Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

In this timely episode, host Jonah Platt sits down with Josh Gottheimer, the five-term U.S. Congressman serving New Jersey’s Fifth District. Josh is a leading pro-Israel voice in the Democratic Party and Vice-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus (which he co-founded). In Congress, Josh serves on two Committees, including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he is the Ranking Member of the National Security Agency and Cyber Subcommittee and is a member of the Defense Intelligence and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee. Gottheimer shares candid insights on navigating politics while being Jewish. He discusses U.S. action against Iran, arguing Iran is a major threat but criticizing the administration for shifting objectives and failing to clearly explain goals, which fuels public skepticism and risks a drawn-out conflict affecting oil prices, markets, and regional stability. He rejects conditioning aid to Israel as unfairly targeting a key democratic ally and condemns the use of “apartheid” rhetoric. He describes a major rise in antisemitism, political incentives pushing members of Congress to retreat from support for Israel, and calls for coordinated Jewish-community investment in K–12 and campus education, accountability for institutions, and tougher political engagement.

Plus, Jonah answers a podcast fan’s question on how to make anti-zionism taboo.

Topics discussed include:

The shifting center of the left and the right
The role of the Problem Solvers Caucus in bipartisan cooperation in Congress
Why the U.S.-Israel relationship is vital to American national security
Gottheimer’s work on the House Intelligence Committee and focus on Iran and Gaza
Criticism of Gavin Newsom for using the term “apartheid” regarding Israel
The influence of social media figures like Hasan Piker and political figures like Donald Trump on polarization
Addressing antisemitic rhetoric tied to movements like BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions)
Concerns about antisemitism and activism on college campuses like the University of Pennsylvania
Holding elected officials accountable at the local, state, and federal levels for antisemitism
The importance of strategic philanthropy and community coordination within the American Jewish community

A special thanks to our partner this week Hadassah.org

Mentioned in the episode:
Founding of the Ku Klux Klan
The Transformation of the KKK from Fraternity to Religious Extremists.
1924 Democratic National Conventions - “Klanbake”
DNC Avoids Taking a Stance on Israel, AIPAC
The Growing Antisemitism Among Young Americans
Vanderbilt Professor Shaul Kelner
Briahna Joy Gray fired from The Hill after rolling her eyes at the sister of Oct 7 hostage during an interview
The Timeline of the SPLC Case That Bankrupted the Klan
Brandies Center
Students Against Antisemitism
The Lawfare Project
Klan Members Murder Conviction Leads to Decline in Membership and Political Influence

Josh Gottheimer
Josh Gottheimer Instagram
Josh Gottheimer Twitter
Sarah Hurwitz BJJP Episode
Rep. Josh Gottheimer: The New Jersey Democrat defending Israel, battling antisemitism
Problem Solvers Caucus
Congressman Thomas Suozzi
National Security Agency & Cyber Subcommittee
Gottheimer Votes to Pass War Powers Resolution
By the numbers: US thrashed military targets in Iran, but some capabilities remain
Iranian attack on Saudi base injures U.S. troops as more American forces arrive in the Middle East
How the US Navy could blockade Iran’s ports and sweep mines from the Strait of Hormuz
Israel didn’t drag the US into war with Iran — they enabled us to fight it smarter and faster
U.S. Capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro: Considerations for Congress
Oil prices rise on doubts US-Iran peace talks will ease Hormuz disruption
The Abraham Accords, Explained
Army survivors of deadly attack in Kuwait dispute Pentagon's account, say unit "was unprepared" to defend itself
Gottheimer Statement in Opposition to Conditioning Aid to Israel
Sharia-Free America: Why Political Islam & Sharia Law Are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: 'Queers for Palestine' shows how stupid our society is
Gottheimer, Foxx Introduce Bill to Hold Higher Education Accountable for Anti-Israel, BDS Activity
Gottheimer calls Newsom’s Israel apartheid comments ‘dangerous’
Genocide, apartheid? A poll Israel cannot allow itself to ignore
Candace Owens
“The Squad” Doubles Down on Anti-Israel Comments
Representative Elaine G. Luria
Hasan Piker doubles down on Hamas support
UPenn must comply with federal subpoena seeking list of Jewish community members, judge rules

Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

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

Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:
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[email protected]

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

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

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

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 Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

Host Jonah Platt moderates part two of a spirited conversation between Rabbi Sharon Brous (IKAR, Los Angeles) and Rabbi David Ingber (Romemu, New York) about how Jewish leaders should balance moral self-critique of Israel with addressing antisemitism, especially after October 7. Ingber argues progressive Jews and rabbis overemphasize public Jewish self-criticism, undercall out antisemitism and extremism from allies, and should name today’s anti-Zionism as an ever-evolving hate movement that erases Jewish self-determination. Brous defends the Jewish tradition of teshuvah and accountability, urges speaking against West Bank settler violence and occupation, and warns that labeling all criticism or Palestinian solidarity as antisemitic blunts the response to real threats. They also debate U.S. politics, liberal democracy’s role in Jewish safety, Jewish political “homelessness,” and the inclusion of anti-Zionist Jews.

Ultimately, the conversation models a deeply Jewish tradition of debate, machloket l’shem shamayim, while emphasizing unity, responsibility, and the need to continue investing in community and the next generation.

Topics Include:
Trading ideas on whether anti-Zionism is a form of modern antisemitism
The responsibility of rabbis to address West Bank settler violence and Jewish extremism
References to Baruch Goldstein and the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre as a moral comparison
The role of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran in shaping Jewish security concerns
The influence of social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X on Israel narratives
Criticism of language like “apartheid” in discussions about Israel and Palestine
The symbolism of the watermelon flag in pro-Palestinian activism
Gavin Newsom and his appearance on Pod Save America
The importance of protecting liberal democracy for Jewish safety in America
Failures in Jewish education, including overreliance on programs like Birthright Israel
The role of JCCs (Jewish Community Centers) and synagogues in strengthening Jewish life
The need for machloket l’shem shamayim (debate for the sake of heaven) in shaping the Jewish future

A special thanks to our partners on this episode:
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
https://www.schusterman.org
Crown Family Philanthropies
https://crownfamilyphilanthropies.org/
Jim Joseph Foundation
https://jimjosephfoundation.org/

Mentioned In The Episode:
Why Don’t Jews Proselytize?
Conversion History
The Converso: Jews converting to Christianity in Spain and Portugal in the 1300s
Ruth: The First Jewish Convert
How Many Jews Are In The World?
The Jewish Birthrate
Jewish Intermarriage Rates
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (U.S. Public Health Service)
American’s Religious Engagement Stays Low
Global “Wellness” Business Grows to $6.8 Trillion
Jewish Prayers and Their Meanings
How to Become Jewish

Sharon Brous Instagram
Rabbi David Ingber
IKAR
Romemu
'My mother cried out one last time': Palestinian boy, 12, describes how Israeli forces killed his family in car
Surveillance soldiers charge sexism a factor in their Oct. 7 warnings being ignored
Who was Baruch Goldstein? Massacre in Hebron
Silence is not solidarity: Diaspora Jews must speak when Israel strays
What is Cheshbon Hanefesh?
Pogroms
Wave of settler attacks against Palestinian herders reported in central West Bank
Fourth suspect arrested over Jewish charity ambulance arson attack
The Importance of Tochachah-Rebuke
Anti-Trump rallies hit thousands of US cities for 'No Kings' protest
Explosion rocks Amsterdam Jewish school in what mayor says is ‘targeted attack’ against Jewish community
As A Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us
Newsom ramps up his criticism of Israel, accuses Netanyahu of leading Trump into war with Iran
Horseshoe Theory in American Politics
The Z Word: Reclaiming Zionism
Protocols of the Elders of Zion
Venezuelan VP: US attack capturing Maduro has 'Zionist undertones'
Renee Good was shot in the head, autopsy commissioned by her family finds
Why watermelons are a symbol of Palestinian solidarity
Israeli opposition members shout at Netanyahu as he tries to address parliament
Early History of Israel
What Is Tikkun Olam?
How to Teach the Jewish Story
Svalbard Global Seed Vault
The Valley of Dry Bones and the Resurrection of the Dead

--

Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

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

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

For Sponsorships, please email:
[email protected]

Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch

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

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

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

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 Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

In this episode of 30 Minute Mensches, host Jonah Platt sits down with Rachael Fried, the Executive Director of JQY (Jewish Queer Youth). Rachael shares her personal journey from being a closeted Orthodox participant to leading the organization, which now operates a professional center in New York's Times Square with a $2 million budget. JQY serves as a vital mental health nonprofit dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ youth (ages 13–23) from "historically non-accepting communities," specifically those from Orthodox, Sephardi, Mizrahi, and Russian-speaking backgrounds.

