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Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
Based on Podcast App listening data
Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam episodes
- On East Of Eden, Dinner With God, And Ambition
Is ambition a virtue that allows us to reach our full potential? Or is it a trap that leaves us dissatisfied and burnt out? With Florence Pugh starring in a new Netflix adaptation of Noam's favorite book (East Of Eden), it seems like a great time to wonder about the ambitions of Steinbeck's most notorious character, and why that matters for the rest of us. Along the way, Mijal has her own thoughts on a viral "would you rather" question, Jewish leadership, and Simchat Torah.
Jon Polin's SAPIR article on reluctant leadership can be read here: https://sapirjournal.org/influence/2026/on-reluctant-leadership/
Please help Unpacked Podcasts and vote for Jewish History Nerds in the Signal Awards Listener’s Choice Award for top History Podcast.
Head to unpacked.bio/VoteJHN2026 before October 15th. You’ll need to create a free account to vote.
This episode is generously sponsored in memory of Leo M. Bernstein
Get in touch at [email protected].
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
48 min - Are We As Divided As We Think? Reflections On October 7th
In the immediate aftermath of October 7th, 2023, there were incredible signs of unity within and alongside the Jewish people. But there were also moments of profound division. Three years later, how has this infamous date--and the subsequent war in Gaza--brought people closer together, or further apart? Mijal and Noam's discussion is one of hope: perhaps tragedy has united us more than television or social media would have us believe. Emotions run high as Mijal and Noam reflect, reminisce, and discuss the future of Israel and the Jewish people in this new reality.
This episode is generously sponsored by Nadina and Fernando Szew, in honor of their deep care for Jewish education and their enduring love of our peoplehood and Israel.
Get in touch at [email protected].
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
37 min - How Mikey Greenblatt Turns Hate Into "Jewish Fan Mail"
Antisemitism on social media seems worse than ever. Scrolling through Instagram, X, or TikTok is enough to make any Jewish person hyperventilate. But are things as bad in real life as they are on the internet? And if not, how can we learn to take the trolling with a grain of (kosher) salt? There's no better guide than Mikey Greenblatt, who turns nasty comments on his posts into "Jewish Fan Mail." In a heart-to-heart with Noam, Mikey explains how his connection to audience members means so much more to him than vitriol from anonymous bots and trolls.
Get in touch at [email protected].
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
43 min - What Does It Mean To Be "Happy?"
In an era where we're more stressed, more depressed, and more isolated than we've ever been, what will it take to feel that elusive thing called "happiness?" How will we know when we've found it? This week, Mijal and Noam are doing a deep dive into whether the "pursuit" of happiness is problematic, why pain can sometimes bring us closer to joy, and just what exactly is written on Noam's t-shirt.
This episode is sponsored in memory of Leo M. Bernstein. Thank you to The Bernstein Foundation for their generous support and partnership.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on Youtube.
Get in touch at [email protected].
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
35 min - Olga Namer: A Modern-Day Mrs. Maisel
Olga Namer grew up in a Syrian Jewish Orthodox community and got married at the age of 18. Two years later, she was divorced and heartbroken. That could have been the end of her story. Instead, she turned tragedy into opportunity, pursuing a career in comedy and using her act to process her breakup. In this episode, Olga opens up to our hosts about being caught between comedy and community, poking fun at Zohran Mamdani, and relationship advice.
Get in touch at [email protected].
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
38 min - Why Is It So Hard To Admit When We're Wrong?
In an era where public figures double down instead of apologizing, and social media puts our every word under the microscope, saying "I'm sorry" feels scarier than ever. So what can help us conquer that fear? In this episode, Noam and Mijal explore guilt culture versus shame culture, accountability, and the "five percent" rule.
Get in touch at [email protected].
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
47 min - Can Israelis And Palestinians Ever Live In Peace? With Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib
Will the war ever truly come to an end? Can two populations with so much pain find common ground? Or is the hurt too deep, too vast to overcome? There are no questions more urgent than these, and there is no better guest to wonder with than Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian activist and author of Hamas And Its Two Million Hostages. With Noam, Ahmed shares his own own tragic story of loss, why he holds Hamas responsible for the plight of the Palestinian people, and what Israel--and the world at large--can do to truly bring about peace.
Ahmed's book is available for purchase here: https://jewishquarterly.com/essay/2026/07/hamas-and-its-two-million-hostages
Get in touch at [email protected].
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
1 hr 4 min - Revisiting The Future Of Judaism With Rabbi Avi Killip
This fall, Mijal and Noam are thinking of the big questions that the High Holy Days can bring with them. We're off this week, so it seemed like a good time to revisit a discussion with Rabbi Avi Killip, who has big questions of her own: About Jewish movements and denominations, technology and religion, and why the trappings of modern life aren't making us as happy as they should.
Get in touch at [email protected].
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
38 min - Is The Middle East Finally Ready To Accept Israel? With Jason Isaacson
As threats to Jews spike around the globe, there's a part of the world with a brighter outlook--and it's not where you'd expect. This week, Noam and Mijal are joined by Jason Isaacson, the Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer for the American Jewish Committee. Jason has been working tirelessly to normalize relations between Israel and other Middle Eastern countries for decades. He sees plenty of challenges ahead, but plenty of hope as well.
Learn more about AJC at ajc.org
Get in touch at [email protected].
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
35 min - Maytal Kowalski Is Having Tough Conversations With Canadian Jews
As antisemitism has exploded in Canada, debate has raged within its Jewish community. Is the government doing enough to combat Jewish hate? What does it mean to be zionist? Why are young Jews walking away from Israel? Maytal Kowalski, the executive director of JSpaceCanada, has leapt headfirst into all of these uncomfortable questions. In this episode, Noam and Maytal discuss her unique background, the bond between Canada's Jews, and her strong views on Israel and progressive politics. Learn more about JSpaceCanada at jspacecanada.ca
Get in touch at [email protected].
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
52 min
About Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
From the publisher's feed
Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman are two of the most dynamic, interesting, and thought-provoking Jewish leaders today. Two seasoned educators who love to talk, listen, laugh, challenge, and grow, Mijal and Noam are the Wondering Jews, leading us through thought-provoking discussions that are as serious as they are entertaining.
Whether you're a seasoned scholar or just curious about Jewish culture, this show offers a refreshing perspective that's both enlightening and enjoyable. It's not just a podcast; it's a thoughtful conversation that invites everyone to wonder about the rich tapestry of Jewish ideas in the context of our daily lives. Brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.
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