This week, we welcome Adiel Cohen to the podcast. Adiel is a viral activist, content creator and IDF reserve soldier who walks us through his experience fighting on the ground immediately following October 7th. Adiel also talks about his experience fighting antisemitism in the diaspora, visiting college campuses, etc. He leaves us with a powerful message of unity.

Follow Adiel on Instagram and TikTok @adielofisrael

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What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:01 Who is Adiel Cohen?

04:10 How is Adiel feeling post-October 7th? On Adiel's experience in reserve duty

11:02 Did Adiel engage in active combat?

12:38 On visiting Kfar Aza and Be'eri

15:33 Did Adiel go into Gaza?

16:27 Antisemitism worldwide - what does Adiel find speaking to young Jews?

20:09 Where does Adiel think this is going for Israel?

22:18 What is Adiel optimistic about?

24:04 On the World Expo in Dubai - State of Palestine & Israel exhibits

29:18 On Masada - was it heroism or was it problematic?

33:43 On difficult conversations with Palestinian friends

36:25 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

In 2024, no one would have expected to see violence against Jews akin to what we saw when the Holocaust began. It's more important than ever that Jewish people feel strong, empowered, and know how to defend themselves.

Margarita interviews Chanan Smith - ex-IDF soldier and founder of Magen Protection Solutions, which specializes in employee and team development, as well as expert solutions for workplace violence prevention and conflict resolution. Chanan also offers extensive self-defense training at his school in Boca Raton. In this episode, Chanan breaks down the psychology of attacks and gives countless practical tips on how we can defend ourselves. Chanan also leaves us with a crucial message and a reminder to preserve our Jewish fighting spirit.

Learn more about Chanan's work at https://magenprotectionsolutions.com/ and follow him on Instagram @magenprotectionsolutions and @chanansmith

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

04:34 Who is Chanan Smith & how did he start Magen Protection Solutions?

07:42 What is Chanan's experience running Magen Protection Solutions? He sees people of all ages & backgrounds

09:46 Most impactful stories Chanan has heard from clients

14:34 Breaking down the psychology of active shooters & why fighting back is so important

19:59 Words of advice to Jewish people experiencing antisemitism & violence

26:39 Margarita's experience at Israel rally

32:19 On normalization of violence against Jewish people & what can Jews do to protect themselves

33:53 "All attacks occur in this way" - breaking down the 3 steps of an attack & how to respond

38:51 "Can I help you?" vs. Margarita's approach she taught to her little brother (lol)

40:31 4 reasons an attack occurs

43:48 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

This episode features a fascinating interview with Professor Ada Taggar-Cohen who founded the only Jewish Studies program in Japan at Doshisha University in Kyoto. Margarita and Ada discuss being Jewish in Japan, her research, and her perspective on the Torah. The episode takes and interesting turn when Ada and Margarita discuss - Is what's written in the Torah unique to the Jews? Was Masada really heroic? What's the deal with the Messiah?

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:55 Who is Professor Ada Taggar-Cohen?

05:51 How did Ada decide to move to Japan?

07:45 Ada's research - "we have to look at the Torah as an edited text"

09:21 The connection of Zionism to the Hebrew Bible

10:01 The Torah is rooted in the heritage of the Near East - what does this mean?

11:48 Comparison of Hittite texts to the Torah

15:01 On the evolution of Judaism - the ability to choose

15:58 On living in "Temple Times" when the Messiah comes - it's a matter of personal belief

17:19 "The Messiah will come, but not in my times"

19:03 On Holocaust survivors

19:50 Margarita's takes - Messianic Judaism? Modern interpretation of the Torah? What's what?

23:48 Margarita's takes - Heroes of the Holocaust, Masada, & do we have an obligation to fight back?

28:04 On assimilating in Japan as an Israeli person

30:00 The Japanese treat everyone as foreigners - doesn't matter if you are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, etc.

30:38 On the Jewish community in Japan - "there is no antisemitism in Japan"

32:10 The Japanese are pacifists - they have a hard time wrapping their mind around the Hamas/Israel war

33:09 The Japanese are fascinated with the Jewish people

34:03 What is it like teaching Japanese students Jewish Studies?

36:41 Ada's class on Jewish women - who is an inspiring Jewish woman? Guest Nomination

40:18 Closing Remarks

You asked, we answered! Margarita brings on Kosha Dillz! Kosha Dillz is an Israeli-American rapper. While Kosha has been rapping since he was 17, he has gained immense popularity after October 7th. Kosha and Margarita discuss his music, his videos, and his experience of everything post October 7th.

Follow Kosha Dillz on Instagram and TikTok @koshadillz and check out his website koshadillzworld.com . His music is available on all platforms, and you can catch him on seasons 18-20 on MTV's Wild 'N Out!

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

02:34 Who is Kosha Dillz aka Rami Even-Esh?

05:20 On Kosh's ability to grab the room no matter how big or small

07:54 What has Kosha learned from interviewing people on the streets about Israel?

11:40 How did Kosha Dillz come about? On the evolving persona, music & work post October 7th

18:04 What does Kosha Dillz want young Jewish people to hear? Mental health, exhaustion, disunity

21:37 On Kosha Dillz's last trip to Israel, performing for soldiers

24:57 On Operation Iron Swords being one of the longest in Israel's history and Kosh's apolitical philosophy

29:17 The volume of things Kosha Dillz sees & hasn't released

31:22 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

This episode has been released ahead of schedule in light of major news happening on Columbia University's campus that involve Shai Davidai. Shai is a professor at Columbia Business School who went viral after October 7th when he criticized Columbia's lack of action to protect Jewish students. Currently, Shai has become a popular activist condemning the massive antisemitism on Columbia's campus and extending support and encouragement to Jewish students. Just days after this episode was recorded, Shai's ID was deactivated by Columbia, prohibiting him from entering Columbia's main campus.

