Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

How did an 80-year-old Chabad rabbi become a global social media phenomenon, and why is his message resonating from Los Angeles to New Guinea?

Rabbi Manis Friedman, author, longtime educator, and one of the world’s most-followed rabbis on YouTube, joins Jonah to ask a deceptively simple question: why are we here? Friedman argues that creation has a direction and that modern anxiety grows from meaninglessness, not deprivation. People are safer and more comfortable than ever, he says, but without knowing what life is for, comfort becomes a treadmill. From tikkun olam to the follower in New Guinea who walked eight hours for internet access and later built a Torah center, Friedman shows how a clear sense of purpose can cross cultures and transform lives.

Friedman reframes Torah not as a list of commandments, but as God explaining Himself and inviting humanity into a relationship. For him, that is Chabad’s mission: making God knowable so that love can be real. He explains Shabbat as resting alongside God, modesty as protecting intimacy from the distraction of appearances, and ordinary work as service when it improves the world. When Jonah asks how a parent should respond to a child who says, “I didn’t ask to be born,” Friedman turns the question into the episode’s central claim: stop thinking of yourself as needy. You are needed. His message is bracing but hopeful: meaning begins when life stops being about what we can get and becomes about what we are here to give.

THIS WEEK’S MONOLOGUE: Are you a “bad Jew”—or simply disengaged? Jonah replaces guilt with a sharper test: where are your time and energy actually going?

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

00:01:43 — Why Judaism Says Creation Has a Purpose and Direction
Rabbi Manis Friedman explains tikkun olam, humanity’s role in perfecting creation, and why the question of purpose has become urgently modern.
What Is Tikkun Olam? - Chabad.org

00:16:10 — The Man Who Walked Eight Hours to Learn Torah
Friedman shares how a follower in New Guinea walked eight hours to access internet, then built a Torah center for villagers arriving by canoe.

00:22:45 — The Torah Is God Explaining Why He Needs Us
Friedman reframes the Torah and Ten Commandments as God revealing Himself and asking humanity to choose relationship rather than programmed obedience.
The Ten Commandments | My Jewish Learning

00:29:13 — How Chabad Makes God Knowable Through Torah and Relationships
Friedman explains Chabad as the work of making God knowable, arguing that genuine love—of God or a spouse—depends on understanding.
What Is Chabad?

00:35:21 — You Are Not Needy—You Are Needed by God
Friedman argues that humanity’s existence matters because God has “skin in the game,” transforming life from a burden into a divine necessity.

00:46:56 — Why Rabbi Manis Friedman Says Seeing Kills Intimacy
Friedman connects modesty to intimacy, arguing that appearances can distract us from loving the person rather than merely their visible qualities.
Why Doesn't Anyone Blush Anymore? - Reclaiming Intimacy, Modesty, and Sexuality - Chabad.org

More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish:
Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

To contact us & all things BJJP:
www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:
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Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:
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For Sponsorships, please email:
partnerships@jonahplatt.com

Merchandise
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Follow Jonah on:
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Learn more about Rabbi Manis Friedman:
Rabbi Manis Friedman - YouTube
It’s Good to Know - Rabbi Manis Friedman
Rabbi Manis Friedman - Instagram

Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Sasha Fiora, Production Intern: Emma Webb,Tatum Rosenblatt, Eden Waldman, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

From Saudi officials to diaspora Jews, why are so many people listening to Dan Senor?

Dan Senor, host of the Call Me Back podcast and co-author of Start-Up Nation, joins Jonah for a deep dive on Israel, Jewish identity, and the future of Jewish life in the Diaspora. Senor explains how Call Me Back built a devoted audience organically, attracting diaspora Jews seeking trustworthy information, journalists looking for good-faith dialogue, and even international listeners, including Saudi officials, drawn to its thoughtful, long-form conversations about Israel and the Middle East.

Senor discusses how the October 7 attacks reshaped Jewish engagement, the sense of political homelessness many moderate Jews have experienced, and the opportunities emerging from one of the most consequential moments in modern Jewish history. He also emphasizes the need for a Jewish Renaissance centered on expanding access to Jewish day schools, Jewish summer camps, Israel programs, and lifelong Jewish learning. Senor argues that investing in Jewish education and community infrastructure is essential for Jews to flourish.

THIS WEEK’S MONOLOGUE: Jonah reflects on the importance of allies, why he'll sell tickets to future events in pairs, and why “ALLY-ah” may be just as important - if not more important - than aliyah right now.


MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
00:07:30 — How Call Me Back Became the World’s Number One Israel Podcast
Dan on building the top Israel podcast organically after October 7th.
Call me Back Podcast - with Dan Senor - YouTube

00:10:45 — “Israel Was at War. The Diaspora Was Under Attack.”
Dan quotes Rabbi Ingber's defining line on October 7th: Israel was at war, but the diaspora had no army to fight back.
The toll of the Israel-Hamas War on diaspora Jews

00:15:09 — Would Dan Interview Former Allies Who’ve Gone to a “Dark Place”?
Dan considers hosting antisemitic voices to understand, not challenge, their logic.