The discussion covers the critical safety risks facing these teens, including suicide and homelessness, and the creative "guerrilla marketing" JQY employs to reach youth in insular environments where internet access is restricted. Fried addresses the intersection of queer identity and Halakha (Jewish law), referencing Leviticus 18:22 and the principle of Elu v’Elu to advocate for the healthy coexistence of religious and queer identities. Finally, she highlights JQY’s national expansion through virtual drop-in centers, a mobile app, and a national Jewish queer book club.

Topics Include:
They discuss the scale of need (potentially hundreds of thousands)
The episode addresses high-risk factors for queer Jewish youth, including increased rates of suicide, homelessness, and addiction.
The discussion explores barriers to information for youth using "kosher phones" or restricted internet in ultra-Orthodox communities.
Rachael explains how religious texts are often used to justify cultural homophobia beyond the literal interpretation of the law.
The Jewish principle of "Elu v’Elu" (both these and those) is highlighted as a core philosophy for holding both queer and Jewish identities as true.
Student activism surrounding a queer club at Yeshiva University
The cultural dimensions of halakha-based rejection
Getting in-contact with the organization if you aren’t in New York City

Mentioned In The Episode:
Rachael Fried Instagram
Jewish Queer Youth (JQY) Facebook
JQY app
JQY Instagram
JQY Website
About JQY
LGBTQ+ Jewish Demographic Pew Stud
Kosher Phone
Hechsher
Halacha
Leviticus 18:22
Turning it over in the Torah
B’tselem Elohim
Cis/ Cisgender
Elu v’elu
Yeshiva University
Jewish Queer Book Club JQY
Ruth Bader Ginsberg
JQY Drop In

Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

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

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

For Sponsorships, please email:
[email protected]

Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch

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

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

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

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

At this live “Being Jewish with Jonah Platt” event in San Diego, supported by Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Crown Family Philanthropies, and the Jim Joseph Foundation, Jonah Platt welcomes two influential spiritual leaders: Rabbi Sharon Brous, founding rabbi of IKAR in Los Angeles, and David Ingber, founding rabbi of Romemu in New York. Together, they explore how their egalitarian, non-denominational communities are reimagining synagogue life by emphasizing spiritual aliveness, engaging prayer, and social justice.

Brous and Ingber speak candidly about the challenges of leading “big tent” communities in a deeply polarized time, where congregants often expect rabbis to mirror their views, and leave when they don't. Brous discusses transforming sermons into collective responsibility and action, while Ingber critiques what he calls a more consumer-driven performative Judaism, shaped by convenience rather than commitment. Drawing on experience from the Women’s March controversy through the aftermath of October 7th, they examine what it means to lead with integrity when every word carries weight.

The conversation also grapples with enduring questions at the heart of Jewish life: the role of prayer, the tension between universal values and particular Jewish obligation, and the importance of humility and patience in leadership. Against the backdrop of rising antisemitism and growing political divisions around Israel and America, this episode looks at what Jewish leadership demands and what the Jewish community can become in this moment of urgency and change.

This is Part One of a Two-Part conversation.

In the episode, they discuss:
The founding visions behind IKAR and Romemu
How Brous and Ingber are reimagining synagogue life
The rabbinical role in modern society
Silence from progressive allies following October 7th
Rabbi David Ingber’s experience confronting Tamika Mallory and Louis Farrakhan
The concept of “raising flawed flags”
The Talmudic story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza
Balancing universalism and particularism through Torah teachings
The pressure to respond instantly on social media versus engaging in thoughtful reflection

A special thanks to our partners on this episode:
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Crown Family Philanthropies
Jim Joseph Foundation

Mentioned In The Episode:
Rabbi Sharon Brous Instagram
Rabbi David Ingber
Being Jewish with Jonah Platt Webby Award
BJJP: Religious Communicators Council Award: Best Audio Visual Program
BJJP: 2025 W3 Award Winner: Best Podcast Host
David Rittberg
IKAR
Romemu
Columbia students criticize University’s handling of antisemitism at federal civil rights listening session
Remembering Jesse Jackson
Kamtza and Bar Kamtza
Brooklyn Yeshivas Circa 1937 Part I
What Is Kabbalat Shabbat?
Women First Marched to Challenge Trump. Now They Are Challenging Each Other
Tamika D. Mallory Instagram
Louis Farrakhan
Genesis 18:22-33
Judaism is About Love by Rabbi Shai Held
What Did the People Hear at Mount Sinai?
Gazing Into the Digital Face of Levinas: The Ethics of Self and Other in Cyberspace
NYC bill allowing protest ‘buffer zones’ around houses of worship passes with veto-proof majority
Antisemitic mob descends on historic NYC synagogue — urging the ‘resistance’ to ‘take another settler out’
Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger
Zohran Mamdani has no opinion on a united Ireland. That matters more than you think
Horseshoe Theory in American Politics
Governor Gavin Newsom
American Jews May Be Moving Right
The Purim Story

Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

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

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

For Sponsorships, please email:
[email protected]

Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch

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

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

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

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 Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

She converted to Judaism yesterday! Jonah Platt interviews transgender activist, Emmy-nominated TV writer-director (Transparent, American Horror Story, Pose), and musician Our Lady J (Yona Speidel), less than 24 hours after she formally converted to Judaism. She describes her 12-year path, the beit din with three rabbis, her written reflection on Isaiah 56 and intersex identity, her mikvah immersion, and why she chose the Hebrew name Yona. She recounts growing up in a Mennonite household, losing trust in organized religion amid homophobia during the AIDS crisis, and later returning to spirituality through Judaism. The conversation addresses unconscious antisemitism, queer-community susceptibility to “they” conspiracies, and rising antisemitism in LGBT spaces after October 7. She discusses BDS (The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement) pressure on Transparent, later learning German courts found BDS antisemitic, and argues for fact-based definitions of Zionism, while saying she is pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli.

Topics discussed include:

The emotional experience of completing the Beit Din and mikvah after a 12-year spiritual journey
Guidance from three rabbis during the conversion process
The significance of Isaiah 56 and its message welcoming eunuchs, and those who might not have a binary identity of sex or gender
Growing up in an ex–Old Order Mennonite Christian background and early perceptions of Jews
The evolution of Lady J’s identity through names like Justin, Jonah, and Yona, and their biblical significance
Influence of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, pioneer of trans medicine in Berlin (1909), on understanding antisemitism and queer history
How Nazi book burnings in the 1930s destroyed Hirschfeld’s research at the Institute of Sexology
The intersection of antisemitism, transphobia, and homophobia throughout European and modern history
The rise of antisemitism within the LGBTQ community following October 7 and shifting attitudes toward Israel
Lady J’s experience working on Transparent (Amazon Prime Video)
Referencing activist Larry Kramer and ACT UP in discussions of queer organizing and Zionist parallels
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on spiritual reflection, including cross-country travel and research in Berlin archives
Jewish values of perseverance illustrated through Torah learning, including lessons about continuing even when struggling

Thank you to this episode's sponsor:
Jewish Communal Fund

MENTIONS
Ms. Rachel draws ire over appeals for Gazan children
Why Is Everyone Talking About Ms. Rachel Right Now?
YouTube star Ms. Rachel should be investigated for spreading Hamas propaganda
Who is the Bibas family?
In the Sudan sick and starving children continue to waste away
Violations against children have tripled in the Congo
Russia’s kidnapping of Ukrainian children
Iranian children killed by Iranian security forces in crackdown of protests
12 Israeli Druze children killed in Hezbollah rocket attack

Lady J First day of Judaism post
Our Lady J’s Film and TV Credits
The Mikvah
The Beit Din (Rabbinic Court) and Conversion
Rabbi Iggy
‘Transparent’ Writer Our Lady J: Hollywood ‘Needs to Put Stories Into the Hands of Trans People’
What is intersex?
What is a eunuch in the Bible?
Mennonite History
Snapshots of an Epidemic: An HIV/AIDS Timeline
Lady Chablis
Queer Jews Forced into a Different Closet: Antisemitism and Conditional Acceptance
“Through Science to Justice”: The Story of Magnus Hirschfeld, a Gay Jewish Trailblazer
Lady J Zionism Instagram post
The TV series Transparent
Germany Declares: BDS is Antisemitic
Miller Intro to Judaism
Jay Sanderson BJJP Episode
Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh, Mandana Dayani, and Matthew Nouriel BJJP Episode
Jonah and the Whale - Bible Story Meaning
Jacob Wrestles with the Angel
Is MAGA really pro-Israel?
The Holiday You’ve Never Heard Of: Why Shmini Atzeret Matters
Why Are Grasshoppers (Locusts) Kosher for Some Jews?
What’s So Wrong with Mixing Wool & Linen?
Ask the Expert: Kosher Wine and Kosher Mevushal Wine

Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.

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

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

For Sponsorships, please email:
[email protected]

Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch

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

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

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

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 Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt