Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

What did Auschwitz look like to the Nazi’s running it?

Moisés Kaufman, Tony and Emmy-nominated playwright and director, and co-founder of Tectonic Theater Project, joins Jonah to discuss their collaboration on the Broadway play Here There Are Blueberries. The play grew out of a remarkable discovery: a photo album documenting the everyday lives of Auschwitz's Nazi officers, including Christmas celebrations, sunbathing, and, yes, eating blueberries. Kaufman and Holocaust historian Dr. Rebecca Erbelding turned the album's history into a theatrical detective story, raising a chilling question: how could people lead seemingly normal lives while participating in unimaginable evil?

Kaufman unpacks the difference between culpability, complicity, and complacency, and shares how visiting Auschwitz brought the enormity of the Holocaust into painfully personal focus. He reflects on growing up gay, Orthodox Jewish, and Venezuelan, his father's experience as a Holocaust survivor, and how yeshiva shaped his approach to theater. The conversation also explores the lasting impact of *The Laramie Project* and Kaufman's perspective on today's political polarization.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Here There Are Blueberries Tickets and Showtimes

02:37
Here There Are Blueberries: The Nazis' Secret Photo Album

10:11
The Holocaust, Moral Complicity, and the Danger of Complacency

22:30
Jewish Identity, Yeshiva, and the Power of Storytelling

30:59
Reinventing Theater: Moment Work and The Laramie Project

40:59
Venezuela, Political Extremism, and What Success Really Means

More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish:

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Follow Jonah on:
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Learn more about Moises Kaufman:

Moisés Kaufman Instagram

Here There Are Blueberries Tickets and Showtimes

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

Can one viral video do more to fight antisemitism than an entire Jewish organization?

Recorded at the Jewish American Summit in Los Angeles, Jonah sits down with Zach Sage Fox, the creator and producer of Street Smart, and founder of the nonprofit Think Again, to discuss his unconventional approach to fighting anti-Israel misinformation and extremism.

Zach explains how Street Smart, his viral man-on-the-street content satirical platform, and Think Again, his new education-focused nonprofit, use Hollywood-level production, comedy, and data-driven storytelling to change minds. He takes us behind the scenes of his Times Square child-bride social experiment, and how he put Holocaust survivors face-to-face with Gen Z Holocaust deniers. Zach makes the case for investing millions in digital education to beat anti-Zionists at their own game. Plus, Zach shares his concerns about Zohran Mamdani, the future of New York City, and why he believes the battle for Western values and the Jewish community's future will be won on social media.

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:
[email protected]
Merchandise
https://merch.beingjewishpodcast.com/
Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
X - @JonahPlatt
Follow Being Jewish on:
Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast
TikTok - @BeingJewish

Learn more about Zach Sage Fox

Zach Sage Fox Instagram
Zach Sage Fox TikTok
Street Smart Instagram
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 is trust in the media collapsing? Who’s telling the truth in today’s media war?

Election Special! Live from the JCC in Washington, DC, Mosheh Oinounou, founder of Mo News and former CBS News executive, and Jake Sherman, co-founder of Punchbowl News and former Politico reporter, combine their media expertise to discuss the future of political journalism, independent media, and the fight to earn public trust.

Mosheh explains how Mo News grew from Instagram posts for friends and family into a news platform by making journalism conversational, transparent, and accessible. He discusses why acknowledging mistakes and issuing news corrections matters, how he provides context to non-Jews on Jewish issues, and why he still believes that people genuinely want to learn. Jake argues that major news organizations are fundamentally broken, and shares an inside look at Capitol Hill where lawmakers sometimes rely on Instagram and ChatGPT instead of expert sources. He warns that political incentives and influential podcasters can amplify misinformation.

Together, they also tackle the unique challenges Jewish journalists face covering Israel, and rising antisemitism across the political left and right. Mosheh and Jake also lay out their midterm predictions.

Plus, L’dor Vadorable is BACK! Jonah interviews his adorable little cousins for another round of intergenerational Jewish wisdom. The future of the tribe is in very cute hands!

This episode is sponsored by Citizen Café: Schedule your free intro session with Citizen Cafe today!

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Citizen Cafe

The Collapse of Trust in Mainstream Media and the Rise of Independent Journalism
11:40–21:30

Being Jewish in Journalism: Bias, Objectivity, and Covering Israel
21:30–30:30

Misinformation, Political Polarization, and the Death of Objective News
30:30–42:30

Antisemitism, Israel, and the Future of News in the Social Media and AI Era
42:30–53:30

The Political Future of Israel, American Jews, and the 2026 Midterms
53:30–58:20

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:
[email protected]
Merchandise
https://merch.beingjewishpodcast.com/
Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
X - @JonahPlatt
Follow Being Jewish on:
Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast
TikTok - @BeingJewish

Learn more about Mo Oinoinou & Jake Sherman:

Mo News Website
Mo News Instagram
Mo News YouTube
Punchbowl News Website
Punchbowl News Instagram
Punchbowl YouTube
Jake Sherman Instagram
Mosheh on Instagram
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

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.
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:
[email protected]
Merchandise
https://merch.beingjewishpodcast.com/
Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
X - @JonahPlatt
Follow Being Jewish on:
Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast
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Learn more about Joel Rubin

Joel Rubin LinkedIn
Joel Rubin X
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:
[email protected]
Merchandise
https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch
Follow Jonah on:
Instagram - @JonahPlatt
X - @JonahPlatt
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