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Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Jonah Platt
Being Jewish with Jonah Platt is the hit weekly podcast that illuminates the vast, beautiful, and often unexplored tapestry of Jewish identity, through deeply honest and personal conversations with notable Jews and non-Jewish allies alike. Hosted by actor & advocate Jonah Platt, a trusted expert in contemporary Jewish culture, identity, and politics, Being Jewish seeks to engage, educate, and empower listeners to take full ownership of their identities and live as their proudest, most authentic selves.
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- Yesterday25 min
Is Uganda Safer for Jews Than America? Inside Africa's Abayudaya Community with Shoshana McKinney Kirya-Ziraba
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 kinds of converts we think of today. She explains their Sephardic influences, distinctive music, and persecution under Idi Amin when Judaism was outlawed, followed by a public resurgence. Shoshana also compares antisemitism in America with Uganda, and describes Uganda as a healing place where her Black and Jewish identities are normalized. She tells us how Ugandan Synagogues don’t need security the way most diaspora Synagogues do. Shoshanah explains Tikvah Chadasha Uganda’s programs: repairing wheelchairs, supporting children with disabilities and medical needs, providing glasses, building chicken farms to help women earn income, and selling challah covers and kippot on their website. She shares funding challenges and ways to support via tikvahuganda.org and on their YouTube channel.MENTIONS:1:30 – The History of the Abayudaya Community in UgandaShoshana discusses how the Abayudaya community came to be, and its roots and connection to Judaism. The Abayudaya and “All of Us”: Partners in Tikkun Olam3:35 – Music in the Abayudaya CommunityShoshana discusses music in the community, and its Grammy-nominated albumAbayudaya: Music from the Jewish People of Uganda3:55 – Judaism Outlawed in UgandaShoshanaa discusses the period in Uganda where Judaism was outlawed. https://jewishmuseum.org.uk/2019/12/04/the-abayudaya-the-jews-of-uganda/5:50 – Christian Ugandan Pro-Israel RallyShoshana tells us about the Christian pro-Israel rally that occured in Uganda after the October 7th attacks.https://www.jns.org/israel-news/african-christians-hold-prayer-rally-for-israel-in-uganda11:54 – Discussion about Tikvah Chadasha Uganda Shoshana describes the non-profit organization she formed in Uganda to support women, girls, and the Jewish community.https://jwa.org/blog/7-questions-shoshana-mckinney-kirya-ziraba16:21<strong style="backgr
- 1 weeks ago1h 15m
Jonah’s Plan for the Jewish Future & Music Mogul Scooter Braun
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 peace-seeking kids whose stories had to be told.Braun talks about turning Nova into an immersive exhibition in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and London, and why he sees that work as “hand-to-hand combat” in a world consumed by social media. He also tells stories of how seeing the exhibit has actually opened minds. He explains why he’d rather call Jew-hatred racism, and how words like “antisemitism” and “Zionist” are masks for racism. Braun also reflects on raising proud Jewish children by passing down his grandparents’ Holocaust survival stories. His work, both professional and personal, is guided by the Nova survivors’ message: “We will dance again.”MONOLOGUE: Jonah argues that we could be entering a Jewish Golden Age, and tells us why unity – or JEWnity – is how we’ll get there.MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:00:24:15 – Antisemitism as RacismScooter explains why he thinks “antisemitism” can alienate Jews from other minority experiences, and why calling Jew-hatred “racism” creates more common ground.00:28:45 – Speaking Up After October 7Scooter opens up about feeling like the “wrong person” to speak publicly, then realizing that too few people with platforms were standing up for the Nova victims.https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-89531800:36:30 – The Nova ExhibitScooter describes using business meetings to bring artists and executives through the Nova Music Festival Exhibition, where figures like Ryan Tedder, Usher, and Jermaine Dupri were deeply moved.Nova Exhibition00:43:15 – Palestinians and Israelis Finding Common Ground at NovaScooter recalls private events with Palestinian and pro-Palestinian visitors, including a Palestinian friend in a keffiyeh being embraced by an Israeli inside the exhibit.Israeli and Palestinian Men Embrace at the Nova Exhibit00:51:15 – In-Person Conversations Change MindsScooter argues that online outrage cannot build understanding, and that real change happens through one-on-one conversations, friendships, and small tables.<a href="https://en.i
- 2 weeks ago1h 11m
The Future of British Jewry with Baroness Luciana Berger, Plus Special Guest Nadav Eyal!
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 Rights Commission findings that revealed an immense imbalance of racially targeted attacks towards Jews versus other communities in the UK. She also recounts her own experience of threats, harassment, and political toxicity under Jeremy Corbyn, which led her to leave the Labour Party in 2019, and later returned to the party in 2023. She discusses the under-16 social media ban she championed, the far-right UK political Reform Party, and rising antisemitism in the UK after October 7, including attacks in Greater Manchester, Golders Green, and the arrest of spies for Iran. Baroness Berger also describes increased Jewish school security, and emphasizes the vibrancy of British Jewish life.MONOLOGUE: Israeli Journalist Nadav Eyal joins Jonah for a special bonus interview to break down the upcoming Israeli state elections, and what a Netanyahu win or loss would signal for Israel and the diaspora.MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:00:23:30 – PM Starmer Resignation FalloutBaroness Luciana Berger tells us where she was when Starmer suddenly resigned from his position of Prime Minister, and what prompted Starmer to step down.Starmer Quits as Labour Leader and Paves Way For Contest For New Prime Minister00:30:25 – Baroness Berger’s Political Origin StoryBaroness Luciana Berger walks through her journey from student politics to National politics in the Labour party, the challenges she faced while campaigning, and why she left the Labour party for years during a toxic era for the party.Parliamentary Career00:36:10 – Threats, Harassment, and Breaking PointBaroness Luciana Berger describes the harassment and threats to her physical safety she received as a Jewish representative.Labour's Luciana Berger Receives Death Threats Telling Her to 'Watch Her Back'00:41:20 EHRC Probe and Reform PlanBaroness Luciana Berger explains the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) 2020 investigation into antisemitism in the Labour party.Investigation into Antisemitism in the Labour Party Finds Unlawful Acts of Discrimination and Harassment00:44:22 – <strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 23, 29)
- 3 weeks ago1h 6m
Special Episode! President of Israel Isaac Herzog, plus Jonah Answers Your Questions LIVE
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 strengthening ties between Israelis and world Jewry has become one of his highest priorities. He lays out why he sees Israel as a frontline defender of the free world, and the role the Trump administration, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Ambassador Mike Huckabee have in reshaping Middle East diplomacy.President Herzog dives into Israel’s evolving diplomatic framework with Lebanon, the challenges of dismantling Hezbollah and Hamas – while insisting that Iran remains “the head of the snake,” and how his Voice of the People initiative can create positive change. He also shares his hopes for Israel’s 80th anniversary.MONOLOGUE: Jonah Phona is back! Jonah responds to listeners’ burning questions about the podcast, his favorite Jewish Broadway show, how to have constructive bridge-building conversations, and more!MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:00:01:49 – The Role of the President in Israeli PoliticsPresident Herzog breaks down his responsibilities as the President of Israel, primarily focusing on his role in unifying the Israeli body politics and nation.The institution of the Presidency00:03:43 – Haredi Draft DebatePresident Herzog explains the nuances of the newly passed Torah study bill granting exemption to Heredi Irealis from being drafted into the IDF.Contentious Basic Law on Torah study, aimed at shielding draft evaders, passes 1st reading00:10:14 – Elections and National StakesPresident Herzog tells us what he thinks the stakes of the upcoming Israeli elections are, and his role in making sure Israelis participate peacefully and respectfully. Trends and Key Developments Ahead of the 2026 Israeli Election00:14:13 – Diaspora and Jewish UnityPresident Herzog emphasizes the necessity of Jewish education in the Diaspora in order to maintain Israel’s vibrant democracy, and lauds the Jewish Federation’s new bill granting funds to Jewish day schools around the world.Israeli government, JF
- 4 weeks ago1h 2m
ON LOCATION! Jonah visits Washington D.C.'s Abrahamic House with interfaith activist Mohammed Al Samawi
