Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

Host Jonah Platt interviews Allison Tombros Korman, the founder and executive director of the Red Tent Fund, a national abortion fund rooted in Jewish values. The conversation spans Korman's personal and professional journey, including her experiences with antisemitism in progressive spaces post October 7th, that led her to being forced out of her job at the DC Abortion Fund and eventually establishing the Red Tent Fund. They discuss the fund's mission to support abortion seekers through a Jewish lens, the impact of Roe v. Wade's overturning, misconceptions about third-trimester abortions, and the controversial 'Fund Abortion, Not War' campaign. 

The Red Tent Fund operates by providing money directly to clinics to aid any abortion seeker regardless of religion or political affiliation, reflecting values of bodily autonomy, compassion, and community care.

Discussed

• The Birth of the Red Tent Fund (Jewish Values, Access for All)
• The Purpose of Abortion Funds
• The Intent and Framework of Reproductive Justice
• The Jewish Perspectives on Abortion, As Interpreted by Rabbis and Scholars
• Challenges and Realities of Abortion Access
• Fund Abortion, Not War: A Controversial Movement
• Why People Must Travel Across State Lines for Reproductive Health
• The Research of medical Sociologist Katrina Kimport, PhD, on Why People Get Third Trimester Abortions
• The Intersection of Abortion Rights and Anti-Israel Sentiments

Mentioned In The Episode:

Red Tent Fund

Red Tent Fund Facebook

Red Tent Fund Instagram

Donate to Red Tent Fund

DC Abortion Fund

Antisemitism and the DCAF

Allison Tombros Korman Tablet Magazine Article

Tablet Magazine

Roe v. Wade

DCAF on Abortion Fund

Restorative Justice

Michal Cotler-Wunsh

Michal-Cotler Wunsh Being Jewish Episode

Antisemitism and Antizionism in Reproductive Health

What is the Red Tent Fund? 

Planned Parenthood

National Abortion Hotline

Jewish Perspective on Red Tent Site

 Parashat Mishpatim

Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance

Red Tent Partners

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Tikkun Olam

U.S. Abortion Rights by State

How much does an abortion cost?

Data on Third Trimester Abortions

Katrina Kimport

Fund Abortion Not War

Black Women and Reproductive Justice 

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Merchandise

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*Correction: In the episode The Red Tent Fund is described as the first National Jewish Abortion Fund.  The National Council of Jewish Women's (NCJW) Jewish Fund for Abortion Access was the first national Jewish abortion fund, launched in 2022.

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

Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

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For Sponsorships, please email:

[email protected]

Merchandise

https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch

To contact us & all things BJJP:

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Follow Jonah on:

Instagram - @JonahPlatt

X - @JonahPlatt

Follow Being Jewish on:

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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

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 System
• Founding the Oz Party
• Arab Zionism
• Clarifying Borders
• Strengthening the Knesset
• Service to the State and Belonging in Israel
• From Diaspora Consciousness to Sovereign Conduct
• Separation of Shul and State
• Worthy Leadership and Women in Politics
• The Oz Party's Vision and Strategy
• Appealing to a Diverse Audience
• UNRWA and Palestinian Relationship and Legacy

Thank you to this episode’s sponsor  SAPIR.

https://sapirjournal.org/BeingJewish

Mentioned in this 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

Einat Wilf Instagram

Einat Wilf X

International Authors Call For Ban of Israeli Authors

A Call For Israeli Athletes to be Banned

Has Zionism Become a Bad Word

The Jewish Enemy

Origins of the Medieval Myth about the Jewish Drinking the Blood of Children

Movement Against Antizionism

Associated Press’s Coverage of Israel

Why Israel’s Conflicts are Covered So Much More Than Other Countries

Shaul Kelner’s Article On Antizionism as a Mass Movement in The U.S. 

Shaul Kelner

Early 20th Century Soviet Anti Zionism

Jewish UCLA Student Blocked By Protesters

Amnesty International Suspends Its Israeli Branch

US Coffee House Refuses to Serve Jews

Why I Founded the Oz Party

Eretz Israel 

How do Israeli Politics Work?

Yesh Atid

The Work of the Knesset

Dr. 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 Israel

UNRWA Exposed, Examining the Agency’s Mission and Failures

Ministers reportedly decide to keep Rafah Crossing shut, bucking US pressure amid anger over Board of Peace

Separation of Shul and State

In Conversation with Einat Wilf on a New Israeli Vision

Who Is the Wicked Son?

Who Are the Haredim?

Statement on the Death of Yahya Sinwar

Only 7% of Israeli Arabs define themselves as 'Palestinian'

‘We’d rather die than enlist’: Haredi Jews vow to defy conscription

The Judicial Overhaul Post October 7

The State of Israel as a Jewish State

'Haredi schools need to meet minimum standards'

13 Political Parties and Democracy: The Israeli Case

Campaign Financing in Israel

Einat Wilf: ‘Jews Are Never Allowed To Win, and Arabs Are Never Allowed to Lose’

We Should All Be Zionists Podcast

Einat Wilf Books (Amazon)

Israel: A Democracy Like No Other in the Middle East

The United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency

O-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.

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Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

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[email protected]

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Follow Jonah on:

Instagram - @JonahPlatt

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Follow Being Jewish on:

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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

In this energetic and wide-ranging episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah sits down with comedy and television icon Howie Mandel (America’s Got Talent, Deal or No Deal, Gremlins, St. Elsewhere) for a conversation that moves effortlessly between laughter and reflection. From his early days as a stand-up comic to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in television, Howie reflects on a career that has spanned more than four decades, and the values that have grounded him throughout it.

With trademark honesty and humor, Howie opens up about his Jewish upbringing, family life, and how Jewish values have shaped his worldview both onstage and off. The conversation also takes a more serious turn as Howie speaks candidly about the resurgence of antisemitism, the aftermath of October 7th, and what it has felt like to navigate Jewish identity in an increasingly hostile global climate. Thoughtful, funny, and unexpectedly moving, this episode offers a rare glimpse into how one of comedy’s most familiar figures navigates faith, fear, and responsibility to show up when it matters most.

Topics Discussed Include:

• Howie’s Jewish upbringing in Toronto
• How comedy became a creative outlet and coping mechanism for anxiety and OCD
• The influence of Howie’s father on his Jewish values and identity
• Howie’s early years doing stand-up
• Howie’s opinion on tzedakah   
• Why Israel struggles with public perception
• Jewish identity and visibility in a time of rising antisemitism
• Howie speaks out about injustice and intolerance
• Pro-Palestinian vs. Anti-Israel movements: understanding the difference
• Howie on NBC, Hollywood, and Jewish representation
• Jews being targets for their appearance outside of NY and LA 
• Howie’s goal, “I just wanna do the right thing.”

Thank you to this episode's sponsors The Dream Raffle and SAPIR.

https://sapirjournal.org/BeingJewish

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

Ultimate Nite Out Featuring Debra Messing and Jonah Platt

Watch America’s Got Talent (NBC)

Howie Mandel Instagram

Howie Mandel Website

Howie Mandel Does Stuff (YouTube)

What You Need to Know About Israel's The Iron Dome

Qatar’s Investments in the US Education System

Russia’s Interference in US Elections Continues to Get More Brazen

China’s Potential Use of TikTok Is A National Security Threat

Yuri Bezmenov and his Stages of Ideological Subversion

Israel Recognizes Somaliland as an Independent Country

“I Have a Tough Time Being with Myself.” Howie Mandel on living with OCD, ADHD, and anxiety

B’rit Mialh: The Circumcision Ritual

Howie Mandel discusses saying the Kaddish for his father

Everything You Need to Know About the Jewish Custom of Shiva

Minyan: The Congregational Quorum

Tzedakah 101

Are the Jews the Chosen People?

Meet Howie Mandel's 3 talented kids with his wife of 45 years

—2 options with regard to his in-laws being holocaust survivors—

A survivors’ love story, and a game-changing secret

Howie Mandel to Appear at Malibu Film Society

The Role of Doctors and Nurses

Myth: Jews Have Too Much Power

Why Israel is losing the PR war

Did Israel Bomb a Hospital? No. What to Know About Hamas’ Lie About a Rocket Strike on a Gaza Hospital

Collecting German Air-dropped Leaflets on Britain

Israeli film on Oct. 7 premieres at Toronto film festival after initially being dropped

Masada

Haifa

Watch Inspector Gadget (Xumo)

Haim Saban (IMDB)

Shuki Levi

Bondi Beach terrorists ‘acted alone’ in attack on Hanukkah event

Howie Mandel Ari Shaffir clip on antisemitism.

Ari Shaffir Instagram

Why Do We Wear a Kippah?

What Is Tzitzit?

