

• The Founding and Mission of Aga Shalom Youth Village
• Welcoming the Executive Director: Jean Claude's Journey
• Jewish Principles and the Vision for A SYV
• The Impact of A SYV: Programs and Success Stories
• Tulane University Study: Proving the Concept
• Scaling Deep: The Future of ASYV
• Gender Equity and the Inheritance Theater Project
• Rwanda's Transformation: From Genocide to Progress
• The Anything is Possible Campaign

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

https://beingjewishpodcast.com/community

Mentioned In The Episode:

JC socials:

• Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village Instagram 
• JC Linkedin
• Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village Facebook



Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village

The Anything is Possible Campaign at ASYV

Jewish Principle Tikkun Olam 

Ann Heyman, Founder of Agahzo-Shalom

Yemen Alt Youth Service 

Dr. Chaim Peri

ASYV Study with Tulane University

Scaling Deep

Bates College

1994 Rwanda Genocide

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:

jonahplattinfo@gmail.com

To contact us & all things BJJP:

www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:

Instagram - @JonahPlatt

X - @JonahPlatt

Follow Being Jewish on:

Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast

TikTok - @BeingJewish

Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Story Producer: Sasha Nelson, Associate Producer: Emma Webb, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald,  Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker,  YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

In this spirited and emotional episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Broadway legend Seth Rudetsky — actor, pianist, musical director, SiriusXM host (Seth’s Big Fat Broadway, Seth Speaks), comedy writer, and tireless advocate — joins Jonah for an honest conversation about the deep history of Jewish contributions to Broadway. They discuss the rise of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment in the arts world, and the creations of the Jewish Broadway Alliance, a grassroots effort Seth launched in the wake of October 7th. 

Drawing from decades on stage and behind the piano, Seth opens up about the challenges of Jewish advocacy, the shock of Broadway’s silence that drove him to speak up, and the emotional weight of organizing initiatives like the Broadway-hosted hostage video and Broadway Shabbat. Seth and Jonah also delve into the highlights from Rudetsky's extraordinary career — from hosting Stars in the House during the COVID-19 pandemic to his concerts for social justice causes — and his dream of creating new educational content celebrating Jewish history through music. 

This conversation is a celebration of Jewish creativity and the deep-rooted bond between Jewish artists and the Broadway stage. And if you listen through to the end, you’ll find a special surprise that captures the spirit, heart, and joy that Seth brings to every room he enters.

• The Importance of Jewish Influence on Broadway
• Introducing the Special Episode and Guest
• Seth Advocacy and Jewish Identity
• The Impact of October 7th on Seth
• Forming the Jewish Broadway Alliance
• Challenges and Support in the Broadway Community
• Broadway Shabbat and Jewish Joy
• Concerts and Fundraising for Social Justice
• Stars in the House: A COVID-Time Initiative
• Cameron Crowe's Scaled-Down Broadway Production
• Supporting a One-Man Show: Ariel Stachel's Story
• Jewish Upbringing and Summer Camp Memories
• Five Deep Questions with Seth Rudetsky
• Grand Finale: A Musical Performance

This episode is supported by Berkeley Mosha, a Jewish co-housing community in California.

Mentioned:

Seth Rudetsky Instagram

Seth Rudetsky Career

Jewish Broadway Alliance YouTube

SiriusXM On Broadway 

Seth’s Big Fat Broadway Cruise

Entertainment Community Fund

Seth’s Posts after October 7th

Broadway community “Bring Them Home” song for the Hostages

Broadway for Orlando “What the World Needs Now”

Broadway for Biden/Harris Inauguration 

Black Theater United

Stars in the House YouTube

Jack Plotnick

Shabbat on Broadway

Amanda Lipitz

Julie Benko Sings “Tomorrow” - Hanukkah on Broadway

Everything’s Coming Up Moses by Rachel Shukert: A Biblical Fable based on GYPSY

United Voices For Change

AJC: 5 Facts About Jewish Connection to Israel

Zionism has become a 'bad' word. It is anything but.

Jewish Broadway Alliance with Roz Rothstein

Jewish Broadway Alliance with Ritchie Torres

Defining Antizionism

Dreamgirls Reunion (Stars In The House)

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah

Help is on the Way - David Friedman

Concert for America

Cornell Brooks

Grey’s Anatomy on Stars In The House

30 Rock Special Stars In The House

Maui Wildfires of 2023

Stars in the House Offers Avenue Q Sing Through August 24 to Raise Funds for Hawaii Wildfire Victims

Ari’el Stachel

Ari’el Stachel’s play, Other

Ariel Stachel videos about Jewish identity

Camp Hillel

USDAN Summer Camp 

Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand

Varla Jean Merman’s Stonewall

Birthright Israel

People Moving Back to Kibbutz Nir Oz

Dr. Noam Wiesman on Being Jewish

Van Jones on Being Jewish

Neshama App

What I’ve Learnt Podcast

Trybal Gatherings

Magen David Adom

Testigos Del Terror

Leah Soibel on Being Jewish

Fuente Latina_

BBYO Mountain Region

The Big Shabbat

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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To contact us & all things BJJP:

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In this powerful episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Academy Award-nominated producer Lawrence Bender — the creative producing force behind Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, Reservoir Dogs, An Inconvenient Truth and Inglorious Basterds — Joins Jonah for a candid conversation about the film industry’s reckoning after October 7th and the moral weight of telling real stories in the aftermath of tragedy. Bender’s latest project, Paramount+ miniseries Red Alert, dramatizes the true stories of horror, heroism, and hope that took place on October 7th, 2023, the darkest chapter in Israel’s history.

Bender shares what drew him to the series — from his deep personal connection with Israel, to his collaboration with Israeli production company Keshet, to the emotional and logistical challenges of bringing real stories to screen amid an ongoing conflict. He opens up about the silence he witnessed from Hollywood and his peers in the aftermath of October 7th, and reflects on how his Jewish identity has shaped his life and career.

This episode is both an exploration on the power of art and a call to conscience, illuminating how filmmakers like Bender use their craft to bear witness, challenge complacency, and re-humanize the media headlines that shape our world.

In the episode they discuss:

From civil engineer to dancer to Hollywood mega-producer

Growing up in Antisemitic America

The Impact of October 7th and the Birth of Red Alert

Lawrence's Meeting with Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres

Meeting the Real Heroes of Red Alert

Being Quentin Tarantino’s Partner & Inglorious Bastards

The Challenges of Filming in During a War

Selling an Israel-focused Series in Today’s Anti-Israel Hollywood

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

https://beingjewishpodcast.com/community

Mentioned In The Episode:

Lawrence Bender On Instagram

Red Alert on Paramount Plus

Keshet 

Israel Policy Forum

Abu Mazin (Mahmoud Abbas) Believes in a Two State Solution and Opposes Violence

Joc Pederson (Former Dodger)

Domantas Sobonis (King’s Basketball Player)

Jackie Thon on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

Duffy Diggs

Hosni Mubarak

Boaz Yakin

Two Distant Strangers - Best Live-Action Short Oscar-Winner

Cops and Robbers short film

Jordana Reuben Yecheil Oct 7 billboards

Lior Chefetz

The Stronghold

Oct. 7 series ‘Red Alert’ a harrowing global reminder of what unfolded in Hamas massacre

Rocket Alerts from Gaza

The Gay Parade in Israel

Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

Ohad Yahalomi 

Ziv Koren

Actors and directors pledge not to work with Israeli film groups ‘implicated in genocide’

Skip Brittenham Obituary

David Ellison Brings New Direction to Paramount

Shimon Peres

Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing,  Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald,  Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb,  YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

In this special Election Day episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Emmy Award–winning journalist Jake Tapper joins Jonah for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on politics, identity, and truth-telling in a polarized world. Best known as the anchor of CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper and State of the Union, Jake reflects on his decades covering America’s most defining political moments — from the Virginia governor’s race to the New York City mayoral election — and how journalism has evolved in an era of social media outrage and political echo chambers.

Together, Jonah and Jake explore the intersections of Jewish identity, antisemitism — past and present — and the evolving challenges of journalistic integrity in today’s press environment. Jake also opens up about his writing process and his latest books — Race Against Terror, which follows the pursuit of an Al-Qaeda killer, and Original Sin, his political thriller about a presidential cover-up during the 2024 election. 

This episode is a deep dive into the ethics of journalism, the responsibility of storytelling, and what it means to stay empathetic and informed in turbulent times. It’s a timely, thought-provoking listen for anyone who cares about democracy, truth, and the power of Jewish values in public discourse.

Topics covered include:

• Discussing Key Political Races
• The Democratic and Republican Parties
• Concerns Within the Jewish Community
• Antisemitism in Politics
• Personal Experiences with Antisemitism
• Challenges in Media Reporting
• Jake Tapper's Jewish Identity
• Jewish High School Experiences
• Jewish Summer Camp Memories
• Interfaith Marriages and Family Traditions
• Writing About Joe Biden
• Race Against Terror: A New Book
• Five Deep Questions with Jake Tapper

Sponsors

Sponsored by Berkeley Moshav

https://www.berkeleymoshav.org/

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

https://beingjewishpodcast.com/community

Mentioned in the Episode:

Understanding The Tower of Babel

Sodom and Gomorrah; The Cities Destroyed by God

What Really Happened at Mount Sinai

Bullsh*t Behavior & Central Synagogue's Rabbi Angela Buchdahl

Buchdahl Has Faced Criticism for Declining to Sign a Rabbinic Letter Condemning the Mayoral Candidate.

Increase in Jewish Hate

Jewish Population Changes

Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War by Jake Tapper

Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson

Jake Tapper Instagram

Jake Tapper X

The Lead with Jake Tapper

Key Early Elections

The Danger of Zohran Mamdani

What Does “Globalize the Intifada” Mean and How Can it Lead to Targeting Jews with Violence?

