What Came After

Simon Deng is a former slave from South Sudan, human rights activist, public speaker, and professional swimmer. He has lived in the United States since 1989 and has been a leader of the South Sudanese expatriate community since 1993. ⁠⁠ Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Jerusalem" by Elijah Aaron Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

In February, What Came After sat down with the Chief Rabbi of Poland and native New Yorker, Michael Schudrich. Their conversation was recorded in Warsaw, where Rabbi Schudrich has lived and worked for the past 35 years. Host Manya Marcus speaks with Schudrich about his personal journey to Poland, how there are many more Jews- or those with Jewish heritage- who live in Poland than anyone realized or expected when Schudrich took his post in 1990, and how Poland’s Jewish community is growing to include more Poles whose Jewish parents, grandparents and great grandparents stayed in Poland after the war and chose not to share with their own families that they were Jewish. Schudrich speaks to the process of self-discovery among these community members, as well as the need for the broader international Jewish community to recognize and support the Jewish life that has not only survived in Poland, but begun to thrive. Schudrich talks about the Polish response to October 7th, and how, in the wake of the tragedy, more Polish Jews have come out of the woodwork and chosen to live Jewish lives.     Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "It's Never Too Late" by Elijah Aaron Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ ⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠

Mino is a Roman entrepreneur and restaurateur with deep roots in the culinary world, shaped by his family’s experience in the industry. He manages two establishments: Casalino Osteria, a kosher restaurant, and a bakery-café, Dolce Kosher. Through his work, he combines tradition and innovation, creating welcoming spaces where people can enjoy great food and hospitality. Beyond the kitchen, Mino is passionate about curating special events and menus that highlight seasonal ingredients and Italian culinary heritage.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Voice Acting: Matt Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Osim Shuk" by Noa (Achinoam Nini) Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠

Ruth Dureghello was born in Rome on July 5, 1967. She earned a law degree from the University of Rome La Sapienza and went on to pursue a career in entrepreneurial activities. Married with two children, Ruth led the “For Israel” party as its presidential candidate for the Council of the Jewish Community in Rome in 2015. She won 44.08% of the total vote and, following the Council’s recommendation, became the first woman to serve as President in the history of the Roman Jewish Community. Re-elected by a wide majority in 2019, she led the Jewish Community of Rome until June 2023. Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Shir L'Shalom" by Lehakat HaNachal Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠ or ⁠Apple Music⁠

Listen to our conversation with ELNET CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) featuring: Anna Miszewska, Deputy Director Joanna Olszewska, Project Manager Marta Kubica, CEO   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Old Polish Tango in Hebrew" by Olga Mieleszczuk Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠  

Arie Bensemhoun has been the Chief Executive Officer of Elnet France since 2011. He has made his career in the private sector as a consultant in communications, PR, and international relations, dealing with Middle Eastern and strategic affairs. He plays a crucial role in the French-Israeli relationship through his commitment at both the community and political levels. He seeks to strengthen ties between political leaders from France and Israel who believe that close relations between Europe and Israel are vital to both parties.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Nigun Ga'agu'a" by Elnatan Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠⁠

Marta Kubica is the Chief Executive Officer of ELNET CEE (Central and Eastern Europe), driven by a passion for strengthening ties between Europe and Israel through innovative diplomacy. After five years in the role, Marta sees ELNET as more than just an organization facilitating delegations or strategic dialogues; it is about creating a safe space for open conversation and building trust. With over 18 years of experience, including work at both the U.S. and Israeli embassies in Poland, she skillfully brings people together, applying her background in Jewish studies and political science to bridge cultural divides and foster mutual understanding. Marta is currently focused on developing innovative diplomatic initiatives that support resilience, civil defense, and crisis management, including aiding Ukrainian refugees—a testament to her belief in the power of human connection and collaborative problem-solving.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Goral Ehad" by Ofra Haza Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  

In this special episode, What Came After presents an audio travelogue from the team’s trip to Paris this past January. Join our summer intern, Keren Glicksman, as she interviews host Manya Marcus about the experience, and listen to on-the-ground recordings from Manya and producer Maya Zanger-Nadis as they navigate the city during a particularly challenging moment in Jewish history.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Une Petite Cantate" by Talya Eliav Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rabbi Emile Ackermann is the co-founder, together with his wife, Rabbanit Myriam Ackermann-Sommer, of Ayeka in Paris — the first Liberal Modern Orthodox community in France. Born in Strasbourg and a graduate of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, he holds a BA in Administration Économique et Sociale. Rav Emile is also deeply engaged in French political life. He is the author of N’oublions pas qui nous sommes (Let Us Not Forget Who We Are), in which he shares his vision of Modern Orthodoxy, reflects on his time at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and explores his perspective on laïcité in France — a subject at the heart of many public debates. A regular guest in national media, he often defends and articulates the Jewish voice in the French public sphere. Rav Emile is also a trainer in the fight against antisemitism, providing education for French political parties as well as Jewish youth organizations. Committed to interfaith dialogue, he frequently speaks at multicultural and multi-faith events across the country.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Pa'am" by Anat Malamud Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠⁠

What Came After traveled to Brussels this past January to sit down with Juan Caldes at the headquarters of the European Jewish Association. Juan, the European Advocacy Coordinator, spoke with us about the alarming rise in antisemitism across Western Europe—and why he believes this trend hasn’t taken hold in Eastern Europe in the same way. He shares some of the difficult personal decisions he's made in response to the worsening security climate, including the painful choice to affix his mezuzah to the inside of his door, shielding his Jewish identity from public view. Juan also reflects on his experience as a convert to Judaism at such a turbulent time. Born and raised in Spain as a devout Catholic, he discovered at age 18 that he had Marrano Jewish ancestry. That revelation led him on a transformative journey to Judaism, which he studied extensively while living in Israel. Now a proud European Jew, Juan speaks candidly about why—despite significant adversity—he remains committed to defending the idea that Jews are not only a vital part of Europe’s past, but also its future.           Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Change" by Nuriel Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠

What Came After traveled to Amsterdam in February to speak with Rabbi Akiva Camissar about his experiences working with the city’s Israeli Jewish community in the wake of two deeply traumatic events: the October 7th attacks in Israel and the violent pogrom against visiting Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam in November 2024. Rabbi Camissar shares how the events of October 7th created a profound shift in his community. Made up largely of Israeli expats, the community became more tightly knit, with members drawing strength and solidarity from one another. That sense of unity proved crucial a year later, when anti-Israel violence erupted in Amsterdam. With no warning, the community mobilized and improvised rescue systems that helped protect and evacuate scores of Israelis who were in danger. He speaks movingly about the importance of maintaining a vibrant Jewish presence in Amsterdam and how he believes that the future of the city’s Jewish life lies with its growing Israeli population. Rabbi Camissar also offers a powerful reflection on Simchat Torah 2023, which coincided with the attacks on October 7th. As news of the massacre emerged, he made a deliberate choice: his community would still dance. Even in the face of horror, they would continue the tradition of dancing with the Torah—an act of spiritual defiance and hope. Long before the phrase “We Will Dance Again” became a symbol of resilience after the Nova music festival massacre, Rabbi Camissar had already claimed the powerful sentiment for his community. This episode offers a poignant look at how faith, community, and identity can become sources of strength in moments of fear and uncertainty—and how, even in the darkest times, Jewish life endures.    Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "On Our Way" by Elijah Aaron Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠

In this episode, we travel to Paris to speak with Anna Veronese, a rabbinical student at Maharat—the only institution offering both Orthodox ordination to women and virtual learning, creating a global community she deeply values. We talk about Veronese's identity as a feminist, left-wing Jew who remains a committed Zionist while being selectively critical of some Israeli policies. She shares how the trauma of October 7 continues to shape her parenting, as her children form their own Jewish and Zionist identities. She also reflects on the tension between wanting to shield her children from tragedy and embracing the solidarity shown at their Jewish school with hostage families and Israeli society at large. Veronese opens up about her complex sense of belonging—born in Italy, living in France amid rising antisemitism, and not being Israeli. She describes the pain of losing ties to the French feminist community and tells a shocking story of being cast out of a feminist march for being a Zionist. She wrestles with her belief in the importance of a vibrant Jewish future in France, even as she doubts whether the next generation can truly thrive there. Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Mar'ot" by Anat Malamud Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠  

Earlier this year, What Came After traveled to Brussels for a sobering conversation with Rihards Kols, Latvia’s Member of the European Parliament. Recorded inside one of the European Parliament’s media studios, this interview confronts a chilling possibility: that the world may be repeating the darkest chapters of the 20th century. Kols offers an unflinching look at how his own country has confronted Russian aggression, and how the invasion of Ukraine by a nuclear-armed autocracy has emboldened others—China, North Korea, and Iran among them. He draws a direct line from Russia’s war in Ukraine to Iran’s support of Hamas’s attack on Israel—both sovereign nations under siege. As the world grapples with rising authoritarianism, Kols warns of the West’s dangerous complacency. He challenges the belief that dialogue alone can deter autocratic threats and criticizes the hesitation of democratic nations to provide meaningful support to those on the front lines—especially Ukraine and, more recently, Israel. Recorded in January 2025, several months before the outbreak of the Israel-Iran war, this conversation now resonates with eerie urgency. Kols’s words offer one glimpse of hope: history will warn us, rather than repeating itself, if we are willing to listen.    Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "All We See" by Nuriel Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we travel to Rome to speak with Luca Spizzichino and David Fiorentini. Luca is the current president of the Italian Union of Jewish Students and Young Professionals (UGEI) and a freelance journalist. David, a recent medical school graduate, is UGEI’s former president and its current Policy Officer. Luca discusses the growing challenges of combating antisemitism online and how Holocaust education has become even more central to Italian Jewish advocacy since October 7th. He also shares his efforts to defend university students whose studies were disrupted by anti-Israel protests, and reflects on his own grandparents' survival of the Holocaust without ever leaving Italy. David talks about the difficulty of presenting Israel—a Middle Eastern country—to Western audiences. As one of just 40 Jews remaining in the Tuscan city of Siena, he reflects on the dual nature of aliyah: how moving to Israel energizes many Italian Jews, while also complicating efforts to preserve the diverse and historic Jewish culture unique to each Italian region. Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Kama Tov" by Shlomo Lipman Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠

Céline Bardet is an international lawyer who has worked in over 50 countries, specializing in war crimes, international justice, post-conflict security, and the prosecution of sexual violence in conflict. She is the founder of We Are NOT Weapons of War (WWoW), a nonprofit organization that develops innovative legal strategies to combat the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war. In this episode, recorded in Paris in February 2025, we speak with Céline about the resistance she faced within her own community of legal advocates when she began working with survivors of the sexual violence committed during the October 7th attacks. She shares why she ensures that funding for her work in Israel comes from a diverse range of donors—both within and beyond the Jewish community—and how Jewish burial customs have complicated forensic investigations into these crimes. Céline also reflects on the disturbing reactions she has encountered from fellow members of the international feminist legal community, some of whom have suggested that, in the case of Israeli victims, “there must be a reason.” Join us for this urgent and deeply important conversation. Content Warning: This episode discusses topics including war, sexual violence, and crimes against humanity.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Im Haya Makom" by Anat Malamud Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠  

Dov Sabo, who was raised in Israel and has lived in the Netherlands for over 25 years, discusses his decision to move from Israel to the Netherlands following his service in the IDF. Coming from a religious background, Dov reflects on how life in the Netherlands initially felt more “relaxed”—until October 7th, when he was jolted awake to a reality his Auschwitz-survivor grandmother had known: that the native Dutch people he had considered friends, were not. Dov speaks about raising his daughters in the Netherlands, why his grandmother believed Holland was a safe and acceptable place for her grandson to build his adult life, and how the October 7th attacks led him to offer “psychological first aid” to Kibbutz survivors who fled to Eilat. Hear more about why Dov was in Egypt when the October 7th attacks began, and why Dov's response to the pogrom in Amsterdam on November 8th led many in Israel to believe that this real estate mogul might be a Lyft driver in Amsterdam. Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Yesh Mehuma" by Tzlil Dayan Listen on ⁠Spotify or ⁠Apple Music

Nicole Jansezian lives in Jerusalem where she reports on the complicated yet beautiful aspects of this city as well as the challenges facing the people of the Holy Land. She and her husband Tony are part of the Armenian Christian community of Jerusalem and are raising their three children in a crossroads of languages, cultures and religions.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Open Our Hearts/Pote'ach et Yadecha" by Minna Bromberg Listen on ⁠⁠Spotify ⁠⁠or ⁠⁠Apple Music⁠

Rafael Aronov is 30 years old and originally from Arad. He now lives in Be'er Sheva and is happily married to Lior. He is the son of two Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union. Coming from an athletic family, Rafael, and his brother and sister are all martial artists. He is also a special forces police officer and takes pride in serving his country.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Yalla" by Elnatan Listen on ⁠⁠Spotify ⁠⁠or ⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠

Dr. Hemi Rotenberg is an assistant professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. He also happens to be an IDF reservist (used to be less demanding in past years), and since Oct 7th, he has served 8 months in total during three rounds of service. He lives in Kiryat Tiv’on with his wife, four children, and a dog, which he mistakenly brought home a week before the last round of duty.     Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Morning Light" by Elijah Aaron Listen on ⁠Spotify ⁠or ⁠Apple Music⁠  

Roxana Ostrovsky was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, and has been living in Tel Aviv for the past 20 years. She balances a full-time career in consulting with raising two children in the White City.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Beautiful Day" by NURIEL Listen on Spotify or Apple Music