Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

As 2025 ends, Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman look back on a year that felt both relentless and revealing, then name ten themes that shaped Jewish life, Israel, and the diaspora, except it’s nine, because they’re contrarians, plus what they hope 2026 can become.

They unpack the shift from acute crisis to chronic challenge, why “that feeling you’re feeling is peoplehood,” the rise of horseshoe politics and Overton window expansion, the exhaustion of nonstop noise, and the surprising places hope still shows up, including resilience, allies, and moments of solidarity.

They also get personal, from Mijal’s pregnancy and the tension of joy amid fear, to Noam’s Israel bar mitzvah trip and what it taught him about civic society. To close, they draw on Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ guidance for how Jews respond in hard eras, find allies, strengthen unity, and choose joy alongside the fight, then ask what it would look like to build “the ark, plank by plank” in 2026.

Get in touch at [email protected]. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: ⁠⁠⁠https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025⁠⁠⁠

Mijal and Noam explore how generosity—of time, money, talent, and attention—has powered the Jewish story across generations, and what it means to make giving a lifelong practice rather than a one-time donation. They’re joined by Mitchell R. Julis, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Canyon Partners, for a wide-ranging conversation about Jewish identity, philanthropy, and responsibility.Drawing on his Romaniote and Ashkenazi family roots and decades of civic, educational, and Jewish leadership, Julis reflects on the difference between power and influence, how philanthropy can both “hug and hit,” and why investing in Jewish education, Israel experiences, and institutions is essential for sustaining Jewish life across generations.

Get in touch at [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: ⁠⁠https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025⁠⁠

Mijal and Noam dive into one of Judaism’s biggest—and most deliberately open-ended—questions: What does Judaism say about the afterlife, Olam HaBa, the World to Come? They explore why humans across cultures care so deeply about life after death—justice, grief, meaning, and reward—and why the Torah is famously sparse on the subject. Drawing on classical Jewish sources from the Mishnah and Talmud to Maimonides, they unpack what Jewish tradition does (and doesn’t) say about what comes next, including Olam HaZeh vs. Olam HaBa, Gan Eden, resurrection, and the risks of turning religion into a system of spiritual rewards. The takeaway: Judaism insists there is something beyond this life—while refusing to let speculation about the afterlife distract from the sacred work of living well right now.

Here is a link to the story from the Talmud discussed in the episode:

 https://www.sefaria.org/Taanit.22a.7?lang=bi  

We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here:

https://simchattorahchallenge.org/

https://www.sefaria.org/texts

Get in touch at [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: ⁠https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025⁠

Mijal and Noam dive into the fraught conversation around tzniut (modesty), blending Jewish sources with personal stories and lived experience. They unpack what Jewish law actually says, debunk common myths about dress codes, oppression, and liberation, and wrestle honestly with how modesty shows up in real communities. Ultimately, they expand tzniut beyond clothing—toward dignity, humility, self-awareness, and agency.

We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here:

https://simchattorahchallenge.org/

https://www.sefaria.org/texts

Get in touch at [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach became the site of one of the deadliest antisemitic attacks in the diaspora in decades. Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy, who grew up in Sydney and now lives in Jerusalem, joins Noam and Mijal to explain what happened, why many in the community say it was “horrifying but not shocking,” and what this moment demands next.

Here's a link to donate to the Bondi terror attack response:

 https://donate.thedorfoundation.org.au/bondi-beach-terror-attack-response/donate

Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: ⁠https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025

Get in touch at [email protected]. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025

Book for the Jerusalem Marathon "Return, Reconnect, and Run for Resilience" tour: sababatravel.com

In Part 2 of The Battle Over Jewish Storytelling: A Hanukkah Conversation, Mijal sits down with Dr. Tanya White to explore the deeper meaning of Hanukkah—beyond the oil. Together they unpack the three major narratives of the holiday: the historical Maccabee revolt, the rabbinic miracle of the oil, and the Al Hanisim prayer that weaves together human courage and divine presence. Speaking from Israel after October 7, Tanya reflects on a new “renaissance of the spirit” and what Hanukkah can teach us today about Jewish resilience, covenant, and hope. This timely, inspiring conversation reframes Hanukkah as a story of agency, faith, and the light we create together.

Here is a link to ⁠ Dr. Tanya White website, where you can learn more about her work and find links to her podcast.

https://www.tanyawhite.org/

We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here:

https://simchattorahchallenge.org/

https://www.sefaria.org/texts

Note: Noam Weissman will be back next week's episode .

Get in touch at [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In preparation for Hanukkah, Mijal sits down with her friend and bestselling author Sarah Hurwitz to rediscover the holiday’s deeper meaning. Together they explore the grown-up story of the Maccabees, the complexities of assimilation and resistance, and how Hanukkah’s themes echo the identity struggles facing Jews today. Drawing on insights from Here All Along and As a Jew, Sarah reflects on courage, community, and what it means to live proudly and unapologetically Jewish in 2025.

Here is Sarah Hurwitz's website with links to her books and bio:

https://www.sarahhurwitz.net/

Here All Along

As a Jew

We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here:

https://simchattorahchallenge.org/

https://www.sefaria.org/texts

Note: Noam was traveling at the time of this recording.

Get in touch at [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠

⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025

Mijal and Noam break down Jewish law (halacha) as a living legal system—tracing its path from Sinai to the Mishnah, Talmud, Maimonides, and the Shulchan Aruch. They explore how halacha is interpreted, how Sephardic and Ashkenazi traditions differ, the role of custom (minhag), and why debates across denominations shape Jewish life today. They share personal stories that reveal just how much they love Jewish law and how fun, engaging, and meaningful it can be.

We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here:

https://simchattorahchallenge.org/

https://www.sefaria.org/texts

Get in touch at [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠

⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025

Noam sits down in LA with actor, Jewish advocate and fellow podcast host, Jonah Platt, to talk about identity, Israel, Hollywood, and why October 7 turned him into what he calls an “October 8th activist.” Jonah reflects on his Jewish upbringing, the rising fear around Jewish identity, and why he now proudly wears a Magen David. They dig into what Hollywood gets right (and wrong) about Jewish stories, why so few celebrities speak up for Israel, and how to navigate tough conversations using Jonah’s “Five C’s.”

Jonah Platt is the host of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles prior to the Unpacking Israeli History Roadshow. Mijal will be back next week.

Get in touch at [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold 

Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025

Mijal and Noam dive into the first national study of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in the United States. The study was directed by Dr. Mijal Bitton at NYU in partnership with JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa). Mijal and Noam discuss a missing chapter in the American Jewish story. Through new research and personal reflection, they explore what Sephardic and Mizrahi experiences and communities reveal about Jewish identity, belonging and traditions.

Here is a link to Mijal Bitton's study: Sephardic & Mizrahi Jews in the United States: Identities, Experiences, and Communities conducted at NYU .

https://sephardicstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/5.-Demographic-study_Understanding-Sephardic-and-Mizrahi-Identity.pdf

Get in touch at our new email address: [email protected] and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.

For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold