People of the Pod

People of the Pod - Brought to you be American Jewish Committee

People of the Pod is a weekly podcast analyzing global affairs through a Jewish lens, brought to you by American Jewish Committee. Host Manya Brachear Pashman examines current events, the people driving them, and what it all means for America, Israel, and the Jewish people. Check out all of our episodes below.

You can also subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app. If you like what you hear, subscribe, rate it, and spread the word.

The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting: An Oral History with Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto

On Wednesday, October 27, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto will ask residents to observe a moment of silence and reflection at 9:54 a.m. That was the moment the shooting started at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood in 2018. The antisemitic attack left 11 worshippers dead, and wounded two other congregants and police officers. Listen to Mayor Peduto recount what it was like to comfort and protect not just the city he led, but his neighbors and friends, after America’s deadliest antisemitic attack three years ago.

Then, for our closing segment, Shabbat Table Talk, Manya Brachear Pashman speaks with Liel Leibovitz of Tablet Magazine’s podcast Unorthodox, to discuss how the Pittsburgh community united following the tragedy.

*The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC.

Protestors against antisemitism in the UK Labour Party
Crossover with Tablet’s Unorthodox: How the Jews Went Right in Britain
This special podcast collaboration with Tablet’s Unorthodox unpacks the political shift of British Jews in the wake of Jeremy Corbyn’s antisemitic scandal-filled five-year tenure as Labour party leader. Did the Corbynization of the Labour party move Jews to the right or leave them politically homeless? Has current party leader Keir Starmer been able to regain the confidence of the country’s Jewish population? Listen for answers to these pressing questions and more.
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Cemetery with vandalized Jewish tombstone
Advocating for Living Jews When “People Love Dead Jews”
Dara Horn is angry. And the award-winning author of five novels wants you to know why. This week, she’s sitting down with guest co-host Laura Shaw Frank, AJC’s Director of William Petschek Contemporary Jewish Life, to discuss why People Love Dead Jews, which is the title of her first work of nonfiction, and what that obsession means for modern-day Jewry, Israel, and efforts to counter rising antisemitism.
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Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville; burning swastika
Can You Sue a Nazi?
Four years ago hundreds of torch-bearing far-right demonstrators marched through the University of Virginia campus. The Unite the Right rally/antisemitic hatefest in Charlottesville, Virginia featured chants of “Jews will not replace us” and Nazi flags. Self-identified white supremacist James Fields perpetrated the car ramming attack that killed Heather Heyer and injured countless others. While Fields was held accountable for his actions in court, what about those who meticulously organized the rally? Who will hold them accountable? Our guest for this week, Executive Director of Integrity First for America (IFA) Amy Spitalnick, previews the upcoming trial of Sines v. Kessler—IFA’s lawsuit against the rally’s organizers—and shares how she is working to push far-right extremists back into the shadows where they belong.
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Rally against antisemitism in France
People of the Pod: What All Jews Need to Know About the EU’s New Strategy to Combat Antisemitism
Today, a new strategy for combating antisemitism was announced by the European Union. Does it have a chance to help Jews in Europe? What are the plan’s implications for diaspora Jewish communities outside of the continent? Two of AJC’s leaders in Europe who have worked closely with the EU and member state governments in the effort to counter rising Jew-hatred, Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, Managing Director of AJC Europe, and Daniel Schwammenthal, Director of AJC’s Transatlantic Institute, answer these questions and more in this special bonus episode of AJC’s People of the Pod. 
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Photo of Iron Dome intercepting rockets
People of the Pod: Iron Dome Debate: What to Make of “the Squad’s” Anti-Israel Efforts
When the U.S. House of Representatives voted last week 420-9-2 to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, it ended debate about America’s short-term support for the program and simultaneously sparked a conversation about the future of bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. Mark Mellman, President and CEO of Democratic Majority for Israel, joins us to address that topic and more, including whether Democratic support for Israel is shifting and trends in attitudes towards Israel on both sides of the aisle. Julie Rayman, AJC’s Senior Director of Policy and Political Affairs, guest hosts this week’s episode.
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Sign with swastika and Jewish star outside of 2001 Durban Conference
People of the Pod: Hitler, Nazis, and Swastikas: What It Was Like To Be a Jew At the UN’s 2001 Durban Conference
Ahead of the UN’s upcoming 20th anniversary event commemorating the antisemitic and anti-Israel 2001 UN Durban Conference, we hear from Joelle Fiss, who, as a Jewish student 20 years ago, attended the Conference. While the 2001 UN Durban Conference was meant to offer the chance for the international community to address racism, it quickly devolved into a platform for antisemitic hate. In this poignant conversation, Fiss shares her horrific experience from the event and details how it contributed to today’s rapid spread of antisemitism.
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Photo of 9/11 lights and New York's Brooklyn Bridge
People of the Pod: How 9/11 Changed America's Jewish and Muslim Communities, And Brought Them Closer Together
People of the Pod guest co-host Laura Shaw Frank, director of AJC’s William Petschek Contemporary Jewish Life and the acting director of AJC New York, is a Jewish American. Saeed Khan, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Near East and Asian Studies at Wayne State University-Detroit, Michigan, and a Research Fellow at the Center for the Study of Citizenship, is a Muslim American. Twenty years after the September 11th terror attacks, the two sit down to discuss the profound implications that day had on themselves, their respective Jewish and Muslim communities, and the strides they have seen in interfaith relations over the last two decades. 
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Photo of Jake Cohen
People of the Pod: Chef Jake Cohen on the Diversity of Jew-ish Food and Countering Antisemitism with His Own Brand of Advocacy
This week, guest host Dana Steiner, director of AJC ACCESS Global, American Jewish Committee's young professional division, sat down with Jake Cohen, food writer and author of New York Times bestseller Jew-ish: A Cookbook: Reinvented Recipes, to discuss the convergence between food and Judaism, the antisemitism he has faced throughout his career, and how sharing recipes and their connected stories from across the Jewish world is his form of advocacy. 
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College campus
People of the Pod: The State of Jewish Life on College Campuses
As students head back to campus, Tilly Shemer, Executive Director of University of Michigan Hillel, joins guest host Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman, Director of AJC’s Alexander Young Leadership Department, to discuss the difficult realities, as well as the wealth of opportunities, that are awaiting American Jews on campus. Then, Dr. Jeffrey Herbst, President of American Jewish University, shares his advice on how universities can combat antisemitism on campus.
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Jack Abraham in market in Kabul in 1966
People of the Pod: Afghan Jewish Leader on the Taliban’s Takeover
Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, we are joined by Afghanistan-born Jack Abraham, the president of Congregation Anshei Shalom, a synagogue for Afghan Jews located in Queens, New York, to discuss the Jewish history and future of his native country.
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Photo of UAE, USA, and Israel Flags on Airplane
People of the Pod: How the Abraham Accords Has Changed Hearts and Minds: A Sit-Down with Israel’s Top Official in the UAE
This week marks the one-year anniversary of normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. This historic agreement, known as the Abraham Accords, would soon grow to include Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. In one fell swoop, the number of Arab countries Israel had formal relations with tripled from two (Egypt and Jordan) to six. With us to discuss this pivotal moment and the future of Israeli-Arab engagement is Ambassador Eitan Na’eh, head of mission at the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi - formally dedicated just six weeks ago.
