What does Theodor Herzl have to do with dodgeball, and why does it matter for Jewish advocacy today?

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Naya Lekht sits down with Nicole Bernstein, co-founder of PeerK12, to explore the state of Jewish grassroots leadership in the U.S. From the playground to the political arena, Naya and Nicole examine how Jewish identity, Zionism, and antisemitism intersect in education, activism, and community building.

While the two find much common ground—especially in their commitment to Jewish continuity and empowerment—they diverge on key questions of strategy, language, and the future of Jewish advocacy. Can we unify without uniformity? Is the model of “big tent” Judaism still viable? What does effective grassroots leadership look like in a time of rising antisemitism and ideological division?

Clarifying the complex. Step into my classroom. 

In this episode of Don’t Know Much About, Dr. Naya Lekht explores how modern antisemitism on the "woke right" resembles left-wing conspiracy frameworks—despite often being cloaked in patriotism and Judeo‑Christian rhetoric—and challenges the assumption that love of country shields against blame-driven ideologies. With historical perspective and cultural clarity, Naya highlights how grievance politics, whether left or right, can converge in dangerous ways when Jews are cast as scapegoats 

Clarifying the complex. Step into my classroom. 

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Don’t Know Much About, award-winning journalist, writer, and speaker Tabby Refael joins host Dr. Naya Lekht to explore how stories shaped her identity as a Jewish Iranian refugee and columnist. From bedtime tales in post-revolutionary Iran to columns in the Jewish Journal, Tabby shares how storytelling saved lives, preserved culture, and built resilience. The conversation dives into the emotional complexities of exile, nostalgia for Iran, and what it means to belong. 

Clarifying the complex. Step into my classroom. 

On this episode of Don't Know Much About, Dr. Naya Lekht tackles a difficult but necessary topic: the failure of Jewish leadership. She explores what it truly means for a Jewish organization to fail—and, just as importantly, what it means to succeed. Identifying recurring patterns in Jewish behavior in the diaspora, Naya offers a sobering analysis of why Jewish organizations often fail to represent the Jewish people effectively. She goes beyond these patterns to examine the shortcomings of mandated antisemitism training, the creation of Jewish affinity groups, and the adoption of the IHRA definition. Be sure to listen to the end for alternative approaches to how Jews can succeed today.

Clarifying the complex. Step into my classroom.