The Overton Window

The Lynching of Leo Frank

Dana Bash BJJP Ep

Sheryl Sandberg BJJP Ep

Protests at Jake Tapper’s Home

Hamas Weaponizes Sexual Assault in GAZA

Adi Vital-Kaploun, killed on October 7th, 2023

NY Times Admits to Relying Too Heavily on Hamas Reporting

News outlets’ erroneous “14,000 babies” claim

Watch the 2024 Presidential Debate

Inside the Trump Family’s Global Crypto Cash Machine

Who is Spin Ghul?

United States vs Ahmed Ghailani 

Call Your Mother Deli 

Rabbi Solomon ibn Gabirol

Selected Religious Poems Of Solomon Ibn Gabirol Translated Into English Verse By Israel Zangwill

Benjamin Franklin Bache

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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Follow Jonah on:

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Ami Kozak is redefining what Jewish comedy and commentary look like in 2025 — blending sharp impressions, fearless satire, and moral clarity in a time of chaos.

In this episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with Ami — modern Orthodox comedian, musician, and host of the podcast Ami’s House — to talk about how his Jewish faith and sense of moral clarity shaped his response to anti-Jew bigotry and misinformation after October 7.

Ami shares:

• How growing up modern Orthodox shaped his Jewish identity and worldview
• Why October 7 changed his purpose as a performer — turning laughter into a vehicle for truth
• Why he chose to have civil conversations with controversial figures like Candace Owens and Dave Smith — and what those exchanges taught him about engaging bad ideas in good faith
• The dangers of moral relativism, false “experts,” and the growing misuse of words like “genocide”
• What he calls “goosebumps with clarity” — balancing empathy with uncompromising honesty
• His creative process for impressions of President Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, and Zohran Mamdani — and how humor can cut through disinformation

From synagogue to stage, from serious debate to satire, Ami Kozak proves that comedy can do more than make people laugh — it can make them think. 

Hashtags:

#AmiKozak #BeingJewish #30MinuteMensches #JewishComedy #ModernOrthodox #Israel #JewishIdentity #Antisemitism #FreeSpeech #JewishHumor #MoralClarity

Mentioned In The Episode:

Ami Kozak Instagram

Ami Kozak X

Ami Kozak Facebook

Ami Kozak YouTube

Ami’s House (podcast)

Yahud

Your Hebrew word for the day: MAMAD

Human Rights Council members who abuse human rights

What is Tikkun Olam?

J-Sketch YouTube 

Alex Edelman

The Karate Kid

Alan Dershowitz

Hasbara

Norman Finkelstein vs Alan Dershowitz On Israel-Palestine War With Piers Morgan | The Full Debate 

Douglas Murrey

Tucker Carlson Wedding Vows Skit

Zohran Mamdani

Kristallnacht

The Second Intifada 2000

Ami Kozak’s Band “Distant Cousins”

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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Story Producer: Sasha Nelson, Associate Producer: Emma Webb, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald,  Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker,  YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

BEING JEWISH goes live! In our first ever East Coast live pod at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, Jonah Platt welcomes two unique voices, Sarah Podemski and Lani Anpo, who share insights into their dual heritage as both Jewish and First Nation/Native American. Sarah is a Canadian actress, best known for her supporting role as Rita in the hit FX television series Reservation Dogs. Lani is a multi-tribal Native American Jewish advocate and educator, who uses her social media platform to champion the rights of hers and other marginalized groups. 

Their conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the significance of Jewish and Native cultural practices, the challenges of acceptance within respective communities, and the similarities between the two indigenous groups. Sarah and Lani share personal stories about their mixed heritage and the impact on their identities, both facing and overcoming external skepticism. The episode also delves into historical contexts such as the impact of blood quantum laws and the diaspora experience, and examines how these factors shape both modern-day struggles and triumphs. 

Sarah and Lani offer thoughtful reflections on the importance of community engagement, cultural preservation, and the struggle for sovereignty, especially for Native American and First Nation tribes. This episode is a powerful testament to the resilience and rich cultural histories of these two unique communities.

Topics covered include:

• Family Histories and Personal Journeys
• Challenges of Mixed Heritage
• Parallels Between Jewish and Native Cultures
• Support Systems and Resilience
• Navigating Trauma Together
• Exploring Israeli Identity
• Indigeneity and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
• Native American Reparations
• Jewish and Native American Cultural Exchange
• Native American History Month

This episode was produced with and recorded live at the Weitzman National

Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia.

Learn more about The Weitzman at https://theweitzman.org

and follow @weitzmanmuseum on Instagram, X, Facebook, and

YouTube.

Mentioned In The Episode:

• Lani Anpo Instagram
• Indijewness on Instagram
• Sarah Podesmski Instagram
• The Weitzman Museum on Instagram
• Watch Reservation Dogs on Hulu
• Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation
• Sicangu Lakota Nation
• Saulteaux
• The Floaters (Upcoming Film)
• Jackie Tohn on BJJP
• Blood Quantum and Sovereignty: A Guide
• The One-Drop Rule
• The Jay Treaty
• Levant
• Decolonization From 1945
• Matrilineal Descent in the era of Babylonian Exile
• Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month
• Foundational Essay of Patrick Wolf
• Sara’s Summer Camp: Camp Shomria
• About Givat Haviva
• For Jewish Indigenous actress Sarah Podemski, it’s a miracle just to exist (“plugging holes in a sinking ship”)
• Sarah’s sisters’s PBS series “Little Bird”

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On the hunt for the perfect NJB (Nice Jewish Boy) or Girl? Look no further! On this love-filled episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah is joined by international matchmaking icon Aleeza Ben Shalom, star of the hit Netflix show 'Jewish Matchmaking.” Aleeza is an author, dating coach, and modern day yente who has successfully matched over 200 couples and coached thousands more. Get ready to find your Beshert! 

Aleeze spills the tea on the most common dating mistakes, and why you might still be single. She also explains the wisdom behind her signature philosophies: “Date ‘em til’ you hate ‘em”  “No touching for five dates” and why “Love is not enough.” Aleeza emphasizes personal growth, compatibility, and building a lasting connection through mutual understanding and shared values. She also discusses her vision for a global matchmaking movement aimed at strengthening communities by helping people find their life partners.

In this episode, Jonah and Aleeza help you YOUR “Beshert” and chat about all of these meaningful topics: 

• Dating Culture Around the World
• Challenges in Modern Dating
• The #1 Dating Mistake People Make
• Post-Match Coaching and Breakup Rules
• Understanding Soulmates in Judaism
• Why Older Singles Are Still Single
• Opposites Attract vs. Peas in a Pod
• Date 'Em Till You Hate 'Em 
• No Touching for Five Dates 
• The Importance of Compatibility Beyond Love

Mentioned In Episode

• Aleeza Ben Shalom Website
• Matchmaker Matchmaker - Podcast
• Aleeza Ben Shalom Youtube
• Get Real Get Married: Get Over your Hurdles and Under the Chuppah 
• Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Find Me a Love That Lasts
• The Chuppah, or Wedding Canopy
• Shomer Negiah, the Prohibition on Touching

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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Story Producer: Sasha Nelson, Associate Producer: Emma Webb, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald,  Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker,  YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

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Our first returning guest, Sarah Hurwitz, rejoins Jonah to discuss her powerful new book As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us — a work as essential as it is uplifting in a post–October 7th world. In this deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation, Sarah reflects on how education can be a true source of empowerment and shares insights from her own evolving Jewish journey. Drawing from years of research and her current pursuit of the rabbinate, she offers a rich, nuanced perspective on what it means to live — and lead — as a Jew today.

For Sarah, Judaism isn’t about any single expression — not just Israel, Hebrew, activism, or observance — but the harmony of all these threads woven together with curiosity, study and connection to the sacred wisdom of our ancient tradition. This episode feels like stepping into a vibrant, welcoming congregation — full of learning, laughter, and meaning. Don’t miss this inspiring and deeply grounding conversation on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt.

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Executive Producer Matthew “MoJo” Jones, Story Producer Sean Leviashvili, Editor Diana DeCilio, and Executive Assistant Jax Santiago of Rainbow Creative; Editor: Noem Klement; Chief Business Officer Kenyon Laing, Executive Assistant Josie Rothschild; Research Associate Samantha Greenwald; Associate Producer Rachel Stern; YouTube Consultants - Zac Stein & Jason Al-Samarrie - Production Assistant, Charlie Zuker; Interns Sasha Nelson & Emma Webb; & Graphic Designer, Noah Bell

Curse of Knowledge - Cognitive Bias

What Is The Illusion of Transparency?

What is Naive Realism?

Explaining Settler Violence in the West Bank/Judea & Samaria

Understanding the IDF’S Code of Ethics

The Complicated Connection Between President Trump & American Jews

Chicago ICE’s Crackdown Leads To Father of Two Being Shot at Daycare Pickup

As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us by Sarah Hurwitz

Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life–in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) by Sarah Hurwitz

The Atlantic: The Judaism I Thought I Knew by Sarah Hurwitz

Understanding the “As A Jew” Jews

Emancipation of European Jews

The Jewish Reform Movement in 19th Century Europe

Holy Scriptures of Judaism

Understanding Secular Zionism

Judaism and the Human Body

The Sanctity of the Human Body in Judaism

In God’s Image: B'tselem Elohim

Who is Rabbi Yitz Greenberg?

The Wexner Foundation

Who Were Amalek & The Amalekites?

Homosexuality & The Death Penalty in Leviticus 20

Ancient Teachings of “An Eye for an Eye”

Old Testament Vs New Testament

Why Do People Hate Jews: Dara Horn (Video)

A Look at “Hanukkah Vs Purim Antisemitism” by Dara Horn (Short)

“Hanukkah Vs Purim Antisemitism” — Tablet Magazine Article

The Expulsion of Jews From Arab Countries and Iran - An Untold Story

The Story of the Soviet Jews & Israel (Jewish Currents)

The Story of the Soviet Jews & Israel (Indiana Law Journal)

Ethiopian Jews in Israel: Operation Solomon & More

Anti-Judaism: The Western Tradition by David Nirenberg

What Is The Great Replacement Theory & What Should Jews Know About It?

British Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin at the Palestine Conference

What Is Brandolini’s Law?

What is Bikur Cholim? The Importance of Visiting the Sick in the Jewish Faith

Miller Intro to Judaism Program

A Code of Jewish Ethics by Joseph Telushkin

Rabbi Jonathan Sachs “Covenant and Conversation” Box Set

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Madison Werner has been a trailblazer in the transgender and Jewish communities, becoming the first transgender CoverGirl model in 2024 and using her platform to inspire hundreds of thousands worldwide. With pride, compassion and honesty, she shares her story of identity, faith, and belonging.

In this episode of 30 Minute Mensches, Madison joins Jonah Platt to open up about navigating life as a Jewish and transgender woman - two powerful identities she refuses to separate. Since October 7th and the Israel/Hamas war, Madison has spoken out about the complexities many LGBTQ+ Jews face in balancing their support for Israel with acceptance in queer spaces. Through it all, she’s led with empathy, courage, and curiosity challenging brands, re-examining friendships, and deepening her connection to Jewish values.

Madison also shares:

• Her experiences at Tel Aviv Pride
• What it was like sheltering in Israel during the Iranian rocket attacks
• Growing up in a Jewish day school
• What Jewish teachings say about gender and transgender identity

This is a powerful, deeply human conversation about identity, resilience, and faith in today’s world.

Listen to Madison Werner on 30 Minute Mensches with Jonah Platt - where modern Jewish voices share stories of courage, compassion, and community.

Connect with Madison

Follow Madison Werner on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/madisonwerner/?hl=en 

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew ‘MoJo' Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili & Sasha Nelson; Editor: Jacob Kindberg; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

Mentioned in Episode

• B’Tselem Elohim: Jewish Concept That We’re All Born in God’s Image
• JQ International
• JQ International Honors Henry Platt
• Facebook Video
• Navigating Jewish-Queer Identity in the Wake of October 7th
• Insider Israel’s Vibrant LGBTQ Community
• Understanding LGBTQ Rights in Israel
• Understanding The Horseshoe Theory in Politics
• Follow Feminist on Instagram
• Madison Werner Becomes First Transgender Model To Represent Covergirl
• The Seven Genders in the Talmud
• The Road to the Iran-Israel War

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In an episode that beautifully blends trailblazing with tradition, Jonah Platt sits down with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of New York’s Central Synagogue to discuss her powerful new book, Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Story of Faith, Identity and Belonging. Together, they explore what it means to live JEWISHLY today — drawing on timeless wisdom, personal reflection, and ancient storytelling.

From conversations about conversion and inclusion to reflections on optimism and belonging in a fractured world, Rabbi Buchdahl brings her signature depth and compassion to every topic. Much like her weekly sermons, streamed by millions around the globe every week, this discussion feels both timely and timeless, landing perfectly on the Jewish calendar as she reflects on the meaning of Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret.

At the heart of the episode — and of Rabbi Buchdahl’s book — lies a profound idea: that to be Jewish often means to feel like a stranger - usually a sentiment that feels isolating but when embraced can be inspiring, empathetic and purposeful. Don’t miss this thoughtful and uplifting episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt.

Connect with our guest

• Follow Rabbi Angela W. Buchdahl on Instagram
• Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging
• Who is Rabbi Angela W. Buchdahl?

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Executive Producer Matthew “MoJo” Jones, Story Producer Sean Leviashvili, Editors Diana DeCilio & Jacob Kindber, and Executive Assistant Jax Santiago of Rainbow Creative; Chief Business Officer Kenyon Laing, Executive Assistant Josie Rothschild; Research Associate Samantha Greenwald; Associate Producer Rachel Stern; YouTube Consultants - Zac Stein & Jason Al-Samarrie - Production Assistant, Charlie Zuker; Interns Sasha Nelson & Emma Webb; & Graphic Designer, Noah Bell

Mentioned In Episode

• Van Orden of Wisconsin Beats Cooke in 2024 Race
• Early Polls Indicate Rebecca Cooke & Derrick Van Orden Nearly Neck And Neck
• Rebecca Cooke Calls For US to Halt Arms To Israel
• What is the Foundation To Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) Currently Blue Square Alliance Against Hate?
• FCAS/Blue Square Alliance Ads
• Blue Square Alliance “When There Are No Words” Campaign
• FCAS/Blue Square Alliance Tom Brady & Snoop Dogg Ad
• Most Recent FCAS/Blue Square Alliance Ad
• Why Are Less People Smoking Today?
• Bill Maher’s Statements About Israel (Facebook)
• Bill Maher’s Statements About Israel (Instagram)
• Why & How Did Israel Fail To Deliver Aid in Gaza?
• Humanitarian Aid in Gaza: What’s Really Happening?
• UN Data Show Most Aid to Gaza Looted
• Stream Central Synagogue’s Services
• The Neighborhood at Central Synagogue - Remote/Streaming Membership
• Women in Judaism: A History of Women’s Ordination as Rabbis
• Sports History: Michael Jordan Didn’t Make His High School Basketball Team
• In the Spotlight with Abigail Pogrebin on JBS
• The History of the Female Rabbi
• Discover Temple Beth El—A Vibrant Jewish Community in the Heart of Tacoma
• Korean Women’s Association in Tacoma (Pioneered by Rabbi Buchdahl’s Mother)
• Are We Ashkenormative or Ashkefardic?
• Jewish Infighting Is a Gift to Antisemitism
• What is an Erev Rav? A Mixed Multitude Coming out of Egypt
• Diversity in the State of Israel
• Why Is Jewishness Matrilineal?
• Did Judaism Use to Practice Patrilineal Descent?
• Understanding Ezra & Judaism
• Zera: A Seed in the Garden
• The Dissolving of Marriages in Ezra 9-10 and Nehemiah 13 Revisited
• Jewish Federation on “The Surge” of Jewish Practice & Connection Post 10/7
• Why Jews Are Leaving The Fold
• Mashber: Hebrew Word for “Crisis”
• What is Kol Nidre?

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What happens when Jewish education stops being about advocacy — and starts being about curiosity?

That’s the mission of Dr. Noam Weissman, Executive Vice President of OpenDor Media and host of the hit podcast Unpacking Israeli History. In this episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah and Noam dive into how we teach, talk and think about Israel — and what it takes to build a generation of Jews who are both passionate and informed.

Noam shares:

• Why “Israel education” should be about questions, not just advocacy
• What he calls “goosebumps with complexity” — combining emotional connection with intellectual honesty
• Why teaching young Jews that Israel is perfect does more harm than good
• The untold story of the Altalena ship, and how it nearly tore Israel apart
• Why Jewish summer camps and schools are key to rebuilding Israel literacy — and what real Zionism looks like in the 21st century

From school classrooms to TikTok feeds, Noam Weissman is revolutionizing how people learn about Israel and Jewish identity — blending history, heart, and hard truths. Listen now to hear how one educator is transforming Jewish learning for a new generation.

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew ‘MoJo' Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili & Sasha Nelson; Editor: Jacob Kindberg; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

Mentioned In Episode

• Unpacking Israeli History Podcast
• Unpacked Media
• Unpacked for Educators
• What Is ConnectEd? Jewish/Israeli Education For Broader Constituents
• Wondering Jews Podcast
• Who is Mijal Bitton?
• Who Is Kimberly Hirabayashi?
• Understanding Yom Ha’atzmaut: Israeli Independence Day (Unpacked)
• How to Engage Students for Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom HaZikaron (Unpacked for Educators)
• What Is The Altalena: Israel’s (Almost) Civil War?
• Understanding German Reparations Post WWII
• Who Are The Mizrahi Jews?
• History of The Mizrahi Migration to Israel (Unpacked)
• Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries (Jewish Virtual Library)
• The Surprising History of Israel’s Black Panthers
• Why Doesn’t Israel Have a Constitution?
• Who is Philosopher Lev Vygotsky & What Were His Views on Zionism & Judaism?
• Philosopher Jean Piaget & The Ties to Judaism
• Julie Platt on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
• Jonah Thinks We Should Stop Saying “Antisemitism”!
• Herzl's Troubled Dream: The Origins of Zionism
• Who is Ze’ev (Vladimir) Jabotinsky & What Are His Connections to Zionism?
• Who Is Author David Suissa?
• This Week in Jewish History | Palestinian Terrorists Kill 25 Hostages in Ma'alot Massacre
• What is the Munich Massacre?
• Unpacking Israeli History: Episode 1 – The Dreyfus Affair
• Unpacking Israeli History: Episode 2 – Herzl & The Non-Promised Land
• Unpacking Israeli History: Episode 6 – The Altalena (Israel’s Almost Civil War)
• Who Is Menachem Begin?
• Pre-IDF Brigades: Haganah, Irgun and Lechi
• David Ben-Gurion
• Who Is Ahmed Faoud Alkhatib? Palestinian-American Activist & Blogger
• Who Is Mohammed Dajani Daoudi? Arab Scholar & Peace Activist
• Who Is Haviv Rettig Gur? Israeli Journalist & The Times of Israel’s Senior Analyst
• Camp Lavi: Jewish Sleepaway Camp in The Poconos

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On the second anniversary of October 7th, Jonah sits down with Israeli artist and advocate Tomer Peretz to discuss The 8 Project — an extraordinary initiative he launched in the aftermath of the attacks. Rooted in the symbolism of creation, resilience, and renewal, The 8 Project helps survivors of October 7th — from NOVA attendees and hostage families to soldiers and grieving parents — discover how art can be a powerful path to healing.

For Tomer, that lesson is deeply personal. In Israel for a wedding just days before the attacks, he witnessed the horror of October 7th firsthand. He put his emotions aside to volunteer with ZAKA, Israel’s emergency rescue organization, but the weight of it all eventually caught up with him. What helped him process the pain was art — a lifeline that not only restored his own hope, but reignited his belief in the strength of the Jewish and Israeli people. The results of that creative resilience were recently showcased at The Museum of Tolerance, featuring works from survivors across Israel. In this emotional and deeply meaningful episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah and Tomer explore the power of art therapy, the unbreakable connection between creativity and faith and the urgent importance of sharing the stories of those who survived. 

Connect with Our Guest

• Follow Tomer Peretz: www.instagram.com/tomerperetzart
• The 8 Project: https://the8project.org/
• TomerPeretz.com: https://tomerperetz.com/

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Executive Producer Matthew “MoJo” Jones, Story Producer Sean Leviashvili, Editors Diana DeCilio & Jacob Kindber, and Executive Assistant Jax Santiago of Rainbow Creative; Chief Business Officer Kenyon Laing, Executive Assistant Josie Rothschild; Research Associate Samantha Greenwald; Associate Producer Rachel Stern; YouTube Consultants - Zac Stein & Jason Al-Samarrie - Production Assistant, Charlie Zuker; Interns Sasha Nelson & Emma Webb; & Graphic Designer, Noah Bell

Mentioned In Episode

• Zaka
• “The Light Will Win” Museum of Tolerance to Feature Oct 7th Inspired Artwork from Noted Israeli Artist, Tomer Peretz
• Artist Tomer Peretz Volunteers with ZAKA in Israel
• Israeli-American Describes Sheer Horror of Clearing Bodies from Hamas Terrorist Attack
• Award-Winning Artist Tomer Peretz Pulls Off Unexpected ‘Live Art’ Flash Mob at Art Basel in Miami, FL
• The True Horror of ‘Globalize the Intifada’
• Coverage of Oct 12 Lynch in Ramallah
• Golani: Serving With Pride Since 1948
• Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: Spreading Culture & Unity Through Jewish Food, Israeli-American Chef Michael Solomonov
• Native Dies as Israeli Soldier (David Solomonov)
• Israel and Palestine | Middle Ground Roundtable
• What Is A Kibbutz? The Roots of Israel’s Communal Villages
• Shifts in Attitudes Regarding Peace Amongst Kibbutzniks
• A Lifeline of its Own
• As Volunteers Step In for State, Gaza Border Towns Begin Rebuilding from Oct. 7 Ashes
• Who is Barak Hiram of the IDF?
• Controversial Commander Barak Hiram Named Next Gaza Division Chief
• Who Is the IDF General Who Ordered Tank Fire on a Kibbutz Home with 13 Hostages Inside?
• Tomer Peretz’s UNBREAKABLE Exhibit
• UNBREAKABLE Exhibit Video
• What is The Significance of The Number 8 in Judaism?
• Tomer Peretz Creates 1,200 Person Memorial Exhibit for 10/7

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After being clinically DEAD for 11 minutes, Jana Stern returned to life with a mission: Help others honor their true essence and bring light to the world. That’s the story of Jana Stern — Jewish psychic, astrologer, and spiritual healer. In this unique episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jana opens up about her near-death experience, her lifelong connection to ancestral wisdom, and how Jewish identity and Kabbalah align with her work. She also gives Jonah a spiritual energy reading live on air! 

Jana shares:

• Her 11 minutes “beyond the veil,” encountering ancestors and choosing to return to this world
• How hearing voices — once feared as schizophrenia — became the foundation of her spiritual gift
• The Jewish roots of astrology, Kabbalah, and metaphysics, and why she says this wisdom is “ours”
• How Shabbat, rituals, and Torah teachings are deeply tied to spiritual energy
• Why she believes there are no coincidences — only divine coordination and manifestation
• How trauma, tragedy, and loss can still be part of a higher purpose for growth and healing

From astrology charts and synchronicities to Shabbat candles and Jewish ancestry, Jana brings a unique lens on spirituality, Judaism, and healing in the modern world.

Listen now to explore how Jewish wisdom and mysticism can bring meaning and healing to modern life.

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew ‘MoJo' Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili & Sasha Nelson; Editor: Jacob Kindberg; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

Mentioned In The Episode

• I’m Really Into “That Stuff” — Jana Stern’s Podcast
• Janastern.com
• Anchor & Orbit — Jana Stern’s Newsletter
• What is Gematria?
• Kabbalah and Mysticism 101
• Own Your Fucking Intuition
• "Manifest A New Reality with the Power of Your Mind" - Dr Joe Dispenza
• “My ADHD Diagnosis Changed My Life!” How Jonah Platt Discovered his Full Authentic Self

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We’re Back! I In this very special season premiere of Being Jewish, Jason Alexander, who gave us the iconic George Costanza from Seinfeld, joins Jonah Platt to discuss Jewish identity, cultural Judaism vs. religion, his work as a proud Jew and activist supporting Israel, and the impact of October 7th. The legendary actor, Tony Award-winner, and generational TV comedy icon kicks off the new season in a deep and honest conversation. Jason Alexander cares about the children; he is not interested in belonging to a group and would rather build bridges and not borders, learn why this Mensch is truly a Master of His Domain. 

Jason Alexander discusses his personal faith and the distinction between cultural Judaism (a "shirt I can't take off") and formal religious doctrine. He shares the emotional weight of being a Jew since October 7th and his long-standing commitment to Jewish philanthropy, including organizations like Magen David Adom, the ADL, and Jewish Federation. He clarifies the story behind his stage name change from Jay Scott Greenspan to Jason Alexander. 

If that’s not enough, Jason gives us his unbelievable inside stories from working on Seinfeld and tells us about the one episode that even he thought pushed the boundaries taste too much. 

Connect with Our Guest

• Follow Jason Alexander on Instagram
• Jason Alexander’s IMDB Page
• Jason Alexander Hosts Cancer Research Fund August 5 Virtual Gala

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Executive Producer Matthew “MoJo” Jones, Story Producer Sean Leviashvili, Editors Diana DeCilio & Jacob Kindber, and Executive Assistant Jax Santiago of Rainbow Creative; Chief Business Officer Kenyon Laing, Executive Assistant Josie Rothschild; Research Associate Samantha Greenwald;  Associate Producer Rachel Stern; YouTube Consultants - Zac Stein & Jason Al-Samarrie - Production Assistant, Charlie Zuker; Interns Sasha Nelson & Emma Webb; & Graphic Designer, Noah Bell

Mentioned In Episode

• How Many American Adults Actually Use Social Media? Pew Research Report
• Advanced Technique with Jason Alexander
• Entrepreneur & Bridge-Builder Daniel Lubetzky
• Wilshire Boulevard Temple
• Jason Alexander Post for Ohad Munder-Zichri
• Over 4,000 Hollywood Actors & Directors Boycott Israeli Productions in Name of Gaza
• 24/7 Seinfeld Online Stream
• Watch Seinfeld on Netflix
• Bryan Cranston as Tim Whatley on Seinfeld Season 8, Episode 19: “The Yada Yada”
• Seinfeld, Season 5, Episode 5: “The Bris”
• Seinfeld, Season 3, Episode 3: “The Pen”
• Jason as Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” at La Mirada
• Jonah Platt and Mark Whitten sing “The Riddle Song” from “Floyd Collins” at La Mirada Theater, 2014
• Jason Alexander Returns to ‘Broadway Bound’ as Director
• About Neil Simon
• The Neil Simon Collection
• If I Forget, Directed by Jason Alexander
• PeaceWorks Foundation (formerly OneVoice Movement)
• Anti-Defamation League
• Jason to Direct “Sweeney Todd” at La Mirada Theater

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Season 2 premieres THIS TUESDAY September 30th! And we’ll continue dropping 30 Minute Mensches every Thursday. A double dose of BJJP every week!

This season features more incredible guests beginning with Jason Alexander, Tomer Peretz, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Sarah Hurwitz, Sarah Podemski & Lani Anpo, Jake Tapper and many more!

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss a moment!

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What does it mean to live proudly and publicly Jewish in New York City, with the possibility of Zohran Mamdani as mayor looming large? Ask Ben Soffer, better known as @BoyWithNoJob to his over 1 million followers online. In this episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with Ben — CEO of Spritz Society wine cocktails, co-host of the hit Good Guys podcast with Josh Peck, husband to viral creator Claudia Oshry (Girl With No Job), and proud modern Orthodox Jew — to talk about faith, family, social media, and Jewish pride in today’s charged climate. Together, Jonah and Ben dig into

• How Ben built a unique modern Orthodox identity on his own terms
• What it feels like to wear a kippah on the streets of New York amid rising anti-Jew bigotry
• The effect October 7th had on his Jewish identity…  or didn’t?
• How becoming a father deepened his sense of connection to God and Jewish continuity
• The story behind Spritz Society — and how a viral April Fool’s joke turned into a real-life savory cocktail courtesy of Claussen’s Pickles!

From candid takes on community safety to spreading Jewish joy through humor (and beverages!), Ben Soffer embodies what it means to be unapologetically yourself — and unapologetically Jewish — in the digital age. Listen now to hear how one of the internet’s most authentic voices is shaping Jewish identity for a new generation.

Connect with Our Guest

Ben Soffer’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boywithnojob/ 

Ben Soffer & Josh Peck’s Podcast “The Good Guys” https://www.instagram.com/goodguys/

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew ‘MoJo' Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili & Sasha Nelson; Editor: Jacob Kindberg; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

Mentioned In Episode

• Jonah’s appearance on The Good Guys podcast “Mazel, Moses”
• Spritz Society
• Camp Ramah
• NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s Comments About Globalizing The Intifada
• 'All Jewish Americans are questioning their security' after violent antisemitic attacks
• College group Zohran Mamdani co-founded welcomed radical speaker who later blamed US for 9/11 attacks: ‘Made its bed’
• Socialist NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani once rapped about his ‘love’ for Hamas terror-funding group ‘Holy Land Five’
• AJC Survey Shows American Jews are Deeply and Increasingly Connected to Israel
• Ouri’s Market - Upper East Side, NYC
• What Does The Word Neshama Mean?
• 23andMe Is Under Fire. Its Founder Remains ‘Optimistic’

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What does it mean to reclaim Judaism not in the synagogue — but at the family table? That’s the vision of Rabbi David Bashevkin, author, podcaster, educator and one of today’s most engaging Modern Orthodox voices. In this episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with Rabbi Bashevkin to explore how Judaism can speak authentically to modern life and why Jewish identity is ultimately about integrating our “unchosen” identities with the “chosen” ones.

Rabbi Bashevkin shares:

• Why Jewish life must begin in the home, not in synagogues or textbooks
• How Judaism helps us integrate our unchosen identity (family, history, peoplehood) with our chosen paths in life
• The importance of 1840 — a mystical year that reshaped Jewish thought, technology, and modern identity
• Why Jewish education must instill a love of lifelong learning– not just through graduation
• The urgent need for bridge-building within the Jewish community — and how to turn religious difference into dialogue
• Why teens crave authenticity, and how NCSY empowers them through peer-to-peer mentorship
• The challenge of negative Orthodox representation in the media — and why Judaism is meant for the imperfect among us

Rabbi Bashevkin’s work through his platform 18Forty (essays, podcasts, and conversations at 1840.org) opens the door for “post-institutional Jews” and anyone searching for meaning beyond the classroom. Listen to this episode to find out why Judaism isn’t just about survival or fighting antisemitism — it’s about rediscovering purpose, family, and the sanctity of everyday existence.

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew ‘MoJo' Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili & Sasha Nelson. Editor: Jacob Kindberg and Kevin Maynard; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

More on Dovid Bashevkin

• 18Forty Website
• Follow Rabbi Bashevkin on X

Mentioned in Episode

• Listen to 18Forty Podcast (Apple Podcasts)
• Watch the 18Forty Podcast on YouTube
• Essays by Rabbi David Bashevkin
• What Makes A Jewish Home?
• What Is The Significance of The Year 1840?
• Understanding The Zohar & The Significance of the Year 1840 for Jews
• The Sixth Millennium & The Age of Moshiach
• What is The Zohar?
• What Jewish Education Means To Me by Rabbi David Bashevkin
• Here All Along by Sarah Hurwitz
• Sarah Hurwitz on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt (Season 1)
• Parashat Vayehi: Teach A Child According To Their Way
• Who is Rabbi Moshe Hayim Luzzatto?
• An Appreciation of Rav Yitzchok Hutner
• Who is Martin Buber?
• Phish Rendition of Avinu Malkeinu
• A Brief Biography of The Lubavitcher Rebbe
• Questions & Answers on Moshe & The Angels
• What is NCSY? National Conference of Synagogue Youth

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In this eye-opening episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with Leah Soibel, an Argentine-American Jew and the founder and CEO of Fuente Latina, to explore her remarkable journey — from studying across the Middle East during the Second Intifada to becoming a leading voice for Latino-Jewish allyship. Leah spent years immersed in Cairo, Beirut, and beyond, before building the first organization dedicated to connecting Spanish-speaking journalists with accurate, on-the-ground stories from Israel.

Leah shares:

• Her experiences as the only American Jew debating at a “Mock Arab League” in Cairo — and what she learned about misunderstanding vs. hatred
• How traveling solo across Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza shaped her perspective on media, politics, and truth
• Why she founded Fuente Latina — and how it bridges the gap between Israel and over 500 million Spanish speakers worldwide
• The rise of antisemitism in Spain — and the quiet network of allies working behind the scenes
• Why Latin American immigrants to Israel were among the hardest hit on October 7th — and the powerful new docuseries sharing their stories
• Why U.S. Latinos, the fastest-growing voting bloc, may be the strongest future allies for Israel and the Jewish community

Leah’s story is one of courage, strategy, and vision — showing how truth and relationships can combat misinformation and build bridges across cultures. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation. Listen now and join the movement for Latino-Jewish allyship.

More On Leah Soibel

• Fuente Latina
• Follow Fuente Latina on Instagram
• Follow Fuente Latina on TikTok
• Fuente Latina on YouTube
• Contact Leah Soibel

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew ‘MoJo’ Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili & Sasha Nelson; Content Director: Alexandra Fugère. Editor: Jacob Kindberg and Kevin Maynard; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

Mentioned in Episode

• 710 Testigos Del Terror: A Film About The Latin-Israelis Affected by 10/7
• Rioting Erupts As Ariel Sharon Visits Temple Mount
• Palestinian Population in Chile
• Iran Launches Spanish Network in 2012
• Jonah’s Episode with Stuart Weitzman
• Five Things To Know About Anti-Jewish Hate in Spain
• Latin Population in the United States by the Numbers
• How Latinos Voted in 2024 Election
• Many Latinos Aspire To Visit Israel & The Holy Land
• Israel Recovers Body of Mexican Held Hostage in Gaza
• Latino Jews Grieve, Worry As Attack in Israel Puts Close Family Ties in Focus
• A Latina’s Experience Living Near the Israel-Gaza Border
• Testimony from Alejandra Lopez - A Latina 10/7 Survivor
• What Dave Chapelle’s SNL Monologue Got Right & Wrong About Antisemitism in America

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Melinda Strauss is a modern Orthodox Jewish influencer and food blogger who passionately believes that Jewish joy is resistance and Jewish presence is power. Her digital journey began with a singular mission: to share, educate and enlighten others about the richness of Orthodox Jewish life. Feeling consistently misrepresented and misunderstood, Melinda took it upon herself to authentically showcase Orthodox Jewish identity to the world.

What started with kosher recipe videos quickly grew into a powerful platform that highlights Jewish traditions, such as putting on Tefillin or wearing a Yarmulke. Her content has been met with some hate - but more curiosity and compassion. Today, Melinda Strauss is a vocal advocate for Jewish people, using her voice to increase visibility, fight anti-Jewish bigotry and celebrate Jewish heritage and culture globally — and she’s only just getting started.

In this conversation with Jonah, Melinda discusses:

• The current climate and safety concerns facing the global Jewish community 
• Melinda’s upcoming kosher cookbook Eat Jewish: 100 Recipes That Blend Jewish Heritage, Modern Flavors and Family Traditions 
• Her personal journey living with Type 1 Diabetes
• Her nuanced thoughts on certain Jewish laws, including The Get 
• The rich, diverse, and evolving tapestry of Orthodox Jewish identity 

Being Jewish Listener Survey (please help us!)

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Host & Production Team

Host/Creator: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sasha Nelson; Content Director: Alexandra Fugère; Associate Producer: Sean Leviashvili); Editor: Kai Patterson; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

More Melinda Strauss

• https://melindastrauss.com/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@therealmelindastrauss

Mentioned in Episode

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

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In this deliciously inspiring episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with world-renowned Israeli Chef Eyal Shani — the culinary visionary behind Miznon, HaSalon, Malkah, and dozens of other Israeli restaurants around the globe. As a ninth-generation Jerusalemite with no formal culinary training, Chef Eyal has redefined Israeli cuisine and hospitality while carrying out a mission much bigger than food– spreading positive energy, peace, and connection with each bite. Just days after the horrific October 7th attack, Chef Eyal was awarded the coveted Michelin star for his New York restaurant Shmone, but chose not to attend the ceremony. Why? He was busy cooking thousands of meals for soldiers on the Gaza border, embodying his belief that food is truly about people, not prizes.

Together, Jonah and Chef Eyal explore:

• Why he treats every ingredient — from cucumbers to prime rib — as a living “creature” with a will and a story
• The night violent anti-Israel agitators attacked the Melbourne branch of his restaurant Miznon, and how Lebanese neighbors saved his team’s lives
• How his deep connection to the Palestinian women of the Jerusalem markets inspired his earliest dishes
• Why he believes food can reunite Israelis and Palestinians — and create “a new Israel” after war
• His vision for opening a boutique hotel and restaurant on the Gaza border as a symbol of renewal

Chef Shani’s philosophy is radical yet simple: there are no borders in food, only human beings. Don’t miss this extraordinary conversation with a chef whose cooking has become a language of hope. Listen to the full episode now and be part of the conversation.

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All Things Chef Eyal!

• Chef Eyal Shani’s Instagram
• Chef Eyal Shani’s Restaurant Miznon
• Chef Eyal Shani’s Restaurant HaSalon
• Chef Eyal Shani’s Restaurant Malka
• Chef Eyal Shani’s Restaurant Shmoné

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew "MoJo" Jones; Content Director: Alexandra Fugère; Associate Producer: Sean Leviashvili); Story Producer: Sasha Nelson; Editor: Kai Patterson; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell; Production Assistant: Emma Webb; Theme Music by Gabriel Mann

MENTIONED IN EPISODE 

• Melbourne’s Minzon Attacked by Pro-Hamas Protestors
• Lebanese Brothers From Minzon’s Neighboring Restaurant Intervene to Protect Minzon
• Iranian Missile Strikes on Israel
• Chef Eyal Shani Receives Michelin Star for Restaurant Shmone
• Chef Eyal Shani Cooks for IDF Troops the Same Day He Wins Michelin Star
• Timeline of The History of Jerusalem
• Chef Eyal Shani Set To Open Restaurant Near Kibbutz Nir Am
• Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy
• Where to find Leroy Borgougne Rouge

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

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Jonah@JonahPlatt.com

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It’s music meets mishpacha in this heartfelt new episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches! Grammy-winning Jewish children’s music artist Joanie Leeds joins Jonah to share stories about the triumphs and challenges of making Jewish music in today’s climate. They discuss the debut of her 12th studio album Ageless, an ode to multi-generational heritage and Jewish values. Joanie and Jonah also tackle the line between music as political expression and music as the universal language of unity.  They also get into:

• 🎶 How Joanie turned banned children’s books into the protest album Freadom
• ✡️ The challenges of advocating for a Jewish music category at the Grammys
• 🎤 Collaborating with her daughter on song and on the stage
• 📚 The greatness of Jewish hero Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• 🎸 Balancing inclusivity and political messaging in family-friendly music

Press Play and join us for 30 minutes of music, meaning, and Jewish joy!

Being Jewish Listener Survey (please help us!)

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 All Things Joanie! 

• Joanie Leeds’ YouTube Channel
•  Joanie Leeds’ Spotify Channel
•  Joanie Leeds on Apple Music
•  Joanie Leeds’ Website
•  Pre Order Joanie’s Album
•  Add your name to Joanie’s Recording Academy Jewish Artists List!

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sasha Nelson; Content Director: Alexandra Fugère; Associate Producer: Sean Leviashvili); Editor: Post Relativity & Mike O’ Brien; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

MENTIONED IN EPISODE

• Joanie’s Petition to Make a Jewish Music Grammy Category
•  What does the Hebrew word “Ruach” mean?
•  How Mister Rogers Tackled Taboo/Difficult Topics for Children
•  Joanie wins her first Grammy
•  Male Acts & Performers Dominate 2018 Grammy Nominations
•  Coldplay’s Chris Martin Welcomes Israelis & Palestinians at Concerts
•  Rise in American Book Burning
•  List of Banned Books
•  Children’s Book: And Tango Makes Three
•  Controversy Around Children’s Book “And Tango Makes Three”
•  “FAUCI OUCHIE” by Joanie Leeds
•  What is Banned Books Week?
•  Who was Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
•  Controversy Surrounding RBG’s Reluctance to Retire
•  RBG’s Contributions to Female Financial Freedom
•  Children’s Music Network (CMN)
•  Joanie Leeds & Mikey Pauker Push For Jewish Music Category in The Grammys
•  What is Grandparent’s Day?
•  Joanie’s Upcoming Concert at the Kennedy Center
•  90s Music Legend Lisa Loeb
•  Lisa Loeb’s Instagram
•  Lisa Loeb Dishes on Being A Jewish Mom
•  “Camp Lisa” Lisa Loeb’s Foundation & Song

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What happens when you grow up Catholic in Mexico — and discover you’re secretly Jewish?

In this riveting episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with Blanca Carrasco, a descendant of Crypto-Jews who only discovered her family’s secret heritage at age 50. Now the president of the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, Blanca unpacks the unknown history of Crypto-Jews — descendants of Jews who secretly maintained their faith after being forced to convert during the Spanish Inquisition. Blanca shares her extraordinary journey to discover who her true family is. She’s a leader in the global movement helping descendants of forcibly converted Jews reclaim their heritage.

 Blanca opens up about:

• 🕯️ How the Spanish Inquisition forced her ancestors to flee Spain and hide their Judaism for generations
• ✝️ Being raised devoutly Catholic — and the moment she began questioning what she was taught
• 🔯 Her path from Messianic Judaism to a full Jewish conversion
• 📜 The Facebook post that led to the discovery of her secret family tree
• 🎓 Her work with the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, and why their academic research has personal meaning for thousands of “Anusim” around the world
• 🎬 A sneak peek into the Society's upcoming Los Angeles conference, including an opera, film screenings, and a genealogy workshop with Jeannie Milgrom

From Monterrey to El Paso, from the Church to the shul, Blanca’s story is a global tale of discovery, identity, and reconnection. Her life proves that history isn’t just in books — it’s in your blood. Hit play to discover how centuries of hidden history came full circle, and what Blanca’s story means for all of us.

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew "MoJo" Jones; Story Producer: Sasha Nelson; Content Director: Alexandra Fugère; Associate Producer: Sean Leviashvili); Editor: Post Relativity & Mike O’ Brien; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

MENTIONED IN EPISODE

• Who Were the Crypto Jews? 
• The Converso History
• The Alhambra Decree
• Ottoman Lands provided Safe Haven for Sephardic Jews Expelled from Spain
• “Anuism” Meaning
• Captain Marcos Alonso de la Garza del Arcón (1551-1634)
• Inquisition on the Canary Islands
• Messianic Jew Jonathan Settel
• Who are Messianic Jews?
• Rabbi Stephen Leon
• Anusim Center of El Paso
• Common Converso Names
• Jewish Mourning Traditions (like Covering Mirrors)
• What is Ladino?
• Somos Primos Facebook Group
• Ashkenazi vs Sephardic Jews
• Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World
• Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies
• HaLapid Magazine
• Crypto-Jews of Brazil
• The Dönmes: Crypto-Jews under Turkish Rule
• Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies Annual Conference in Los Angeles, August 10-12, 2025
• Cuban-Jewish Author/Geneologist Genie Milgrom
• What is a Mikvah?
• A Long Journey: The Hidden Jews of the Southwest
• Dona Gracia Mendes-Nasi
• “La Señora” opera about Dona Gracia by Dr. Michelle Green Willner

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What’s it like to be a gay Lebanese Christian — and proudly Zionist?

In this powerful episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with international Jonathan Elkhoury, a proud Israeli citizen who is challenging false media narratives and misconceptions about Israel one campus conversation at a time. Born in Lebanon to a father who fought alongside the IDF during Israel’s 1982 intervention in the Lebanese civil war, Jonathan fled Hezbollah rule and found refuge in Israel at age 9. He shares the harrowing story of his family’s escape, his emotional reunion with his father, and how Israel not only gave him safety, but also the freedom to live openly as a gay man — the only Middle Eastern country where that’s possible.

Jonathan also speaks out about:

• 🏳️‍🌈 Israel’s track record on LGBTQ rights — and the lie of “pinkwashing”
• 🎓 How he confronts anti-Israel misinformation on college campuses — even after being spat on, kicked, and targeted for his views
• 🧱 How he combats "Israeli Apartheid Week" with the truth of his lived experiences
• 👤 What it means to be a “minority within a minority within a minority” — and why he still stands with Israel
• 📺 Why mainstream media — including the BBC — continues to fail on the Middle East
• 🔥 The real reasons Israel went into Lebanon in 1982 — and the Palestinian terrorism that sparked a civil war

Jonathan’s story is a living example of intersectionality — and how true human rights work means defending people, not slogans. He is the voice anti-Israel activists try to silence. Don’t miss hearing him on this week’s can’t miss episode.

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sasha Nelson; Content Director: Alexandra Fugère; Associate Producer: Emma Webb); Editor: Rainbow Creative Team; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

Follow Jonathan on:

IG: @jon_elk

X: @Jonathan_Elk

MENTIONED IN EPISODE:

• Jonah & Jonathan’s trip with Sharaka for March of the Living
• Jonathan Elkhoury on Defying Stereotypes
• Backgrounder on the 1982 Lebanon War
• Lebanese Civil War
• Anti-Israel “Apartheid Week”
• Israel’s withdrawal from Southern Lebanon (2000)
• Israel’s LGBT Rights Timeline
• How Immigrants Boosted LGBTQ Rights in Israel
• Lebanese Christians under the French Mandate
• Timeline: The Rise, Spread, and Fall of ISIS
• Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum
• Israel’s Population Diversity
• Israel defends Druze in Syria
• Hassan Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrike
• Jonathan’s Post 10/7 Tweet

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In this inspiring episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with acclaimed Disney animator, filmmaker, and motivational speaker Saul Blinkoff for a powerful conversation about Jewish resilience, Disney magic, and living a life of purpose. Together, they explore how timeless Jewish values are embedded in iconic animated films like The Lion King, and Saul speaks passionately about finding meaning in your Jewish identity every day, and the importance of living with responsibility and intention.

Saul reflects on his transformative trips to Israel as a guide with the nonprofit Momentum, and urges Jews worldwide to "LIVE FOR the Jewish people" as Israeli sons and daughters die to defend them. He and Jonah discuss how Jewish resilience, hope, and creativity can be antidotes to despair, even in the face of the horrors of October 7th. They also tackle:

• ⁇ Was Walt Disney really an antisemite?
• 🎬 The hidden Jewish values in your favorite Disney films 
• 🇮🇱 Why Saul insists it’s safe (and necessary) to go to Israel right NOW
• 🌟 The miraculous story of Omer Shem Tov, who kept his hope and Jewish identity alive, even as a Hamas hostage in Gaza
• And much more

If you’re looking for inspiration, wisdom, and practical ways to infuse your life with purpose and Jewish pride, this episode is a must-watch!

Subscribe for more episodes of 30 Minute Mensches and join the conversation about what it truly means to be Jewish today.

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sasha Nelson; Content Director: Alexandra Fugère; Associate Producer: Emma Webb, Nathan Wheatley, Valerie Patterson); Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

MENTIONED IN EPISODE:

All things Saul Blinkoff:

www.SaulBlinkoff.com

IG: @Saul.Blinkoff 

Life of Awesome Podcast

• Highest Grossing Animated Movies in History
• Who were the Sherman Brothers?
• Was Walt Disney an antisemite?
• “Path of the Just” 
• Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato (RaMChaL)
• Momentum Org
• Rabbi Noach Weinberg
• Crave!
• “We Will Dance Again” (Nova Festival Documentary)
• The Battle of Sderot
• Kibbutzim Destroyed on October 7th
• Tragedy at Nahal Oz
• “The Killing Roads” documentary
• Iran lost more Generals in 12 Days than US in Both World Wars
• “Not That There’s Anything Wrong with That!”
• Omer Shem-Tov Kept Shabbat in Captivity

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In the premiere of our new series 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah Platt sits down with Michal Cotler-Wunsh — former Knesset member and Israel’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism — for a long-overdue conversation about the eighth front of war: the battle for public opinion. Jonah and Michal discuss how antisemitism has manifested itself today, particularly through using anti-Zionist rhetoric, and how Israelis may feel a disconnect from that. Michal gives her perspective on how institutions such as the UN, Amnesty International, and elite universities have not only tolerated but enabled and normalized antisemitic double standards under the guise of progressive activism. Jonah challenges Michal to help make sense of the widespread moral confusion and media failures that culminate to chants such as “Death to the IDF,” and asks how we can bridge the gap with well-meaning people who have been misled by catchy headlines and ill-informed outrage. This episode answers the question of why antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem, but a global one, and what we can do to fight it.

This episode tackles:

• 🧠 Why Michal’s role as Israel’s antisemitism envoy is so crucial today, especially in combating widespread misinformation and harmful rhetoric.
• 🎓 How university presidents and U.S. officials have failed to take a stand in the face of rising Jew-hatred
• 🕍 Why most Israelis don’t understand global antisemitism — and why they need to
• 📖 The 3 R’s: Remember, Reclaim, Renew — a framework for Jewish pride
• 👤How human rights advocacy has been hijacked and weaponized  by anti-Zionists.

—

🎙️ 30 Minute Mensches is a new short-form edition of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt — spotlighting diverse voices doing meaningful work across Jewish and allied communities.

MENTIONED IN EPISODE

• Official Biography of Michal Cotler-Wunsh
• The Story of Queen Esther
• IHRA Definition of Antisemitism
• UN Speech: Michal Cotler-Wunsh Addresses Global Antisemitism
• Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
• Glastonbury Festival
•  Jewish concerns about Mamdani
• Calling Out Glastonbury Festival for Antisemitic Messaging
• The 1948 War against Israel’s Existence
• UN 1975 Resolution Equating Zionism with Racism
• The Story of Raphael Lemkin
• Double Standards & Natan Sharansky’s 3 D’s of Antisemitism
• Iran’s Recent Strikes on Israel
• Anti-Jew bias in Human Right Watch
• Al-Ahli Hospital
• Hamas Terror Tunnels
• Elite University Presidents Criticized for Antisemitism Hearing Responses

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sasha Nelson; Content Director: Alexandra Fugère; Associate Producer: Emma Webb, Nathan Wheatley, Valerie Patterson); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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A VERY special episode!! Julie Platt — lifelong Jewish leader, philanthropist, Chairwoman of Jewish Federations of North America– and Jonah’s mom! — joins Jonah for the highly anticipated Season One finale of Being Jewish. Her tenure as Chairwoman of the Diaspora’s largest philanthropic organization has seen Julie lead the Jewish community through Covid, the war in Ukraine, the horrors of October 7th and its aftermath, Israel’s war with Iran, and more. Through these crises and her decades of leadership, Julie has amassed a lifetime of wisdom and experience that she generously and candidly shares with Jonah and the BJJP community.

If you’ve ever asked, “What can I do to help?” — this is the episode for you. Julie offers rich stories, practical insights, and inspiring advice to power up the leader in each of us.

In this dynamic and heartfelt episode, Jonah and Julie dive into:

• ✡️ Why and how to be a leader
• 🏕️ Why Jewish Summer Camp is more than just fun — it’s formative
• 🌍 All the big Jewish orgs– AJC, ADL, JFNA, FJC, JDC, Hillel, Prizmah, The Jewish Agency– and how they’re trying to work together as never before
• 🇮🇱 When Julie received Israel’s highest civilian honor from President Isaac Herzog
• 🎓 Campus antisemitism in America — and how as interim board president, Julie helped steer the University of Pennsylvania through the most chaotic period in the school’s history
• 😂 A hilarious and personal peek inside Jonah and Julie’s own family dynamic

It’s a finale full of heart, humor, and hope — guaranteed to leave you empowered, emboldened, and inspired to be a leader, even from the comfort of your own home.

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editors: Patrick Edwards & Nathan Wheatley); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell; Interns: Sasha Nelson & Emma Webb

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MENTIONED IN EPISODE

• Julie Platt’s Legacy at JFNA
• JFNA (Jewish Federations of North America)
• Julie Platt Receives Presidential Medal of Honor in Israel 
• Who is Eric J. Fingerhut: President & CEO of JFNA
• JFNA’s Aid Efforts in Ukraine 
• Hakarat Hatov
• Thanking The River: Moses & The Concept of Hakarat Hatov
• Secure Community Network
• What is LiveSecure? Understanding the Jewish Protective & Security Initiative 
• Birthright Partners with JFNA to Bring Volunteers to Israel 
• AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) 
• Jews Marching For Israeli Hostages Burned & Attacked in Boulder, Colorado 
• Sarah Milgrim & Yaron Lischinsky Murdered By Assailant in DC
• Nearly 300,000 People Rally in D.C. for Israel & Hostages (November 2023)
• Combat Antisemitism Movement
• The Legacy of Robert M. Beren, Julie Platt’s Father 
• Camp Ramah - Jewish Sleepaway Camp 
• The Long Term Impacts of Jewish Summer Camp
• Foundation For Jewish Camp
• One Happy Camper - Program To Help Fund Jewish Summer Experiences 
• Hillel International 
• Prizmah: Center For Jewish Day Schools
• Roughly 15 Percent of Jewish Kids Attend Jewish Summer Camp 
• Jewish Summer Camps Affected by COVID 
• The Jewish Agency For Israel 
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
• Who Is Kathy Manning? Former JFNA Chair/North Carolina Congresswoman 
• Jewish Together & The Covid Relief Effort 
• Conference of Presidents 
• What is ADL? Anti-Defamation League 
• What is AJC? American Jewish Community 
• University of Penn President Liz McGuill Resigns Over Antisemitism Mishandlings 
• Late Texas governor Ann Richards
• Dr. Larry Jameson - Current President of University of Pennsylvania 

Thank you to Jacob Fenton & Phil Kastel for sponsoring this episode, in honor of the lives lost during the Shoah, and the blessed lives who endured.

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Jonah sits down with Israeli powerhouse Noa Tishby — author of Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth, former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism, producer of HBO’s In Treatment, and one of the most influential voices in modern Jewish advocacy. From the get-go, they explore a hard truth: Ending antisemitism is not a tangible goal to achieve, but a context in which we live. 

Together, Jonah and Noa dive deep into:

•  🇮🇱 Noa’s unique journey from Israeli stardom to Hollywood success
•  🕍 The key differences between Israeli and American Jewish identity
• 📕Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew, the book she co-wrote with NFL star Emmanuel Acho
•  🔥 Noa’s take on the Iran threat, Gaza war, and what's happening in Judea & Samaria
•  📺 Behind-the-scenes on how she brought Peabody-winning series In Treatment to HBO
•  📸 The story behind her viral celebrity Hanukkah videos with Gwyneth Paltrow, Mila Kunis, Gal Gadot, Tiffany Haddish, Van Jones, and Cindy Crawford
•  🎓Anti-Jew bigotry, Nova survivors, and having an impact on college campuses
•  📺 Plus: Noa’s must-watch TV picks, personal stories, laughs, and more

This is a no holds barred, no B.S. conversation – the Jewish advocacy crossover episode you’ve been waiting for!

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editors: Patrick Edwards & Nathan Wheatley); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell; Interns: Sasha Nelson & Emma Webb

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Learn More About Noa Tishby

https://www.noatishby.com/

Israel: A Simple Guide To Understanding The Most Misunderstood Country on Earth by Noa Tishby

Noa’s Favorite Follows on Instagram

@AWiderFrame

@HenMazzig

@MichaelRappaport

MENTIONED IN EPISODE

• Sarah Hurwitz on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt 
• Cain & Abel
• Exodus 23:5 
• Deuteronomy 22:4
• What Are the 613 Mitzvot? 
• What Is The Talmud? 
• Rabbi Hillel’s Words: If I am not for me, who will be for me?
• Follow Zach Sage Fox on Instagram
• Words From Rabbi Tarfon 
• Talmudic Teaching: All of Israel Are Responsible For One Another 
• Jonah Discusses “March of The Living”
• Uncomfortable Conversations With A Jew by Noa Tishby & Emmanuel Acho 
• Noa Tishby Launches “Voices of October 7th” Tour
• Noa Tishby’s IMDB Page
• Noa Tishby’s Role As Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism & The Delegitimization of Israel 
• Meet Michal Cotler-Wunsch, Israel’s Current Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism & The Delegitimization of Israel 
• Bennett-Lapid Government 
• SECCA (Special Envoys & Coordinators Combating Antisemitism) 
• Understanding Israel’s Judicial Overhaul 
• Understanding the “Override Clause” in Israel’s Judicial Reform/Overhaul  
• Noa Tishby Ousted From Envoy Position in Israel 
• Israel’s Netanyahu’s Return To Power in 2022
• Noa Tishby’s Op-Ed for YNet About Israel’s Judicial Overhaul 
• Explaining Mahdism
• Mahdism & Iran’s Desired Destruction of Israel
• Noa Tishby’s Event in Atlanta with Israel ParaSport - 2024 
• Jews in the Quran  
• History of the Kibbutz Movement 
• The Story of Degania (Israel’s First Kibbutz) 
• Noa Tishby Visits Degania (Her Grandmother’s Kibbutz) 
• Ramat Aviv Gimmel (Israeli Series Noa Starred In) 

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

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For Sponsorships, please email:

Jonah@JonahPlatt.com

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www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:

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David Baddiel — comedian, author, public intellectual, and the UK’s most outspoken Jewish voice — joins Jonah to unpack the core ideas behind his groundbreaking book Jews Don’t Count. With his characteristic wit and unflinching eye for truth, Baddiel deconstructs contemporary anti-Jew racism, explaining how it functions, its origins, why it persists in “progressive” spaces, how it’s different from traditional antisemitism, and why Jews are so often excluded from conversations about representation, identity, and minority status.

