Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

Jonah Platt // Jewish Identity, Culture, and Current Events

The World's #1 Ranked Jewish Podcast! BJJP is your home for deeply candid conversations that illuminate the vast, beautiful, and often unexplored tapestry of Jewish identity, with notable Jews and allies alike. Hosted by award-winning advocate and actor Jonah Platt, a trusted expert in contemporary Jewish culture, identity, and current events, 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/join

  1. 19h ago

    Israel's Next Election: What Happens if Bibi Wins, What Happens If He Loses? | Journalist Nadav Eyal (Replay)

    Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal joins Jonah to break down the upcoming Israeli elections and the fight for Benjamin Netanyahu's political future. Nadav lays out what a Netanyahu win would really signal about Israeli society, who is quietly considering leaving the country, and why the opposition still hasn't found the candidate to beat him. Then the flip side: what actually happens if Netanyahu loses. Nadav explains the plea deal calculation working against the clock, the education crisis nobody outside Israel is talking about, and what a new government's first moves would mean for Jews in the diaspora. If you want to go deeper beyond the podcast, join the Being Jewish Kehillah – our subscriber community that gives you access to exclusive bonus content, merch discounts, live office hours with Jonah, special community events, and more. Join the Kehillah today at http://beingjewishpodcast.com/join-kehillah  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.com Watch Being Jewish on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter: bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter For Sponsorships, please email: partnerships@jonahplatt.com Merchandise https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch Follow Jonah on: Instagram - @JonahPlatt X - @JonahPlatt Follow Being Jewish on: Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast TikTok - @BeingJewish CREDITS Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild,  Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, 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

    Israel's Next Election: What Happens if Bibi Wins, What Happens If He Loses? | Journalist Nadav Eyal (Replay)
  2. 3d ago ·  Video

    BEST OF: Journalists, ft. Van Jones, Dana Bash, Jake Tapper, Erin Molan, and Bernard-Henri Lévy 

    What does it actually cost to tell the truth about Jews and Israel? Erin Molan discusses Israel's controversial decision to withhold some of the most horrific October 7th footage, why a 30-second radio soundbite can shape public opinion more than a protest, and the letter from an Australian miner that changed how she measures impact. Bernard-Henri Lévy draws on his reporting from Rwanda and Darfur to explain what genocide actually looks like, why he believes Hamas must be defeated militarily, and why he sees anti-Zionism as inseparable from the question of Israel’s existence. Van Jones talks about the connection between the Jewish and Black communities, how the Palestinian cause has been hijacked by a bunch of Nazis, and the uncomfortable truth about who paid the price for the civil rights movement. Dana Bash takes us inside the newsroom on October 7th, tells us about the harassment her and her family experienced, and what it means to find community with fellow Jewish journalists under pressure. Jake Tapper opens up about protesters outside his home and why antisemitism on the right deserves just as much scrutiny as antisemitism on the left. Five journalists. Five perspectives. One very delicate and nuanced topic. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: 1:18 - Erin Molan 8:04 - Bernard-Henri Lévy 15:02 - Van Jones 27:09 - Dana Bash 39:05 - Jake Tapper   Watch Erin Molan’s Full Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4zAynWP2II  Watch Bernard-Henri Lévy’s Full Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4wcg28NEwQ  Watch Van Jones’s Full Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR0qUIUGAKM  Watch Dana Bash’s Full Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo5fFkBni-s  Watch Jake Tapper’s Full Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtHLHgmfXt0  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.com Watch Being Jewish on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter: bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter For Sponsorships, please email: partnerships@jonahplatt.com Merchandise https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch Follow Jonah on: Instagram - @JonahPlatt X - @JonahPlatt Follow Being Jewish on: Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast TikTok - @BeingJewish CREDITS Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild, Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, 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

    BEST OF: Journalists, ft. Van Jones, Dana Bash, Jake Tapper, Erin Molan, and Bernard-Henri Lévy 
  3. Sep 17 ·  Video

    Going “Full Jew” (Replay)

    What does it mean to go “Full Jew?” In this inspiring monologue, Jonah talks about what he’s learned from his engagement with thousands of Jews online, in Israel, and across the U.S. He shares three major revelations about Jewish identity, anxiety, and the hesitation many feel about leaning into their Jewishness aka “Going Full Jew.” If you’ve wanted to be more proud of your Judaism and don’t know how to express it, this monologue is for you. Watch the original monologue on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA3JDpww9VU 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.com Watch Being Jewish on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter: bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter For Sponsorships, please email: partnerships@jonahplatt.com Merchandise https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch Follow Jonah on: Instagram - @JonahPlatt X - @JonahPlatt Follow Being Jewish on: Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast TikTok - @BeingJewish CREDITS Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild,  Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Interns: 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

    Going “Full Jew” (Replay)
  4. Sep 15

    BEST OF: Israelis, featuring Noa Tishby, Einat Wilf, President Isaac Herzog, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum and Tomer Peretz

    What do Israelis know about Israel that the rest of us don’t? Noa Tishby discusses how she noticed the rise of antisemitism and anti-Zionism long before October 7th, why she focuses on reaching moderates, and shares a powerful story of a Pro-Palestine college student who changed her views on Israel after reading Noa’s book. Einat Wilf describes what it means to belong to the Israeli collective, her hopes for universal civic service, and why arguing over what makes Israel “Jewish” is itself Jewish tradition. Fleur Hassan-Nahoum breaks down the debate in Israel about ultra-Orthodox integration into work and service, how Jerusalem is the hub for building bridges between Jews and Arabs, and why Israelis don’t understand antisemitism the way diaspora Jews do.  Tomer Peretz shares his firsthand experiences serving in the IDF, the shocking things he saw while volunteering with Zaka after the Nova massacre, and why he gave up bridge building with people who believe Israel shouldn’t exist.  Finally, President Isaac Herzog explains Israel’s high-stakes elections, how he’s handling the rising antisemitism worldwide, and his goal to strengthen the Israeli-diaspora ties. Five Israelis. One homeland. When Israelis talk about Israel, maybe we oughta be quiet and listen.  MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: 1:07 - Noa Tishby 9:03 - Einat Wilf 19:30 - Fleur Hassan-Nahoum 26:29 - Tomer Perez 34:33 - President Isaac Herzog Watch Noa Tishby’s Full Episode:  https://youtu.be/HJm4X-5Y7Gg?si=N8z3e_BRLxjpxSJD  Watch Einat Wilf’s Full Episode:  https://youtu.be/tsHsAJtGAr8?si=DeDorfx3EmVqPPce  Watch Fleur Hassan-Nahoum’s Full Episode: https://youtu.be/G_AB3aAEEyI?si=UR0Vqf_P6bIOl921  Watch Tomer Peretz’s Full Episode:   https://youtu.be/SiX2JFxgCKs?si=n1J3F4bIl5rgnt9Y  Watch President Isaac Herzog’s Full Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQq0H6Aal4Q   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.com Watch Being Jewish on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter: bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter For Sponsorships, please email: partnerships@jonahplatt.com Merchandise https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch Follow Jonah on: Instagram - @JonahPlatt X - @JonahPlatt Follow Being Jewish on: Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast TikTok - @BeingJewish CREDITS Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild,  Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, 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

    BEST OF: Israelis, featuring Noa Tishby, Einat Wilf, President Isaac Herzog, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum and Tomer Peretz
  5. Sep 10

    Why Some Liberal Jews Become Antizionists (Replay)

    Why are some young Jews turning against Israel? In this compassionate monologue, Jonah dives into one of the most misunderstood and emotionally charged dynamics in modern Jewish life: the rise of young and progressive Jews who identify as Anti-Zionist.  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.com Watch Being Jewish on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter: bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter For Sponsorships, please email: partnerships@jonahplatt.com Merchandise https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch Follow Jonah on: Instagram - @JonahPlatt X - @JonahPlatt Follow Being Jewish on: Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast TikTok - @BeingJewish CREDITS Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild,  Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Interns: 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 Using the unexpected metaphor of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” Jonah unpacks how community, identity, education, and social pressure have shaped a generation of American and Diasporic Jews who feel more at home in progressive echo chambers than in traditional Jewish spaces. He argues that the disconnect has led to misunderstandings about Israel that cause harm, whether they know it or not.  If you’ve ever felt frustrated about the Jewish response to Israel today, this monologue is for you.  Watch the original monologue on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XooaQ4oUdQY

    Why Some Liberal Jews Become Antizionists (Replay)
  6. Sep 8

    BEST OF: Business, ft. Sheryl Sandberg, Daniel Lubetzky, Harley Finkelstein, and Mark Wilf

    How do you build a billion-dollar business without sacrificing your values? Mark Wilf shares how his family turned a dream of owning an NFL team into a multibillion-dollar franchise, why he feels a responsibility to foster a community of acceptance through the Minnesota Vikings, and how his family’s Holocaust survival story shaped his commitment to giving back. Sheryl Sandberg reflects on her journey from Meta to Google, the lessons she learned that shaped her leadership, and how October 7th transformed her relationship with her own Jewish identity and pride.  Harley Finkelstein explains how he went from a T-shirt business entrepreneur to President of Shopify, why he followed through with his promise of building a Chabad building at his alma mater, and why having a platform comes with responsibility.  Daniel Lubetzky reveals how his father’s Holocaust story inspired a lifelong commitment to kindness and bridge-building, how that philosophy became the foundation of KIND and PeaceWorks, and why he uses business to bring people together. Four Jewish business leaders. Four extraordinary journeys. Because the most meaningful measure of success isn’t what you build, it’s what you do with it. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: 00:22 - Mark Wilf On Owning the Minnesota Vikings with Jewish Values. 11:37 - Sheryl Sandberg on her book Lean In and her identity in the workplace.  25:25 - Harley Finkelstein on being a loud and proud Jewish entrepreneur and leading Shopify to the next frontier.  41:56 - Daniel Lubetzky on building bridges and leading with kindness.  Watch Mark Wilf’s full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0knLtjPcCY  Watch Sheryl Sandberg’s full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUez5CSRuvY Watch Harley Finkelstein’s full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q0JInijtgY  Watch Daniel Lubetzky’s full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFPYj8ppMlU  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.com Watch Being Jewish on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter: bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter For Sponsorships, please email: partnerships@jonahplatt.com Merchandise https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch Follow Jonah on: Instagram - @JonahPlatt X - @JonahPlatt Follow Being Jewish on: Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast TikTok - @BeingJewish CREDITS Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild,  Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE,

    BEST OF: Business, ft. Sheryl Sandberg, Daniel Lubetzky, Harley Finkelstein, and Mark Wilf
  7. Sep 3 ·  Video

    Should Jews Proselytize? (Replay)

    Should Jews start recruiting? In this insightful monologue, Jonah Platt asks why Jews don’t proselytize, and whether that long-standing tradition still benefits the Jewish people today. Judaism offers a rich framework of ritual, purpose, and community, and yet does almost nothing to reach the millions of spiritually searching people who might genuinely thrive within it. Meanwhile, the Jewish population remains remarkably small, and the non-Orthodox community continues to shrink.  Jonah makes the case that Jewish survival in the 21st century requires us to challenge one of our most deeply ingrained assumptions: that Jews should wait for potential converts to find us, rather than actively inviting them in. This isn't about cheapening Judaism. It's about asking whether our silence is a strategy, or just an outdated tradition. If you’ve ever wondered why Judaism isn’t widespread, this monologue is for you. Watch the original monologue on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUr4WPW0wYQ 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.com Watch Being Jewish on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter: bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter For Sponsorships, please email: partnerships@jonahplatt.com Merchandise https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch Follow Jonah on: Instagram - @JonahPlatt X - @JonahPlatt Follow Being Jewish on: Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast TikTok - @BeingJewish CREDITS Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild,  Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Interns: 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

    Should Jews Proselytize? (Replay)
  8. Sep 1

    LIVE From Atlanta: Excerpts from a Concert-sation with Yours Truly!

    In this special live episode of Being Jewish, Jonah takes the show on the road to Atlanta for a one-night-only “Concert-Sation” with Neranenah Executive Director and pianist Joe Alterman at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. Blending conversation with live music, Jonah performs a medley of music including a mashup of songs from Broadway, Jonah’s original never-before-heard song “A Tear in the Sky” from his musical adaptation of Lois Lowry’s The Giver, and more! Jonah discusses the Jewishness of Broadway, how Camp Ramah shaped his Jewish identity and life-long friendships, and becoming more politically active on social media after the 2021 Israel-Gaza violence. He also describes his 2023 Israel trip with the Tel Aviv Institute led by Hen Mazzig in 2023, and his decision to shift his focus from acting toward Jewish advocacy.  This episode has music, laughter, and a deeply personal look at what it means to live your Jewish values out loud. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: DANCING THROUGH LIFE/AS LONG AS YOUR MINE 04:25 - 9:00 Jonah sings Fiyero’s songs, “Dancing Through Life”  & “As Long As Your Mine” from the Broadway musical, Wicked. He played the character on Broadway in 2015.  ADHD AS AN ADULT  13:52 - 15:05 Jonah gets candid about the challenge and the blessing of receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. TEAR IN THE SKY 20:16 - 23:59 Jonah sings a now cut song from the musical he is developing with Andrew Resnick.  HALLELUJAH 46:49 - 50:10  Jonah finishes the evening with the Leonard Cohen classic, “Hallelujah”. More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish: Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah. www.beingjewishpodcast.com/join-kehillah To contact us & all things BJJP: www.BeingJewishPodcast.com Watch Being Jewish on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter: bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter For Sponsorships, please email: partnerships@jonahplatt.com Merchandise: https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch Follow Jonah on: Instagram - @JonahPlatt X - @JonahPlatt Follow Being Jewish on: Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast TikTok - @BeingJewish CREDITS Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild,  Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, 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, Jacob Ross, John Jurko, Shot By: Jacob Ross, John Jurko, Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt Special Thanks: Joe Alterman, The Marcus Foundation, Good Foot Productions, Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, Raychel Robbins, Tali Benjamin

    LIVE From Atlanta: Excerpts from a Concert-sation with Yours Truly!

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About

The World's #1 Ranked Jewish Podcast! BJJP is your home for deeply candid conversations that illuminate the vast, beautiful, and often unexplored tapestry of Jewish identity, with notable Jews and allies alike. Hosted by award-winning advocate and actor Jonah Platt, a trusted expert in contemporary Jewish culture, identity, and current events, 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/join