Former SNL comedian Jay Pharoah says he was racially profiled by police, detained with knee on his neck

St. Elsewhere (Apple TV)

Demonstrators rally across the U.S. in response to violent conflict between Israel and Hamas

Watch Little Monsters (Pluto TV)

Dayenu

Proto Hologram

Howie Mandel Become ESports Team Owner

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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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

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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

In this episode of 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with longtime Jewish communal leader Jay Sanderson, recently appointed President of American Jewish University (AJU). Sanderson recounts a harrowing childhood marked by intense antisemitic violence while growing up in Boston public housing, including a near-fatal incident in which he was buried alive. That trauma ultimately propelled him toward a life of Jewish leadership after a transformative summer in Israel facilitated by the Jewish Agency, culminating in a pivotal childhood encounter with David Ben-Gurion.

The conversation traces Sanderson’s career running major institutions such as Jewish Federation of Los Angeles and Jewish Television Network, before turning to his vision for the Jewish future. Sanderson critiques the Jewish world’s tendency to focus narrowly on combating antisemitism rather than proactively planning for long-term vitality. This outlook led to the creation of the 2050 Institute, an initiative designed to address the lack of adequate modern training for Jewish professionals and lack of planning for the Jewish future.

Sanderson explains why he came out of retirement after October 7 to lead AJU, outlining an ambitious plan to reimagine rabbinic education, expand the Miller Introduction to Judaism program, and position AJU as a central pipeline for future Jewish leaders. Jay’s challenge for leaders of today to get off the sidelines, bring new blood and ideas forward, and actively shape what the Jewish experience should look like in 25 years. 

• Jay Sanderson’s childhood trauma and antisemitism in Boston
• A near-death experience and its long-term psychological impact
• A formative Israel trip through the Jewish Agency
• Meeting David Ben-Gurion at a kibbutz
• Leadership roles at Jewish Federation of Los Angeles
• The founding vision of the 2050 Institute
• Sanderson becoming President of American Jewish University
• Expanding the Miller Introduction to Judaism program
• Reimagining the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies

Mentioned in the episode:

Jewish Federation LA

Jewish Television Network

Jewish Agency

David Ben Gurion Kibbutz

The 2050 Institute 

Brandeis-Bardin Campus of American Jewish University.

Jay Sanderson: President of AJU

Eric D. Fingerhut

Miller Intro to Judaism

Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh

Camp Alonim

BCI

Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies

Tzomet Games

Aspen Institute 

[email protected]

Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

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, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Nayman, 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 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 forever
• The unimaginable loss of Eli’s family, and how he carries their memory with him
• Honoring the courage and ultimate sacrifices of Amit Mann and Avia Hetzroni from Kibbutz Be’eri
• What inspired Eli to write Hostage and how putting words on the page became part of his healing
• The reality of what food looked like in captivity, and what deprivation teaches you about survival
• How Eli became a mentor and source of strength for Alon Ohel while they were held together
• Eli 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 conditions
• Inside Hamas’ psychological warfare, and how Eli resisted being broken
• Rebuilding life after captivity, looking ahead, and Eli’s new mission of truth-telling and advocacy

Support the podcast by subscribing to the Kehillah.

Thank you to this episodes sponsors.

Americans for Ben-Gurion University

SAPIR

Links to items mentioned in the episode:

Eli Sharabi Instagram

“Hostage” by Eli Sharabi

Magen David Adom 

I Spent 491 Days as a Hostage of Hamas. This Is My Story

Battle of Kibbutz Be’eri

2025 Magen David Adom Miami Gala: From Darkness to Light

Eli Sharabi’s United Nations address

The Heroes in the Battle of Sderot on Oct 7

The Civilian Heroes of Ofakim On Oct 7. 

Nova Festival Massacre 

The Be’eri Printing Press: Israel’s Print Shop

Paramedic Amit Man, 22: Sacrificed herself to protect patients.

Senior EMT Aviya Hezroni Killed by Terrorists

Hamas Steals Aid

'I choose life:' Ex-hostage Alon Ohel recounts Hamas kidnapping

Jewish Diaspora celebrates release of living hostages

Eli Sharabi’s Brother Sharon Never Stopped Fighting For Him

Eli’s first interview after his release

Eli Sharabi Meets with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Eli Sharabi Visits Australian Parliament

Yossi Sharabi Buried in Kibbutz Be’eri

Israeli 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 police

Former Hamas hostage Or Levy brings awareness of captives’ plight to South Africa

The Shehecheyanu Blessing

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

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, 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 this intimate and revealing episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, iconic supermodel and Jewish ally Cindy Crawford sits down for a rare interview with Jonah to discuss family, faith, and allyship. Known worldwide for redefining beauty and celebrity, Cindy opens up about the quieter values that have shaped her life — from her interfaith marriage to Rande Gerber to the loss of her only brother to leukemia at an early age.

Cindy shares personal stories about building a home rooted in Jewish and Protestant tradition, raising her children with an appreciation for Jewish rituals, and why speaking out against antisemitism now feels both urgent and unavoidable. She reflects on her experience working with Holocaust survivors through the Borrowed Spotlight Project,  her role in preserving the cultural legacy of Nate and Al’s, and her decision to use her platform for Jewish advocacy (New Year New Voices). Jonah and Cindy also discuss the trajectory of her career, the shifting landscape of beauty standards, and what the future might look like for her.

The episode underscores Cindy's ongoing commitment to cultural empathy, allyship, and what it looks like to stand with the Jewish community not by accident or obligation, but by choice.

In this episode, Cindy and Jonah dive into:

•  How social media has become “poison” 
• Why even small acts of Jewish allyship now feel “controversial”
• Growing up Protestant in the Midwest
• Cindy’s first visit to Israel
• Navigating a Jewish/Protestant Interfaith Marriage 
• Jewish traditions that resonated with Cindy
• Cindy’s adult children's relationship to Jewish identity
• Cindy’s participation in the Borrowed Spotlight Project
• The loss of Cindy’s brother

Links to things mentioned in the episode:

Cindy Crawford Instagram

Cindy Crawford and Noa Tishby Hanukah lighting

Rande Gerber

B’rit Mialh: The Circumcision Ritual

Cindy Crawford Capezio Shoot in Israel

Shabbat Elevator in Israel

Maxwell House Haggadah  

Christian Congregationalism

Courtney Platt BJJP Episode

Malibu Pacific Church

Reverend David Worth

Cindy Crawford reflects on 'devastating' loss of her brother to leukemia

Cindy Crawford's 2 Children: All About Models Presley and Kaia Gerber

Rande’s Father passing 

Olam Ha-Ba, The World to Come

Breaking the Glass at a Jewish Wedding

Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth

Noa Tishby BJJP Episode

Cindy Crawford “New Year New Voices” Video

Chris Caresnone (Campbell) BJJP Episode 

Borrowed Spotlight Project

Bryce Thompson

Is “shiksa” a bad word?

Ella Mandel’s Story - Shoah Foundation

Displaced Persons Camps after the Holocaust

Holocaust Museum L.A. honors visionary figures at gala

Holocaust Museum LA

Jewish Global Population Data

Sebastian Maniscalco “Same corporation different divisions” joke

Cindy Crawford (and others) step in to save Nate ‘N Al’s Deli

Nate ‘N Al’s Deli

Langers Deli

Canter’s Deli

Casamigas - Cindy’s Spicy Tequila

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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

Can we change the world with just ONE dollar? In this inspiring episode of '30 Minute Mensches,' Jonah talks to Dr. Jonathan Donath, founder and president of Daily Giving, the grassroots online platform that has turned daily donations of just $1 into almost $27 million distributed to over 75 Jewish causes worldwide. Dr. Donath shares the epiphany that led him to start Daily Giving, the importance of working the daily giving “muscle”, and the organization’s growth journey.  A true mensch, Dr. Donath’s appeal will have you racing to sign up so that you too can feel the joy of philanthropy, unity, and the transformative power of giving.

Discussed topics include:

• The Near Death Experience of a Rabbi that Inspired Daily Giving
• The Big Impact of Many Small Mitzvahs
• Stories of Daily Giving’s Work
• Mel Robbins and Why Immediate Action is Important
• Chasing Balance in Life
• Comedian Elon Gold’s Viral Moment for Daily Giving
• Nonprofit Operational Challenges and Growth
• Who Are Some Partner Organizations (75+) and Why

A big thank you to Daily Giving

MENTIONS

Joint Effort Chiropractic

Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy

Rabbi Alon Anava and His Near Death Experience

Elon Gold Daily Giving Promo

Daily Giving Beneficiary Organizations

Mel Robbins on taking action 

Magen David Adom

United Hatzalah

Chai Lifeline

Ohel

One Mitzvah a Day 

JFNA

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For Sponsorships, please email:

[email protected]

To contact us & all things BJJP:

www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:

Instagram - @JonahPlatt

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Follow Being Jewish on:

Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast

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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

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

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

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For Sponsorships, please email:

[email protected]

To contact us & all things BJJP:

www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:

Instagram - @JonahPlatt

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Follow Being Jewish on:

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Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

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

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Follow Being Jewish on:

Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast

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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/

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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

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:

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Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:

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For Sponsorships, please email:

[email protected]

To contact us & all things BJJP:

www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Follow Jonah on:

Instagram - @JonahPlatt

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Follow Being Jewish on:

Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast

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