00:27:33 — Why “Call Me Back” Audience Skews Left of Dan Senor
The “October 8th Jew” phenomenon and left-of-center Jews finding community.
A look at the October 8th Jews | The Jerusalem Post

00:31:42 — The Jewish Future Is Too Expensive. Here’s How to Fix It.
Dan on day schools, affordability gaps, and the case for a Jewish renaissance.
Why Jewish Living Feels So Expensive These Days | Kosher Money

00:43:37 — Where Do Adult Jews Without Kids Find Jewish Community?
Dan on Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the Hartman Institute, and adult entry points to Jewish life.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin on her Jewish faith and her slain son's spiritual quest

More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish:
Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

To contact us & all things BJJP:
www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:
bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:
jonahplattinfo@gmail.com

Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch

Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
X - @JonahPlatt

Follow Being Jewish on:
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Learn More about Dan Senor:
Call Me Back - with Dan Senor - Podcast
Dan Senor Website
Dan Senor X

Credits:
Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Sasha Fiora, Production Intern: Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

From The Big Bang Theory to Jewish advocacy, Mayim Bialik shares the personal journey behind the public persona.

Jonah Platt interviews actress, neuroscientist, author, and Orthodox Jew Mayim Bialik (Blossom and The Big Bang Theory) about rising antizionism and antisemitism, arguing it functions as a hate movement that shuts down dialogue through intimidation and threats.

The conversation explores the rise of antizionist activism on college campuses, her parenting two sons amid the campus hostility, and her experiences navigating public criticism. She shares about her experiences visiting family in the West Bank, and her identification with Israel as her homeland. Jonah and Mayim discuss personal experiences of being confronted online and in public. Such as being protested for being labeled a “Zionist,” and her experience with shifting attitudes at UCLA in the late 1990s/early 2000s.

She also reflects on her directorial debut, As They Made Us, pressures in Hollywood such as lost sponsorships and exclusion from liberal spaces, and the courage required to remain visibly Jewish in public life. Thoughtful, honest, and often humorous, this episode offers a powerful exploration of identity, resilience, and what it means to live proudly as a Jew in the modern world.

THIS WEEK’S MONOLOGUE: Jonah unpacks the paradox of two true statements, both seemingly made untrue by the other: Denying the connection of the Jewish people to Israel is bigotry. AND, conflating the Jewish people with Israel is also bigotry.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
00:08:15 — Being a Public Jew in the Age of Social Media and Online Threats
Mayim on how social media exposed her to antisemitic threats long before October 7th.
Mayim Bialik: Our safety is at risk we've never experienced before

00:17:00 — Anti-Zionism on Campus: 30 Years of Hostility from Cincinnati to UCLA
Mayim traces three decades of campus anti-Zionism from UCLA swastikas to university protests.
Jewish Faculty Members at UCLA Say Enough is Enough - File Legal Documents to Join a Federal Lawsuit to Stop Antisemitic Incidents on Campus

00:32:15 — Liberal Zionism: The Strange Intersection
Mayim on staying a committed Zionist while the Democratic Party distances itself.
What does it mean to be a Liberal American Zionist?

00:40:15 — Life in the West Bank: Armed Settlements, Checkpoints, and Human Complexity
Mayim on her family's 50-year life on armed West Bank settlements.
‘Jew-Free Zone’ – My Experience in the West Bank

00:53:47 — Hollywood Post-October 7th: Sponsors Lost, Silence, and Jewish Self-Segregation
Mayim on losing podcast sponsors and Hollywood's silence after October 7th.
I was betrayed by Hollywood for speaking out after October 7, says Will & Grace star Debra Messing

01:05:24 — Baal Teshuva: From Reform Roots to Modern Orthodoxy, Divorce, and the Gaps in Jewish Community
Mayim traces her baal teshuva path from Reform childhood to Modern Orthodoxy.
What Is a Baal Teshuvah?

This Episode’s Partner:
Start watching or listening to Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam at unpacked.bio/WJ

More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish:
Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

To contact us & all things BJJP:
www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:
bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:
jonahplattinfo@gmail.com

Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch

Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
X - @JonahPlatt

Follow Being Jewish on:
Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast
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Learn more about Mayim Bialik:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missmayim/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MayimBialik
Podcast: https://www.bialikbreakdown.com/

Credits:
Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Rachel Stern, Sasha Nelson Production Intern: Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

What if the answer to "is antizionism antisemitism" is NO...but not for the reason you think? Adam Louis-Klein breaks down the history, language, and ideas driving the debate.

In a thought-provoking conversation, host Jonah Platt interviews Adam Louis-Klein, who returned from anthropological fieldwork with the Desana in the Amazon just after October 7, 2023, to discover the horrors of the attack on Israel. This drove him to become a leading voice opposing antizionism through his writing, appearances, and the organization he founded, Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ). Adam defines antizionism as hatred of Israel and argues it functions like racism via obsessive libels, such as “colonizer,” “apartheid,” and “genocide,” used to justify hostility and violence against Jewish people. He distinguishes pre-1948 Jewish antizionism from modern antizionism, which he traces to Arab nationalist and Soviet propaganda, and criticizes institutional normalization in universities, NGOs, media, and governments. Klein contends antizionism harms Palestinians by empowering militias like Hamas and Hezbollah and outlines a “truth and reconciliation” vision including antizionism studies and memorialization.