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 describes growing up in Sanaa, where slogans like “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” were used to redirect anger away from corrupt leaders and toward Jews. As a teenager, he internalized violent antisemitic ideas, but learning English through movies, reading the Bible in secret, and asking forbidden questions began to unravel what he had been taught.The conversation follows Al Samawi, from reading Torah and messaging Israelis on Facebook to attending his first Muslim-Jewish conference. Later, as the Houthis and Al-Qaeda closed in, three Jewish friends and one Christian friend helped coordinate his evacuation from Yemen. Those experiences became the foundation for Abrahamic House. After October 7, Al Samawi says the house became even more necessary: a place where grief did not have to become separation, and where hospitality could make room for truth.Ultimately, Mohammed’s story makes the case that interfaith work is not abstract idealism; it can be the difference between inherited hatred and real human connection.MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:00:01:22 — Inside Abrahamic House, Where Shabbat Meets RamadanMohammed shows Jonah the dining room where fellows host Shabbats, Ramadan celebrations, Eid gatherings, and family-style meals for the community.Abrahamic House00:08:15 — From Antisemitic Indoctrination to Questioning Jewish HateMohammed recalls the violent anti-Jewish ideas he absorbed as a teenager and how religious curiosity eventually pushed him to investigate for himself.The Against the Odds Escape of Mohammed Al Samawi | AJC00:23:30 — How Facebook Became a Window Past PropagandaMohammed explains how social media helped him meet Jews and Israelis, ask forbidden questions, and discover shared values outside state-controlled narratives.Mohammed Al Samawi: How Interfaith Activism Became, and Saved, His Life00:34:00 — The 13 Days Hiding from Houthis and Al-QaedaMohammed describes hiding in Aden with no safe way out, praying for help, and posting on Facebook in hopes someone could evacuate him.<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/how-facebook-friends-saved-one-man-from-execution-20180416-p4z9ze.html" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(2
- Jun 23, 202654 min
YouTube’s Most Popular (Hasidic!) Rabbi Manis Friedman & How Engaged a Jew are You?
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 follower in New Guinea who walked eight hours for internet access and later built a Torah center, Friedman shows how a clear sense of purpose can cross cultures and transform lives.Friedman reframes Torah not as a list of commandments, but as God explaining Himself and inviting humanity into a relationship. For him, that is Chabad’s mission: making God knowable so that love can be real. He explains Shabbat as resting alongside God, modesty as protecting intimacy from the distraction of appearances, and ordinary work as service when it improves the world. When Jonah asks how a parent should respond to a child who says, “I didn’t ask to be born,” Friedman turns the question into the episode’s central claim: stop thinking of yourself as needy. You are needed. His message is bracing but hopeful: meaning begins when life stops being about what we can get and becomes about what we are here to give. THIS WEEK’S MONOLOGUE: Are you a “bad Jew”—or simply disengaged? Jonah replaces guilt with a sharper test: where are your time and energy actually going?MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:00:01:43 — Why Judaism Says Creation Has a Purpose and DirectionRabbi Manis Friedman explains tikkun olam, humanity’s role in perfecting creation, and why the question of purpose has become urgently modern.What Is Tikkun Olam? - Chabad.org00:16:10 — The Man Who Walked Eight Hours to Learn TorahFriedman shares how a follower in New Guinea walked eight hours to access internet, then built a Torah center for villagers arriving by canoe.00:22:45 — The Torah Is God Explaining Why He Needs UsFriedman reframes the Torah and Ten Commandments as God revealing Himself and asking humanity to choose relationship rather than programmed obedience.The Ten Commandments | My Jewish Learning00:29:13 — How Chabad Makes God Knowable Through Torah and RelationshipsFriedman explains Chabad as the work of making God knowable, arguing that genuine love—of God or a spouse—depends on understanding.What Is Chabad?<span style="background-color: rgb(253
- Jun 16, 202654 min
Call Me Back x Being Jewish Crossover! Dan Senor predicts the Jewish Future, plus A New Kind of Aliyah