💬 Topics include:

• The double standards in how antisemitism is treated compared to other forms of racism
• Baddiel’s confusing Jewish upbringing and identity struggles
• His family’s escape from Nazi Germany and his grandfather’s unjust internment on the Isle of Man
• Antisemitism in UK football culture
• What it means to be a “Non-Zionist”
• Baddiel’s atheist yearning for divine comfort aka The God Desire
• His podcast with Muslim politician Sayeeda Warsi: A Jew and a Muslim Go There 🎧
• And why “Jews don’t count” as a minority when it comes to media representation on shows like Friends and Seinfeld 📺

This is a must-watch conversation for anyone interested in understanding contemporary antisemitism, generational trauma, and the challenges of fighting anti-Jew racism in today’s complex “woke” climate.

Like, subscribe, and share to help us keep these important conversations going.

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editors: Patrick Edwards & Nathan Wheatley); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell; Interns: Sasha Nelson & Emma Webb

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MENTIONED IN EPISODE

• Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel 
• Jews Don’t Count Documentary (For Prime/BBC Select)
• The God Desire by David Baddiel 
• My Family: A Memoir by David Baddiel 
• The Secret Purposes by David Baddiel
• Watch The Infidel on Tubi
• David Baddiel: October 7th Was A Pogrom, I Couldn’t Ignore It 
• Haaretz Article: ‘Jews Are A Glitch In The Matrix’
• Jeremy Corbyn & Antisemitism in The UK’s Labour Party
• Antisemitism in the U.K. Has Grown Over the Past Decade
• A Muslim & A Jew Go There
• Clips from David Baddiel’s Episode of Who Do You Think You Are?
• People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn 
• Being Jewish with Jonah Platt (Dara Horn Episode)
• Israel: A Simple Guide To The Most Misunderstood Country on Earth by Noa Tishby 
• George Orwell’s Politics & The English Language
• How Tottenham Became The “Jewish” Football Team in England 
• No Room for Racism - Premier League anti-racism program
• The Y Word Film by David Baddiel (About Anti-Jewish Racism in British Football) 
• Jeremy Irons Reads T.S. Eliot’s Poetry
• Burbank With A Baedeker by T.S. Eliot
• T.S. Eliot & The Jews 
• Holocaust Survivors Living Below The Poverty Line in Los Angeles 
• Dara Horn on the Jews of Harbin, China
• Mumbai Terror Attacks Target Jews
• Schrödinger’s Cat Theory
• Who Is Theodor Herzl (Founding Father of Zionism)?
• The Long Ugly History Behind “The Jews Will Not Replace Us” 
• What Is The Great Replacement Theory? ADL Explains 
• Why We Should Retire The Word ‘Antisemitism’ with Jonah Platt 
• Tree of Life Shooting Motivated by Racist Jew Hate
• Rachel Dolezal: Woman Pretending To Be Black 

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:

Jonah@JonahPlatt.com

To contact us & all things BJJP:

www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:

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Auburn Men's Basketball head coach Bruce Pearl joins Jonah for an honest and wide-ranging conversation about life, leadership, and faith, only a few weeks after leading Auburn to their second NCAA Final Four.  A legendary figure in college basketball, Coach Pearl opens up about his Jewish heritage, his decision to speak up for the Israeli hostages in the middle of the NCAA March Madness Tournament, his ideas for the Middle East post-Gaza/Israel war, and his mission to build bridges between different communities of faith around the world.

🎙️ Other topics include:

• The Jewish Evangelical Christian Alliance
• Interfaith marriage
• The truth about Palestine and Qatar
• Real-World coaching scenarios
• Being a Jewish coach in Alabama
• What’s broken in American Jewish education

Whether you're passionate about sports, Judaism, or geopolitics, this episode offers a rare and inspiring look at the intersection of athletics, identity, and advocacy.

Sign Up For “One Mitzvah A Day”

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editors: Patrick Edwards & Nathan Wheatley); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell; Interns: Sasha Nelson & Emma Webb

MENTIONED IN EPISODE

• Bruce Pearl Coaching Bio
• What is the Hebrew Word “Kavana?” 
• Coach Bruce Pearl Uses Post-Game Conference to Speak Up for Eden Alexander | Video + Article
• Adi Alexander Reacts to Auburn Coach’s Comments About His Son
• Israeli President Isaac Herzog Thanks Coach Bruce Pearl 
• Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained 
• Three Jewish Basketball Coaches Reach The Final Four
• The 1943 Alabama Resolution on Israel 
• No Genocide in Gaza 
• Myth: Israel is An Apartheid State
• Arabs in Israel Make Up Nearly A Quarter of Healthcare & Medical Workers
• Israel Removes Jews Out of Gaza in 2005
• Jewish Graves Disassembled in Gaza During 2005 Withdrawal 
• What is Mount Moriah & Why is It Significant to Judaism?
• What is Gethsemane?
• Jewish Holy Sites in Judea & Samaria/West Bank
• What is Nakba?
• Britain, France, Canada release joint statement against Israel
• Golda Meir quote
• Qatar Funds Hamas
• Bruce Pearl Calls On The World to “Wake Up” 
• Yaron Lischinsky & Sarah Milgrim Murdered in DC by Terrorist Who Shouted “Free Palestine”
• BBC & NBC Report Erroneous Statistics About Babies in Gaza 
• Abdul Basheer transfers to play basketball at Auburn University
• Jonah’s monologue about struggling with God
• Jonah and Sarah Hurwitz talk Shavuot
• Jonah’s monologue on “Going Full Jew”
• Jonah talks Shavuot with Tessa Veksler and Eden Yadegar
• Jonah’s episode with Chris Caresnone
• What is the Significance of Shavuot? 
• What is The Zohar? Sacred Kabbalistic Text
• Dan Senor’s Podcast “Call Me Back” with Guest Rachel Goldberg-Polin (Shavuot Discussion)
• The Book of Ruth (Sacred Jewish Text)
• Understanding King David 
• Why Do We Study Torah on Shavuot?

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:

Jonah@JonahPlatt.com

To contact us & all things BJJP:

www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:

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Jonah Platt sits down with celebrated author André Aciman, the literary voice behind the beloved novel Call Me By Your Name, in this intimate and illuminating conversation. Known for his lyrical prose and deep explorations of longing, identity, and exile, Aciman opens up about his Sephardic Jewish heritage, his family's displacement from Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Spain, and the Dalmatian Coast, and how a lifelong sense of otherness has shaped his storytelling.

Together, they dive into the emotional layers of young love, memory, and spiritual yearning that define Aciman’s most iconic works. He also shares behind-the-scenes insights into his latest book, Room on the Sea, and teases what’s next in his creative journey.

Whether you're a longtime fan or new to his world, this episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt offers a rare glimpse into the mind of one of our most thoughtful contemporary writers.

Watch the episode on YouTube here! https://youtu.be/kVGjzdl2nEQ

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editors: Patrick Edwards & Nathan Wheatley); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell

Sign Up For “One Mitzvah A Day”

MENTIONED IN EPISODE

• Darwin’s Finches & What It Means About Evolution 
• Evolutionary Theory & Natural Selection Explained 
• Charles Darwin’s Exploration on the HMS Beagle
• Jews of Discretion by Andre Aciman 
• Andre Aciman’s CUNY Profile
• Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
• Call Me By Your Name Book Review by The New York Times
• Find Me by Andre Aciman 
• Preorder Room on The Sea by Andre Aciman
• Listen to Room on The Sea on Audiobook
• Listen to The Gentleman From Peru by Andre Aciman
• Listen to Mariana by Andre Aciman
• Roman Year: A Memoir by Andre Aciman
• Out of Egypt by Andre Aciman
• False Papers by Andre Aciman
• Harvard Square by Andre Aciman
• Eight White Nights by Andre Aciman
• Watch Call Me By Your Name Film
• What is Ladino? Understanding the Spanish-Judeo Language
• Who Are Sephardic Jews?
• Jewish Population in Egypt
• The Fascinating History of Jews in Egypt
• Who Was Gamal Abdel Nasser (Former President of Egypt)?
• Who Are The Coptic Christians of Egypt?
• History of Jewish Expulsion from the Middle East & North Africa 
• Who was poet John Keats?
• The Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome
• New Yorker Article on the Writing of Marcel Proust

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:
bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:
Jonah@JonahPlatt.com

To contact us & all things BJJP:
www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:
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Hey Podcast People! In this FLAVORFUL and heartfelt episode, Jonah is joined by rising social media sensation Chris Caresnone — a Black, non-Jewish content creator known for his hilarious multicultural food adventures and cross-cultural humor. 

Together, they dive into the vibrant culinary culture of Los Angeles, sampling iconic Jewish foods from Sephardic pastries to Wagyu shawarma, and more. As Chris shares his transformational journey from unknown content creator to beloved bridge builder, the conversation turns to identity, resilience, and how food can break barriers and foster community.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Chris Chris Caresnone’s unique path through the world of digital content
• A tour of Jewish culinary traditions through a modern lens
• Real talk about multiculturalism, belonging, and personal growth
• A hilarious food-focused game Jonah invented just for Chris!
• Sneak peeks into Chris's next delicious destinations

Whether you're a foodie, a fan of Jewish culture, or just love a good origin story with laughs and heart, this episode delivers.

Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/R5MtH0a5FW0

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editors: Patrick Edwards & Nathan Wheatley); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell

MENTIONED IN EPISODE

• Sign Up For One Mitzvah A Day!
• The Four C’s - Episode 6 of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
• Chris Caresnone’s Instagram
• Chris Caresnone’s TikTok Page
• Borekas Sephardic Pastries
• Recapping Jonah’s Event at Am Shalom in Glencoe, Illinois 
• Avi-Cue
• Chef Aviyad Yalin & Avi Cue 
• Kenny Hamilton on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
• Jonah Discusses His Journey with ADHD