Together, Jonah and Adam discuss the history of Bundism, Reform Judaism, Neturei Karta, the Oslo Accords, and debates surrounding the West Bank, Judea and Samaria, and Israeli identity. The episode also explores how to engage progressive audiences, respond to antizionist rhetoric, and build institutions capable of addressing one of the most consequential ideological battles facing the Jewish community today.

Plus, this week Jonah is back with the fourth installment of L’Dor V'adorable! We thought it couldn’t get any more adorable.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
16:17 — The Three Core Antizionist Libels: Colonizer, Apartheid, and Genocide
Klein breaks down the foundational accusations driving the antizionist movement — how the colonizer, apartheid, and genocide narratives were engineered to exploit modern moral sensibilities.
Defeating Antizionism

23:37 — Why "Antizionism" Is the Right Term (Not "Antisemitism")
Klein explains why the hate movement has been named as antizionism rather than antisemitism — including the historical parallelism between the two terms and why the distinction actually reaches more people.
Understanding Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism

51:29 — How Antizionism Harms Palestinians, Allies, and Civilization Itself
A breakdown of the collateral damage antizionism causes beyond Jews — including Palestinians living under Hamas/Hezbollah, non-Jewish allies marked as Zionists, and the broader erosion of democratic norms.
Antizionism Is a Hate Movement That Harms Palestinians and All Western Societies

1:15:03 - A Vision for a Post-Anti-Zionism World
Klein's framework for what it would take for society to fully reckon with antizionism the way it has with the Holocaust, including media accountability, university reform, and memorialization.

This Episode’s Partner:
Thank you to Birthright Israel Foundation

More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish:
Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

To contact us & all things BJJP:
www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:
bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:
jonahplattinfo@gmail.com

Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch

Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
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Follow Being Jewish on:
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Learn More about Adam Louis-Klein:
Adam Louis-Klein Website
Adam Louis-Klein Instagram
Movement Against Antizionism(MAAZ)
MAAZ Toolkits

CREDITS:
Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Rachel Stern, Sasha Nelson Production Intern: Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder turns grief, antisemitism, and the Jewish experience into one of the funniest and most unexpectedly moving conversations you’ll hear all year.

In this hilarious, heartfelt, and surprisingly profound episode, stand-up comic Yohay Sponder joins host Jonah Platt for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, Jewish identity, Israel, and the global Jewish experience. Known for his viral English-language stand-up and international tours, Sponder reflects on performing for Jewish audiences across Australia, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States while witnessing rising antizionist hate around the world. Sponder recounts the shocking experience of show cancellations in Amsterdam and Australia after public threats and claims of “perceived insensitivity” in his material. Along the way, the two discuss why Yohay performs in English, what he’s learned being married to an American, and how growing up the grandchild of Holocaust survivors influenced his comedic spark. He shares his goals of making people laugh while spreading Jewish pride and the inspiration behind his comedy specials, Self-Loving Jew and Genesis.

Using humor and vulnerability, Sponder examines what connects Jews globally, emphasizing comedy’s role in strengthening cultural bonds. The episode dives into Sponder’s evolving relationship with Judaism following the death of his father, Holocaust-survivor grandparents, his embrace of traditions like tefillin and wearing a (giant) Star of David.

THIS WEEK’S MONOLOGUE: Jonah ponders Ikiagi, the Japanese concept for “your reason for being,” and how you can find your own Jewish version to guide you in these challenging times.

TIMESTAMPS
2:08 — Why Yohay performs in English
Yohay explains why English became the perfect language for his comedy, saying its structure naturally works better for punchlines than Hebrew.

14:26 — The Amsterdam cancellation
Yohay recounts how his sold-out Amsterdam shows were canceled days before showtime after threats against the venue

18:20 — When boycotts backfire
Yohay explains how protests and cancellations have often helped his career by bringing more publicity, support, and ticket sales.

28:06 — The fan who said his comedy saved her family
Yohay recalls a fan sharing how his comedy helped her and her father through his cancer treatments

30:32 — His father’s Holocaust survivor upbringing
Yohay reflects on his father’s painful childhood as the son of Auschwitz survivors — and how he chose to raise his own family with joy and laughter instead.

49:41 — The meaning of “Self-Loving Jew”
Yohay explains why he named his previous tour Self-Loving Jew, framing it as a response to Jews who publicly criticized Israel after October 7th.

This Episode’s Partner:
Thank you honeymoonisrael.org/beingjewish

More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish:
Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

To contact us & all things BJJP:
www.BeingJewishPodcast.com

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:
bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter

For Sponsorships, please email:
jonahplattinfo@gmail.com

Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch

Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
X - @JonahPlatt

Follow Being Jewish on:
Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast
TikTok - @BeingJewish

Learn More About Yohay Sponder:
Yohay Sponder Youtube
Yohay Sponder Instagram
Yohay Sponder Stand-Up and Appearances

CREDITS:
Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Rachel Stern, Sasha Nelson Production Intern: Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt