Today, we speak with Jenny Anne Hochberg, a New York based actor, acting coach, content creator, and Jewish activist. We get a chance to talk about her personal journey of reconnecting with her Jewish identity following the events of October 7th, the challenges of being a Jewish actress in the entertainment industry, and the importance of activism and community support. Our conversation naturally led to one about accurate Jewish representation in media and how we can think about telling the stories of everyone who’s a member of Am Yisrael.

Jenny recently starred in the Verbatim Off-Broadway play “October 7th,” portraying a Nova festival survivor. Her screen credits include countless TV Series like “Blue Bloods,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “House of Cards,” “Parks & Recreation,” and various award-winning indie films. A trained solo improviser, known for her act “I Am Not Sara Bareilles.” She has performed nationwide at comedy festivals. Jenny also coaches actors in on camera work and audition prep.

Beyond performance, she’s a proud Jewish voice in the arts, using storytelling and social media to combat antisemitism and share stories of resilience and identity. For Jenny, art and activism are inseparable. Her content has reached 162K views per video.

Where You Can Find Jenny

Instagram: jenny.anne.hochberg

IMDB: Jenny Anne Hochberg

Check out her Reel Here!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jenny Hochberg

02:54 Jenny’s Jewish Journey and Identity

06:11 Impact of October 7th on Jewish Identity

09:07 Experiences in the Entertainment Industry

11:53 Navigating Anti-Semitism in the Industry

14:52 Community and Activism Post-October 7th

18:07 The Role of Jewish Day Schools

21:07 Current Experiences in New York City

23:56 Reconnecting with Jewish Practices

26:52 The Future of Jewish Representation in Media

38:04 Exploring Jewish Identity in Acting

39:54 The Balance of Judaism in Character Development

42:21 Navigating Jewish Identity in Non-Jewish Spaces

44:00 The Dilemma of Jewish Representation in Media

45:53 Opportunities in Christmas Movies: A Jewish Perspective

51:21 Diversity Within the Jewish Community

55:25 The Need for Diverse Jewish Narratives

01:01:23 The Future of Jewish Identity Post-October 7th

Watch on Youtube

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