BOOK NOW FOR UNPACKING ISRAELI HISTORY LIVE IN LA - Nov 12 at Sinai Temple with special guest Ronen Bergman. Last stop for 2025! Use the coupon code UIH20 to get a discount on your tickets: https://unpacked.bio/UIHLA25 Mijal and Noam step back from politics to ask bigger questions: how should Jews meet a world where hostages come home under a ceasefire, Nick Fuentes inches into mainstream discourse, and NYC debates Mamdani? Fresh off a trip to Israel, Mijal shares what resilience looks like on the ground in a culture that rejects self-pity. Mijal and Noam discuss a strategy to fight antisemitism on both sides and explore why “moral clarity” matters. Note: This episode was recorded before New York's Mayoral election. Here is a link to Mijal Bitton's Substack: Can We Still Believe in the World? Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
BOOK NOW FOR UNPACKING ISRAELI HISTORY LIVE IN LA - Nov 12 at Sinai Temple with special guest Ronen Bergman. Last stop for 2025! Use the coupon code UIH20 to get a discount on your tickets: https://unpacked.bio/UIHLA25 In this special crossover episode, host Noam Weissman shares one of the most powerful conversations he’s ever had—an interview with Eli Sharabi, who survived 491 days as a Hamas hostage in Gaza. Noam talks to Eli about his new memoir, Hostage, where he recounts life 50 meters underground: the starvation, humiliation, and small acts of spiritual defiance that kept him alive. Eli's wife and two daughters were murdered on October 7th and his brother was murdered in Hamas Captivity. Together, they confront the hardest questions of morality and meaning, including: And how does one rebuild life after unbearable loss? What does it mean to retain faith while facing evil? Hostage, by Eli Sharabi Note: This episode first aired on Unpacking Israeli History. Mijal Bitton will be back next week. Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
BOOK NOW FOR UNPACKING ISRAELI HISTORY LIVE IN LA - Nov 12 at Sinai Temple with special guest Ronen Bergman. Last stop for 2025! Use the coupon code UIH20 to get a discount on your tickets: https://unpacked.bio/UIHLA25 In this special crossover episode, Noam Weissman explores what it feels like to live through this moment in Israel. Mijal is away so Noam sits down with writer and Times of Israel editor Sarah Tuttle-Singer, author of Jerusalem Drawn and Quartered, for a raw, empathetic conversation about daily life in Jerusalem after October 7. They talk about euphoria and grief around hostage returns, the “toxic resilience” many Israelis carry, and the small acts of kindness that still break through. Here are links to Sarah Tuttle-Singer's work. BREAKING: Deep Concern Grows for Susan Sarandon, Mark Ruffalo, and Roger Waters https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/sarah-tuttle-singer/ Jerusalem, Drawn and Quartered: One Woman's Year in the Heart of the Christian, Muslim, Armenian, and Jewish Quarters of Old Jerusalem Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
As Sukkot begins, Mijal and Noam revisit a favorite episode about what it really means to live with fragility and joy. From stepping into temporary huts to Rabbi Nachman’s teaching to “always be in a state of joy,” they explore how Judaism reframes happiness—not as comfort or control, but as presence, purpose, and connection. Mijal Bitton: Committed by Mijal Bitton | Substack Martin Seligman: Pursuit of Happiness Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz (Harvard study on happiness): The Good Life Noam Weissman's Jewish Journal article about Sukkot: Living in the Joy of Sukkot Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
BOOK NOW FOR UNPACKING ISRAELI HISTORY LIVE IN LA - Nov 12 at Sinai Temple with special guest Ronen Bergman. Last stop for 2025! Use the coupon code UIH20 to get a discount on your tickets: https://unpacked.bio/UIHLA25 What is Shabbat -- really? Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman go beyond the long list of “don’ts” to uncover the deeper joy and purpose of the Jewish Sabbath. Grounded in Genesis, Exodus, Heschel, and Rav Soloveitchik, they explore Shabbat as a 25-hour “palace in time”—a weekly digital detox, spiritual reset, and celebration of meaning. We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here: https://simchattorahchallenge.org/ https://www.sefaria.org/texts Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Sabbath Joseph B. Soloveitchik :The Lonely Man of Faith Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
BOOK NOW FOR UNPACKING ISRAELI HISTORY LIVE IN LA - Nov 12 at Sinai Temple with special guest Ronen Bergman. Last stop for 2025! Use the coupon code UIH20 to get a discount on your tickets: https://unpacked.bio/UIHLA25 In this special episode of Wondering Jews, Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman sit down with Prof. Moshe Halbertal to reflect on the High Holidays. Together they explore why the “Days of Awe” feel both intense and joyful, and how teshuva, tefillah, and tzedakah can restore a sense of agency and open the future. https://its.law.nyu.edu/facultyprofiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=profile.overview&personid=20653 We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here: https://simchattorahchallenge.org/ https://www.sefaria.org/texts Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
BOOK NOW FOR UNPACKING ISRAELI HISTORY LIVE IN LA - Nov 12 at Sinai Temple with special guest Ronen Bergman. Last stop for 2025! Use the coupon code UIH20 to get a discount on your tickets: https://unpacked.bio/UIHLA25 Why do Jews mark life’s biggest moments with rituals—and what happens when those rituals clash with modern life? In this rich, personal, and sometimes hilarious episode, Mijal and Noam take you on a journey through the Jewish life cycle—from brit milah to bar mitzvah, weddings to funerals. They explore how different communities (Syrian, Moroccan, Ashkenazi, Persian, and more!) celebrate, grieve, and navigate transitions. Along the way, they ask tough questions about tradition, cost, creativity, and meaning—and how showing up for others may be the most Jewish act of all. We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here: https://simchattorahchallenge.org/ https://www.sefaria.org/texts Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
BOOK NOW FOR UNPACKING ISRAELI HISTORY LIVE IN LA - Nov 12 at Sinai Temple with special guest Ronen Bergman. Last stop for 2025! Use the coupon code UIH20 to get a discount on your tickets: https://unpacked.bio/UIHLA25 Prayer can feel abstract—so Mijal and Noam get practical. In the second part of our In the Beginning mini-series on foundational Jewish topics, Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman explore what Jewish prayer (tefillah/davening) is. They look at why we pray, who we pray to, and the words we use. From fixed liturgy to personal expression, this episode offers a clear, text-based guide to deepen Jewish prayer practice. We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here: https://simchattorahchallenge.org/ https://www.sefaria.org/texts Here is a link to: This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation, by Alan Lew and Norman Fischer Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
BOOK NOW FOR UNPACKING ISRAELI HISTORY LIVE IN LA - Nov 12 at Sinai Temple with special guest Ronen Bergman. Last stop for 2025! Use the coupon code UIH20 to get a discount on your tickets: https://unpacked.bio/UIHLA25 Is it a religion, a people, a culture, a nation - or something that refuses tidy boxes? In the first episode of our In The Beginning mini-series where we'll be covering foundational Jewish topics, Mijal and Noam trace how Jews have defined themselves or been defined across centuries and why it matters now more than ever; impacting belief, peoplehood, culture, land, shared destiny and so much more. We’re proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here: https://simchattorahchallenge.org/ https://www.sefaria.org/texts Here are links to additional resources mentioned in the episode. Leora Batnitzky's How Judaism Became a Religion: An Introduction to Modern Jewish Thought The Tanya Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
Mijal and Noam sit down with award-winning author Dara Horn (People Love Dead Jews) to tackle one of the most urgent questions today: What’s wrong with Holocaust education—and how do we fix it? Together, they explore why most American students meet Jews only as Holocaust victims, how teaching the Shoah without Jewish civilization erases the very culture the Nazis tried to destroy, and why that erasure actually fuels antisemitism rather than combating it. From Holocaust denial to October 7th, from the “big lie” at the heart of Jew-hatred to the paradox of Jewish sovereignty, Dara doesn’t hold back. This episode, originally released on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a call to rethink how we talk about Jews, Judaism, and antisemitism. Click here to read more about Dara Horn and her work, including 7 books. Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
In this re-release of one of our most popular episodes, Noam Weissman and Mijal Bitton speak with journalist Haviv Rettig Gur about the history, ideology, and persistence of antisemitism. They trace its roots from early Christian and Islamic theology through Marxist and nationalist movements, examine how it has evolved in the Arab world and on American campuses, and discuss why the current wave feels unprecedented to many American Jews. (Note: this episode was recorded before Mamdani's victory in the Democratic primary of the NYC mayoral election.) Here is Mijal's article in the Free Press: Things Worth Remembering: The Freedom to Be Different. Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on Youtube. Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
In a year of division, can Jewish unity still hold? In this special re-release of Wondering Jews, Mijal Bitton sits down with Rabbi David Wolpe for a deep, candid conversation about Jewish solidarity, peoplehood, and the meaning of freedom. They explore why the Seder remains Judaism’s most beloved ritual, how to handle political disagreements at the table, and why Jewish identity is rooted in community as much as in faith. Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on Youtube. Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
In one of the most talked-about episodes of Wondering Jews, Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman dive into the emotional and complicated questions facing Jews today: If you love Israel… why don’t you live there? Listen again or for the first time to Mijal and Noam open up about the cognitive dissonance of loving Israel while living in the Diaspora. Along the way, they reflect on the insights of Jewish giants and share candid stories of love, guilt, dreams—and bagels. Here are some of the sources referenced in the episode: Unpacking Israeli History: Does Israel Represent All Jews?: The Great Debate Blaustein/Ben Gurion exchange Lubavitcher Rebbe’s response to Ariel Sharon Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on Youtube. Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
What does Chabad have to offer a fractured world in 2025? Mijal Bitton and and Noam Weissman are joined by renowned Chabad scholar and speaker Rabbi YY Jacobson to explore the enduring power of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s legacy. Together, they unpack Chabad’s worldview, its nuanced relationship with Zionism, and its bold answer to antisemitism. Rabbi Jacobson shares how every Jew—religious or secular—can become an agent of healing, love, and redemptive consciousness. Click here to read Rabbi Jacobson's bio. Click here for Rabbi Jacobson's website. Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on Youtube. Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
What does it mean to be Jewish in NYC after Zohran Mamdani’s surprising victory in New York's Democratic mayoral primary? In this candid and passionate conversation, Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman reflect on fear, populism, and the strategic mistakes and opportunities facing the Jewish community. From public safety to coalition-building, they explore why this moment matters far beyond New York — and what must happen next. Note: This episode was recorded on July 2nd. Subsequent developments are not discussed in this episode. Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on Youtube. Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman sit down with award-winning author and media entrepreneur Zibby Owens to explore what it means to publicly embrace Jewish identity after October 7th. Zibby shares her journey from a largely secular literary figure to an outspoken Jewish advocate. They discuss cancel culture, Zionism, the challenges Jewish authors face in publishing, and the power of Jewish moms stepping up. Note: This conversation was recorded before the Iran-Israel War in June, 2025. On Being Jewish Now, Edited by Zibby Owens. Zibby Media Link to the documentary: October 8 Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on Youtube. Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
What happens when the artists we love express hatred toward Israel—or Jews ? This week, hosts Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman confront this issue, from Bob Vylan leading chants of “Death to the IDF” at Glastonbury to Dave Matthews Band calling for a Gaza ceasefire. Listen to this timely conversation on the emotional and moral dilemmas of supporting artists whose politics feel threatening. The Free Press: Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Glastonbury—and the Purge of the Jews Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on Youtube. Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
(Note: this episode was recorded before Mamdani's victory in the Democratic primary of the NYC mayoral election.) Journalist and historian Haviv Rettig Gur returns to Wondering Jews to explore why antisemitism persists across centuries —from medieval Europe to modern American campuses. Together, Haviv, Mijal and Noam unpack how conspiracy theories, religion, and political ideologies fuel hatred of Jews, why Zionism emerged as a response, and what American Jews can learn from history. Wondering Jews is hosted by Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman. Here is Mijal's article in the Free Press: Things Worth Remembering: The Freedom to Be Different. Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on Youtube. Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
Mijal and Noam break down the emotional and spiritual aftermath of the last twelve days of war that mainstream media is missing. Moving beyond geopolitical analysis, they explore what it means to hold space for empathy—toward both Israelis carrying the trauma of October 7th and Iranians suffering under authoritarian rule. Plus, real-time updates from their Israeli team dodging missile warnings while trying to work.What sparked the most reflection for you during these 12 days? And please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews and check us out on Youtube: Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
Noam and Mijal pause the punditry and explore how ancient biblical wisdom offers profound guidance for navigating the uncertainty, fear, and complexity of today’s Jewish moment. In this special, bonus episode, they dive into the weekly Torah portion of Shlach—the story of the scouts in the Book of Numbers to help think through the chaos facing Israel today. Michael Walzer's Exodus and Revolution Here is a link to Mijal's Substack: https://mijal.substack.com/ Yaakov Katz's post on his journey back to Israel: https://x.com/yaakovkatz/status/1934571174060532198 Please get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. And please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Unpacking Israeli History Soulful Jewish Living Stars of David with Elon Gold
Mort Salmanroshd
judea amd Samaria.. .mazal tov israel
Mort Salmanroshd
much needed keep up the honest...good work מזל טוב!
Enea Koxhioni
🤨🤨 Oh hell nah! Wtf is this state-sponsored Hasbara? "Wondering" about Zionism.. while it perpetuates bombs being dropped on children? Claiming self defense into a 2 YEARS extermination campaign? I bet people were "wondering" about Nazism when it was doing its thing too. Calling Zionism out for its self-described supremacy is not "misunderstanding" it. Its just naming it, and rightfully so. Disgusting
Zoe Yacoub
I just discovered your podcast and listened to the Ashkenazi Sefardi episode. Love your knowledge, humour and vibe. From the mama in an Ashkefadri household ill be listening to many more of your podcasts 💙