149 episodes
- In this special episode of Wondering Jews, Mijal and Noam break down a major aspect of Israeli elections that Western observers have missed: the Mizrahi vote. What defines Mizrahi Jews, what are their values, and what do they want to see in Israel's leadership? Mijal expands on her Op-Ed for the Wall Street Journal, arguing that these questions are now more important than ever. With the election picture still cloudy, one thing is certain: Mizrahi Jews will be a crucial voice for Israel's future.
You can read Mijal's Wall Street Journal piece here (subscription required): https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-elections-mizrahi-jews-820f3182
This episode is generously sponsored by Nadina and Fernando Szew.
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History - What’s so funny about growing up as a Conservative Jew in Kentucky? Plenty, according to comedian Raanan Hershberg. We’re off this week, so we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations, where Noam and Raanan tackle Jewish upbringing, antisemitism, and how the Bible drives Jewish humor.
check out Raanan's latest special, Morbidly Jewish, here: https://youtu.be/2Kc6151SE1U?si=KCetUPtHiGtJUWsg
For more on Raanan, visit https://www.raananhershberg.com/
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History - In the aftermath of October 7th, our feeds were filled with reports of antisemitism at Columbia and UCLA, among other colleges. But are these schools part of a broader trend, or merely outliers that received outsize attention? In this episode, Noam sits down with Ethan Goetz, a leader of Jewish student life at the University of Miami. The discussion isn't about what other colleges are doing wrong. Instead, Ethan lays out what Miami is doing right, and shares a moving story about his own Jewish journey. There's also plenty of sports talk, cholent recipes, and a spontaneous recital of the Barchu.
Wondering Jews thanks Hillel International for introducing us to inspiring student leaders across the nation, including Ethan. To learn more about Hillel, visit hillel.org
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
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This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History - Is ambition a virtue that allows us to reach our full potential? Or is it a trap that leaves us dissatisfied and burnt out? With Florence Pugh starring in a new Netflix adaptation of Noam's favorite book (East Of Eden), it seems like a great time to wonder about the ambitions of Steinbeck's most notorious character, and why that matters for the rest of us. Along the way, Mijal has her own thoughts on a viral "would you rather" question, Jewish leadership, and Simchat Torah.
Jon Polin's SAPIR article on reluctant leadership can be read here: https://sapirjournal.org/influence/2026/on-reluctant-leadership/
This episode is generously sponsored in memory of Leo M. Bernstein
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History - In the immediate aftermath of October 7th, 2023, there were incredible signs of unity within and alongside the Jewish people. But there were also moments of profound division. Three years later, how has this infamous date--and the subsequent war in Gaza--brought people closer together, or further apart? Mijal and Noam's discussion is one of hope: perhaps tragedy has united us more than television or social media would have us believe. Emotions run high as Mijal and Noam reflect, reminisce, and discuss the future of Israel and the Jewish people in this new reality.
This episode is generously sponsored by Nadina and Fernando Szew, in honor of their deep care for Jewish education and their enduring love of our peoplehood and Israel.
Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media.
Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
Visit jewishlives.org to explore and buy books from the Jewish Lives book series. Use the discount code JLIFE to get a discount.
------------
This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4
For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Borderlines with That Semite
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Unpacking Israeli History
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About Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman are two of the most dynamic, interesting, and thought-provoking Jewish leaders today. Two seasoned educators who love to talk, listen, laugh, challenge, and grow, Mijal and Noam are the Wondering Jews, leading us through thought-provoking discussions that are as serious as they are entertaining.
Whether you're a seasoned scholar or just curious about Jewish culture, this show offers a refreshing perspective that's both enlightening and enjoyable. It's not just a podcast; it's a thoughtful conversation that invites everyone to wonder about the rich tapestry of Jewish ideas in the context of our daily lives. Brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.
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