It’s Hanukkah! In this cozy episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah is joined by culinary expert, social media darling, and New York Times-bestselling cookbook author Jake Cohen for a conversation about Jewish food, ritual, and the unifying power of gathering around the table. Known for zhuzhing up traditional Jewish cuisine with a distinctly modern yet reverent flair, Jake reflects on how food has become his spiritual practice and creative outlet for expressing Jewish identity.

Jake shares how hosting Shabbat dinners became his primary avenue to building community and all the celebrity pals he has welcomed to his table, from Benny Blanco to Shoshana Bean to Katie Couric to Isaac Mizrahi. He opens up about his journey from being a self-described “High Holiday Jew” to becoming a leading voice in contemporary Jewish food culture, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, hospitality, and incorporating Jewish values into everyday life. 

The conversation also touches on Jake’s three best-selling cookbooks — Jew-ish, I Could Nosh and Dinner Party Animal — which aim to make Jewish cooking accessible, joyful, and inviting to Jews and non-Jews alike. Jonah and Jake explore the intersection of Jewish and queer identity, the importance of inviting dissenting opinions to your dinner table, how to host an epic dinner party, and Jake’s hopes for a more connected and peaceful future. It’s an episode filled with comfort, laughter, and the unmistakable warmth of Hanukkah.

A special thank you to this episode’s sponsor:

American Friends of the Hebrew University and the podcast The View From Mount Scopus

MENTIONS

Dinner Party Animal: Recipes to Make Every Day a Celebration

Jake Cohen Instagram

Jake Cohen Tiktok

Jake Cohen Website

The Seleucide Empire

Hanukkah Antisemitism vs. Purim Antisemitism

Hellenism and Judaism

The Surprising Origin of The Dreidel

Jonah @ The Big Shabbat

The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center

The Big Shabbat

Joan Nathan

Adeena Sussman

Ethiopian Jewish Chef and Restaurateur Beejhy Barhany on Her New Cookbook, “Gursha”

Tsion Cafe

Jew-Ish: A Cookbook 

Jake Cohen Saveur Articles

Nanny’s Rosh Hashanah Apple Cake

OneTable

Murray’s Cheese

Evan Ross Katz

Adam Eli

Tokin’ Jew Lemon Sumac x Jake Cohen

Quick Challah Recipe Demo in Under 1 Minute!

“The Nanny” Is the Kind of Celebratory, Unabashed Representation Jewish Women Deserve

Watch Curb Your Enthusiasm

I Could Nosh: Classic Jew-ish Recipes Revamped for Every Day―Modern Jewish Recipes for Everyday Noshing 

Left Behind – A Project Opening up Little-Known Holocaust Histories as well as New Tools

Jews of Liège under the Occupation (1940-1944)

Jake Cohen and Benny Blanco bagel Instagram post

Curb Your Enthusiasm “Bad Middling” Scene

These New Yorkers were in Israel when the war with Iran began. Here’s how they made it home.

Which three celebrities are living together in New York?

Alex Edelman

Benj Pasek

Shoshana Bean

Judy Gold

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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing,  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 this thought-provoking episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah sits down with world-renowned philosopher, author, and war correspondent Bernard-Henri Lévy (known as BHL) for an insightful conversation about the meaning of Jewish solidarity after October 7th and the collapse of moral reasoning in the West. Drawing on five decades spent on the frontlines of conflicts from Bosnia to Bangladesh, Lévy reflects on the role of the witness, the fragility of democracy, and the shattering implications of October 7th.

From Hamas to ISIS, Sudan to Ukraine, BHL draws sharp parallels between the world’s genocidal movements and the West’s habit of resisting them “just enough to help the victims survive, but never enough to let them win.” Together, Jonah and BHL explore the central arguments of his new book, Israel Alone: Israel’s unprecedented isolation, the return of antisemitism dressed in the language of antizionism, and the collapse of ethical reasoning on university campuses and in public life. 

