JEW-ISH

My guest this week is Rabbi Sandra Lawson. Rabbi Sandra is an activist, public speaker and musician, and is currently the the Hillel rabbi and associate chaplain for Jewish life on North Carolina’s Elon University campus. In our conversation, we speak about her journey to becoming a rabbi, whether Jewish communities have work to do when it comes to inclusivity, and how she has navigates her identity as a queer, black and jewish person.

You can follow Rabbi Sandra on Twitter and Instagram @RabbiSandra, and you can follow me on Twitter @Jewish_Podcast. You can also become an official patron of the podcast at patreon.com/jewishthepodcast.

My guest this week is singer-songwriter Hilary Hawn. Hilary has been extremely vocal about her views as a progressive Zionist Jew, and has used her Instagram platform to combat antisemitism and raise awareness of political issues from a Jewish perspective. You can follow Hilary on Instagram @hilalove, and you can find her music on all streaming services under the name HRH. You can follow me on Twitter @jewish_podcast, and don't forget to become an official Patron of the podcast at patreon.com/jewishthepodcast.

My guest this week is Naftali Aklum. Naftali has Ethiopian Jewish heritage, and is the youngest of 12 brothers and sisters. His family were among the first to make the journey from Ethiopia to Sudan, and eventually from Sudan to Isreal. He lives in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, and created the Yerus project in order to bring the story of the Ethiopian Jews to a wider audience.

Due to the pandemic, the Yerus project needs your help to continue spreading the story of the Ethiopian Jews. Visit jewsofethiopia.com to find out more about the Yerus project, and click here to donate: https://my.israelgives.org/en/campaign/SaveYerusproject?fbclid=IwAR1xA4iDwzVmyOr4yPIr1e9ltssPKzkg8FZRxWdUi5TqDYj5Hmen5pah3u8

My guest this week is rapper Rami Matan, AKA Kosha Dillz. Rami is originally from Edison, New Jersey, and has Romanian and Israeli heritage. He isn't scared about bringing his Jewish identity to the forefront with his music, and often uses it as a way to provoke and ultimately bring people together. His new album, Nobody Cares Except You, is available to buy or stream everywhere now. You can follow Rami on Twitter @koshadillz, and you can follow me on Twitter @jewish_podcast.

My guest this week is Debbie Lechtman. Debbie is the jewellery maker behind Roots Metals, based Los Angeles. She creates beautiful pieces inspired by her Jewish, Middle Eastern and Latin American heritage. She has built up an impressive Instagram following, and has recently dedicated her platform to educating people about Antisemitism and political issues from a Jewish perspective. You can follow Debbie on Instagram @RootsMetals, and you can follow me on Twitter @Jewish_Podcast.

My guest this week is drag queen and musician Ash Kenazi. Ash and I grew up nearby to each other, so we have a lot of the same perspectives on Jewish culture. In our interview, we spoke about how Judaism related to his coming out and his journey to becoming a drag queen, our shared experience of Israel through the lens of Jewish summer camps, and Jewish life growing up in North London. You can follow Ash on Instagram @Ash_Kenazi, and you can listen to Ash's band Happyness on all streaming services. Follow me on Twitter @jewish_podcast.

My guest this week is Rachel Gurevich, one of three people behind the Jewish Liberal Instagram account. With over 14k followers, Jewish Liberal provides an even-handed, digestible perspective on key Jewish political issues, such as Zionism, BDS, Israel/Palestine relations, and more. Follow Jewish Liberal on instagram @jewishliberal, and you can follow me on Twitter @jewish_podcast.

My guest this week is trainee Rabbi Lev Taylor. Lev grew up in a liberal Jewish community in Reading, with a family who were extremely dedicated to the Marxist ideology. He’s currently in his 4th year of Rabbinical training and is assigned to Newcastle Reform synagogue. In our conversation we speak about what made Lev decide to become a Rabbi, the history of Judaism and Socialism, and how Antisemitism manifests itself in the left wing today. Follow Lev on Twitter @levvity, and you can follow me on Twitter @jewish_podcast.

Ben M. Freeman is a world-renowned educator who focuses on Jewish identity, antisemitism and raising awareness of the Holocaust. His first book, Jewish Pride: Rebuilding A People, coming out next year, aims to educate, inspire and empower Jews to reject the shame of antisemitism and to begin the process of exploring and embracing their own identities as proud Jews. You can follow Ben on Twitter @benmfreeman and you can find out more about his work on his website, benmfreeman.com. You can follow me on Twitter @jewish_podcast, and you can email me at [email protected].

My guest this week is musician Oscar Scheller. He released his first album 'Cut & Paste' in 2016, and his second album 'HTTP404' in 2019. He has also written and produced many other notable artists. I spoke to Oscar about our thoughts on Jewish identity, how Judaism inspired his music, and his relationship with Israel. You can find Oscar's music on all streaming services, and you can follow Oscar on Twitter @oscar_scheller, and you can follow me on Twitter @jewish_podcast.