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Photo of Nachman Shai and Seffi Kogen speaking at an AJC event
People of the Pod: Israel’s Diaspora Minister on Surfside Visit and the Israel-Diaspora Relationship
Joining us for a second time on People of Pod is Nachman Shai, Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, to discuss his new role and his critical work supporting Jews around the world, including a recent visit to Surfside, Florida, following the tragic collapse of Champlain Towers South.
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Photo of Deborah Lipstadt
People of the Pod: Hear from America’s New Antisemitism Envoy Deborah Lipstadt
President Joe Biden has appointed Deborah Lipstadt, one of America’s preeminent Jewish historians and Holocaust scholars, to serve as the U.S. State Department’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. Listen to our conversation with Lipstadt, which is being re-aired for this special episode, about the troubling rise of contemporary antisemitism from multiple sources and what we can do to stop it.
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Bookshelf lined with children's books
People of the Pod: Antisemitism in the Kidlit World; Ben & Jerry's Shameful Surrender
In the wake of vicious attacks on American Jews, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators joined a chorus of organizations that condemned antisemitism then, after pushback, apologized for not condemning Islamophobia or other forms of hatred in the same statement. Jewish Insider Reporter Gabby Deutch joins us to discuss her discovery that the controversial apology underscored a wider and equally troubling challenge facing Jewish authors.
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Photo of Masih Alinejad
People of the Pod: Hear From the Woman Iran Tried to Kidnap
Earlier this week, four Iranian operatives were charged in the attempted kidnapping of the U.S.-based Iranian exile Masih Alinejad, a human rights activist and journalist. Alinejad was kicked out of her native country nearly a decade ago for her anti-veiling advocacy. This week on the podcast, we’re joined by AJC Europe Managing Director Simone Rodan Benzaquen, who recently interviewed Alinejad about her activism and the harrowing experiences she faced in Iran. 
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Image of Senators Cory Booker, Jacky Rosen, and Tim Scott
People of the Pod: Launch of the Senate Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations; The Startup Nation: “Failure is Not an Option”
This week, we bring you highlights from an important announcement made at AJC Virtual Global Forum 2021. Three U.S. Senators, Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Tim Scott (R-SC), announced the launch of the Senate Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations. Then we're joined by Barak Rabinowitz, Managing Partner of F2 Venture Capital, to talk about the successes coming out of the Jewish state and the state of the Start-Up Nation.
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Pride parade flag with Star of David
People of the Pod: “We Refuse to Choose Among Our Identities”: A Wider Bridge’s Ethan Felson on Antisemitism at the Chicago Dyke March
In 2017, the Chicago Dyke March ejected Jewish marchers carrying rainbow flags emblazoned with Stars of David, and this year, it promoted its upcoming event with a cartoon image showing the burning of Israeli and American flags. To discuss why the Chicago Dyke March has been exhibiting such hostility towards supporters of Israel, we sit down with Ethan Felson, Executive Director of A Wider Bridge, a nonprofit that connects American and Israeli LGBTQ communities and works to strengthen LGBTQ inclusion in Israel. 
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Photo of Ebrahim Raisi
People of the Pod: The Butcher of Tehran; The Great Debate Over the West Bank
Last week, Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline cleric known as “the Butcher of Tehran” for having overseen thousands of executions, was chosen to succeed Hassan Rouhani as Iran’s president. Daniel Schwammenthal, Director of AJC’s Brussels-based Transatlantic Institute, joins us to discuss what Raisi’s selection means for the future of Iran and ongoing nuclear talks. We also hear from leading public Israeli intellectual Micah Goodman, who previously sat down with us on the podcast to discusses his book Catch-67, which focuses on “decreasing the conflict” until a permanent deal can be reached. 
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Photo of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Reuven Rivlin, and Yair Lapid, with other members of Knesset
People of the Pod: What You Need to Know About Israel’s Diverse New Government; The Mainstreaming of Antisemitism
For the first time since 2009, Israel has a new prime minister, Naftali Bennett. The Jerusalem Post Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov joins us this week to shed some light on the new prime minister and help us understand what we can expect from Israel’s new government. Then, we bring you one of the most-discussed sessions from AJC Virtual Global Forum 2021. Bret Stephens, op-ed columnist for The New York Times, Bari Weiss, journalist and author of How to Fight Antisemitism, and Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, Director of AJC Europe, discuss rising Jew-hatred in a session titled “The Mainstreaming of Antisemitism: How Should We Respond?”
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Photo of Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi and Rabbi David Rosen
People of the Pod: How Interfaith Relations Helped Drive the Abraham Accords; A View From Campus
This week, we bring you highlights from AJC Virtual Global Forum 2021. First, in a conversation moderated by Manya Brachear Pashman, we hear from H.E. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Hedayah, and Rabbi David Rosen, AJC Director of International Interreligious Affairs, in The Siegler Family Annual Muslim-Jewish Symposium on How Interfaith Relations Helped Drive the Abraham Accords.

Then, two college student activists, Julia Jassey, University of Chicago ‘23, and Talia Rosenberg, University of Pennsylvania ‘21, help us understand today’s challenges and opportunities on campus for pro-Israel students during the AJC Virtual Global Forum’s session, The View from Campus, moderated by Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman, AJC Deputy Director of Young Leadership.
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Iran missile
People of the Pod: High Stakes: What’s Next for U.S. Policy on Iran?
Have American, European, and Israeli policymakers learned anything since signing the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal? We sat down this week with AJC Jerusalem Director Avital Leibovich, AJC Transatlantic Institute Director Daniel Schwammenthal, and AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson to analyze what the next few months could bring. We were also joined by AJC CEO David Harris for a closing message on Iran.
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Damaged Building in Southern Israel from Hamas Rocket Fire
People of the Pod: Talking Israel with Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and AJC CEO David Harris
This week, we engage Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) in conversation about the violence in Israel and Gaza and about Jewish American Heritage Month, with a special salute to another trailblazing Jewish congresswoman, Bella Abzug. Then, as Israel comes under attack from Hamas-ruled Gaza, we hear from AJC CEO David Harris on the immense challenges facing the Jewish state, the importance of confronting misinformation, and the need for solidarity.
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Missiles fired toward Israel from Gaza
People of the Pod: Israel Under Attack: What You Need to Know
Israel is under attack, with over 1,500 rockets fired from Gaza, millions of Israelis in bomb shelters, and the threat of further violence continuing in Jerusalem and throughout the country. AJC Jerusalem Director Avital Leibovich and i24news Senior Correspondent Owen Alterman join us to share their front-line report on the evolving crisis. Then, AJC Director of Contemporary Jewish Life Laura Shaw Frank joins us to explain what we need to know about the Pew Research Center’s just-released Jewish Americans in 2020 report. 
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Facebook logo on ipad
People of the Pod: Breaking Down the Facebook Ban and Celebrating American Jewish Heritage Month
This week, we speak to Emi Palmor, former Director-General of Israel’s Ministry of Justice and a current member of The Oversight Board, which makes binding policy decisions on Facebook and Instagram, to discuss the board’s ruling on Facebook’s indefinite ban of former President Trump and other recent decisions. 
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Photo of Supreme Court Building in Israel
People of the Pod: Non-Orthodox Conversion in Israel: Dividing or Uniting the Jewish World?
This week, we hear from AJC's Director of Contemporary Jewish Life Laura Shaw Frank about how the Israeli Supreme Court's ruling on conversions will affect the Israel-Diaspora relationship.
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Iranian missiles launching
People of the Pod: What You Should Know About the Iran Nuclear Talks
Earlier this month, six world powers reopened negotiations with Iran over the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which the United States withdrew in 2018. Washington Institute Director of Research Patrick Clawson, a longtime friend of American Jewish Committee, joins us to discuss the implications of those talks and the threat posed by Iran.
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Poway Mayor Steve Vaus at a memorial for the Poway Chabad shooting in 2019
People of the Pod: “I Will Never Forget That Day”: Poway’s Mayor on the Second Anniversary of the Chabad Shooting
On April 27, 2019, in the middle of Passover, a white supremacist burst through the doors of a Chabad synagogue in Poway, California and opened fire, killing congregant Lori Gilbert-Kaye and injuring three others. As we approach the second anniversary of the shooting, we speak to Mayor Steve Vaus, a Grammy-winning country music singer, who was serving his first term as Poway’s mayor at the time. 
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Photo of Israeli flag by the Western Wall
People of the Pod: Yossi Klein Halevi on What Everyone Should Know About the Third Era of Jewish History
Author and journalist Yossi Klein Halevi joins us to talk about the wisdom of the Israeli calendar in how Israel remembers the fallen on Yom HaZikaron, followed by celebrating its independence on Yom HaAtzma’ut the very next day. 
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Cover of the book "The Art of Inventing Hope: Intimate Conversations with Elie Wiesel"
People of the Pod: The Art of Inventing Hope: Elie Wiesel’s Masterclass for Humanity
Elie Wiesel walked out of Buchenwald the same day as the late father of journalist Howard Reich, the legendary former jazz critic for The Chicago Tribune. Reich never talked to his father or mother, both survivors, about their Holocaust experiences. But in 2001 Reich’s mother began to relive those experiences, and his quest to piece together the stories he never knew about led to his book and subsequent film, Prisoner of Her Past. Nearly a decade later, Reich sat down to interview Elie Wiesel and discovered an instant connection, which he wrote about in The Art of Inventing Hope. Reich joins us to discuss all this, plus how jazz helped him confront his family’s past.
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Rabbi Abraham Heschel and Martin Luther King Jr.
People of the Pod: What We Can All Learn from Rabbi Heschel on Confronting Injustice
This week we hear from Martin Doblmeier, the director of Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story on the history of one of the most inspiring and preeminent scholars of the 20th Century. Doblmeier discusses Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s profound impact on the civil rights movement, the relationship between Jews and the Roman Catholic Church, and the “evil of indifference.”
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Israeli flags
People of the Pod: The Israeli Election: What Just Happened and What Comes Next
This week we’re joined by Allison Kaplan Sommer, Ha’aretz journalist and panelist for The Promised Podcast, to discuss some of the headliners from the Israeli election: potential kingmaker and Ra’am Party leader Mansour Abbas and Rabbi Gilad Kariv, who will be the first Reform rabbi to serve in the Knesset. Kaplan Sommer also discusses how democracy plays out in Israel and the United States and what it’s like to live in Israel, a complex, multicultural society.
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Israeli election ballot box
People of the Pod: This Is Why Israel is Having Its Fourth Election in Two Years
Ahead of the March 23rd elections in Israel, we’re joined by Haviv Rettig Gur, The Times of Israel's senior political analyst. Gur discusses the highly polarized sentiment around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the conflict within the Haredi community over pandemic restrictions, and the gap between the positions of the political parties that represent Arab Israelis and the concerns of Arab Israelis themselves. 
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Photo of Eli Rosenbaum
People of the Pod: The Nazi Hunter: Eli Rosenbaum on Tracking Down the World’s Most Wanted Criminals
This week, we’re in conversation with Eli Rosenbaum, Director of Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy at the Department of Justice, to talk about his 40 years at the department tracking down former Nazis to hold them accountable for their World War II crimes.
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Soraya Nadia McDonald Headshot
People of the Pod: Soraya Nadia McDonald on Being Black and Jewish; NBC’s No Good, Very Bad Week
Journalist Soraya Nadia McDonald is the award-winning Culture Critic for The Undefeated at ESPN and she sat down with us for a conversation about confronting antisemitism as a Black Jewish woman. Then AJC Chief Advocacy Officer Dan Elbaum reflects on his 11 years at AJC, Manya Brachear Pashman discusses Michael Che’s antisemitic joke on Saturday Night Live, and Seffi Kogen on criticism of a Jewish storyline on the NBC show “Nurses”.
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Photo of the International Criminal Court at the Hague
People of the Pod: Israel and the International Criminal Court; The Power of Music
This week, we’re joined by Barak Ravid, Contributing Correspondent for Axios and Diplomatic Correspondent for Walla News, to unpack the International Criminal Court's recent determination that it has jurisdiction in the West Bank and Gaza.
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QAnon supporters at rally
People of the Pod: The Real Danger of QAnon; Telling the Jewish Story in Arabic
This week, we’re in conversation with Joel Finkelstein, cofounder and director of the Network Contagion Research Institute, a nonpartisan, multidisciplinary research group of experts who study online disinformation, and Pamela Paresky, a senior scholar at the Institute who focuses on the psychology of thriving in a liberal democracy. Both have been sounding the alarm about the dangers of the antisemitic conspiracy theory movement QAnon and they join us to discuss what we can expect next from the movement and how we can take steps to stop it. 
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Protestors at a BDS rally
People of the Pod: The Problem with California’s Ethnic Studies; Mayors United Against Antisemitism
A controversial curriculum for teaching ethnic studies in California public schools will face a final vote in March. Since the first draft came out in 2019, a coalition of Jewish organizations has advocated for content that meaningfully includes Jews and other groups, discusses antisemitism, and avoids perpetuating stereotypes that put Jews in danger. We sit down with Director of AJC Northern California Rabbi Serena Eisenberg about the curriculum and why it should matter to all of us.
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Photo of train tracks leading to Auschwitz, Poland
People of the Pod: International Holocaust Remembrance Day with Mandy Gonzalez; Israel’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout and the Palestinians
This week, in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we sit down with Broadway actress Mandy Gonzalez, who read diary excerpts from Holocaust victims' diaries during a virtual reading held by the Museum of Jewish Heritage, and Alexandra Zapruder, curator of the event. Then, we speak to Lahav Harkov from The Jerusalem Post about Israel’s record-shattering vaccine rollout and the controversy over access for Palestinians. Finally, past president of AJC Westchester/Fairfield Beverly Block Rosenbaum shares the story of her mother, a survivor of multiple concentration camps.
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Photo of President Joe Biden
People of the Pod: The Biden Administration Gets Underway and Post-Inauguration Reflections
We sit down with AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson to discuss President Joe Biden’s inaugural address and what to expect from the new administration. Then, we hear from AJC Senior Director of Policy and Political Affairs Julie Fishman Rayman on how to engage with those with whom we disagree.
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Capitol Hill riots on January 6
People of the Pod: Inside America’s Far Right; Congressman Ritchie Torres
This week, we sit down with Daniel Lombroso, director of The Atlantic’s first feature documentary, White Noise, an inside story of the far right in America. Lombroso, who spent four years with the leaders of white supremacist and antisemitic movements, joins us to discuss how that period informs his perspective on the horrific events of January 6 at the United States Capitol and the ensuing fallout.
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Photo of Rep. Ritchie Torres
People of the Pod: A Special Conversation with Congressman Ritchie Torres
Tune in for an exclusive conversation with freshman Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) about the horrific events of January 6 at the United States Capitol. Listen as he shares his reflections on the antisemitism, racism, and white supremacy he witnessed that day; impeachment proceedings in Congress; and how the nation can move forward. 
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Ambassador Daniel Shapiro with Barack Obama and Joe Biden
People of the Pod: Ambassador Daniel Shapiro on Biden's Foreign Policy; Responding to the Attack on the Capitol
Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro broke down what we can expect from the Biden administration when it comes to Israel, Iran, the Palestinians, and the Abraham Accords. Then, as our nation reels from Wednesday’s mob attack on the United States Capitol, AJC Director of Contemporary Jewish Life Dr. Laura Shaw Frank, Manya Brachear Pashman, and Seffi Kogen share their reactions to the riots.
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Georgia Runoff Elections and Tackling Hate in America; Jon Ossoff; Raphael Warnock; David Perdue; Kelly Loeffler 2
People of the Pod: Georgia Runoff Elections and Tackling Hate in America
This week, Atlanta Journal-Constitution political reporter Greg Bluestein joins us to break down the January 5 runoff elections in Georgia that will decide which party controls the United States Senate. Next, we hear from Melanie Maron Pell, AJC’s Managing Director of Regional Offices, on an antisemitic attack over this Hanukkah at the University of Kentucky and the importance of passing the NO HATE act, Manya Brachear Pashman on the new Wonder Woman movie, and Seffi Kogen on two Israeli TV recommendations for the long winter nights ahead.
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UN Mideast Envoy Nickolay Mladenov; Celebrating Hanukkah
People of the Pod: UN Mideast Envoy Nickolay Mladenov; Celebrating Hanukkah
As United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov works to stave off escalations, speak up against violence, and promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Before he leaves his posting, Mladenov joins us to reflect on his vital work. Then, Rabbi Noam Marans shares his thoughts on the COVID-19 vaccine, and Manya Brachear Pashman recalls reporting on an attempt to break the world record for simultaneous dreidel spins at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
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Bibi Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Gideon Saar
People of the Pod: Israeli Political Rumblings; Jersey City Attack: One Year Later
Tal Schneider, political correspondent at the Times of Israel, joins us to unpack the latest in Israeli politics as Israel hurtles toward its fourth election in two years. Then, Rabbi David Levy, regional director of AJC New Jersey, reflects on the one-year anniversary of the attack at the JC Kosher Supermarket in Jersey City.
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Intrigue in Iran and the Stories of Mizrahi Jews; Sima Shine; Mossad; Israel; Institute for National Security Studies; Mohsen Fakhrizadeh; nuclear weapons
People of the Pod: Intrigue in Iran and the Stories of Mizrahi Jews
Sima Shine, former head of the Mossad’s research division and current senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), joins us to discuss recent developments related to Iran, including the recent death of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who headed the country’s nuclear weapons program.
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Talking Racial Justice with Eric Ward and Rabbi Angela Buchdal
People of the Pod: Talking Racial Justice with Eric Ward and Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
First up is Eric Ward, Executive Director of the Western States Center, who discusses his experience as a leader in the Black community committed to fighting antisemitism and how the Black and Jewish communities can work together to combat hate. Then, we hear from Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi of Manhattan’s Central Synagogue and member of AJC’s Board of Governors, about her experiences as a Jew of Color and the Jewish community’s obligation to social justice.
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Religion and Politics in the 2020 Election with The Atlantic’s Emma Green; Joseph R. Biden Jr.; joe biden; podium
People of the Pod: Religion and Politics in the 2020 Election with The Atlantic’s Emma Green
This week, The Atlantic’s Emma Green joins us to discuss the intersection of religion and politics in the 2020 election. Then, AJC Atlanta Regional Director Dov Wilker weighs in on the importance of the January runoff election in his home state of Georgia.
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White House1
People of the Pod: Bethany Mandel, Ron Kampeas on Election 2020
This week, we take a deep dive into the results of the 2020 election. First, we’re joined by writer and commentator Bethany Mandel to discuss what pre-election polls got wrong and why. Then, we hear from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency’s Washington Bureau Chief, Ron Kampeas, to break down the results of the congressional election and hear what the 117th Congress will look like.
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Election 2020: A Bipartisan Analysis and a Focus on Florida; roll of stickers; i voted;
People of the Pod: Election 2020 - A Bipartisan Analysis and a Focus on Florida
This week, Ira Sheskin, a professor at the University of Miami and editor of the American Jewish Year Book, joins us to break down what we know so far about the results of the 2020 election, with a focus on the Jewish vote in Florida. Then, we hear from Senator Norm Coleman, National Chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition, and Mark Mellman, President and CEO of the Democratic Majority for Israel, on what the outcome means for America, the Jewish community, Israel, and the world. 
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Debra Messing 3
People of the Pod: Debra Messing; AJC’s Groundbreaking State of Antisemitism in America Report
This week’s episode features a conversation with actress and philanthropist Debra Messing about her new podcast, The Dissenters, and how her experiences with antisemitism shaped her identity. Then, in a live podcast recording with the Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center in New York earlier this week, we break down the results from AJC’s groundbreaking report, "The State of Antisemitism in America 2020," with Avi Mayer, AJC’s Managing Director of Global Communications, and Holly Huffnagle, AJC’s U.S. Director for Combating Antisemitism.
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COVID-19 in NY's Ultra-Orthodox Community with Jacob Kornbluh; Iran Sanctions with Mark Dubowitz; Jewish insider; the forward; nypd; car; police
People of the Pod: COVID-19 in NY's Ultra-Orthodox Community with Jacob Kornbluh; Iran Sanctions with Mark Dubowitz
This week we’re joined by Jewish Insider National Politics Reporter Jacob Kornbluh, who has spent months reporting on the state of COVID-19 in New York’s ultra-Orthodox communities. On October 7, Kornbluh, a resident of Borough Park, was attacked while reporting on anti-lockdown protests in his neighborhood. We’ll hear a portion of this special live podcast recording, on why the ultra-Orthodox community has been so hard-hit by the pandemic, what is fueling the recent protests, and where the community should go from here. Then, we sit down with Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, to talk about the ramifications of this week’s end to the UN arms embargo on Iran.
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Facebook Bans Holocaust Denial Content
People of the Pod: Facebook Bans Holocaust Denial Content
This week, Facebook announced that it would ban Holocaust denial content from the platform. We’re joined this week by Jordana Cutler, Facebook’s Head of Policy for Israel and the Jewish Diaspora, to discuss this important decision and the role AJC played in making it happen.
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Josh Kraft on Together Beat Hate
People of the Pod: Josh Kraft on Together Beat Hate
This week, we speak to Josh Kraft, a community leader, a seasoned nonprofit executive, and through his family, a six-time Super Bowl champion. He recently took the helm of the Kraft family’s philanthropic efforts, and he joins us to discuss "[tbh]," or "together beat hate," an initiative of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, an organization focused on creating replicable models for fighting antisemitism and other forms of prejudice, racism, and hate.
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Image of people holding Nazi flags during a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville
People of the Pod: White Supremacy in America and David Duke
In this week’s episode, we sit down with the creators of two podcasts to explore the history of white supremacy in the United States in order to better understand the state of this hateful ideology today. Odette Yousef, host of WBEZ Chicago’s ‘Motive,’ speaks to us about the podcast’s third season, which examines the origins of Nazi skinhead culture, and Josh Levin, host of Slate’s ‘Slow Burn,’ the fourth season of which explores how David Duke, America’s most famous white supremacist, rose to prominence.
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People of the Pod: Remembering Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
This week, we sit down with Abbe Gluck, a former clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away last week, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. A professor of law and founding faculty director of the Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy at Yale Law School, she and fellow former clerk Gillian Metzger penned an op-ed in The New York Times just days after Justice Ginsburg’s passing, recalling her impact on them and on gender equality in the United States. Professor Gluck joins us to reflect on that legacy.
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Talking Arab-Israeli Peace with Acting Consul General Israel Nitzan
People of the Pod: Talking Arab-Israeli Peace with Acting Consul General Israel Nitzan
Following Tuesday’s historic signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates at the White House, we sit down with Israeli Acting Consul General Israel Nitzan to help us break down this exciting development and what it means for Israel. Then, in our closing segment, Shabbat Table Talk, AJC Associate Director for Policy and Middle East Initiatives Benjy Rogers shares why the Abraham Accords give him hope for the region.
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People of the Pod: AJC UAE Office; Reflections on #BlackJewishUnity Week
On this week’s episode, we’re joined by AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson, who has long led AJC delegations to the Gulf and maintains close ties with senior Emirati officials, to speak about the historic announcement last month by U.S. President Donald Trump, His Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the UAE and Israel would establish full diplomatic relations.
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Photo of the No Hate No Fear solidarity march across the Brooklyn Bridge in NY
People of the Pod: Celebrating #BlackJewishUnity Week with the National Urban League
In celebration of the enduring ties between America’s Black and Jewish communities, AJC and the National Urban League are partnering to designate the week of September 6 as Black-Jewish Unity Week. We sit down with Clint Odom, the National Urban League’s Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, Executive Director of the National Urban League’s Washington Bureau, to talk about the connections between the Black and Jewish communities and how we can use #BlackJewishUnity week to strengthen those ties.
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People of the Pod: Election 2020: The Republican National Convention
On the sidelines of the Republican National Convention, we speak with Matt Brooks, Executive Director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, about his takeaways from the week and what Jews should know about the Republican platform and ticket this year.
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People of the Pod: Election 2020: The Democratic National Convention
On the heels of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, we sit down with Halie Soifer, Executive Director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, who previously served as National Security Advisor to Senator Kamala Harris, to talk about support for Israel within the Democratic Party and other issues of importance to the Jewish community ahead of the upcoming election.
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People of the Pod: Election 2020: VP Candidate Kamala Harris; Upheaval in Lebanon
This week, we’re joined by JTA Washington Bureau Chief Ron Kampeas to unpack former Vice President Joe Biden’s selection of Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) as his running mate. Then, in the wake of the fatal explosion in Beirut in last week, we speak to Matthew Levitt, Director of the Reinhard program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, about the dire need to reform Lebanon’s political system due to the pernicious role played by Iranian proxy Hezbollah.
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People of the Pod: Election 2020: Biden’s VP Pick
This week, we’re joined by Jewish Insider national politics reporter Jacob Kornbluh for a discussion of the choice facing former Vice President Joe Biden as he selects a running mate ahead of the November presidential election.
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Cover of the book "The Influence of Soros: Politics, Power, and the Struggle for Open Society"
People of the Pod: The George Soros Saga: Antisemitism, Conspiracies, and Influence
First, we hear from Emily Tamkin, author of "The Influence of Soros: Politics, Power, and the Struggle for Open Society," on why the Jewish billionaire philanthropist has become a political target and an easy mark for antisemitism. Then, in our closing segment, Shabbat Table Talk, we sit down with AJC Director of Contemporary Jewish Life Laura Shaw Frank to hear what she’ll be discussing at her Shabbat table this week.
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People of the Pod: Remembering Congressman John Lewis
This week, we sit down with Sherry Frank, who served as Director of AJC Atlanta for 26 years and was a close friend of civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis, who passed away on July 17. Together, Frank and Congressman Lewis founded the Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition in 1982. Frank joins us to share some of her memories of this American giant.
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People of the Pod: Rep. Deutch on Annexation; Daniel Gordis on Two-State Solution; Rabbi Horvilleur on Antisemitism
This week, we speak to Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) about the letter he and fellow representatives wrote in opposition to unilateral annexation, and what the future holds for the U.S.-Israel relationship. Then, we’re joined by Daniel Gordis, Senior Vice President and Koret Distinguished Fellow at Shalem College, on why the two-state solution is still worth pursuing. We close out with Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur, France’s foremost female rabbi, speaking about how to have conversations about antisemitism, racism, and interfaith relations in a secular society.
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Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories; Coronavirus Resurgence in Israel
People of the Pod: Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories; Coronavirus Resurgence in Israel
This week, we hear from Holly Huffnagle, AJC’s U.S. Director for Combating Antisemitism, and Dave Rich, Director of Policy at the UK’s Community Security Trust, on the rise of antisemitic conspiracy theories amid the coronavirus pandemic and following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Then, we hear an update on the resurgence of the pandemic in Israel from Dr. Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert and professor of political science at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 
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Rabbi Angela Buchdahl on Jews and Race; Election 2020 Debate
People of the Pod: Rabbi Angela Buchdahl on Jews and Race; Election 2020 Debate
On this week’s episode of People of the Pod, we are joined by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi of Manhattan’s Central Synagogue and member of AJC’s Board of Governors, to discuss the Jewish community’s obligation toward Jews of color and to social justice. Then, in one of the most compelling sessions from AJC Virtual Global Forum, we hear a foreign policy debate between Antony Blinken, Deputy Secretary of State under President Barack Obama and now an adviser to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, and KT McFarland, past Deputy National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump.
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People of the Pod: Eric Ward on Racial Justice; A Conversation with Benny Gantz
As the United States continues to grapple with racial injustice, we are joined by Eric Ward, Executive Director of the Western States Center, who discusses being a leader in the black community committed to fighting antisemitism, which he identifies as a leading driver of other forms of bigotry.
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Photo of Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, who spoke at AJC Virtual Global Forum
People of the Pod: Highlights from the First-Ever AJC Virtual Global Forum
This week, AJC held its first-ever Virtual Global Forum, taking the premier annual global Jewish advocacy gathering online. Here we showcase some of the most memorable moments from the star-studded, five-day event. First we hear an excerpt from a historic public dialogue with United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash about how his country can work with Israel despite political differences. Then, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker discusses racial injustice in America and the importance of Black-Jewish cooperation in tackling that national challenge. Finally, AJC Managing Director of Global Communications Avi Mayer moderates a fiery debate on the future of the West Bank between Member of Knesset Merav Michaeli of Israel’s Labor Party and veteran Israeli diplomat Dr. Dore Gold, President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
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People of the Pod: Virtual Global Forum Preview with AJC CEO David Harris, Conversation with Jeffrey Goldberg
Ahead of next week’s AJC Virtual Global Forum 2020, we’re joined by AJC CEO David Harris for a preview of this historic event, which marks the first time the premier global Jewish advocacy event will take place online. Then, we hear from Jeffery Goldberg, acclaimed journalist, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, and friend of AJC, on the role of the media in the current pandemic and the vital importance of a free press in democratic societies.
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People of the Pod: Lonnie Bunch on Race Relations; Isaac Herzog on Israel and the Diaspora
Protests have erupted across the United States following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Founding Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and AJC Project Interchange alumnus, joins us for a comprehensive discussion on race relations and Black-Jewish cooperation in the United States. Then, we’re joined by Isaac 'Bougie' Herzog, Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, to discuss Israel-Diaspora relations - where we are, how we got here, and the future we must build together.
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People of the Pod: A Conversation with Mayor Eric Garcetti and Mayor Betsy Price; Moroccan Jewish Heritage
This week on People of the Pod, we sit down with Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles and Mayor Betsy Price of Fort Worth to discuss the impact of the coronavirus crisis on their cities, the role of political leadership in a time of crisis, and their experiences visiting Israel with AJC's Project Interchange. Then we hear from Elmehdi Boudra, Founder and President of the Mimouna Association, a nonprofit founded by young Muslim students dedicated to preserving Jewish heritage and culture in Morocco, about his group's inspiring work.
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People of the Pod: Israel's New Government, Facebook’s New Oversight Board
The Israeli government will be jointly led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White Party, after the two signed a coalition agreement in April. Gil Hoffman, Chief Political Correspondent and Analyst for The Jerusalem Post, joins us to explain what we can expect from this new government. Then, we sit down with Emi Palmor, former Director-General of Israel’s Ministry of Justice and one of the first appointees to an independent oversight board charged with making policy recommendations about Facebook content, to discuss her new role.
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People of the Pod: Changing U.S. Political Landscape; Recovering Nazi-Looted Art
This week, we sit down with Seth Mandel, Executive Editor of Washington Examiner Magazine, and Batya Ungar-Sargon, Opinion Editor at The Forward, to discuss the changing U.S. political landscape and what’s at stake for American Jews. Then, 75 years after the end of World War II, the fight to recover art and heirlooms looted by the Nazis and return them to their rightful owners and heirs continues. Joining us to discuss this important mission are Dr. Wesley Fisher, Director of Research for the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany and the World Jewish Restitution Organization, and Olaf Ossman, the lawyer for the heirs of Richard Semmel, a family in South Africa that has been fighting since 1999 to recover lost art.
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Colorado Governor on the Coronavirus; 75 Years Since the End of WWII
People of the Pod: Colorado Governor on the Coronavirus; 75 Years Since the End of WWII
This week on People of the Pod, Colorado Governor Jared Polis joins us to talk about the state’s approach to fighting the coronavirus and the emergence of antisemitism during the pandemic. Then, Dr. Kurt Graham, Director of the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, joins us to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and shares what we can learn from President Truman’s leadership during a crisis.
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People of the Pod: Celebrating Israel with Sharansky, Germany’s Hezbollah Ban, New UK Labour Leader
People of the Pod: Celebrating Israel with Sharansky, Germany’s Hezbollah Ban, New UK Labour Leader
This week on People of the Pod, former refusenik, Israeli government minister, and Chairman of The Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky joins us to reflect on Israel's 72nd Independence Day. Then, AJC CEO David Harris sits down with us to explain the significance of Germany’s decision to ban Hezbollah’s activities on the country’s soil. Finally, we speak to Hannah Rose, former President of the UK's Union of Jewish Students, about the newly elected leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer.
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Israeli Government Agreement, Arabic Video on the Holocaust
People of the Pod: Israeli Government Agreement, Arabic Video on the Holocaust
After three elections in less than a year, Israel may soon have a new government. This week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, announced an agreement to jointly govern the country. Joining us is Tal Schneider, political and diplomatic correspondent at Globes, to discuss the agreement, including its more controversial elements. Then, we hear from AJC Director of U.S. Muslim-Jewish Relations Ari Gordon on the release of a new Arabic-language video about the Holocaust. The new video is the third in AJC’s highly successful Arabic video series, ‘An al-Yahud (“About the Jews”), which has reached tens of millions across the Arab world.
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Road to a New Israeli Government, Passover Prep
People of the Pod: Road to a New Israeli Government, Passover Prep
After three elections in the space of a year, Israel now appears to be on the verge of having a functioning government again. Joining us to discuss the latest developments is New York Times Jerusalem Bureau Chief David Halbfinger. Then we hear from Tablet Senior Writer Yair Rosenberg, AJC Director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations Rabbi Noam Marans, and AJC Associate Director of Contemporary Jewish Life Laura Shaw Frank on how to make Passover especially meaningful this year.
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Coronavirus in US
People of the Pod: Coronavirus in the U.S.; Israeli Political Drama
This week, Tablet Senior Writer Yair Rosenberg joins us to discuss the U.S. government’s response to the growing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and the release of his new Shabbat music album. Then, Times of Israel Senior Analyst Haviv Rettig Gur joins us to break down the ongoing political drama in Israel and the chances that Israelis may finally get a new government.
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Israel’s Response to the Coronavirus; Creatively Quarantined
People of the Pod: Israel’s Response to the Coronavirus; Creatively Quarantined
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeps the globe, Israeli doctors, researchers, and entrepreneurs are working diligently to help find a cure and improve treatment options. Joining us to discuss these efforts, as well as Israel's own strategies to prevent the spread of the virus, are Dr. Daniel Landsberg, who serves as Regional Medical Director of Maccabi Health Services, and Dr. Kira Radinsky, Chair and Chief Technology Officer of Diagnostic Robotics. Then, staying in Israel, we speak to Joyce Franco and Stephanie Graber, the creators of the Instagram account, Creatively Quarantined, which has become an incubator for those searching for inspiration in isolation.
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Quarantine in Israel, Jews in the UAE
People of the Pod: Quarantine in Israel, Jews in the UAE
This week, Israel imposed a blanket 14-day self-quarantine on everyone arriving from outside the country in order to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. Joining us to discuss the quarantine and the other efforts to protect the country is Dr. Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert and lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Then, Ross Kriel, President of the Jewish Community of the Emirates, joins us from Dubai to shed light on the small but thriving Jewish community in the United Arab Emirates.
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Elections in the U.S. and Israel
People of the Pod: Elections in the U.S. and Israel
On this week's episode of People of the Pod, JTA’s Washington Bureau Chief Ron Kampeas joins us to discuss Super Tuesday results, Senator Bernie Sanders’ decision to boycott AIPAC, and other significant developments in the U.S. presidential contest. Then Tal Schneider, an award-winning political correspondent for the Israeli daily Globes, helps us break down the inconclusive results from Israel’s third election in a year.
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New Antisemitism Documentary; Israeli Election Update
People of the Pod: New Antisemitism Documentary; Israeli Election Update
On this week's episode of People of the Pod, we sit down with director Andrew Goldberg to discuss his new documentary, "Viral: Antisemitism In Four Mutations." Then, as Israelis prepare to head back to the polls on Monday for the third time in a year, we speak to Times of Israel Senior Analyst Haviv Rettig Gur to break down what’s important to Israeli voters.
