Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

In the first episode of our Jewish American Summit series, Jonah sits down with Steve Hilton, Republican candidate for California governor, for a candid conversation about antisemitism, Jewish safety, and the future of the Golden State.

Hilton discusses what he calls the growing threats facing California’s Jewish community, from Jewish students afraid to display their identities, to concerns about antisemitism in public schools and university campuses. He shares his plans to address antisemitism, reform education, and hold teachers’ unions accountable, while explaining why he believes California needs a major change in leadership.

What does it mean to be unapologetically Jewish in an industry that has often encouraged people to hide their identity?

This week, Jonah sits down with legendary actress Tovah Feldshuh, the four-time Tony Award nominee and two-time Emmy nominee whose extraordinary career has brought some of history's most iconic Jewish women to life, from Golda Meir and Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Yentl.

Fresh off her role as the fiercely protective and controversial Bina Rockloff on Netflix's Nobody Wants This, Tovah opens up about the backlash...

NEW SEGMENT! In the first installment of our new segment “Being Jewish In…” we explore the hostile environment facing Jewish authors, agents and editors in the world of Publishing with acclaimed author and digital publisher Meg Keene, newly appointed editor of the eponymous Meg Keene Books, a new imprint focused on publishing Jewish stories by Jewish authors. 

Keene shares her own experience of being advised to remove Hebrew, Jewish names, and cultural details from a Jewish romance manuscript that might “trigger” editors – a story later featured in PEN America’s The Silent Moratorium. 

Can a CEO speak out against antisemitism without becoming the story?

Sweetgreen co-founder and CEO Jonathan Neman reflects on his Persian Jewish family's escape from Iran to Los Angeles and the entrepreneurial spirit and contributions of the Persian Jewish community. He talks about his mother’s arrival in Los Angeles in 1979 for what was supposed to be a summer visit and never returned to Iran, and growing up feeling like an outsider. Jonathan also discusses his evolving pride in his Persian Jewish identity, and the values that shaped his entrepreneurial ambitions.

On the third anniversary of October 7th, Jonah delivers a powerful and deeply personal open letter to his non-Jewish friends, colleagues, and allies about what it means to stand with the Jewish people.



In this special solo episode of Being Jewish, Jonah reflects on the past three years of rising antisemitism, fractured friendships, and the growing isolation of Jewish communities. He addresses the dangerous normalization of anti-Jewish rhetoric, the misunderstanding of Zionism and Jewish identity, and the painful silence of those who have chosen to look away.

Why have so ma...

On the third anniversary of October 7th, Jonah delivers a powerful and deeply personal open letter to his non-Jewish friends, colleagues, and allies about what it means to stand with the Jewish people.

In this special solo episode of Being Jewish, Jonah reflects on the past three years of rising antisemitism, fractured friendships, and the growing isolation of Jewish communities. He addresses the dangerous normalization of anti-Jewish rhetoric, the misunderstanding of Zionism and Jewish identity, and the painful silence of those who have chosen to look away.

Why have...

Today we remember the 1,200 victims, the hostages, and the profound trauma of the October 7th terror attacks in Israel. We remember the loss of innocence and the incredible resilience of the Jewish people. We remember the hostages taken, the global reaction, the rise of anti-Jewish hate, and the enduring strength of the Jewish State. Join the conversation and share this message of remembrance and defiance.

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What if the most dangerous lies about Jews are the ones we’ve been taught to believe?

Bestselling author Dara Horn returns to Being Jewish for a super-sized episode to discuss her new book The Final Solution to the Jewish Question and why she believes antisemitism is more than prejudice.

Dara describes antisemitism as a power-serving lie built around the idea that Jews are destroying what others value most. Dara explores how propaganda spreads, from the illusory truth effect and information laundering, to harassment campaigns and the manipulation of pl...

What can a temporary hut teach us about living a meaningful life?

In this special Sukkot episode of Being Jewish, Jonah sits down with Rabbi Adam Greenwald to unpack one of Judaism’s most joyful, and perhaps most misunderstood holidays.

They explore Sukkot’s ancient origins as a harvest festival tied to the Land of Israel, why Jews shake the lulav and etrog in every direction (maybe like a certain dance we all know), and why the sukkah is intentionally built to be temporary and open to the stars.

What happens when the son of a Hamas founder becomes one of the terrorist organization’s biggest enemies?

Season 3 of Being Jewish kicks off with a powerful live conversation between Jonah Platt and Mosab Hassan Yousef, known as “The Green Prince,” recorded at the Jewish American Summit in Los Angeles.

The son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, Mosab shares the extraordinary story behind his book Son of Hamas and the documentary The Green Prince, and explains why he believes the fight against Hamas and jihadism is both crucial and ex...

Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal joins Jonah to break down the upcoming Israeli elections and the fight for Benjamin Netanyahu's political future. Nadav lays out what a Netanyahu win would really signal about Israeli society, who is quietly considering leaving the country, and why the opposition still hasn't found the candidate to beat him.

Then the flip side: what actually happens if Netanyahu loses. Nadav explains the plea deal calculation working against the clock, the education crisis nobody outside Israel is talking about, and what a new government's first moves would mean for Jews in...

What does it actually cost to tell the truth about Jews and Israel?

Erin Molan discusses Israel's controversial decision to withhold some of the most horrific October 7th footage, why a 30-second radio soundbite can shape public opinion more than a protest, and the letter from an Australian miner that changed how she measures impact.

Bernard-Henri Lévy draws on his reporting from Rwanda and Darfur to explain what genocide actually looks like, why he believes Hamas must be defeated militarily, and why he sees anti-Zionism a...

What does it mean to go “Full Jew?”

In this inspiring monologue, Jonah talks about what he’s learned from his engagement with thousands of Jews online, in Israel, and across the U.S. He shares three major revelations about Jewish identity, anxiety, and the hesitation many feel about leaning into their Jewishness aka “Going Full Jew.”

If you’ve wanted to be more proud of your Judaism and don’t know how to express it, this monologue is for you.

Watch the original monologue on Y...

What do Israelis know about Israel that the rest of us don’t?

Noa Tishby discusses how she noticed the rise of antisemitism and anti-Zionism long before October 7th, why she focuses on reaching moderates, and shares a powerful story of a Pro-Palestine college student who changed her views on Israel after reading Noa’s book.

Einat Wilf describes what it means to belong to the Israeli collective, her hopes for universal civic service, and why arguing over what makes Israel “Jewish” is itself Jewish tradition.

Fle...

Why are some young Jews turning against Israel?

In this compassionate monologue, Jonah dives into one of the most misunderstood and emotionally charged dynamics in modern Jewish life: the rise of young and progressive Jews who identify as Anti-Zionist. 

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How do you build a billion-dollar business without sacrificing your values?

Mark Wilf shares how his family turned a dream of owning an NFL team into a multibillion-dollar franchise, why he feels a responsibility to foster a community of acceptance through the Minnesota Vikings, and how his family’s Holocaust survival story shaped his commitment to giving back.

Sheryl Sandberg reflects on her journey from Meta to Google, the lessons she learned that shaped her leadership, and how October 7th transformed her relationship with her own Jewish identity and pr...

Should Jews start recruiting?

In this insightful monologue, Jonah Platt asks why Jews don’t proselytize, and whether that long-standing tradition still benefits the Jewish people today. Judaism offers a rich framework of ritual, purpose, and community, and yet does almost nothing to reach the millions of spiritually searching people who might genuinely thrive within it. Meanwhile, the Jewish population remains remarkably small, and the non-Orthodox community continues to shrink. 

Jonah makes the case that Jewish survival in the 21st century requires us to challenge one of our most dee...

In this special live episode of Being Jewish, Jonah takes the show on the road to Atlanta for a one-night-only “Concert-Sation” with Neranenah Executive Director and pianist Joe Alterman at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.

Blending conversation with live music, Jonah performs a medley of music including a mashup of songs from Broadway, Jonah’s original never-before-heard song “A Tear in the Sky” from his musical adaptation of Lois Lowry’s The Giver, and more!

Jonah discusses the Jewishness of Broadway, how Camp Ramah shaped his Jewish identity and life-lon...

What does it really mean to call yourself a “Zionist” in today’s world? 

In this provocative monologue, Jonah argues that the term “Zionist” is vastly misunderstood and weaponized against the Jewish people. Jonah says we should ditch the term altogether by breaking down why continuing to defend Israel’s “right to exist” is a pointless debate. 

Israel already exists. It is the Jewish homeland. It’s not going anywhere. So instead of letting our enemies frame the term Zionism as an evil entity, let’s celebrate the fact that a Jewish state ex...

What does it take to be a true icon? 

Stuart Weitzman shares his journey from creating one sketch to building one of today’s most recognizable luxury shoe brands, how Aretha Franklin helped turn him into the “shoemaker to the stars,” and the Jewish values he carries into his philanthropy. He also reflects on what it means to have Jewish pride, and how we can pass it to the next generation.

Cindy Crawford talks about authenticity being the key to true beauty, how she’s embraced raising her children in an int...

Is it possible to build a bridge between Muslims and Jews?

In this eye-opening monologue, Jonah Platt shares his transformative experience joining a Muslim-Jewish delegation to the annual March of the Living. Jonah visited Auschwitz and Birkenau for the first time, and traveled through Europe with 20 moderate Muslims committed to building bridges with the Jewish world. 

Jonah reflects on the emotional weight of walking through the Nazi death camps on Yom HaShoah (Israeli Holocaust Remembrance Day), the visceral reality of seeing Auschwitz in person, and the profound sense of J...

How do four Jewish comedians find their voice and turn their experiences into comedy?

Howie Mandel shares why the stage is where he feels most calm, present, and in control while navigating mental health struggles. He also opens up about being proud of his Jewish identity despite not being highly observant, saying Kaddish for a year while touring by requiring shows to start after sundown so he could pray with a minyan, and the lessons he learned about tzedakah and helping those in need. 

Tiffany Haddish tells us about h...

Can someone deeply connected to Judaism wrestle with God and still belong? 

In this contemplative monologue, Jonah explores his lifelong struggle with belief, the nature of G-d, and the tension between faith and doubt. From questioning divine presence to contemplating the vastness of the universe, Jonah examines whether spirituality requires certainty, or if the act of searching is its own form of faith.

If you’ve ever wrestled with your religious beliefs, this monologue is for you.

Watch the original monologue on YouTube here: htt...

What happens when five rabbis share their Jewish wisdom? 

In this special BEST OF: Jewish Wisdom mashup, Rabbis David Wolpe, Angela Buchdahl, David Lichtenstein, Sharon Brous, and Manis Friedman tackle some very Jewish questions about faith, identity, meaning, Israel, and how to make sense of the world around us.

Rabbi David Wolpe explores whether you need to believe in God to be Jewish, why Jewish law evolves, and why Israel remains central to modern Jewish identity. Rabbi Angela Buchdahl challenges exclusion within Judaism and shares how Jewish wisdom, joy, a...

What do you do when millions of people have been taught by teachers, influencers, and even professors, that Zionism is a form of evil?

In this searing and personal monologue, Jonah analyzes thousands of hateful messages he’s received to uncover important truths: How millions have been brainwashed to believe Zionism is evil, how social media erases Jewish voices and spreads misinformation about Israel, and why the Jewish community must act now to invest in education, allyship, and cultural resilience.

From understanding the difference between intentional antisemitism and brainwashed ig...

What happens when a movie shoot brings its cast and crew to Jewish summer camp – and then throws bears and lightning into the mix? 

Following the Los Angeles premiere of The Floaters at the Laemmle Royal in Santa Monica, Jonah sits down with stars of the film Jackie Tohn, Ben Krieger, Jillian Jordyn, and Bekah Zornosa, alongside producers Shai Korman and Andra Gordon, for a special Being Jewish crossover event filmed in front of a live audience.

The panel gives us a behind the scenes look at the making of...

Why won’t people call antisemitism what it really is?

In this powerful monologue, drawing from personal experience, Jonah shares why the word "antisemitism" is outdated, misunderstood, and often ineffective at calling out real, harmful bigotry. Jonah breaks down the urgent need for clarity in how we talk about hate toward Jews. 

If you’ve ever been frustrated by the muddled debates around antisemitism, then this monologue is for you. It’s time to stop being polite, and to start getting real about Anti-Jew hate.

Watch...

Are Jews safer in Uganda than in America?

Jonah interviews Shoshana McKinney Kirya Ziraba, a Southern California-born Black Jewish woman, now living in Eastern Uganda among the Abayudaya Jewish community. Shoshanah tells us about the nonprofit she runs called Tikvah Chadasha Uganda, Hebrew for "New Hope for Uganda,"  which provides women in Uganda with sustainable chicken farms, vocational and rehabilitation support for children with disabilities, and educational programs.

Shoshana discusses the origins of the Abayudaya Jewish community, and how those who converted about 100 years ago are not the same k...

Is antisemitism the music industry's open secret?

Scooter Braun, the man behind icons such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and pre-Nazi Kanye West, joins Jonah for a conversation about his journey of taking the Nova Music Festival Exhibition outside of Israel and showing it to the world. Braun connects his family’s Holocaust story to his decision to become one of the only voices in the music industry to speak up after October 7th. To him, a music festival is an untouchable sacred place. After visiting Israel to meet the Nova survivors, he saw pe...

Can Britain stop its antisemitism crisis before it's too late?

Baroness Luciana Berger, a member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament, spoke to Jonah in the aftermath of the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Baroness explains what this resignation means for the Labour Party, including the likely rise of Andy Burnham as the candidate to represent the party in the Prime Minister elections.

Baroness Berger reflects on Starmer’s role in rooting out antisemitism in the Labour Party following the Equality and Human Ri...

Is Israel at its turning point – or at its breaking point?

Jonah interviews Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, who explains Israel’s non-executive presidency and his priority of unifying a debating war-time nation. President Herzog breaks down the challenging future of the Middle East, the pivotal bond between Israel and the Jewish diaspora, and his vision for healing deep political divisions ahead of pivotal Knesset elections – including the heated debate over Haredi military service and the IDF. 

President Herzog also reflects on the rising global antisemitism post 10/7, and why strengthe...

What happens when a boy raised on antisemitic propaganda becomes a Muslim bridge-builder whose life is saved by Jewish friends?

Mohammed Al Samawi, Yemeni refugee and author of The Fox Hunt, joins Jonah on location at Abrahamic House in Washington, D.C., for a conversation about the painstaking work of learning another person’s story. Al Samawi founded the multi-faith co-living and community space, where Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Bahá’í fellows share meals, host Shabbat and Ramadan gatherings, and create a safer way for people to ask hard questions. In this episode, Al Samawi descri...

How did an 80-year-old Chabad rabbi become a global social media phenomenon, and why is his message resonating from Los Angeles to New Guinea?

Rabbi Manis Friedman, author, longtime educator, and one of the world’s most-followed rabbis on YouTube, joins Jonah to ask a deceptively simple question: why are we here? Friedman argues that creation has a direction and that modern anxiety grows from meaninglessness, not deprivation. People are safer and more comfortable than ever, he says, but without knowing what life is for, comfort becomes a treadmill. From tikkun olam to the fo...

From Saudi officials to diaspora Jews, why are so many people listening to Dan Senor?

Dan Senor, host of the Call Me Back podcast and co-author of Start-Up Nation, joins Jonah for a deep dive on Israel, Jewish identity, and the future of Jewish life in the Diaspora. Senor explains how Call Me Back built a devoted audience organically, attracting diaspora Jews seeking trustworthy information, journalists looking for good-faith dialogue, and even international listeners, including Saudi officials, drawn to its thoughtful, long-form conversations about Israel and the Middle East.

...

From The Big Bang Theory to Jewish advocacy, Mayim Bialik shares the personal journey behind the public persona.

Jonah Platt interviews actress, neuroscientist, author, and Orthodox Jew Mayim Bialik (Blossom and The Big Bang Theory) about rising antizionism and antisemitism, arguing it functions as a hate movement that shuts down dialogue through intimidation and threats.

The conversation explores the rise of antizionist activism on college campuses, her parenting two sons amid the campus hostility, and her experiences navigating public criticism. She shares about her experiences visiting family in the...

What if the answer to "is antizionism antisemitism" is NO...but not for the reason you think? Adam Louis-Klein breaks down the history, language, and ideas driving the debate.

In a thought-provoking conversation, host Jonah Platt interviews Adam Louis-Klein, who returned from anthropological fieldwork with the Desana in the Amazon just after October 7, 2023, to discover the horrors of the attack on Israel. This drove him to become a leading voice opposing antizionism through his writing, appearances, and the organization he founded, Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ). Adam defines antizionism as hatred of Israel and argues it f...

Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder turns grief, antisemitism, and the Jewish experience into one of the funniest and most unexpectedly moving conversations you’ll hear all year.

In this hilarious, heartfelt, and surprisingly profound episode, stand-up comic Yohay Sponder joins host Jonah Platt for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, Jewish identity, Israel, and the global Jewish experience. Known for his viral English-language stand-up and international tours, Sponder reflects on performing for Jewish audiences across Australia, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States while witnessing rising antizionist hate around the world. Sponder recounts the sh...

The Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler gets brutally honest about Judaism, fame, motherhood, and living with MS in one of her most personal interviews ever.

In one of the podcast’s most open and deeply personal episodes so far Jamie-Lynn Sigler, best known for playing Meadow Soprano on The Sopranos, reflects on growing up Jewish on Long Island, navigating Hollywood at a young age, and finding strength in Jewish identity and community. The two discuss that advocacy doesn't have to be about conflict, but about just sharing your positive experiences with the world. She shares ho...

A Hollywood writer turned rabbi reveals the unbelievable true stories of Jewish survival history that they never taught in school.

Host Jonah Platt reunites with Rabbi Shmuel Lynn, his former University of Pennsylvania Maimonides Leadership Program teacher, to discuss Lynn’s path from screenwriting (Duke, NYU Film School, LA) to Orthodox Jewish education and leading young adults. Lynn describes growing up amid antisemitism in Palm Beach, discovering observant Jews in Hollywood, and being drawn to meaningful Jewish history through a Holocaust writing job. He explains his focus on college and post-college Jews through Olami in...

What happens when one of the world’s leading Holocaust scholars says today’s antisemitism feels frighteningly familiar?

In this vital episode Holocaust historian and former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt discusses the dangerous surge and normalization of antisemitism worldwide, citing the incidents in London and the October 8, 2023 Sydney Opera House rally. Lipstadt argues antisemitism now operates as a “horseshoe” uniting extremes at the far right and left. She uses the analogy of an upside-down pyramid  to illustrate the threat to Jews, democracy, and international security (including “utilitarian antisemitis...