Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

On the third anniversary of October 7th, Jonah delivers a powerful and deeply personal open letter to his non-Jewish friends, colleagues, and allies about what it means to stand with the Jewish people.

In this special solo episode of Being Jewish, Jonah reflects on the past three years of rising antisemitism, fractured friendships, and the growing isolation of Jewish communities. He addresses the dangerous normalization of anti-Jewish rhetoric, the misunderstanding of Zionism and Jewish identity, and the painful silence of those who have chosen to look away.

Why have so many Jews felt abandoned by people they once trusted? How did standing up against antisemitism become controversial? And what does meaningful allyship actually look like?

Through an honest, emotional, and urgent appeal, Jonah challenges listeners to confront uncomfortable truths, recognize the humanity behind the headlines, and understand why speaking up matters now more than ever.

This is an episode about friendship, courage, Jewish identity, and the responsibility we all share to stand against hate.

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:
partnerships@jonahplatt.com
Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch
Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
X - @JonahPlatt
Follow Being Jewish on:
Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast
TikTok - @BeingJewish

CREDITS:
Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Production Intern: Tova Benarroch, 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

Thanks to Birthright, the Presenting Title Sponsor of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt - Season 3 https://birthrightisrael.foundation/donate

On the third anniversary of October 7th, Jonah delivers a powerful and deeply personal open letter to his non-Jewish friends, colleagues, and allies about what it means to stand with the Jewish people.

In this special solo episode of Being Jewish, Jonah reflects on the past three years of rising antisemitism, fractured friendships, and the growing isolation of Jewish communities. He addresses the dangerous normalization of anti-Jewish rhetoric, the misunderstanding of Zionism and Jewish identity, and the painful silence of those who have chosen to look away.

Why have so many Jews felt abandoned by people they once trusted? How did standing up against antisemitism become controversial? And what does meaningful allyship actually look like?

Through an honest, emotional, and urgent appeal, Jonah challenges listeners to confront uncomfortable truths, recognize the humanity behind the headlines, and understand why speaking up matters now more than ever.

This is an episode about friendship, courage, Jewish identity, and the responsibility we all share to stand against hate.

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:
partnerships@jonahplatt.com

Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch

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

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

CREDITS:
Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Production Intern: Tova Benarroch, 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

Thanks to Birthright, the Presenting Title Sponsor of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt - Season 3 https://birthrightisrael.foundation/donate

Today we remember the 1,200 victims, the hostages, and the profound trauma of the October 7th terror attacks in Israel. We remember the loss of innocence and the incredible resilience of the Jewish people. We remember the hostages taken, the global reaction, the rise of anti-Jewish hate, and the enduring strength of the Jewish State. Join the conversation and share this message of remembrance and defiance.

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

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

For Sponsorships, please email:
Jonah@JonahPlatt.com

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

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

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

CREDITS:
Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Production Intern: Tova Benarroch, 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 most dangerous lies about Jews are the ones we’ve been taught to believe?

Bestselling author Dara Horn returns to Being Jewish for a super-sized episode to discuss her new book The Final Solution to the Jewish Question and why she believes antisemitism is more than prejudice.

Dara describes antisemitism as a power-serving lie built around the idea that Jews are destroying what others value most. Dara explores how propaganda spreads, from the illusory truth effect and information laundering, to harassment campaigns and the manipulation of platforms like Reddit, Wikipedia, and AI platforms.

Dara traces the evolution of modern anti-Zionism through Soviet and Islamist networks and the 2001 Durban Conference, while challenging empathy-only approaches to antisemitism that can erase Jewish difference. She also gives her opinions on Holocaust education, explains the myth of a “golden age” for American Jews, and shares a powerful story about Theodor Herzl’s grandfather. Dara answers the question of what it means to choose Jewish continuity.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Propaganda Game - Bad News

The Real Root of Antisemitism: Curiosity vs. Conformity
2:11

Antisemitism as a Lie Used to Gain Power
6:58

What Holocaust Education Gets Wrong
40:51

The Myth of America’s Jewish “Golden Age” & the Power of Jewish Agency
50:49

Zionism, the UN, Data Poisoning & the Battle Over History
1:01:24

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:
partnerships@jonahplatt.com
Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch
Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
X - @JonahPlatt
Follow Being Jewish on:
Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast
TikTok - @BeingJewish

Learn more about Dara Horn:

Dara Horn on X
Dara Horn’s Website
Buy Dara’s Books on Amazon

CREDITS:
Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Production Intern: Tova Benarroch, 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

Thanks to Birthright, the Presenting Title Sponsor of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt - Season 3 https://birthrightisrael.foundation/donate

Want Sapir free of charge?
Head to sapirjournal.org/beingjewish

What can a temporary hut teach us about living a meaningful life?

In this special Sukkot episode of Being Jewish, Jonah sits down with Rabbi Adam Greenwald to unpack one of Judaism’s most joyful, and perhaps most misunderstood holidays.

They explore Sukkot’s ancient origins as a harvest festival tied to the Land of Israel, why Jews shake the lulav and etrog in every direction (maybe like a certain dance we all know), and why the sukkah is intentionally built to be temporary and open to the stars.

Rabbi Greenwald also explains the beautiful tradition of ushpizin, inviting the presence of ancestors and loved ones into the sukkah, and shares how anyone can find meaning in Sukkot, even without a backyard or the ability to build a sukkah of their own.

But beneath all of these traditions lies a much bigger lesson: everything we build is temporary. In a world that can change in an instant, Sukkot asks us to stop trying to control the uncontrollable and instead gather with the people we love, appreciate what we have, and find meaning and joy in the present moment.

It’s a conversation about Jewish tradition, gratitude, nature, family, uncertainty – and learning how to live fully inside a fragile world.

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:
partnerships@jonahplatt.com
Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch
Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
X - @JonahPlatt
Follow Being Jewish on:
Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast
TikTok - @BeingJewish

Learn more about Rabbi Adam Greenwald

AJU Page
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook

CREDITS:
Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, 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

Thanks to Birthright, the Presenting Title Sponsor of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt - Season 3 https://birthrightisrael.foundation/donate