Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

Bishop Michael J. Fisher, a Los Angeles faith leader known for Black–Jewish solidarity work, reflects on his Compton roots and a family Holocaust connection. He discusses building bridges through shared rituals like the Freedom Seder, leadership trips to Israel, confronting rising antisemitism, and practical allyship rooted in relationships and public advocacy.

In this essential episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah speaks with Israeli public intellectual, former Knesset member, and political strategist Dr. Einat Wilf about Israel’s political future in the wake of October 7th. Wilf argues that Israel has reached a historic inflection point — one that requires shedding what she calls a lingering “diaspora consciousness” and fully embracing permanent, sovereign thinking.Drawing on decades of scholarship and public service, Wilf challenges many of the assumptions that have shaped Israeli politics and peace efforts. She explains why the conflict cannot be resolved through ambiguity or process alone, why ideology — not borders — has been the central obstacle to peace, and why international frameworks have repeatedly failed to reckon with Jewish self-determination. From critiques of institutions like UNRWA to hard questions about national service, governance, and borders, Wilf calls for a renewed Israeli social contract rooted in responsibility, realism, and permanence.This episode is a rigorous exploration of sovereignty, accountability, and political maturity, offering listeners a clear vision of what it would mean for Israel and the Jewish people to stop thinking provisionally, and start acting like a nation that fully believes it is here to stay.Topics include:Understanding Israel's Political SystemFounding the Oz PartyArab ZionismClarifying BordersStrengthening the KnessetService to the State and Belonging in IsraelFrom Diaspora Consciousness to Sovereign ConductSeparation of Shul and StateWorthy Leadership and Women in PoliticsThe Oz Party's Vision and StrategyAppealing to a Diverse AudienceUNRWA and Palestinian Relationship and LegacyThank you to this episode’s sponsor  SAPIR.https://sapirjournal.org/BeingJewishMentioned in this Episode:Part 1:The ONLY 3 Facts You Need to Know About Israel, Palestine, and the JewsPart 2: The ONLY 3 Facts You Need to Know About Israel, Palestine, and the JewsPart 3: The ONLY 3 Facts You Need to Know About Israel, Palestine, and the JewsEinat Wilf InstagramEinat Wilf XInternational Authors Call For Ban of Israeli AuthorsA Call For Israeli Athletes to be BannedHas Zionism Become a Bad WordThe Jewish EnemyOrigins of the Medieval Myth about the Jewish Drinking the Blood of ChildrenMovement Against AntizionismAssociated Press’s Coverage of IsraelWhy Israel’s Conflicts are Covered So Much More Than Other CountriesShaul Kelner’s Article On Antizionism as a Mass Movement in The U.S. Shaul KelnerEarly 20th Century Soviet Anti ZionismJewish UCLA Student Blocked By ProtestersAmnesty International Suspends Its Israeli BranchUS Coffee House Refuses to Serve JewsWhy I Founded the Oz PartyEretz Israel How do Israeli Politics Work?Yesh AtidThe Work of the KnessetDr. Einat Wilf: 'We lied to ourselves about the Palestinians'Peace in the Middle East? The first thing that needs to happen is the destruction of the ideology at the heart of Palestinian identity.5 Facts About the Jewish People's Ancestral Connection to the Land of IsraelUNRWA Exposed, Examining the Agency’s Mission and FailuresMinisters reportedly decide to keep Rafah Crossing shut, bucking US pressure amid anger over Board of PeaceSeparation of Shul and StateIn Conversation with Einat Wilf on a New Israeli VisionWho Is the Wicked Son?Who Are the Haredim?Statement on the Death of Yahya SinwarOnly 7% of Israeli Arabs define themselves as 'Palestinian'‘We’d rather die than enlist’: Haredi Jews vow to defy conscriptionThe Judicial Overhaul Post October 7The State of Israel as a Jewish State'Haredi schools need to meet minimum standards'13 Political Parties and Democracy: The Israeli CaseCampaign Financing in IsraelEinat Wilf: ‘Jews Are Never Allowed To Win, and Arabs Are Never Allowed to Lose’We Should All Be Zionists PodcastEinat Wilf Books (Amazon)Israel: A Democracy Like No Other in the Middle EastThe United Nations Korean Reconstruction AgencyO-zionist to Allow People to Mobilize Israeli Friends The Collapse of the Soviet Union The Iranian Revolution, 40 Years On: Oppression at Home, Aggression Abroad--Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcastSubscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletterFor Sponsorships, please email:jonahplattinfo@gmail.comTo contact us & all things BJJP:www.BeingJewishPodcast.comFollow Jonah on:Instagram - @JonahPlattX - @JonahPlattFollow Being Jewish on:Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcastTikTok - @BeingJewishWritten 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

In a captivating discussion, Howie Mandel, the beloved comedian and host of America's Got Talent, delves into his Jewish upbringing and influences that shaped his identity. He reflects on his career, blending humor with deeper themes like the resurgence of antisemitism and the duties that come with being part of a 'chosen people.' Howie candidly shares his views on tzedakah, Jewish visibility in Hollywood, and the complexities of representing Israel today, making for a thoughtful yet entertaining conversation.

Jay Sanderson, a longtime Jewish communal leader and current president of American Jewish University, shares his harrowing childhood marked by antisemitism, including a near-fatal incident. He discusses his formative summer in Israel and a pivotal meeting with David Ben-Gurion that inspired his leadership journey. Sanderson critiques the reactive nature of Jewish institutions and introduces the 2050 Institute to ensure a proactive approach to the Jewish future. He outlines ambitious plans to modernize rabbinic education and invites younger leaders to reshape Jewish communities.

In one of the most powerful and singular conversations ever featured on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah sits down with Eli Sharabi, a survivor of 491 days in Hamas captivity. Eli joins Jonah for a two-part conversation that moves from public testimony to deeply personal reflection. The episode opens with a live, onstage discussion at a Magen David Adom gala in Miami, honoring Eli and tracing his journey from Kibbutz Be’eri to captivity and eventual freedom. It then shifts to an intimate studio conversation in Los Angeles, where Eli speaks with remarkable clarity, courage, and humanity about survival, resilience, and the inner discipline that sustained him through unimaginable psychological and physical torment. Together, Jonah and Eli explore the writing of Eli’s book Hostage, the healing power of telling his story, and the global impact of his speech at the United Nations. With profound honesty, Eli reflects on the loss of his wife Lianne, his daughters Noiya and Yahel, and his brother Yossi, and shares his ongoing mission to share his story as a testimony against terrorism, confront disinformation, and raise awareness about the truth of what happened to Hamas captives.Topics discussed include:Eli takes us back to October 7th, sharing what he remembers from the day his life changed foreverThe unimaginable loss of Eli’s family, and how he carries their memory with himHonoring the courage and ultimate sacrifices of Amit Mann and Avia Hetzroni from Kibbutz Be’eriWhat inspired Eli to write Hostage and how putting words on the page became part of his healingThe reality of what food looked like in captivity, and what deprivation teaches you about survivalHow Eli became a mentor and source of strength for Alon Ohel while they were held togetherEli reflects on meeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer The emotional impact of Itamar Ben Gvir’s comments Holding onto tradition, faith, and Shabbat rituals under inhumane conditionsInside Hamas’ psychological warfare, and how Eli resisted being brokenRebuilding life after captivity, looking ahead, and Eli’s new mission of truth-telling and advocacySupport the podcast by subscribing to the Kehillah. Thank you to this episodes sponsors.Americans for Ben-Gurion UniversitySAPIRLinks to items mentioned in the episode:Eli Sharabi Instagram“Hostage” by Eli SharabiMagen David Adom I Spent 491 Days as a Hostage of Hamas. This Is My StoryBattle of Kibbutz Be’eri2025 Magen David Adom Miami Gala: From Darkness to LightEli Sharabi’s United Nations addressThe Heroes in the Battle of Sderot on Oct 7The Civilian Heroes of Ofakim On Oct 7. Nova Festival Massacre The Be’eri Printing Press: Israel’s Print ShopParamedic Amit Man, 22: Sacrificed herself to protect patients.Senior EMT Aviya Hezroni Killed by TerroristsHamas Steals Aid'I choose life:' Ex-hostage Alon Ohel recounts Hamas kidnappingJewish Diaspora celebrates release of living hostagesEli Sharabi’s Brother Sharon Never Stopped Fighting For HimEli’s first interview after his releaseEli Sharabi Meets with UK Prime Minister Keir StarmerEli Sharabi Visits Australian ParliamentYossi Sharabi Buried in Kibbutz Be’eriIsraeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir taunts Palestinian prisoners Jachnun (Rolled Yemenite Sabbath Bread)What Is the Kiddush?Bondi Beach terrorists ‘acted alone’ in attack on Hanukkah event — Australian policeFormer Hamas hostage Or Levy brings awareness of captives’ plight to South AfricaThe Shehecheyanu BlessingWatch Being Jewish on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcastSubscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletterFor Sponsorships, please email:jonahplattinfo@gmail.comTo contact us & all things BJJP:www.BeingJewishPodcast.comFollow Jonah on:Instagram - @JonahPlattX - @JonahPlattFollow Being Jewish on:Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcastTikTok - @BeingJewishWritten 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

Cindy Crawford, the iconic supermodel and businesswoman, shares her journey of interfaith life and advocacy. She discusses the challenges of raising children in a Jewish-Protestant home and the significance of Jewish traditions like Passover. Cindy opens up about her personal experiences with loss and how they shaped her views on faith. She emphasizes the urgent need to combat antisemitism and her commitment to preserving Holocaust survivor stories, showcasing her role as a passionate Jewish ally while reflecting on beauty standards and her legacy.

Dr. Jonathan Donath, founder of Daily Giving and a chiropractor, shares his journey of transforming grassroots giving with just a dollar a day. He discusses the inspiration from a rabbi's near-death experience that led to the platform's creation, highlighting the immense impact of many small donations. The conversation delves into building the giving 'muscle,' viral moments that helped grow Daily Giving, and the joy of community philanthropy. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of daily acts and the extraordinary effects of collective giving on both donors and recipients.

In a festive chat, culinary expert Jake Cohen, a bestselling author known for modern Jewish cooking, dives into the heart of Hanukkah. He shares his journey from a self-described 'High Holiday Jew' to a vibrant voice in food culture. Discover how hosting Shabbat dinners transformed his community connections and the importance of rituals like candle lighting. Jake discusses mixing Jewish identity with queer culture, hosting tips, and family legacy. It’s a conversation filled with warmth, laughter, and the joy of gathering around the table.

In a compelling discussion, philosopher and journalist Bernard-Henri Lévy dives deep into contemporary issues of Jewish solidarity and historic conflict. Drawing on his extensive experience as a war correspondent, he examines the implications of October 7th on Jewish identity and global perceptions. Lévy argues for the necessity of defeating Hamas militarily, critiques the rise of anti-Zionism, and emphasizes the fragility of democracy. He passionately defends Israel's unique resilience and the importance of confronting antisemitism, urging a return to moral clarity in public discourse.

Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern, a Harvard-affiliated clinical psychologist and trauma expert, shares her insights on traumatic invalidation in the Jewish community after the October 7th attacks. Growing up in Israel during conflict, she discusses how inherited trauma shapes mental health responses. Miri highlights her efforts with Parents for Peace to prevent radicalization and combat antisemitism, emphasizing the importance of validating Jewish trauma. Her work advocates for mental health support and education to nurture resilience and address community needs.