Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

Jenna Weissman Joselit, Professor of Judaic Studies and biographer of Mordecai M. Kaplan, brings scholarly insight and family warmth. She traces Kaplan’s immigrant roots, his shift from halakha to peoplehood, and his practical, sometimes controversial, reforms. The conversation highlights Kaplan’s evolving theology, cultural innovations like the bat mitzvah, and his lasting imprint on American Jewish life.

Bret Stephens, opinion columnist and editor who writes on politics and Jewish affairs, joins to tackle antisemitism, Israel, and the war with Iran. He discusses how Americans should respond to attacks at home. He explains why this conflict with Iran is different. He calls for stronger, more rigorous Israel studies and urges young Jews to engage with their heritage.

Adam Louis-Klein, writer, philosopher and anthropologist finishing a PhD and founder of the Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ), discusses defining and confronting anti-Zionism. He recounts his October 7th turning point and explains academic tools used to both enable and fight anti-Zionist claims. He outlines core libels, contrasts anti-Zionism with antisemitism, and describes practical tactics like meme warfare and online education.

Jonathan Sarna, Professor Emeritus of American Jewish History at Brandeis and author of American Judaism, joins to trace late 19th-century American antisemitism. He recounts exclusionary incidents like the Seligman affair and the rise of parallel Jewish institutions. Conversations cover shifts in Jewish identity, what ended that wave of prejudice, and the role of Israel and education in Jewish continuity.

Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh, a Persian-Jewish rabbi and activist in Los Angeles, offers a ground-level perspective on Iranians in LA and the diaspora. She recounts how protests began, describes cross-community solidarity and local demonstrations, critiques Western media portrayals, and reflects on the timing and consequences of recent strikes and theological meaning around Purim.

Justin Pines, host and producer for Jewish Insights at JBS, joins to reflect on Purim and Zahor. They explore remembering Amalek, how clarity and confusion shape responses to antisemitism, the role of youth and social media, and the tension between principled stands and communal safety. The conversation highlights Purim’s mix of grief, joy, communal mitzvot, and strategies for strengthening Jewish solidarity.

A sweeping five-part project tracing three thousand years of Zionism gets unpacked. They explore how ancient texts shaped Jewish peoplehood and the role of memory and ritual in exile. The conversation covers the clash of modernity and antisemitism that birthed political Zionism and the tumultuous transition to statehood and regional power.

Izabella Tabarovsky, scholar of Soviet anti-Zionism and author of Be a Refusenik, draws on personal history and research. She recounts Soviet tactics that erased Jewish life, the Refusenik movement’s secret education and Hebrew revival, and striking parallels between Soviet anti-Zionism and modern campus activism. Short, vivid stories illuminate survival, identity, and strategies for resistance.

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. Here is a link to Mijal's instragram post, discussed in the episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUEo6ezDnnQ/?igsh=MWs1c3J3ZzY4YnhzZQ== Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. ------------ 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

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. ------------ 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