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Black-Jewish Congressional Caucus, Israeli Election Update, Education in Israel
People of the Pod: Black-Jewish Congressional Caucus, Israeli Election Update, Education in Israel
On this week's episode of People of the Pod, we talk to three founders of the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations—Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY)—about how the purpose of the caucus has evolved since it was launched at the AJC Global Forum this past summer. We also hear from Avital Leibovich, Director of AJC Jerusalem, as she shares the latest developments on Israel's third election in less than a year. Finally, we sit down with Professor Yaffa Zilbershats, chair of the Planning and Budgeting Committee for Israel’s Council for Higher Education, to discuss a new initiative to double the number of international students in Israel’s colleges and universities.
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Photo of Anne Frank at her desk
People of the Pod: 75 Years After Anne Frank, Israel-Sudan Relations
On this week’s episode of People of the Pod, we commemorate the 75th anniversary of Anne Frank’s death by asking young people whether they know who she was. Then, Eliseo Neuman, Director of AJC’s Africa Institute, explains the latest developments between Israel and Sudan.
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Behind the Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, “Goy Friendly”
People of the Pod: Behind the Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, “Goy Friendly”
On this week’s episode of People of the Pod, Israeli filmmaker Yaron Zilberman joins us to talk about his movie, Incitement, and to share his perspective on the state of politics and extremism in Israel. Then, Orthodox Jewish comedian Ashley Blaker joins us in the studio to discuss his new show, Goy Friendly, now running at Soho Playhouse theater in New York.
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People of the Pod: Peace Plan, Historic Auschwitz Visit, Last Stop: Auschwitz
On this week’s episode of People of the Pod, we talk to Dr. Einat Wilf, a member of Israel's Knesset until 2013, about the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan proposed by President Trump and what it means for the future of Israel. Then, Rabbi David Rosen, AJC Director of International Interreligious Affairs, joins us to discuss the historic visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau by Muslim World League Secretary General Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa and a group of Islamic religious leaders, organized by AJC and accompanied by the organization's leadership. Finally, we hear from Melcher de Wind, the son of author Eddy de Wind, about his father’s book, “Last Stop: Auschwitz,” the only novel written inside the death camp in the days following its liberation, 75 years ago this week.
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Photo of antisemitic graffiti
People of the Pod: French Antisemitism Survey, 75 Years After Auschwitz
On this week’s episode of People of the Pod, we talk to AJC Europe Director Simone Rodan-Benzaquen about the findings of a new AJC survey on antisemitism in France. Then, to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we go to the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust to tour its current exhibit on Auschwitz and discuss its recent decision to offer free admission to any New York City public school student and up to three family members in response to the uptick in antisemitic attacks on the streets of Brooklyn.
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Future of the Labour Party, ICC Investigation, Black-Jewish Relations
People of the Pod: Future of the Labour Party, ICC Investigation, Black-Jewish Relations
Liam Hoare, Europe Editor for Moment Magazine, has been covering the British Labour Party’s antisemitism scandal since 2015. He joins us this week to discuss the future of the party and how it will affect British Jews. Then, Times of Israel Diplomatic Correspondent Raphael Ahren shares the latest developments on the International Criminal Court’s investigation into aspects of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Finally, we hear from Bishop Ken Ulmer, pastor at Faithful Central Bible Church in Los Angeles, who, troubled by recent attacks on Jews in New York and New Jersey, invited the Jewish community to his church for a prayer service on the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Bishop Ulmer also discusses the Israel-inspired institute he started to provide resiliency training to youth traumatized by gun and gang violence.
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People of the Pod: U.S.-Iran Crisis; Hate Crimes in NY; #JewishandProud Day
This week on People of the Pod, we sit down with Middle East experts Patrick Clawson, Research Director at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Tamara Cofman Wittes, Senior Fellow in the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, to talk about the rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Then, Deborah Lauter, Executive Director of New York’s new Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, joins us to discuss efforts to curb the rash of antisemitic attacks across the city. Finally, in honor of AJC’s #JewishandProud Day, we went around New York City to ask people what makes them proud to be Jewish.
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Wave attacks podcast
People of the Pod: Wave of Attacks Against Orthodox Jews; A Look at 55 Years of Fiddler
This week on People of the Pod, we sat down with Jacob Kornbluh, national politics reporter for Jewish Insider, to talk about the recent spate of antisemitic attacks against Orthodox communities across the New York area. Then, before the curtain falls on the Yiddish-language Fiddler on the Roof this weekend, we speak to Max Lewkowicz, director of the documentary “Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles,” about how the show became a global phenomenon.
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People of the Pod: An Impeachment Conspiracy Theory, Jersey City Shooting, International Criminal Court
On this week’s episode of People of the Pod, Eric Cortellessa, Washington correspondent for The Times of Israel, explains how antisemites are blaming a Jewish conspiracy for President Trump’s impeachment. Then Rabbi David Levy, AJC New Jersey Regional Director, discusses the ongoing efforts to fight antisemitism after two shooters targeted a kosher supermarket and murdered four people last week in Jersey City. Finally, Jacob Magid, settlements correspondent for The Times of Israel, gives us an update on the International Criminal Court’s inquiry into various parts of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
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Photo of Boris Johnson
People of the Pod: UK Election, Antisemitism on College Campuses, Third Israeli Election
On this week’s episode of People of the Pod, the President of the UK’s Union for Jewish Students Esther Offenberg joins us to discuss how the British Jewish community is feeling after the Conservative Party's landslide victory in yesterday’s general election. Then AJC Chief Legal Officer Marc Stern breaks down President Trump’s executive order aimed at strengthening efforts to combat antisemitism on college campuses. Finally, Raoul Wootliff, political correspondent for The Times of Israel, explains why Israel is set to hold its third election within a single year.
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POP defining antisemitism
People of the Pod: Defining Antisemitism in France; Refugees Around the World
We speak to Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, Director of AJC Europe, about this week’s decision by the French National Assembly to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism. Then we’re joined by Aboud Dandachi, a former Syrian refugee, to share his perspective on the wave of anti-Zionism sweeping college campuses, and Yotam Polizer, CEO of IsraAID, an Israeli NGO that serves refugees and others in need around the world. Lastly, we sit down with Naomi Steinberg, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy for the Hebrew Immigration and Aid Society (HIAS), which is suing the Trump administration over the latest restriction on refugee resettlement in the United States.
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Lowey
People of the Pod: Nita Lowey Retires; Tension on College Campuses; Quizzing New Yorkers
On this week’s episode of People of the Pod, U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey joins us to discuss her decision to retire after 32 years on Capitol Hill. We also talk to Ilan Orzy, director of advocacy for Hillel Ontario, and Zev Hurwitz, AJC Director of Campus Affairs to compare the challenges facing Jewish students on American and Canadian college campuses. And finally, we hit the streets of Manhattan with AJC’s new glossary of antisemitic terms, Translate Hate, to give New Yorkers a pop quiz.
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People of the Pod: Netanyahu’s Indictment; Live from Atlanta
On Thursday, Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be formally charged with corruption, making Netanyahu the first serving prime minister in Israel’s history to face criminal charges. Ronen Bergman, staff writer for The New York Times, national security senior correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth, and author of “Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations,” joins us to break down the charges against the prime minister and what it means for the future of Israeli politics. Then we hear a conversation with Jodi Rudoren, editor-in-chief of The Forward and former Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times, and Nachman Shai, former member of Knesset and IDF spokesman, that was recorded earlier this week during a special live show in Atlanta.
