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Broadway director and arts activist Zhailon Levingston has been making waves in the New York theater scene through his ability to challenge audiences emotionally at the same time he is entertaining them. In this episode, Zhailon, who is not Jewish, describes his love of the very Jewish practice of “Havruta,” a collaborative method of rigorously debating ideas with a single partner over a long period of time, and how this intense intellectually wrestling is a far more productive method of bringing folks together than trying to get everyone to agree on the same positions. As artistic director of The Inheritance Theater Project, Levingston reveals deep insight into how collaborative playmaking can be a powerful technology for bringing disparate communities together. In this week’s episode, Levingston joins Jonah for an illuminating conversation on a number of deep and difficult topics, from Jewish and Black identity, to the Israel/Gaza war, to Gen Z’s struggles with social media, to the ideas of “Black Aliveness”. Don’t miss this complex, thought-provoking discussion you can only find right here, on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt!

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Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editor: Patrick Edwards); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Designer Noah Bell, and Executive Assistant, Josie Rothschild.

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Mentioned in Episode

• Inheritance Theater Project
• Jon Adam Ross
• Dr. Rebecca Schorsch
• Havruta Meaning & Definition
• The Story of The Exodus
• James Baldwin Text About Black/Jewish Relations in 1968
• Kevin Quashie on How to Read & Interpret Black Text Through “Aliveness”
• Juneteenth Seder
• Jonah Platt Speaks About Undiagnosed ADHD
• Douglas Lyons
• Chicken & Biscuits Play
• Table 17 Play
• The Normal Heart Play by Larry Kramer

Watch the show on YouTube @JonahPlattOfficial

Gail Simmons has captured our hearts and stomachs as a judge on Bravo’s Emmy and Peabody-winning series Top Chef for more than 18 years! Today, she joins Jonah to discuss her connections to food and family through the lens of her Jewish identity. A Canadian native, she reflects on her Jewish upbringing in Toronto and Montreal and how those Jewish communities persevere today in the face of immense anti-Jew hate. Additionally, she shares her concerns for the future as a Jewish mother, goes deep on all things Top Chef, and of course, sprinkles in some culinary wisdom on Jewish specialties like latkes, kosher pickles, and most importantly, Mom’s Brisket. Together, Jonah and Gail tackle a wide breadth of topics with hope, humor and heart.

Mentioned in Episode

• Nefesh - Rabbi Susan Goldberg
• Chef Sara Bradley
• Tom Colicchio
• Hen Mazzig
• Gail Simmons’ Brisket Recipe
• Instagram Post by Gail Simmons
• Chef Birthright Trip
• Franco-Turkish Relationship during First Empire
• The Great Powers

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Subscribe to the podcast: https://beingjewishwithjonahplatt.transistor.fm/subscribe

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All things Jonah:

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Connect with Gail

https://www.instagram.com/gailsimmonseats/

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editor: Patrick Edwards);, Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Designer Noah Bell Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, and Consulting Producers: Shield Communications (Ariella Noveck & Bethany Mandel).

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of Being Jewish!

00:00 Introduction and Context

00:27 The Power of Social Media

03:39 Historical Reflections and Call to Action

05:34 Practical Steps for Jewish Advocacy

07:10 Guest Introduction: Gail Simmons

09:01 Gail's Jewish Culinary Heritage

12:28 Gail's Career Journey

23:52 Top Chef and Cultural Impact

29:59 Jewish Food Challenge Ideas

31:17 Support and Community Post-October 7th

35:04 Social Media Advocacy and Reactions

42:05 Memories of Israel and Kibbutz Life

46:39 Contemporary Jewish Food and Deli Culture

48:55 Thanksgiving Traditions and Preferences

50:39 Audience Questions and Reflections

56:26 Closing Remarks and Credits

Watch the show on YouTube @JonahPlattOfficial

In this week’s episode, Jonah sits down with journalist Isaac Saul, founder of independent, non-partisan political newsletter Tangle. They discuss Isaac's evolving journey with Judaism - from the local Jewish Community Center to a Yeshiva in East Jerusalem and back. Isaac also lends his expertise to the discussion of journalistic integrity today, and elaborates on Tangle's mission to bridge what he calls “The Perception Gap” between Democrats and Republicans, and the political divide on contentious issues. Additionally, Saul offers unique perspectives on the ongoing conflicts in Israel and offers his election predictions just in time for Election Day! Jonah and Isaac’s conversation offers new insights on bridging civic divides and illustrates how to have an honest, humble and respectful conversation about sensitive issues.

Mentioned in this episode

• Subscribe to Tangle! ReadTangle
• The Week Magazine (general reference)
• Isaac Saul’s Article on Election Fraud
• Isaac Saul’s Election Predictions
• Article: The Zionist case for a ceasefire
• Article “The attacks on Israel, and the response.

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Subscribe to the podcast: https://beingjewishwithjonahplatt.transistor.fm/subscribe

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Threads: www.threads.net/@jonahplatt

All things Jonah:

www.JonahPlatt.com

Connect with Isaac

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ikesaul/

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editor: Patrick Edwards);, Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Designer Noah Bell Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, and Consulting Producers: Shield Communications (Ariella Noveck & Bethany Mandel).

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of Being Jewish!

00:00 Introduction to Anti-Jewish Hate

00:44 Understanding Inversion: A Core Strategy

01:58 Examples of Anti-Jewish Inversion

03:09 The Weaponization of Jewish Identity

04:38 Challenging the Apartheid Label

05:52 Debunking Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide Claims

07:57 The Misuse of 'Never Again'

09:39 Interview with Isaac Saul: Early Jewish Memories

14:16 Isaac Saul's Journey to Jewish Observance

19:54 The State of Journalism Today

29:18 Addressing Election Fraud Claims

30:53 Understanding Political Perception Gaps

34:00 Election Predictions and Analysis

36:40 Personal Reflections on Trump

42:12 The Israel-Palestine Conflict

57:19 Social Media Questions

59:04 Conclusion and Farewell