Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman are two of the most dynamic, interesting, and thought-provoking Jewish leaders today. Two seasoned educators who love to talk, listen, laugh, challenge, and grow, Mijal and Noam are the Wondering Jews, leading us through thought-provoking discussions that are as serious as they are entertaining.Whether you're a seasoned scholar or just curious about Jewish culture, this show offers a refreshing perspective that's both enlightening and enjoyable. It's not just a podcast; it's a thoughtful conversation that invites everyone to wonder about the rich tapestry of Jewish ideas in the context of our daily lives. Brought...
Is The Middle East Finally Ready To Accept Israel? With Jason Isaacson
As threats to Jews spike around the globe, there's a part of the world with a brighter outlook--and it's not where you'd expect. This week, Noam and Mijal are joined by Jason Isaacson, the Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer for the American Jewish Committee. Jason has been working tirelessly to normalize relations between Israel and other Middle Eastern countries for decades. He sees plenty of challenges ahead, but plenty of hope as well.
Learn more about AJC at ajc.org
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and...
Maytal Kowalski Is Having Tough Conversations With Canadian Jews
As antisemitism has exploded in Canada, debate has raged within its Jewish community. Is the government doing enough to combat Jewish hate? What does it mean to be zionist? Why are young Jews walking away from Israel? Maytal Kowalski, the executive director of JSpaceCanada, has leapt headfirst into all of these uncomfortable questions. In this episode, Noam and Maytal discuss her unique background, the bond between Canada's Jews, and her strong views on Israel and progressive politics. Learn more about JSpaceCanada at jspacecanada.ca
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram...
Can Australia's Jews Ever Recover From Bondi? With Jeremy Leibler
On December 14th, 2025, a pair of gunmen killed 15 people attending a Hanukkah event on Sydney's Bondi Beach. For Jewish leaders like Jeremy Leibler (Zionist Federation of Australia), the killings were shocking--even as concerns around antisemitism continued to grow after October 7th. Will Australia's Royal Commission on Antisemitism be a meaningful step towards change? Jeremy speaks openly to Mijal and Noam about the commission, his legacy as the child of Holocaust survivors, and what is giving him hope.
Learn more about the Zionist Federation of Australia at zfa.com.au
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked...
Matthew Nouriel Always Had Shabbat
There are many words to describe influencer and activist Matthew Nouriel: Persian, Jewish, Gay, Zionist... But when you belong to so many different communities, do you really belong anywhere at all? As Mijal discovers, Matthew's answer is an emphatic "yes." His Mizrahi family may have struggled to accept him, but they never left him behind. Now, Matthew is using his voice to encourage Jews of all kinds to make that same embrace.Learn more about JIMENA by visiting https://www.jimena.org/Mijal's study for JIMENA is at https://sephardicstudy.org/
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked...
The Meaning of Love with Rabbi Shai Held
How do you even begin to define love? How are we supposed to balance love of family with “love thy neighbor?” These are the kinds of questions Rabbi Shai Held tries to tackle in his latest book, Judaism Is About Love. Shai is President and Dean of Hadar and host of the podcast Answers WithHeld. Together with Mijal and Noam, he wonders about how to balance the needs of our Jewish family with the biggest family of all: humanity.
For more on Shai’s book visit https://hadar.org/torah-tefillah/books/judaism-about-love
And be sure to che...
The Family Cycle Moran Atias Had To Break
Actress and philanthropist Moran Atias was raised in a Moroccan Jewish home that expected her to marry young and have children, just like the generations before her. Her mother married at 18. Her grandmother was wed at the age of 12. When Moran broke from that tradition, it threatened to tear her family apart. In this deeply personal conversation, Moran shares her unforgettable journey towards motherhood with Noam and Mijal.
To check out Moran's TED Talk, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO1CBhA67Hs And don't miss Moran's latest TV credit, Joseph of Egypt, when it drops...
Revisiting The Question: What Is Judaism?
As Mijal and Noam explore the idea of "family" through the Jewish lens, it's necessary to step back and wonder if the Jewish people are an extended family of their own. We're off this week, so we're revisiting an episode from last fall, where are hosts start with a basic question: What is Judaism?
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
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Nas Daily: The Identity Crisis October 7 Forced Me to Face
Does identity define us or limit us? In this crossover episode with Unpacking Israeli History, Noam searches for answers with Nuseir Yassin, better known as internet personality Nas Daily.
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
Learning To Swim: How Jews Build Resilient Families
What does it mean for parents to act as priests? Does teaching a child to swim mean more than just laps in a pool? In our first episode exploring family through the Jewish lens, Noam and Mijal are tackling profound, meaningful questions about Judaism within our four walls. Our hosts break down the reciprocal obligations between parents, children, and siblings, with plenty of personal anecdotes to illuminate their significance.Mijal's article on the priestly blessing can be found here: https://open.substack.com/pub/mijal/p/4500-blessings?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Get in touch at...
Telling The Jewish Story with Jennifer Tepper and Etai Benson
Can a musical teach Torah? Why is Fiddler on the Roof beloved in Japan? The answers to these questions could have implications for the future of the Jews and their place in the world. Noam sits down with Jennifer Tepper, a theatre historian, and Etai Benson, a Broadway actor, to discuss the art of crafting stories, and the innovative ways in which Judaism has intersected with the stage.
If you’re interested in bringing Etai’s new show, The Book of Steve, to your synagogue or Jewish space, write to MountCarmelProductions@gmail.com
Jennifer Tepper’s new...
Mijal and Noam Answer Your Questions About Denominations
Mijal is back, and this week we're responding to your comments! Spurred on by awesome listeners like you, our reunited hosts ponder the dynamic relationship between Zionism and Reform Judaism, the question of Jewish continuity, the hot-button issue of affordability, and more. We have the best audience in the world, and we hope you'll keep commenting and writing to us at wonderingjews@unpackedmedia.org for the next Q&A episode.
Mijal's article "The Future Is Sephardic" can be read here: https://sapirjournal.org/aspiration-ii/2026/the-future-is-sephardic/
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow...
Stars Of David: Jews at Carnegie Hall with Kathleen Sabogal
Jews have left an indelible mark on the fabric of America, impacting activism, music, and religion. One venue holds so many inspiring examples of these contributions: Carnegie Hall. For this episode celebrating the end of Jewish American Heritage Month, Noam joins Kathleen Sabogal (Director, Rose Archives and Museum) on-location at the famous venue. On the corner of 57th Street and 7th Avenue, great names like Leonard Bernstein, Rabbi Stephen Wise, and Isaac Stern advocated for education, women's suffrage, racial equality and more. Is there inspiration here for the next chapter of Jewish American history? The answer will be music...
Matbucha And Mishpucha: Life As An Israeli-American Chef with Michael Solomonov
For years, the famous Philly chef Michael Solomonov has grappled with his American and Israeli identities. What can his journey teach us about American Jews and their relationship with the Jewish state? In this episode exploring Jewish American Heritage Month, Michael shares his remarkable family history, how his restaurants tell the Israeli story in America, and his take on ranch dressing.
To learn more about Zahav--and the rest of Michael's restaurants--visit https://www.zahavrestaurant.com/cns-family
This episode is sponsored by RootOne. Join thousands of North American Jewish teens for a life-changing experience in Israel! Find...
Revisiting Chabad with Rabbi YY Jacobson
In the wake of our Denominations series, many of you wrote to us asking "what about Chabad?" As a leading resource for all Jews, it makes perfect sense to consider how Chabad fits into the denominational puzzle of America. We're off this week, but Noam kicks us off with a fresh greeting and a few words about Chabad before re-introducing our episode from last summer with Rabbi YY Jacobson.
We're getting ready to respond to more of your letters about the denominations series (as well as some other recent episodes). If you'd like to have your question...
What's So Funny About Antisemitism? With Raanan Hershberg
America has enjoyed a golden age of Jewish comedy: Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, and Amy Schumer are just some of the luminaries that have graced our stages and televisions. But with antisemitism on the rise and Israel becoming more divisive than ever, can Jewish comedians still thrive? For our second episode honoring Jewish American Heritage Month, Noam is in conversation with Raanan Hershberg, a brilliant comedian who tackles questions of identity and ideology in his latest special, Morbidly Jewish. With Noam, Raanan opens up about his childhood as a Conservative Jew in Kentucky, his concerns about antisemitism masquerading as...
Is the Zabar's Story A Jewish Story? With David Zabar
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The story of Zabar's--a NYC foodie fixture--is bigger than bagels: it includes a horrifying pogrom, a narrow escape to America, and success in the face of countless setbacks. For Jewish American Heritage Month, Noam asks: what does does this story mean to American Jews, and America at large? In a rare interview, David Zabar, a senior executive and third-generation family member, tells us the incredible story of Louis and Lilly Zabar, how Zabar's sees itself in the American tapestry, and yes... his bagel ord...
Is the Future Non-Denominational? With Rabbi Avi Killip
Do the words that once categorized Jews--reform, conservative, orthodox--still matter today? And if they don't... then what's next? To answer these questions and close out our series on denominations, Noam and Mijal speak with Rabbi Avi Killip, the executive vice president of Hadar. In this can't-miss conversation, Rabbi Killip makes the case for Hadar as a movement that is ready to meet the the challenges of contemporary Jewish life.
Learn more about Hadar at https://www.hadar.org/
To hear Hadar's podcasts, including Ta Shma and Responsa Radio, check out https://www.hadar.org/torah-tefillah...
Is Reform Judaism About Modernity Or Tradition? With Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Will Reform Judaism be defined by the past, or the future? Does it emphasize the Jewish community, or the community at large? Does it feature personal choice, or obligation? Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, joins Noam to explore these queries, and the meaningful tension they create. Plus: Reform Judaism's evolution on Zionism, and uplifting stories from congregations that were attacked in Mississippi and Michigan.
Learn more about the URJ by visiting urj.org
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and...
Will Conservative Judaism Survive? With Rabbi Nicole Guzik and Rabbi Erez Sherman
What is Conservative Judaism? Why is its share of American Jews shrinking? Can you take a Waymo to Shabbat services? Here to explore these questions is a married rabbi team: Erez Sherman and Nicole Guzik, from Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. Together with Mijal and Noam, they discuss the beautiful nuances of Conservative Judaism, and what its future might mean for all Jewish denominations.
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
This episode is sponsored in memory of Leo M. Bernstein.
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Why Does Judaism Have Denominations? With Zev Eleff
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist... where do these religious practices come from? What do they even mean? Zev Eleff, the president of Gratz College, is here to lay out the fascinating origins of denominations, and how they intersect with Protestantism and American culture. Plus: Zev, Mijal, and Noam reflect on the rich tapestry of Orthodox Judaism, and what its future might be.
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
This episode is sponsored in memory of Leo M. Bernstein.
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...Straight Outta Egypt with Michael Rapaport
For this special Passover episode, Mijal and Noam open their door to actor and comedian Michael Rapaport (Friends, Only Murders In The Building, The Traitors). If the conversation had only been about the holiday, dayenu. But there's plenty more on the seder plate, including that viral meal from The Traitors and Michael's campaign to become the next mayor of New York City. Careening between moments that are funny, irreverent, wistful, and poignant, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram...
The Greatest Rabbi Of All Time? With Jenna Weissman Joselit
In this episode, Noam and Mijal begin their multi-part exploration of Jewish denominations in America with one of the most influential rabbis in history: Mordecai Kaplan. Kaplan is known as a trailblazer who emphasized community over kashrut and gave the very first bat mitzvah to his own daughter. But what was Kaplan's inner life? The conversation becomes a joyous family affair as Noam welcomes in his aunt, Jenna Weissman Joselit, author of the new book Mordecai M. Kaplan: Restless Soul.
This episode is sponsored by Jewish Lives, a prize-winning series of biographies from Yale...
What The Headlines Mean For American Jews with Bret Stephens
An anti-semitic attack in Michigan. War with Iran. The news cycle is spinning so rapidly that it’s hard to make sense of it all. This week, Noam and Mijal turn to Bret Stephens (New York Times Opinion columnist and Editor-In-Chief of Sapir) to help them understand the big picture. How should Jews—and Americans in general—be responding to conflicts at home and abroad? Plus: Bret discusses his latest article for Sapir, and how academia can set the record straight on Israel.
Read Bret’s latest article in Sapir: https://sapirjournal.org/aspiration-ii/2026/israel-s...
The Truth About Antizionism with Adam Louis-Klein
Perhaps the only thing more contentious than the definition of antisemitism is the definition of antizionism; when is criticism of Israel legitimate, and when is it hateful? In this episode, Noam and Mijal look to Adam Louis-Klein for answers. In the aftermath of October 7th, Adam committed himself to defining and fighting antizionism, using the tools of academia. But is it working?
Adam Louis-Klein is a writer, philosopher, and anthropologist completing a PhD in Anthropology at McGill University. He is a Postgraduate Fellow at the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism and founder of...
The Rhymes of History with Professor Jonathan Sarna
Note: this episode was recorded before the latest developments in Iran.
What can incidents of antisemitism from America's past tell us about its future? For Mijal and Noam, there's no one better to answer this question than Professor Emeritus Jonathan Sarna. Professor Sarna--a legendary scholar and author of the essential book American Judaism--takes our hosts on a tour of the late 19th century, when Jews found themselves excluded from a variety of spaces. Together with Mijal and Noam, he finds hope in the Jewish community's response--both then and now.
This episode is...
Dispatch From Irangeles with Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh
War with Iran is unfolding days before Purim, so Mijal and Noam step back from the news cycle to process this moment emotionally and theologically. Joining them is Tarlan Rabizadeh, a rabbi, activist, and Persian Jew who is deeply imbedded in LA's "Irangeles" community. With wit, passion, and humor, rabbi Tarlan breaks down what the media has been missing, and the sights and sounds that are filling her with hope.
Follow Rabbi Tarlan on Instagram: instagram.com/rabbitarlan/
Learn more about Rabbi Tarlan on her website: https://www.rabbitarlan.com/about
Clarity to Confusion: Reflections on Purim With Justin Pines & JBS
Joy and pain. Clarity and confusion. Each year--but especially now--the holiday of Purim inspires a wide array of emotions. In this special crossover episode of Wondering Jews and Jewish Insights with Justin Pines, Mijal reflects on what Purim teaches us about the fight against anti-semitism. How can we interpret the actions of legendary figures like Mordecai and Esther, and what inspiration do they have to offer us in today's uncertain world?
This episode was produced in collaboration with the Jewish Broadcasting Service. To learn more about JBS and Jewish Insights with Justin Pines, visit...
God, the Jews, and Israel: Three Thousand Years of History
In this episode, Mijal invites Noam to talk about his most ambitious project yet: a 5-part epic series on the history of Zionism, from biblical beginnings to modern Israel. Years in the making and deeply personal to Noam, this sweeping series on Unpacking Israeli History traces the 3,000-year story of Zionism. Mijal and Noam's conversation touches on collective memory, the cyclical fracturing of the Jewish people, and how an ancient dream finally materialized as a sovereign state.
This episode is in memory of Leo M. Bernstein.
Get in touch...
Soviet Anti-Zionism and the Refuseniks with Izabella Tabarovsky
What can Russian Anti-Zionism of 1967 teach us about Anti-Semitism today? This week, Noam and Mijal speak with Izabella Tabarovsky, author of the new book Be A Refusenik: A Jewish Student's Survival Guide. With academic expertise and personal stories, Izabella paints a vivid picture of the Refusenik movement and what lessons it can offer to Jews facing discrimination on college campuses.
Order Izabella's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Refusenik-Jewish-Students-Survival/dp/B0G2GKWKCJ
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and s...
Understanding the ICE Surge with Kate Davenport
At a moment when many Americans are either shouting past each other or staying silent, Noam and Mijal pause to reflect on what this moment demands of them as Jews, as leaders, and as citizens. In this episode, Mijal and Noam speak with Minnesota resident and Aspen Civil Society Fellow Kate Moore Davenport. The conversation explores the surge of ICE agents in Minneapolis and why it has ignited a debate over due process, safety, and federal power. Afterwards, Noam and Mijal reflect on polarization, competing narratives, and how Jewish ethical frameworks can help guide conversation without surrendering nuance.
Inside the American Right: Israel, Antisemitism, and Trump’s GOP Coalition
What’s actually happening inside the American right—and how much of it is real versus online noise? Mijal and Noam talk with Jesse Arm of the Manhattan Institute about the GOP coalition after Trump, the new fault lines on Israel, and why conspiracy culture is becoming a political force.
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4<...
Shabbat and the Radical Idea of Rest (#1 Staff Pick)
This week, we wrap up our Staff Pick countdown with our #1 episode of the year. What Is Shabbat—Really? goes beyond the long list of “don’ts” to uncover the deeper joy and purpose of the Jewish Sabbath. Grounded in Genesis, Exodus, and the writings of Abraham Joshua Heschel and Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Mijal and Noam explore Shabbat as a 25-hour “palace in time”—a weekly digital detox, spiritual reset, and celebration of meaning.
We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginni...
You Think You Know Chabad? Think Again — With Rabbi YY Jacobson (#2 Staff Pick)
What does Chabad have to offer a fractured world in 2025? On Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam, Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman are joined by renowned Chabad scholar and speaker Rabbi YY Jacobson to explore the enduring power of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s legacy. Chosen by our staff as the #2 top episode of the year and part of our countdown to the #1 Staff Pick, this conversation leans into Chabad’s worldview, its nuanced relationship with Zionism, and its bold response to antisemitism. Rabbi Jacobson also shares how every Jew, religious or secular, can become an agent of healing, love, and...
What it Means to be Jewish: A Conversation with Jonah Platt (#3 Staff Pick)
Noam revisits his conversation with actor, Jewish advocate and fellow podcast host, Jonah Platt. In the episode, voted the #3 staff pick, Noam and Jonah sit down in LA to talk about identity, Israel, Hollywood, and why October 7 turned him into what he calls an “October 8th activist.” Jonah reflects on his Jewish upbringing, the rising fear around Jewish identity, and why he now proudly wears a Magen David. They dig into what Hollywood gets right (and wrong) about Jewish stories, why so few celebrities speak up for Israel, and how to navigate tough conversations using Jonah’s “Five C’s.”
Jewish 2025 Wrap: Peoplehood, Polarization, and Hope
As 2025 ends, Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman look back on a year that felt both relentless and revealing, then name ten themes that shaped Jewish life, Israel, and the diaspora, except it’s nine, because they’re contrarians, plus what they hope 2026 can become.
They unpack the shift from acute crisis to chronic challenge, why “that feeling you’re feeling is peoplehood,” the rise of horseshoe politics and Overton window expansion, the exhaustion of nonstop noise, and the surprising places hope still shows up, including resilience, allies, and moments of solidarity.
They also get personal, from Mijal...
Hugging, Hitting, and Helping: Mitch Julis on the Future of Jewish Giving
Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025
Mijal and Noam explore how generosity—of time, money, talent, and attention—has powered the Jewish story across generations, and what it means to make giving a lifelong practice rather than a one-time donation. They’re joined by Mitchell R. Julis, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Canyon Partners, for a wide-ranging conversation about Jewish identity, philanthropy, and responsibility.Drawing on his Romaniote and Ashkenazi family roots and decades of civic, educational, and Jewish leadership, Julis reflects on the difference between power and influence...
What Happens After We Die?
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Mijal and Noam dive into one of Judaism’s biggest—and most deliberately open-ended—questions: What does Judaism say about the afterlife, Olam HaBa, the World to Come? They explore why humans across cultures care so deeply about life after death—justice, grief, meaning, and reward—and why the Torah is famously sparse on the subject. Drawing on classical Jewish sources from the Mishnah and Talmud to Maimonides, they unpack what Jewish tradition does (and doesn’t) say about what comes next, incl...
Modesty in Judaism: What Tzniut Really Means (Beyond Dress Codes)
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Mijal and Noam dive into the fraught conversation around tzniut (modesty), blending Jewish sources with personal stories and lived experience. They unpack what Jewish law actually says, debunk common myths about dress codes, oppression, and liberation, and wrestle honestly with how modesty shows up in real communities. Ultimately, they expand tzniut beyond clothing—toward dignity, humility, self-awareness, and agency.
We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode alon...
Unpacking the Bondi Beach Hanukkah Attack with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy
A Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach became the site of one of the deadliest antisemitic attacks in the diaspora in decades. Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy, who grew up in Sydney and now lives in Jerusalem, joins Noam and Mijal to explain what happened, why many in the community say it was “horrifying but not shocking,” and what this moment demands next.
Here's a link to donate to the Bondi terror attack response:
https://donate.thedorfoundation.org.au/bondi-beach-terror-attack-response/donate
Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: https...
The Battle Over Jewish Storytelling: A Hanukkah Conversation with Dr. Tanya White (Part 2)
Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025
Book for the Jerusalem Marathon "Return, Reconnect, and Run for Resilience" tour: sababatravel.com
In Part 2 of The Battle Over Jewish Storytelling: A Hanukkah Conversation, Mijal sits down with Dr. Tanya White to explore the deeper meaning of Hanukkah—beyond the oil. Together they unpack the three major narratives of the holiday: the historical Maccabee revolt, the rabbinic miracle of the oil, and the Al Hanisim prayer that weaves together human courage and divine pres...
