Special Guest: Rich Siegel

Rich has been an in-demand free-lance musician on the New York scene for many years, as a pianist, singer, and musical director, and also has an extensive international performance resume.  Raised in what he calls “the cult of atheistic Zionism posing as Judaism”, in his youth Rich was very involved as a supporter of Israel, notably as a teenage Zionist youth group president. He then lived in Israel in his 20’s working as a pianist in a luxury hotel.  Rich’s change of heart began as a spiritual awakening, by which he came to see that Jewish tribal identity and the state of Israel were worshipped as idols. Then he became acquainted with Zionism’s crimes against humanity, which contradicted the Zionist narrative he grew up with. Organizing demonstrations against Zionist activity in the northern New Jersey suburbs where he lives, Rich’s activism hit a high note when a talk he gave in front of the Teaneck town council went viral. Recently Rich was fired from a teaching job at a local music school due to a pro-Palestine Facebook post. He is currently running for Congress in New Jersey, with the Ceasefire and Justice Party. I’m so excited to hear Rich speak about his journey and his awareness.