BHL speaks candidly about why jihadist groups must be militarily defeated, how antisemitism differs from other forms of racism, the challenges of Jewish life in France, and why Israel’s democracy remains a modern miracle, despite being tested by decades of war.

In the episode they discuss:

• Iranian Missile Attacks and Global Reactions
• The Necessity of Defeating Hamas
• The Defeat of Al Qaeda and Isis
• BHL’s time in Afghanistan and Rwanda
• The Resilience of Israeli Society
• Diverse Communities in Israel
• Understanding Antisemitism
• Antizionism as the Only “Acceptable” Form of Modern Antisemitic 
• The Role of Hate in Human History
• Criticism vs. Antisemitism
• Sudan's Genocide and Racist War

#BernardHenriLevy #BHL #JonahPlatt #BeingJewishPodcast #IsraelAlone #JewishIdentity #Antisemitism #October7 #MoralClarity #Philosophy #HumanRights #Israel #JewishPeople

Thank you to this episodes sponsor, The Dream Raffle.

https://thedreamraffle.com/

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

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Mentioned In The Episode:

Bernard-Henri Levy Instagram

Bernard-Henri Levy YouTube

Bernard-Henri Levy Facebook

Bernard-Henri Lévy

Israel Alone

The Genius of Judaism

The Bloodlands of Africa - by Bernard-Henri Lévy

‘A very bad year’: Despite Gaza truce, academic boycotts pile on, threatening Israel’s future

Flare-Burning Protesters Disrupt Israel Philharmonic Concert in Paris, Four Arrested                   

US helps defend Israel from Iranian missile attack

France says it intercepted drones targeting Israel during Iran war

Israel: A Democracy Like No Other in the Middle East

Myth: Israel is an “apartheid state.”

Hamas Is Weakened But Not Defeated — The Truth Behind Gaza’s Ceasefire

Al Qaeda: Background, Current Status, and U.S. Policy

Iraqi Forces Liberate Mosul From ISIS

How Qatar became Trump’s key ally in his Middle East peace efforts

Antisemitism in America: My Campus Tour

Bernard-Henri Lévi tweet from Hostage Square

The 6-Day War

Algerian War

Weimar Republic

Kings (Melachim)

In France, Bernard-Henri Lévy fights a lonely battle on behalf of a solitary Israel

Rwanda genocide of 1994

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Jonah hosts an insightful conversation with Israeli-American Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern, a Harvard-affiliated clinical psychologist and renowned trauma expert, about her experiences growing up in Israel during times of conflict and how they shaped her career in trauma and mental health. She explains her groundbreaking work on the concept of 'traumatic invalidation' in the Jewish community after October 7th, and the importance of recognizing and addressing this community trauma on an individual level. They discuss her shift to advocacy post-October 7th, and her role with Parents for Peace, a non-profit aimed at radicalization prevention. The episode highlights the crucial need of better mental health support, both for the Jewish community and the wider population, as a means to prevent radicalization, combat hatred, and foster resilience. It provides insights on how to effectively fight hate and radicalization through a combination of education, psychological understanding, and policy change.

In the episode they discuss:

• Dr. Miri Bar Halpern’s Israeli childhood during the Gulf War and Second Intifada 
• Her Personal Journey with Inherited Trauma
• Her Groundbreaking Article on “Traumatic Invalidation” in the Jewish Community
• Combating Radicalization with Parents for Peace
• Our Stories Matter Podcast
• Anti-Jew Hate as the Common Denominator in Radicalization
• Prevention and Intervention techniques   

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

https://beingjewishpodcast.com/community

Mentioned in the episode:

Miri Bar-Halpern Instagram

Dr. Bar Halpern Website

Traumatic Invalidation Research Article (co-authored by Dr. Bar-Halpern) 

Jonah on “Our Stories Matter” Podcast

Parents for Peace

What is the second intifada? 

What are epigenetics?

Criteria of Traumatic Invalidation

Dr. Marsha Linehan

Melanie Harned

Martin Bohus

Massachusetts Teachers Association's (MTA) Anti-Israel, Anti-Jewish Resources Remain.

Head of Parents for Peace Myrieme Churchill

Nearly 40% of Jewish Medical Professional Report Exposure to Antisemitism

Trauma Informed Learning Alliance

Yasmine Mohammed

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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Story Producer: Sasha Nelson, Associate Producer: Emma Webb, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald,  Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker,  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 this landmark 50th episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah celebrates the milestone with his wife, Courtney Ann Platt (Glee, So You Think You Can Dance, Rock of Ages), the world-class dancer, television star, and multiple sclerosis advocate whose journey into Judaism has become a defining part of the traditions and values in their home. From growing up Italian Catholic in New York to becoming a Jewish mother raising three young Platts, Courtney opens up about the turning points that reshaped her life.

With humor and candor, Courtney and Jonah revisit the early days of their relationship, the emotional path of Courtney’s Orthodox conversion, and their commitment to blending two traditions under one roof, from negotiating Christmas celebrations to creating a home where Jewish values are woven into everyday life. Courtney also reflects on motherhood, the visceral awakening she felt after October 7th, and how becoming part of the Jewish people changed her understanding of community, resilience, and responsibility. The conversation touches on spirituality, loss, MS, and what it means to both choose and defend your identity. 

This milestone episode is a celebration of love, tradition, and the family Courney and Jonah have built together. It’s an intimate look at what it means to choose Judaism, and to choose each other.

Other Topics Include:

• The Story of How Jonah and Courtney Met Doing HAIR at the Hollywood Bowl
• Jonah and Courtney’s First Date & First “I Love You”
• How and When to Bring Up “The Conversion Convo”
• Conversion to Judaism: The Process and Challenges
• Protecting Jewish Identity Post-October 7th
• Jewish Day School vs. Hebrew School
• How Jonah Learned to Love Christmas!
• How Grief Affects Our Faith in God
• The Losses of Courtney’s SYTYCD brothers, Stephen “Twitch” Boss & Joshua Allen 
• Courtney’s Life with MS (multiple sclerosis)

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

https://beingjewishpodcast.com/community

Mentioned In The Episode:

Courtney Ann Platt Instagram

Unstoppable: How Professional Dancer Courtney Platt Has Redefined Success While Navigating Society With Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Glee (Disney+)

Hit the Floor (Apple TV)

Rock of Ages (Apple TV)

Camp Rock Two (Disney+)

Adam Shankman 

L.A. Theater Review: ‘Hair’ at the Hollywood Bowl

Angelini Osteria & Alimentari

Camp Ramah in California

Vatican City

The Rich History of Mall Santas

What Happens on the Day of Conversion

Knicks City Dancers

So You Think You Can Dance (Prime Video)

Why Bat Mitzvahs (and other parties) need a dance motivator

BJJP Tiffany Haddish

What Is Rosh Hashanah

Ohr Torah Stone

The Mikvah

What is Niddah?

Why do Jewish Women Wear Wigs?

Tattooing in Jewish Law

The Blessing of Unplugging

Why Fast on Yom Kippur?

Why do we Wear a Kippah?

October 13, 2024 “Day of Jihad”

Being Jewish: Together Mosaic Shabbat

Honeymoon Israel

Joshua Allen, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ season 4 winner, dies in train accident

Remembering Marc Becker

What is Kavanah?

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing,  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

It’s Turkey Time! In this warm and wonderfully flavorful Thanksgiving episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah sits down with Duff Goldman — celebrity pastry chef, bestselling cookbook author, Food Network Icon, and beloved host of shows like Ace of Cakes, Kids Baking Championship, Buddy vs. Duff, and Duff’s Happy Fun Bake Time.  Together, they dig into the stories and traditions that shaped Duff’s life long before he became America’s favorite baker.

Duff opens up about his personal experiences with anti-Jew bigotry in New England, and how that deepened his connection to Jewish culture, family, and food. They discuss the joys and challenges of Duff’s professional achievements as a master baker, from mentoring young bakers on television to navigating the pressure of high-profile baking competitions. Duff also discusses his upcoming venture — Duff's Deli and Market, opening soon in the Atlanta airport — and his philosophy on food, tradition, and community. Duff shares heartfelt reflections on his recovery from a devastating car accident, and his commitment to tzedakah

This episode is a celebration of resilience, tradition, and the Jewish roots behind Duff’s irresistible warmth and artistry. It’s a perfect blend of heart, humor, and holiday spirit.

Topics Include:

• Duff’s love of “Tzedakah”, the Jewish value of Charity
• Duff’s multicultural Passover Seders & Thanksgiving Dinners
• Kids Baking Championship Insights
• The Birth of the iconic Charm City Cakes
• Jewish-Themed Cakes and Duff's Deli
• Thanksgiving Traditions and Family

This episode is supported by The Dream Raffle. Win a Jerusalem dream home!

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

https://beingjewishpodcast.com/community

Mentioned In The Episode:

Duff Goldman Instagram

Duff Goldman Youtube

Duff Goldman “Tzedakah” Page

Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza by Peter Beinart

Inside the Tunnels of Gaza

The Story of Purim

When Jon Stewart and Peter Beinart Threw Isreal Under the Bus

Save A Child’s Heart

Jacqueline Winch (Duff Goldman’s Artist Mom)

Here’s Who Won the Food Network’s First Ever Hanukkah Cooking Challenge

Duff Goldman Injured in Crash Allegedly Caused by Drunk Driver

Kids Baking Championship (Hulu)

Charm City Cakes

Ace of Cakes

Duff’s Favorite Spots “Best Things I Ever Ate”

Edmart Deli Closed

Foie Grock's Chefs Bruce Kalman & Duff Goldman (YouTube)

Silver Yad

Duff’s Deli and Market - Atlanta

Japan's ancient art of taiko drumming

Japanese Koto

Manzanar War Relocation Center

Michael Voltaggio

Duff’s Food on Goldbelly

Michael Cimarusti

Russ and Daughters

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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing,  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 this uplifting episode, Jonah speaks with Jean-Claude Nkulikiyimfura, the Executive Director of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda. ASYV was founded to support orphans of the Rwandan genocide, providing a holistic education model rooted in Jewish principles like Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and Tikkun Ha Lev (repairing the heart). Jonah has a personal connection, having volunteered there soon after college.

Jean-Claude (JC) and Jonah discuss the Youth Village's success in preparing students for adulthood, which a recent Tulane University study highlights with impressive outcomes, including high rates of college placement and employment. The conversation covers impactful initiatives like the Inheritance Theater Project, which empowers young women, and the broader context of societal healing in post-genocide Rwanda. Jean-Claude also shares his personal experience as a refugee and details the future vision of ASYV, including the "Anything is Possible" campaign aimed at sustaining and expanding their vital mission.

The conversation covers:

• The Founding and Mission of Aga Shalom Youth Village
• Welcoming the Executive Director: Jean Claude's Journey
• Jewish Principles and the Vision for A SYV
• The Impact of A SYV: Programs and Success Stories
• Tulane University Study: Proving the Concept
• Scaling Deep: The Future of ASYV
• Gender Equity and the Inheritance Theater Project
• Rwanda's Transformation: From Genocide to Progress
• The Anything is Possible Campaign

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

https://beingjewishpodcast.com/community

Mentioned In The Episode:

JC socials:

• Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village Instagram 
• JC Linkedin
• Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village Facebook



Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village

The Anything is Possible Campaign at ASYV

Jewish Principle Tikkun Olam 

Ann Heyman, Founder of Agahzo-Shalom

Yemen Alt Youth Service 

Dr. Chaim Peri

ASYV Study with Tulane University

Scaling Deep

Bates College

1994 Rwanda Genocide

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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Story Producer: Sasha Nelson, Associate Producer: Emma Webb, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald,  Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker,  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 this spirited and emotional episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Broadway legend Seth Rudetsky — actor, pianist, musical director, SiriusXM host (Seth’s Big Fat Broadway, Seth Speaks), comedy writer, and tireless advocate — joins Jonah for an honest conversation about the deep history of Jewish contributions to Broadway. They discuss the rise of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment in the arts world, and the creations of the Jewish Broadway Alliance, a grassroots effort Seth launched in the wake of October 7th. 

Drawing from decades on stage and behind the piano, Seth opens up about the challenges of Jewish advocacy, the shock of Broadway’s silence that drove him to speak up, and the emotional weight of organizing initiatives like the Broadway-hosted hostage video and Broadway Shabbat. Seth and Jonah also delve into the highlights from Rudetsky's extraordinary career — from hosting Stars in the House during the COVID-19 pandemic to his concerts for social justice causes — and his dream of creating new educational content celebrating Jewish history through music. 

This conversation is a celebration of Jewish creativity and the deep-rooted bond between Jewish artists and the Broadway stage. And if you listen through to the end, you’ll find a special surprise that captures the spirit, heart, and joy that Seth brings to every room he enters.

• The Importance of Jewish Influence on Broadway
• Introducing the Special Episode and Guest
• Seth Advocacy and Jewish Identity
• The Impact of October 7th on Seth
• Forming the Jewish Broadway Alliance
• Challenges and Support in the Broadway Community
• Broadway Shabbat and Jewish Joy
• Concerts and Fundraising for Social Justice
• Stars in the House: A COVID-Time Initiative
• Cameron Crowe's Scaled-Down Broadway Production
• Supporting a One-Man Show: Ariel Stachel's Story
• Jewish Upbringing and Summer Camp Memories
• Five Deep Questions with Seth Rudetsky
• Grand Finale: A Musical Performance

This episode is supported by Berkeley Mosha, a Jewish co-housing community in California.

Mentioned:

Seth Rudetsky Instagram

Seth Rudetsky Career

Jewish Broadway Alliance YouTube

SiriusXM On Broadway 

Seth’s Big Fat Broadway Cruise

Entertainment Community Fund

Seth’s Posts after October 7th

Broadway community “Bring Them Home” song for the Hostages

Broadway for Orlando “What the World Needs Now”

Broadway for Biden/Harris Inauguration 

Black Theater United

Stars in the House YouTube

Jack Plotnick

Shabbat on Broadway

Amanda Lipitz

Julie Benko Sings “Tomorrow” - Hanukkah on Broadway

Everything’s Coming Up Moses by Rachel Shukert: A Biblical Fable based on GYPSY

United Voices For Change

AJC: 5 Facts About Jewish Connection to Israel

Zionism has become a 'bad' word. It is anything but.

Jewish Broadway Alliance with Roz Rothstein

Jewish Broadway Alliance with Ritchie Torres

Defining Antizionism

Dreamgirls Reunion (Stars In The House)

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah

Help is on the Way - David Friedman

Concert for America

Cornell Brooks

Grey’s Anatomy on Stars In The House

30 Rock Special Stars In The House

Maui Wildfires of 2023

Stars in the House Offers Avenue Q Sing Through August 24 to Raise Funds for Hawaii Wildfire Victims

Ari’el Stachel

Ari’el Stachel’s play, Other

Ariel Stachel videos about Jewish identity

Camp Hillel

USDAN Summer Camp 

Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand

Varla Jean Merman’s Stonewall

Birthright Israel

People Moving Back to Kibbutz Nir Oz

Dr. Noam Wiesman on Being Jewish

Van Jones on Being Jewish

Neshama App

What I’ve Learnt Podcast

Trybal Gatherings

Magen David Adom

Testigos Del Terror

Leah Soibel on Being Jewish

Fuente Latina_

BBYO Mountain Region

The Big Shabbat

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In this powerful episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Academy Award-nominated producer Lawrence Bender — the creative producing force behind Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, Reservoir Dogs, An Inconvenient Truth and Inglorious Basterds — Joins Jonah for a candid conversation about the film industry’s reckoning after October 7th and the moral weight of telling real stories in the aftermath of tragedy. Bender’s latest project, Paramount+ miniseries Red Alert, dramatizes the true stories of horror, heroism, and hope that took place on October 7th, 2023, the darkest chapter in Israel’s history.

Bender shares what drew him to the series — from his deep personal connection with Israel, to his collaboration with Israeli production company Keshet, to the emotional and logistical challenges of bringing real stories to screen amid an ongoing conflict. He opens up about the silence he witnessed from Hollywood and his peers in the aftermath of October 7th, and reflects on how his Jewish identity has shaped his life and career.

This episode is both an exploration on the power of art and a call to conscience, illuminating how filmmakers like Bender use their craft to bear witness, challenge complacency, and re-humanize the media headlines that shape our world.

In the episode they discuss:

From civil engineer to dancer to Hollywood mega-producer

Growing up in Antisemitic America

The Impact of October 7th and the Birth of Red Alert

Lawrence's Meeting with Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres

Meeting the Real Heroes of Red Alert

Being Quentin Tarantino’s Partner & Inglorious Bastards

The Challenges of Filming in During a War

Selling an Israel-focused Series in Today’s Anti-Israel Hollywood

Please support the podcast and become a member (join the Kahillah) to get exclusive benefits.

https://beingjewishpodcast.com/community

Mentioned In The Episode:

Lawrence Bender On Instagram

Red Alert on Paramount Plus

Keshet 

Israel Policy Forum

Abu Mazin (Mahmoud Abbas) Believes in a Two State Solution and Opposes Violence

Joc Pederson (Former Dodger)

Domantas Sobonis (King’s Basketball Player)

Jackie Thon on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

Duffy Diggs

Hosni Mubarak

Boaz Yakin

Two Distant Strangers - Best Live-Action Short Oscar-Winner

Cops and Robbers short film

Jordana Reuben Yecheil Oct 7 billboards

Lior Chefetz

The Stronghold

Oct. 7 series ‘Red Alert’ a harrowing global reminder of what unfolded in Hamas massacre

Rocket Alerts from Gaza

The Gay Parade in Israel

Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

Ohad Yahalomi 

Ziv Koren

Actors and directors pledge not to work with Israeli film groups ‘implicated in genocide’

Skip Brittenham Obituary

David Ellison Brings New Direction to Paramount

Shimon Peres

Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing,  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 this special Election Day episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Emmy Award–winning journalist Jake Tapper joins Jonah for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on politics, identity, and truth-telling in a polarized world. Best known as the anchor of CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper and State of the Union, Jake reflects on his decades covering America’s most defining political moments — from the Virginia governor’s race to the New York City mayoral election — and how journalism has evolved in an era of social media outrage and political echo chambers.

Together, Jonah and Jake explore the intersections of Jewish identity, antisemitism — past and present — and the evolving challenges of journalistic integrity in today’s press environment. Jake also opens up about his writing process and his latest books — Race Against Terror, which follows the pursuit of an Al-Qaeda killer, and Original Sin, his political thriller about a presidential cover-up during the 2024 election. 

This episode is a deep dive into the ethics of journalism, the responsibility of storytelling, and what it means to stay empathetic and informed in turbulent times. It’s a timely, thought-provoking listen for anyone who cares about democracy, truth, and the power of Jewish values in public discourse.

Topics covered include:

• Discussing Key Political Races
• The Democratic and Republican Parties
• Concerns Within the Jewish Community
• Antisemitism in Politics
• Personal Experiences with Antisemitism
• Challenges in Media Reporting
• Jake Tapper's Jewish Identity
• Jewish High School Experiences
• Jewish Summer Camp Memories
• Interfaith Marriages and Family Traditions
• Writing About Joe Biden
• Race Against Terror: A New Book
• Five Deep Questions with Jake Tapper

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Mentioned in the Episode:

Understanding The Tower of Babel

Sodom and Gomorrah; The Cities Destroyed by God

What Really Happened at Mount Sinai

Bullsh*t Behavior & Central Synagogue's Rabbi Angela Buchdahl

Buchdahl Has Faced Criticism for Declining to Sign a Rabbinic Letter Condemning the Mayoral Candidate.

Increase in Jewish Hate

Jewish Population Changes

Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War by Jake Tapper

Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson

Jake Tapper Instagram

Jake Tapper X

The Lead with Jake Tapper

Key Early Elections

The Danger of Zohran Mamdani

What Does “Globalize the Intifada” Mean and How Can it Lead to Targeting Jews with Violence?

The Overton Window

The Lynching of Leo Frank

Dana Bash BJJP Ep

Sheryl Sandberg BJJP Ep

Protests at Jake Tapper’s Home

Hamas Weaponizes Sexual Assault in GAZA

Adi Vital-Kaploun, killed on October 7th, 2023

NY Times Admits to Relying Too Heavily on Hamas Reporting

News outlets’ erroneous “14,000 babies” claim

Watch the 2024 Presidential Debate

Inside the Trump Family’s Global Crypto Cash Machine

Who is Spin Ghul?

United States vs Ahmed Ghailani 

Call Your Mother Deli 

Rabbi Solomon ibn Gabirol

Selected Religious Poems Of Solomon Ibn Gabirol Translated Into English Verse By Israel Zangwill

Benjamin Franklin Bache

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Ami Kozak is redefining what Jewish comedy and commentary look like in 2025 — blending sharp impressions, fearless satire, and moral clarity in a time of chaos.

In this episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with Ami — modern Orthodox comedian, musician, and host of the podcast Ami’s House — to talk about how his Jewish faith and sense of moral clarity shaped his response to anti-Jew bigotry and misinformation after October 7.

Ami shares:

• How growing up modern Orthodox shaped his Jewish identity and worldview
• Why October 7 changed his purpose as a performer — turning laughter into a vehicle for truth
• Why he chose to have civil conversations with controversial figures like Candace Owens and Dave Smith — and what those exchanges taught him about engaging bad ideas in good faith
• The dangers of moral relativism, false “experts,” and the growing misuse of words like “genocide”
• What he calls “goosebumps with clarity” — balancing empathy with uncompromising honesty
• His creative process for impressions of President Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, and Zohran Mamdani — and how humor can cut through disinformation

From synagogue to stage, from serious debate to satire, Ami Kozak proves that comedy can do more than make people laugh — it can make them think. 

Hashtags:

#AmiKozak #BeingJewish #30MinuteMensches #JewishComedy #ModernOrthodox #Israel #JewishIdentity #Antisemitism #FreeSpeech #JewishHumor #MoralClarity

Mentioned In The Episode:

Ami Kozak Instagram

Ami Kozak X

Ami Kozak Facebook

Ami Kozak YouTube

Ami’s House (podcast)

Yahud

Your Hebrew word for the day: MAMAD

Human Rights Council members who abuse human rights

What is Tikkun Olam?

J-Sketch YouTube 

Alex Edelman

The Karate Kid

Alan Dershowitz

Hasbara

Norman Finkelstein vs Alan Dershowitz On Israel-Palestine War With Piers Morgan | The Full Debate 

Douglas Murrey

Tucker Carlson Wedding Vows Skit

Zohran Mamdani

Kristallnacht

The Second Intifada 2000

Ami Kozak’s Band “Distant Cousins”

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:

[email protected]

To contact us & all things BJJP:

www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:

Instagram - @JonahPlatt

X - @JonahPlatt

Follow Being Jewish on:

Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast

TikTok - @BeingJewish

Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Story Producer: Sasha Nelson, Associate Producer: Emma Webb, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald,  Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker,  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