In this episode, Shai discusses his current feelings on what's going on at Columbia, where he thinks things are headed, and offers words of encouragement to Jewish people.

For latest news on Shai Davidai, follow him on Instagram and X - @shaidavidai

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

03:18 What's the latest for Shai Davidai?

08:11 On Jewish professors having different experiences at Columbia with antisemitism and protests

10:54 Is there any hope for antisemitic college campuses?

17:33 How is Shai's relationship with his students?

23:09 Shai's take as he studies human behavior - what is happening to people right now?

29:04 What's our obligation as Jewish people?

36:23 Words of encouragement for Jewish people

39:17 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Host Margarita Lyadova is back with a solo episode to reflect on her first 90 days of running People Jew Wanna Know Podcast! This episode is short and sweet, but gives you the inside scoop on Margarita's unique podcasting process, her best and worst feedback from the pod, and her most surprising takeaways from meeting various guests.

If you liked this solo episode and want more, send us a message on Instagram @peoplejewwannaknow to let us know, and please rate us 5 stars. :)

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

Surprise! Margarita has released her Tight 5 stand-up comedy set! If you hate dealing with annoying customer service and bossy flight attendants, you will love this.

Follow @peoplejewwannaknow and @marge_simpson on Instagram to stay up to date on all the things.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

Viral TikToker, Talia Lichtstein, joins People Jew Wanna Know Podcast to discuss being a viral creator, antisemitism, Jewish camp, and much more. Talia has over 1.6 million TikTok followers. She gives us the good, the bad, and the ugly, sharing exactly what ensued when she condemned antisemitism and expressed support for Israel on October 7th. Expect the unexpected with this episode, but also expect to laugh; Talia has an AMAZING sense of humor.

Follow Talia on TikTok and Instagram @talialichtstein and check out her podcast, Basic Training, wherever you get your podcasts.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

01:56 What has Talia been up to post October 7th?

03:27 What is up w/TikTok? Talia discusses posting about antisemitism online

05:03 "I could not have chosen a worse place to build my career"

07:29 On feeling exhausted, hopeless, & disappointed in Talia's TikTok audience

09:47 How Talia's Jewish upbringing influenced her online persona

12:30 On Jewish camp

17:21 A message to young Jewish people

20:00 The responsibility to be a proud Jew

21:29 How has Talia's position on Israel influenced her relationships with other TikTokers?

28:02 On Jews losing the "PR crisis"

31:01 Margarita's experience discussing Israel in the corporate workplace

33:19 Discussing Talia's podcast - Basic Training

35:55 Any questions on Basic Training that have stumped Talia?

39:23 What would Talia tell her younger self?

41:23 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

In this episode, Margarita interviews behavioral economist and writer- Dan Ariely. Dan is an icon in the behavioral economics field, and has written well-known books such as Predictably Irrational, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty, and Misbelief.

We get front row seats to learn about Dan's work helping rehabilitate the Israeli and Jewish communities post-October 7th. Dan discusses his concerns over behavioral phenomena we're seeing in society today, and leaves us with powerful advice on how to navigate times of high stress and ambiguity.

Follow Dan Ariely and purchase his books at danariely.com

Listen to his podcast, The Upside of Down, wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch "The Irrational" based on Dan Ariely's life & books on NBC and Hulu.

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda

04:35 Dan's take on the current state of the world & the current state of Jewish people

07:13 Dan's work post-October 7th: PTSD, vulnerable youth, helping Israeli society recover

13:40 The evolution of Dan's work & being an applied scientist

15:00 Misbelief - Dan's research, book, & a discussion on resilience

19:57 Dan's concern with the rise of antisemitism

22:32 The Jewish value of critical thinking & challenging existing beliefs

24:53 What can be done to debias people?

33:17 On the value of the behavioral science curriculum

34:28 TV show based on Dan - The Irrational

39:12 What is Dan optimistic about?

43:41 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Margarita interviews Tamara Eidelman, a viral Russian historian and Youtuber known for deep support of Ukraine. Tamara has left Russia and is currently in Europe. In this episode, Margarita and Tamara discuss the war in Ukraine, Tamara's work and her Jewish identity. In this deep conversation, Tamara delves into the themes of humanity, guilt, responsibility, and even souls.

See Tamara speak live by attending one of her lectures in Russian while she is on her North American tour. More details here: https://eidelman.ru/

Subscribe to Tamara on Youtube @TamaraEidelmanHistory and on Instagram @tamaraeidelman

Support our work: buymeacoffee.com/peoplejewwannaknow

What We Discuss:

00:00

02:17 Who is Tamara Eidelman? From teacher to Youtuber

05:41 Tamara's North American tour & her iconic lecture on guilt & responsibility

09:25 On audience members & their commentary during Tamara's lectures

13:39 20 Days in Mariupol & on Margarita being from Donetsk

15:14 What's going to happen to Ukraine? The consequences of prolonged war on people's minds

18:35 Are there any historical principles we can follow?

20:27 On Tamara's Jewish identity

21:55 Tamara's Youtube channel - on strong viewpoints from her audience & sentiment of political alertness

24:38 Tough Jews - Jewish gangsters

25:53 Why does Tamara say her Jewish upbringing wasn't strong?

27:33 Tamara's thoughts on Israel

29:17 On Russian-speaking Jews & more on Donetsk

32:42 What's keeping Tamara up at night & why?

33:00 Tamara's experience leaving Russia

36:52 What is Tamara optimistic about & why?

37:43 Closing Remarks