My Most Important Monologue, Part 3 of 3 (The Jeremiah Effect) and Bishop Michael J. Fisher
Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
A Father's Holocaust Story Shapes Allyship
Bishop Fisher recounts his father's WWII liberation of Dachau and how it formed his bond with Jews.
In this compelling episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah speaks with Bishop Michael J. Fisher, a prominent Los Angeles faith leader and longtime advocate for Black–Jewish solidarity. The discussion explores Bishop Fisher’s personal journey, deeply influenced by his father, Reverend W. Jerome Fisher, a World War II medic who helped liberate Jews from the Dachau concentration camp. Jonah and Bishop Fisher dig deeply into the real actions Fisher is doing to build bonds and bridges between the black and Jewish communities, and their shared perspective on what advocacy truly means.
Bishop Fisher reflects on building interfaith relationships with leaders such as Rabbi Stewart Vogel and Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, and on the shared spiritual foundations of Judaism and Christianity, including the meaning of Zion. The discussion also addresses rising antisemitism, the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks, and the responsibility of moral leadership in moments of crisis.
The episode highlights initiatives like the Freedom Seder and the From Compton to Jerusalem trip, celebrating Israel’s diversity and the Ethiopian Jewish community, while offering a hopeful vision of unity grounded in building relationships, and discovering truth.
TOPICS INCLUDE:
- Bishop Michael J. Fisher on growing up in Compton under the influence of his father, Reverend W. Jerome Fisher
- His church, The Greater Zion Church Family
- A firsthand family connection to the Holocaust through World War II liberation efforts
- The spiritual and historical meaning of Zion in Black Christianity and Judaism
- Building Black–Jewish alliances with Rabbi Stewart Vogel and Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback
- The examples of people like Van Jones, Amanda Berman, and Robert Stearns in interfaith bridge-building
- How the Freedom Seder creates shared Jewish and Black communal space
- Understanding antisemitism vs. anti-Zionism after the October 7 Hamas attacks
- Why Israel’s diversity challenges apartheid narratives
- Lessons from the From Compton to Jerusalem leadership trip to Israel
- Experiencing the Sigd holiday with the Ethiopian Jewish community (Beyte Israel)
- Advocacy vs. performative allyship in Black and Jewish communities
- Why Black–Jewish unity remains essential for social justice in America
Mentioned In the Episode:
Part 1:The ONLY 3 Facts You Need to Know About Israel, Palestine, and the Jews
Part 2: The ONLY 3 Facts You Need to Know About Israel, Palestine, and the Jews
Part 3: The ONLY 3 Facts You Need to Know About Israel, Palestine, and the Jews
Jonah’s (shoes) JP x Air Maccabees (18% off with the code JP18)
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Black leaders journey from their hip-hop home to the Holy Land — and find common ground
What Even IS Sigd? A Short Explainer
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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Nayman, 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
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