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Gaza Flare-Up, Fiddler in Yiddish
People of the Pod: Gaza Flare-Up, Fiddler in Yiddish
Earlier this week, terrorists fired hundreds of rockets from Gaza into Israel following the targeted killing of a top Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader. We are joined by Avi Issacharoff, Middle East analyst for The Times of Israel and Walla News, and Judah Ari Gross, The Times of Israel’s Military Correspondent, to discuss the events of the past week. Then we sit down with Zalmen Mlotek, musical director of the Yiddish-language Fiddler on the Roof, and Steven Skybell, who stars in the show, to discuss the success behind the smash off-Broadway hit.
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Jewish Life in Belgium, China-Israel Relations
People of the Pod: Jewish Life in Belgium, China-Israel Relations
This week Daniel Schwammenthal, Director of AJC’s Transatlantic Institute, joins us from Brussels to talk about Jewish life in Belgium, which has seen a string of antisemitic incidents in recent years, and about AJC's efforts to combat antisemitism across Europe. Then we sit down with Ambassador Matan Vilnai, Israel's former envoy to China, to discuss the Jewish state's relationship with the ascendant Asian power and what it means for Israel's future.
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Photo of antisemitic graffiti
People of the Pod: The Sources of Antisemitism; Lebanon Protests; Israeli Politics Update
This week, we sit down with Deborah Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University, to discuss her new book focusing on the sources of antisemitism and what we can do to stop it. We also speak to Dr. Matthew Levitt, Fromer-Wexler Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, about the protests in Lebanon that led to Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s resignation earlier this week. Finally, Times of Israel Political Correspondent Raoul Wootliff gives us a post-election update on coalition building efforts.
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Shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue
People of the Pod: One Year After Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack, Survey on Antisemitism in America
This week, we speak to Jeff Finkelstein, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, to get a sense of how the Pittsburgh Jewish community is doing one year after the attack.

Then we’re joined by Avi Mayer, AJC’s Managing Director of Global Communications, to discuss the results of the organization’s unprecedented survey of American Jews on the subject of antisemitism in America.
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Photo of Dr. Ahmed Shaheed and Deborah Lipstadt during a JBI event
People of the Pod: Historic UN Report on Antisemitism, Behind the Excavation of the Pilgrims' Path
Last month, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, released the first UN human rights report wholly dedicated to antisemitism. In his report, Dr. Shaheed found that antisemitic incidents have created a “climate of fear” among Jews and refers to antisemitism as a threat that is “toxic to democracy.” Today he joins us in the studio to share the findings of his report and offer recommendations to states, civil society actors, and the UN. Then, The Times of Israel's Jewish Times Editor Amanda Borschel-Dan takes us on a tour of the newly-excavated Pilgrims' Path at Jerusalem's City of David, exploring the site and the reasons it has captured the attention of so many around the world.
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Attack on German Synagogue, Historic Pact with Gulf States, New Book on Israeli Prime Ministers
People of the Pod: Attack on German Synagogue, Historic Pact with Gulf States, New Book on Israeli Prime Ministers
On this week’s episode, we are joined by AJC Berlin Acting Director Remko Leemhuis to discuss the horrific antisemitic attack on Yom Kippur targeting a synagogue in Halle, Germany. Then, we hear from Raphael Ahren, Diplomatic Correspondent for the Times of Israel, to break down Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz’s efforts to advance non-aggression treaties with several Arab countries in the Gulf. Finally, we sit down with David Makovsky, Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute, to discuss his new book, Be Strong and of Good Courage, co-authored with Ambassador Dennis Ross, which profiles the courageous leadership of four Israeli prime ministers.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump
People of the Pod: Ukrainian President Zelensky; Blood Libel in America
Volodymyr Zelensky emerged on the scene in 2019 when he was elected president of Ukraine. Now he is embroiled in American domestic politics as his phone call with President Trump is at the center of the impeachment inquiry currently taking place in Congress. Cnaan Liphshiz, European news reporter for JTA, breaks down who Volodymyr Zelensky is, where Ukraine is headed, and what the controversial call means. Then we are joined by NYU Professor of History Edward Berenson to examine how an incident of a missing child led to America’s only blood libel case.
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Backstage with “Our Boys” Creator Joseph Cedar
People of the Pod: Backstage with “Our Boys” Creator; Israeli Elections and the Arab Party
This week, we're joined for a special live show by Joseph Cedar, creator and executive producer of HBO's "Our Boys." Cedar shared his firsthand account of how he translated the tragedies of summer 2014 into television, his analysis of the social and political climate that led to those attacks, and the critical reception the show has received from some prominent Israelis. Then Adam Rasgon, Palestinian Affairs and Arab World Correspondent for The Times of Israel, explains how the Joint List, Israel’s Arab-majority party, was formed, what its success in last week’s election means for Israeli politics, and what impact its decision to endorse Blue and White Leader Benny Gantz could have on the outcome of the current coalition negotiations.
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Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz
People of the Pod: Israeli Election Results, Sarah Hurwitz on Her New Book, Antisemitism in NY
Earlier this week, Israel held its second national election in five months after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to form a governing coalition in April. On this week’s episode, Times of Israel political correspondent Raoul Wootliff joins us to recap the complicated election results and help us understand what they mean for Israel’s future. Then we speak to Sarah Hurwitz, former head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, to discuss how she rediscovered a connection to Judaism, the focus of her new book, Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There). Finally, Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt, Life/Features Editor at The Forward, joins us to discuss the recent spate of attacks against Orthodox Jews in New York.
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Israelis Head Back to the Polls
People of the Pod: Israelis Head Back to the Polls
This Tuesday, Israelis will head back to the polls for an unprecedented second national election in a single year. In this special pre-election episode, we sit down with three public figures representing the Israeli left, right, and center, to get a sense of what Israelis across the political spectrum are thinking as they cast their ballots. Joining us are Oded Revivi, Mayor of Efrat; Yossi Klein Halevi, author and Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute; and Ksenia Svetlova, former member of Knesset for the Zionist Union Party. Then, Times of Israel political correspondent Raoul Wootliff gives us an update on what to expect from the election results.
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AJC CEO David Harris and Times of Israel Founding Editor David Horovitz join us to discuss the significance of this new partnership between AJC and TOI, as well as some of the most pressing issues facing America, Israel, the Jewish people, and the world.
People of the Pod: AJC CEO David Harris and Times of Israel Founding Editor David Horovitz in Conversation
Launching People of the Pod, AJC CEO David Harris and Times of Israel Founding Editor David Horovitz join us to discuss the significance of this new partnership between AJC and TOI, as well as some of the most pressing issues facing America, Israel, the Jewish people, and the world.
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Welcome to People of the Pod!
Welcome to People of the Pod!
In today's inaugural episode, The Times of Israel Jewish World Editor Amanda Borschel-Dan joins us from the publication's Jerusalem newsroom to discuss how People of the Pod came to be and what you can expect from this exciting new partnership between AJC and TOI. Then we're joined by Leah Goldin, together with her husband Simcha, to talk about her son, Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed by Hamas terrorists in 2014 and whose body has yet to be returned to Israel. Finally, we hear from Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll, a writer, activist, and co-founder of Chochmat Nashim, an NGO fighting extremism and raising the voices of women in the larger societal conversation in Israel.
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