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.Senor discusses how the October 7 attacks reshaped Jewish engagement, the sense of political homelessness many moderate Jews have experienced, and the opportunities emerging from one of the most consequential moments in modern Jewish history. He also emphasizes the need for a Jewish Renaissance centered on expanding access to Jewish day schools, Jewish summer camps, Israel programs, and lifelong Jewish learning. Senor argues that investing in Jewish education and community infrastructure is essential for Jews to flourish.THIS WEEK’S MONOLOGUE: Jonah reflects on the importance of allies, why he'll sell tickets to future events in pairs, and why “ALLY-ah” may be just as important - if not more important - than aliyah right now. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:00:07:30 — How Call Me Back Became the World’s Number One Israel PodcastDan on building the top Israel podcast organically after October 7th.Call me Back Podcast - with Dan Senor - YouTube00:10:45 — “Israel Was at War. The Diaspora Was Under Attack.”Dan quotes Rabbi Ingber's defining line on October 7th: Israel was at war, but the diaspora had no army to fight back.The toll of the Israel-Hamas War on diaspora Jews00:15:09 — Would Dan Interview Former Allies Who’ve Gone to a “Dark Place”?Dan considers hosting antisemitic voices to understand, not challenge, their logic.00:27:33 — Why “Call Me Back” Audience Skews Left of Dan SenorThe “October 8th Jew” phenomenon and left-of-center Jews finding community.A look at the October 8th Jews | The Jerusalem Post00:31:42 — The Jewish Future Is Too Expensive. Here’s How to Fix It.Dan on day schools, affordability gaps, and the case for a Jewish renaissance.Why Jewish Living Feels So Expensive These Days | Kosher Money00:43:37 — Where Do Adult Jews Without Kids Find Jewish Community?Dan on Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the Hartman Institute, and adult entry points to Jewish life.<a href="https://religionnews.com/2026/04/29/rachel-goldberg-polin-on-her-jewish-faith-and-her-slain-son-hersh-goldberg-polin-spiritual-quest/" target="_blank" style="bac
- Jun 9, 20261h 13m
Does Mayim Bialik Feel Safe in Public? & The Collective Punishment Paradox
SUMMARYFrom 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 West Bank, and her identification with Israel as her homeland. Jonah and Mayim discuss personal experiences of being confronted online and in public. Such as being protested for being labeled a “Zionist,” and her experience with shifting attitudes at UCLA in the late 1990s/early 2000s. She also reflects on her directorial debut, As They Made Us, pressures in Hollywood such as lost sponsorships and exclusion from liberal spaces, and the courage required to remain visibly Jewish in public life. Thoughtful, honest, and often humorous, this episode offers a powerful exploration of identity, resilience, and what it means to live proudly as a Jew in the modern world.THIS WEEK’S MONOLOGUE: Jonah unpacks the paradox of two true statements, both seemingly made untrue by the other: Denying the connection of the Jewish people to Israel is bigotry. AND, conflating the Jewish people with Israel is also bigotry.MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:00:08:15 — Being a Public Jew in the Age of Social Media and Online ThreatsMayim on how social media exposed her to antisemitic threats long before October 7th.Mayim Bialik: Our safety is at risk we've never experienced before00:07:00 — Anti-Zionism on Campus: 30 Years of Hostility from Cincinnati to UCLAMayim traces three decades of campus anti-Zionism from UCLA swastikas to university protests.Jewish Faculty Members at UCLA Say Enough is Enough - File Legal Documents to Join a Federal Lawsuit to Stop Antisemitic Incidents on Campus00:32:15 — Liberal Zionism: The Strange IntersectionMayim on staying a committed Zionist while the Democratic Party distances itself.What does it mean to be a Liberal American Zionist?00:40:15 — Life in the West Bank: Armed Settlements, Checkpoints, and Human ComplexityMayim on her family's 50-year life on armed West Bank settlements.‘Jew-Free Zone’ – My Experience in the West Bank00:53:47 — Hollywood Post-October 7th: Sponsors Lost, Silence, and Jewish Self-SegregationMayim on losing podcast sponsors and Hollywood's silence after October 7th.I was betrayed by Hollywood for speaking out after October 7, says Will & Grace star Debra Messing01:05:24 — Baal Teshuva: From Reform Roots to Modern Orthodoxy, Divorce, and the Gaps in Jewish CommunityMayim traces her baal teshuva path from Reform childhood to Modern Orthodoxy.What Is a Baal Teshuvah?This Episode’s Partner:Start watching or listening to Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam at unpacked.bio/WJ <strong style="background-color: rgb(253, 252, 252); color: rgb(38, 23, 2
About Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
Being Jewish with Jonah Platt is the hit weekly podcast that illuminates the vast, beautiful, and often unexplored tapestry of Jewish identity, through deeply honest and personal conversations with notable Jews and non-Jewish allies alike. Hosted by actor & advocate Jonah Platt, a trusted expert in contemporary Jewish culture, identity, and politics, Being Jewish seeks to engage, educate, and empower listeners to take full ownership of their identities and live as their proudest, most authentic selves.
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