Hosts Mijal and Noam are joined by educator, storyteller, and influencer, Yirmiyahu Danzig, known as That_Semite. Yirmiyahu has millions of followers across TikTok, Instagram, and Unpacked's YouTube channel. He shares his journey connecting with audiences, embracing the complexities of Jewish and Palestinian identities, and fostering dialogue in a divided world.

Get in touch at [email protected], and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.

Click here to follow Yirmiyahu on Unpacked.

UNPACKED is growing and we need your help! From now through December 31 you can make history with us by contributing to our podcast expansion project! We're kicking off this plan with transforming Unpacking Israeli History into a multi-platform experience, providing more episodes in both audio and video formats, more interesting guests, live events and more! Join us in raising $150,000 to make this dream a reality. If you've already contributed, thank you! If you haven't yet, now's your chance to be a part of something amazing.

Donate here today.

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

Jewish History Nerds

Unpacking Israeli History

Soulful Jewish Living

Stars of David with Elon Gold 

Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, a leader with diverse roles spanning Jewish community engagement, joins Mijal and Noam for a thought-provoking conversation about the role of interfaith dialogue since October 7th. The episode explores Rabbi Sarna’s fascinating journey—from serving as the Executive Director of NYU's Bronfman Center to becoming a global figure in interfaith work in Abu Dhabi. Rabbi Sarna spoke to Mijal and Noam following the tragic murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a Chabad emissary in the UAE.

Get in touch at [email protected], and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.

UNPACKED is growing and we need your help! From now through December 31 you can make history with us by contributing to our podcast expansion project! We're kicking off this plan with transforming Unpacking Israeli History into a multi-platform experience, providing more episodes in both audio and video formats, more interesting guests, live events and more! Join us in raising $150,000 to make this dream a reality. If you've already contributed, thank you! If you haven't yet, now's your chance to be a part of something amazing.

Donate here today.

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

Jewish History Nerds

Unpacking Israeli History

Stars of David with Elon Gold 

Soulful Jewish Living

Hosts Mijal and Noam sit down with Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and former U.S. Congressman, for an insightful discussion on some of the Jewish world's most pressing issues. Ted shares his experiences from decades of advocacy. The conversation touches on the future of bipartisan support for Israel, the rising threats of antisemitism, and personal reflections on Jewish identity.

Get in touch at [email protected], and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.

UNPACKED is growing and we need your help! From now through December 31 you can make history with us by contributing to our podcast expansion project! We're kicking off this plan with transforming Unpacking Israeli History into a multi-platform experience, providing more episodes in both audio and video formats, more interesting guests, live events and more! Join us in raising $150,000 to make this dream a reality. If you've already contributed, thank you! If you haven't yet, now's your chance to be a part of something amazing.

Donate here today.

------------

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

Jewish History Nerds

Unpacking Israeli History

Stars of David with Elon Gold 

Soulful Jewish Living

Hosts Mijal and Noam explore themes of gratitude along with Jewish and American identity. As Thanksgiving approaches, they share personal reflections, listener questions, and cultural insights while emphasizing the importance of gratitude in everyday life.

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Get in touch at [email protected], and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

Jewish History Nerds

Unpacking Israeli History

Stars of David 

Soulful Jewish Living

Comedian and actor Elon Gold joins Mijal and Noam to talk about Jewish identity, cultural pride, and the impact of antisemitism on Jewish life today. Known for his appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm and his comedy specials, Elon shares personal reflections on balancing his career with a deep connection to Judaism and Israel. Elon, Mijal and Noam also discuss Elon's new podcast, Stars of David, which launches this week and is also produced by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

Jewish History Nerds

Unpacking Israeli History

Stars of David 

Soulful Jewish Living

In their first live episode, hosts Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman talk to Meghan McCain—author, former co-host of The View, and podcast host. The conversation was recorded live in front of a packed audience at the Jewish Federation of North America's General Assembly in Washington, DC. Meghan McCain, the daughter of the late Senator John McCain, brings an insightful perspective on antisemitism, American politics, and her personal experiences as an ally to the Jewish community. The episode explores complex, timely themes, balancing moments of humor with serious reflections on the challenges facing Jewish communities today.

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

Jewish History Nerds

Unpacking Israeli History

Soulful Jewish Living

Hosts Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman welcome Lauren Markoe, news editor of The Forward, to discuss polls and trends among Jewish voters, many of whom live in swing states. The conversation touches on how Jewish communities navigate political divides, the challenges of public opinion, and cultural identity. Lauren highlights the heightened concern for democracy within Jewish communities, the complexity of political allegiances, and how issues such as Israel, antisemitism, and civic engagement drive Jewish voter priorities.

Kenneth Wald: The Foundations of American Jewish Liberalism

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

Jewish History Nerds

Unpacking Israeli History

Soulful Jewish Living

Hosts Mijal and Noam explore the podcast's mission: to discuss and try to understand the complexities within the Jewish world. They talk about an ongoing challenge for parents; how to talk about antisemitism and Israel with children. Mijal and Noam also reflect on how their beliefs have changed over the past year.

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

Jewish History Nerds

Unpacking Israeli History

Soulful Jewish Living

Hosts Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman sit down with journalist and friend, Haviv Rettig Gur to talk about what lies ahead for Israel. They discuss the many challenges Israel faces, including a regional war with new technologies, the fate of the hostages still in Gaza, an uncertain geopolitical future and deep internal divisions. Haviv, Mijal and Noam address Israel's relationship with American Jews at a time when American Jewish identity is also evolving. On this Simchat Torah, which marks one year since the Hamas attack according to the Jewish calendar, they reflect on the role of Jewish tradition after October 7th and the need to embrace difference to foster Jewish unity.

Books by Micah Goodman

Jonathan Haidt The Righteous Mind

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

Jewish History Nerds

Unpacking Israeli History

Soulful Jewish Living

In this episode of Wondering Jews, Noam and Mijal dive into the themes of joy and happiness through the lens of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. They explore the paradox of a festival centered on joy amidst life’s impermanence, discussing how the temporary structure of the sukkah reminds us of what truly brings happiness: relationships, community, and purpose. Along the way, they share personal confessions from their high school reading lists, memories of joyful moments, and reflections on how to balance joy with the realities of the modern world. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about how Jewish traditions offer timeless lessons on finding joy, even in challenging times.

Mijal Bitton: Committed by Mijal Bitton  | Substack

Martin Seligman: Pursuit of Happiness

Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz (Harvard study on happiness): The Good Life

Noam Weissman's Jewish Journal article about Sukkot: Living in the Joy of Sukkot

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

Jewish History Nerds

Unpacking Israeli History

Soulful Jewish Living