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Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

By: Jonah Platt // Jewish Identity Culture and Current Events
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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. https://beingjewishpodcast.com/joinJonah Platt Judaism Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • The Future of British Jewry with Baroness Luciana Berger, Plus Special Guest Nadav Eyal!

    The Future of British Jewry with Baroness Luciana Berger, Plus Special Guest Nadav Eyal!
    Jul 14 2026
    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 – Andy Burnham as the next PMBaroness Luciana Berger says her hopes and worries for an Andy Burnham succession as the representative of the Labour party in the next election.Burnham Set To Be Next PM as 322 Labour MPs Back Him in First Nomination Tally00:48:06 – Antisemitic Attacks in BritainBaroness Luciana Berger describes all of the antisemitic terror attacks since October 7th, including Heaton Park Synagogue, Golders Green, the firebombing of Jewish ambulances in London, and convictions of Brits spying for Iran.The Rise of Antisemitism in the U.K.00:53:25 – The Beauty of the British Jewish CommunityBaroness Luciana Berger tells us the close-knit and vibrant Jewish community in Britain, how enrollment in Jewish day schools has gone up, and their positive contributions to society. More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish:Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.To contact us & all things BJJP:www.BeingJewishPodcast.comWatch Being Jewish on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcastSubscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletterFor Sponsorships, please email:partnerships@jonahplatt.comMerchandisehttps://beingjewishpodcast.com/merchFollow Jonah on:Instagram - @JonahPlattX - @JonahPlattFollow Being Jewish on:Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcastTikTok - @BeingJewishLearn more about Baroness Luciana Berger:Luciana Berger’s InstagramLuciana Berger’s XLuciana Berger - Jewish Leadership CounselCREDITS:Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Sasha Fiora, Production Intern: Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Special Episode! President of Israel Isaac Herzog, plus Jonah Answers Your Questions LIVE

    Special Episode! President of Israel Isaac Herzog, plus Jonah Answers Your Questions LIVE
    Jul 7 2026
    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, JFNA partner on $66.7 million plan to boost Jewish day schools00:16:36 – Voice of the People InitiativePresident Herzog tells us about his Voice of the People initiative, which aims to engage a diverse range of Jewish voices from 6 continents, working together to collectively identify, discuss and creatively address the most pressing immediate and long term challenges affecting the Jewish people.Voice of the People Initiative00:24:23 – War Front Lebanon and GazaPresident Herzog talks about the new Israel-Lebanon agreement, the challenges Iran poses to unity in the Middle East, and how the disarmament of Hezbollah and Hamas are essential for lasting peace.Landmark Israel-Lebanon Agreement Intersects the U.S.-Iran Conflict00:34:45 – The Past, Present, and Future of President Herzog in his Current RolePresident Herzog reflects on the first 5 years of his presidency, what his current priorities are, and his goals for the rest of his term.More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish:Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.To contact us & all things BJJP:www.BeingJewishPodcast.comWatch Being Jewish on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcastSubscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletterFor Sponsorships, please email:partnerships@jonahplatt.comMerchandisehttps://beingjewishpodcast.com/merchFollow Jonah on:Instagram - @JonahPlattX - @JonahPlattFollow Being Jewish on:Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcastTikTok - @BeingJewishLearn more about President Isaac Herzog:President Herzog’s InstagramPresident Herzog’s X AccountOffice of President of Israel X AccountWritten and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Sasha Fiora, Production Intern: Emma Webb,Tatum Rosenblatt, Eden Waldman, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • ON LOCATION! Jonah visits Washington D.C.'s Abrahamic House with interfaith activist Mohammed Al Samawi

    ON LOCATION! Jonah visits Washington D.C.'s Abrahamic House with interfaith activist Mohammed Al Samawi
    Jul 1 2026
    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.How Facebook friends saved one man from execution00:42:45 — Why Mohammed Created Abrahamic House in Washington, D.C.Mohammed explains how loneliness as a refugee, his love of friendship, and the model of Friends inspired a real-life interfaith home.00:51:00 — How to Meet Muslims Beyond Fear and StereotypesMohammed urges listeners to investigate Islam the way he investigated Judaism: by meeting people, asking human questions, and resisting extremist narratives.More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish:Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.To contact us & all things BJJP:www.BeingJewishPodcast.comWatch Being Jewish on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcastSubscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletterFor Sponsorships, please email:partnerships@jonahplatt.comMerchandisehttps://beingjewishpodcast.com/merchFollow Jonah on:Instagram - @JonahPlattX - @JonahPlattFollow Being Jewish on:Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcastTikTok - @BeingJewishLearn more about Mohammed Al Samawi:Mohammed Al Samawi - Abrahamic HouseThe Fox Hunt: A Memoir of Yemen and My Odyssey to America – A True Story of Courage and Escape Through Social MediaMohammed Al Samawi InstagramWritten and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Sasha Fiora, Production Intern: Emma Webb,Tatum Rosenblatt, Eden Waldman, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt
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    1 hr and 2 mins
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