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
Michael J Fisher Instagram
Jonah’s (shoes) JP x Air Maccabees (18% off with the code JP18)
The Story of Jeremiah
Seeing History Through A Foggy Lens
Dangers of Exceptionalism
Moral Self Licensing
Temporal Distance and Discrimination
Greater Zion Church Family
Origins of Black History Month
Freedom Seder LA Brings Together Black, Jewish, and Black-Jewish Leaders for an Evening of Unity and Liberation
CNN’s Van Jones
Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback
Exodus Over Dinner
Jerome Fisher World War II Gold Star Veteran from Maryland
Reverand Jerome Fisher Passes Away, Organized 1st Black Church in Compton
What Was Jim Crow
Michael J. Fisher How One Compton Pastor’s Work is Changing Lives by Bridging Health & Faith
The Jewish Foundation of Christianity
When did Christianity and Judaism Separate?
When Did Jesus Stop Being Jewish?
Zion: God’s Precious Possession
Dr. Maulana Karenga
A Long History: American Jews and the NAACP
The Tulsa Race Massacre and Oklahoma’s Jews
10 Great Moments of #BlackJewishUnity
Challenging the myth of 'white, colonial' Israel
Rabbi Stewart Vogel
Death of George Floyd
Powerful Voices: A New Look at the Rabbi Who Marched with Martin Luther King
Tiffany Haddish BJJP Episode
The 15 Year Battle for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Bondi Beach terrorists ‘acted alone’ in attack on Hanukkah event — Australian police
Suspect arrested in predawn fire that left parts of Mississippi’s largest synagogue in charred ruins
What to know about the murder of Sarah Pilgrim and Aaron Lischinsky in Washington D.C
Stephen Wise Temple
Wise hosts Greater Zion Church for joint Shavuot and Pentecost celebration
Was Jesus’ Last Supper a Seder?
Peter and the Disciples Falling Asleep - Matthew 26:40
The Old Testament Pentecost: Why Did Jesus Pour Out His Spirit on This Particular Day?
Robert Sterns
BLM’s Support of Hamas Is Perfectly in Line With Its Goals
Rediscovering the Lost Tribes and God’s Faithfulness: The Jewish Diaspora and Aliyah
Israel’s Ethnic Diversity: Why the Population of the Jewish Nation is Far From Monolithic
Amanda Berman
Black and Jewish people were allies once. Can they be again?
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination
Redlining of Jewish Neighborhoods to Make It Difficult to Get a Mortgage
Jewish Americans: Identity, History, and Experience Fact Sheet
Seder2015 streams a digital Passover
What is the law of first mention?
Black leaders journey from their hip-hop home to the Holy Land — and find common ground
What Even IS Sigd? A Short Explainer
Nick Cannon opens up about past antisemitic comments and his ‘growth moment’
April Powers
California schools inch closer to rescuing mental health funds slashed by Trump
Global Missions — Greater Zion
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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
