Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

Could antisemitism cost Democrats the Jewish vote?

Joel Rubin, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for House Affairs and founding political director of J Street, joins Jonah for a candid conversation about the growing divide between Jewish Americans and the Democratic Party.Rubin explains why he’s sounding the alarm over Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, citing his rejection of Israel as a U.S. ally and his response to an attempted synagogue terrorist attack.

Drawing on his experience working in the State Department and as Jewish outreach director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, Rubin examines how progressive politics have shifted since October 7, why he believes Bernie Sanders has failed to push back against antisemitism within his movement, and why Jewish voters can no longer be taken for granted. He also explores the distinction between criticizing Israeli policy and anti-Zionism, the future of Jewish Democratic voters, and the fight to keep Jews included in progressive spaces. Reflecting on his family’s history and the legacy of the Tree of Life synagogue attack in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Rubin makes a passionate case for Jewish resilience and American Jewish identity.

More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish:
Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.
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Learn more about Joel Rubin

Joel Rubin LinkedIn
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Joel Rubin’s Substack
Buy Joel’s book
CREDITS:
Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild Ivker, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Chief of Staff: Abbe Feder, 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

Why are Jews expected to show empathy to everyone, even those who want them dead?

Dr. Gad Saad, evolutionary psychologist, bestselling author, and newly arrived Jewish immigrant to America, breaks down the provocative thesis behind his New York Times bestseller, Suicidal Empathy: Dying to Be Kind.

Saad explains what he calls “suicidal empathy” and how it can lead societies to excuse extremism, overlook threats to Western values, and sacrifice their own safety in the name of tolerance. Using examples including Canada’s handling of returning ISIS fighters, the rise of antisemitism on university campuses, and Jewish activists who turned against Israel after October 7, Saad argues that empathy must be grounded in reality.

He also shares his deeply personal history of growing up Jewish in Lebanon, recalling childhood experiences of antisemitism, including classmates cheering for a boy who declared he wanted to become a “Jew killer.”

Now teaching at the University of Mississippi’s Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom, Saad discusses why he left Canada after receiving death threats, his concerns about immigration and assimilation, and the psychological blind spots that prevent people from recognizing danger until it reaches their own doorstep.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Suicidal Empathy: When Compassion Becomes Dangerous
01:30

Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism & Jewish Self-Hatred
11:50

Jewish Identity, Israel & the Fight Against Antisemitism
20:00

The Threat to Western Civilization & Lessons from Lebanon
29:45

Why Gad Saad Left Canada for America & His Mission to Defend Freedom
44:00

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

Learn more about Gad Saad:

Gad Saad’s Website

Gad Saad YouTube

Gad Saad Instagram
Gad Saad 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, Chief of Staff: Abbe Feder, 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

In the first episode of our Jewish American Summit series, Jonah sits down with Steve Hilton, Republican candidate for California governor, for a candid conversation about antisemitism, Jewish safety, and the future of the Golden State.

Hilton discusses what he calls the growing threats facing California’s Jewish community, from Jewish students afraid to display their identities, to concerns about antisemitism in public schools and university campuses. He shares his plans to address antisemitism, reform education, and hold teachers’ unions accountable, while explaining why he believes California needs a major change in leadership.

Jonah also presses Hilton on antisemitism on the political right, the rise of extremism, and how he would support Jewish Californians across party lines. Plus, Hilton makes his case for tackling California’s affordability crisis, homelessness, crime, and struggling entertainment and agriculture industries.

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 Steve Hilton

Steve Hilton’s Campaign Page
Steve Hilton on Facebook
Steve Hilton on Instagram
Steve Hilton on X

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, Chief of Staff: Abbe Feder, 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

What does it mean to be unapologetically Jewish in an industry that has often encouraged people to hide their identity?

This week, Jonah sits down with legendary actress Tovah Feldshuh, the four-time Tony Award nominee and two-time Emmy nominee whose extraordinary career has brought some of history's most iconic Jewish women to life, from Golda Meir and Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Yentl.

Fresh off her role as the fiercely protective and controversial Bina Rockloff on Netflix's Nobody Wants This, Tovah opens up about the backlash surrounding her character, accusations of Jewish stereotypes, and why she believes Bina represents something far more meaningful than audiences might realize.

But the conversation goes well beyond Hollywood. Tovah and Jonah tackle the alarming rise of antisemitism, the aftermath of October 7, the importance of Israel's survival, and why she refuses to soften her Jewish identity to make others comfortable.

Tovah also reflects on her experience starring in the groundbreaking 1978 miniseries Holocaust, her deeply personal connection to Golda Meir, her family's immigrant history, and the remarkable decision to embrace a more recognizably Jewish name at a time when so many performers were doing the opposite.

From Hollywood controversies and Jewish representation to courage, survival, and the responsibility of passing Jewish identity to the next generation, this is a passionate, funny, and unfiltered conversation with a woman who has spent her life refusing to be anyone but herself.

Because for Tovah Feldshuh, being Jewish isn't something to hide. It's something to stand up for.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

01:30
Playing Bina on Nobody Wants This: Jewish Mothers, Stereotypes & Survival

08:30
Jewish Identity, Golda Meir & Speaking Out Against Antisemitism

25:00
A Lifetime in Hollywood: Yentl, Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Holocaust

42:10
From Terry Sue to Tovah: Embracing Her Jewish Name & Identity

51:05
Portraying Iconic Jewish Women, Jewish Pride & the Power of Legacy

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 Tovah Feldshuh:

Tovah’s Website

Tovah’s Instagram

Tovah’s 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, Chief of Staff: Abbe Feder, 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

NEW SEGMENT! In the first installment of our new segment “Being Jewish In…” we explore the hostile environment facing Jewish authors, agents and editors in the world of Publishing with acclaimed author and digital publisher Meg Keene, newly appointed editor of the eponymous Meg Keene Books, a new imprint focused on publishing Jewish stories by Jewish authors.

Keene shares her own experience of being advised to remove Hebrew, Jewish names, and cultural details from a Jewish romance manuscript that might “trigger” editors – a story later featured in PEN America’s The Silent Moratorium.

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 Meg Keene

Meg Keene’s website
Meg Keene’s Instagram
Meg Keene’s X
Buy Meg Keene’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, Chief of Staff: Abbe Feder, 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