People Jew Wanna Know People Jew Wanna Know

This episode features a fascinating interview with Professor Ada Taggar-Cohen who founded the only Jewish Studies program in Japan at Doshisha University in Kyoto. Margarita and Ada discuss being Jewish in Japan, her research, and her perspective on the Torah. The episode takes and interesting turn when Ada and Margarita discuss - Is what's written in the Torah unique to the Jews? Was Masada really heroic? What's the deal with the Messiah?



What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:55 Who is Professor Ada Taggar-Cohen?

05:51 How did Ada decide to move to Japan?

07:45 Ada's research - "we have to look at the Torah as an edited text"

09:21 The connection of Zionism to the Hebrew Bible

10:01 The Torah is rooted in the heritage of the Near East - what does this mean?

11:48 Comparison of Hittite texts to the Torah

15:01 On the evolution of Judaism - the ability to choose

15:58 On living in "Temple Times" when the Messiah comes - it's a matter of personal belief

17:19 "The Messiah will come, but not in my times"

19:03 On Holocaust survivors

19:50 Margarita's takes - Messianic Judaism? Modern interpretation of the Torah? What's what?

23:48 Margarita's takes - Heroes of the Holocaust, Masada, & do we have an obligation to fight back?

28:04 On assimilating in Japan as an Israeli person

30:00 The Japanese treat everyone as foreigners - doesn't matter if you are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, etc.

30:38 On the Jewish community in Japan - "there is no antisemitism in Japan"

32:10 The Japanese are pacifists - they have a hard time wrapping their mind around the Hamas/Israel war

33:09 The Japanese are fascinated with the Jewish people

34:03 What is it like teaching Japanese students Jewish Studies?

36:41 Ada's class on Jewish women - who is an inspiring Jewish woman? Guest Nomination

40:18 Closing Remarks
















---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/peoplejewwannaknow/support

You asked, we answered! Margarita brings on Kosha Dillz! Kosha Dillz is an Israeli-American rapper. While Kosha has been rapping since he was 17, he has gained immense popularity after October 7th. Kosha and Margarita discuss his music, his videos, and his experience of everything post October 7th.



Follow Kosha Dillz on Instagram and TikTok @koshadillz and check out his website koshadillzworld.com . His music is available on all platforms, and you can catch him on seasons 18-20 on MTV's Wild 'N Out!



What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:34 Who is Kosha Dillz aka Rami Even-Esh?

05:20 On Kosh's ability to grab the room no matter how big or small

07:54 What has Kosha learned from interviewing people on the streets about Israel?

11:40 How did Kosha Dillz come about? On the evolving persona, music & work post October 7th

18:04 What does Kosha Dillz want young Jewish people to hear? Mental health, exhaustion, disunity

21:37 On Kosha Dillz's last trip to Israel, performing for soldiers

24:57 On Operation Iron Swords being one of the longest in Israel's history and Kosh's apolitical philosophy

29:17 The volume of things Kosha Dillz sees & hasn't released

31:22 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination


---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/peoplejewwannaknow/support

This episode has been released ahead of schedule in light of major news happening on Columbia University's campus that involve Shai Davidai. Shai is a professor at Columbia Business School who went viral after October 7th when he criticized Columbia's lack of action to protect Jewish students. Currently, Shai has become a popular activist condemning the massive antisemitism on Columbia's campus and extending support and encouragement to Jewish students. Just days after this episode was recorded, Shai's ID was deactivated by Columbia, prohibiting him from entering Columbia's main campus.



In this episode, Shai discusses his current feelings on what's going on at Columbia, where he thinks things are headed, and offers words of encouragement to Jewish people.



For latest news on Shai Davidai, follow him on Instagram and X - @shaidavidai



What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:18 What's the latest for Shai Davidai?

08:11 On Jewish professors having different experiences at Columbia with antisemitism and protests

10:54 Is there any hope for antisemitic college campuses?

17:33 How is Shai's relationship with his students?

23:09 Shai's take as he studies human behavior - what is happening to people right now?

29:04 What's our obligation as Jewish people?

36:23 Words of encouragement for Jewish people

39:17 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination


---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/peoplejewwannaknow/support

Host Margarita Lyadova is back with a solo episode to reflect on her first 90 days of running People Jew Wanna Know Podcast! This episode is short and sweet, but gives you the inside scoop on Margarita's unique podcasting process, her best and worst feedback from the pod, and her most surprising takeaways from meeting various guests.



If you liked this solo episode and want more, send us a message on Instagram @peoplejewwannaknow to let us know, and please rate us 5 stars. :)


---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/peoplejewwannaknow/support

Surprise! Margarita has released her Tight 5 stand-up comedy set! If you hate dealing with annoying customer service and bossy flight attendants, you will love this.



Follow @peoplejewwannaknow and @marge_simpson on Instagram to stay up to date on all the things.


---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/peoplejewwannaknow/support

Viral TikToker, Talia Lichtstein, joins People Jew Wanna Know Podcast to discuss being a viral creator, antisemitism, Jewish camp, and much more. Talia has over 1.6 million TikTok followers. She gives us the good, the bad, and the ugly, sharing exactly what ensued when she condemned antisemitism and expressed support for Israel on October 7th. Expect the unexpected with this episode, but also expect to laugh; Talia has an AMAZING sense of humor.



Follow Talia on TikTok and Instagram @talialichtstein and check out her podcast, Basic Training, wherever you get your podcasts.



What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

01:56 What has Talia been up to post October 7th?

03:27 What is up w/TikTok? Talia discusses posting about antisemitism online

05:03 "I could not have chosen a worse place to build my career"

07:29 On feeling exhausted, hopeless, & disappointed in Talia's TikTok audience

09:47 How Talia's Jewish upbringing influenced her online persona

12:30 On Jewish camp

17:21 A message to young Jewish people

20:00 The responsibility to be a proud Jew

21:29 How has Talia's position on Israel influenced her relationships with other TikTokers?

28:02 On Jews losing the "PR crisis"

31:01 Margarita's experience discussing Israel in the corporate workplace

33:19 Discussing Talia's podcast - Basic Training

35:55 Any questions on Basic Training that have stumped Talia?

39:23 What would Talia tell her younger self?

41:23 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination








---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/peoplejewwannaknow/support