Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman sit down with award-winning author and media entrepreneur Zibby Owens to explore what it means to publicly embrace Jewish identity after October 7th. Zibby shares her journey from a largely secular literary figure to an outspoken Jewish advocate. They discuss cancel culture, Zionism, the challenges Jewish authors face in publishing, and the power of Jewish moms stepping up. Note: This conversation was recorded before the Iran-Israel War in June, 2025. On Being Jewish Now [https://zibbymedia.com/products/on-being-jewish-now], Edited by Zibby Owens. Zibby Media [https://zibbymedia.com/collections/shop-collection?srsltid=AfmBOoqG2zZfI0rkKYBeWZJUYLrclL-rlPw33sL046hnOsnvNZebpByC] Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on ⁠⁠⁠Youtube.⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgPaAFlsq_5MkYd6FrKjjkhDGczLJ9xVB] Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/jewish-history-nerds/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/unpacking-israeli-history/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/soulful-jewish-living-mindful-practices-for-every-day/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/stars-of-david-elon-gold/]

What happens when the artists we love express hatred toward Israel—or Jews ? This week, hosts Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman confront this issue, from Bob Vylan leading chants of “Death to the IDF” at Glastonbury to Dave Matthews Band calling for a Gaza ceasefire. Listen to this timely conversation on the emotional and moral dilemmas of supporting artists whose politics feel threatening. The Free Press: Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Glastonbury—and the Purge of the Jews [https://www.thefp.com/p/ayaan-hirsi-ali-glastonbury-and-the] Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on ⁠⁠Youtube.⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgPaAFlsq_5MkYd6FrKjjkhDGczLJ9xVB] Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/jewish-history-nerds/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/unpacking-israeli-history/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/soulful-jewish-living-mindful-practices-for-every-day/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/stars-of-david-elon-gold/]

(Note: this episode was recorded before Mamdani's victory in the Democratic primary of the NYC mayoral election.) Journalist and historian Haviv Rettig Gur returns to Wondering Jews to explore why antisemitism persists across centuries —from medieval Europe to modern American campuses. Together, Haviv, Mijal and Noam unpack how conspiracy theories, religion, and political ideologies fuel hatred of Jews, why Zionism emerged as a response, and what American Jews can learn from history. Wondering Jews is hosted by Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman. Here is Mijal's article in the Free Press: Things Worth Remembering: The Freedom to Be Different. [https://www.thefp.com/p/things-worth-remembering-the-freedom] Please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews. Check us out on ⁠Youtube. [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgPaAFlsq_5MkYd6FrKjjkhDGczLJ9xVB] Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/jewish-history-nerds/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/unpacking-israeli-history/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/soulful-jewish-living-mindful-practices-for-every-day/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/stars-of-david-elon-gold/]

Mijal and Noam break down the emotional and spiritual aftermath of the last twelve days of war that mainstream media is missing. Moving beyond geopolitical analysis, they explore what it means to hold space for empathy—toward both Israelis carrying the trauma of October 7th and Iranians suffering under authoritarian rule. Plus, real-time updates from their Israeli team dodging missile warnings while trying to work. What sparked the most reflection for you during these 12 days? And please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews and check us out on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgPaAFlsq_5MkYd6FrKjjkhDGczLJ9xVB]: Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/jewish-history-nerds/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/unpacking-israeli-history/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/soulful-jewish-living-mindful-practices-for-every-day/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/stars-of-david-elon-gold/]

Noam and Mijal pause the punditry and explore how ancient biblical wisdom offers profound guidance for navigating the uncertainty, fear, and complexity of today’s Jewish moment. In this special, bonus episode, they dive into the weekly Torah portion of Shlach—the story of the scouts in the Book of Numbers to help think through the chaos facing Israel today. Michael Walzer's Exodus and Revolution [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/134279.Exodus_and_Revolution] Here is a link to Mijal's Substack: https://mijal.substack.com/ Yaakov Katz's post on his journey back to Israel: https://x.com/yaakovkatz/status/1934571174060532198 Please get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. And please follow Wondering Jews on Instagram! instagram.com/wonderingjews Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/jewish-history-nerds/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/unpacking-israeli-history/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/soulful-jewish-living-mindful-practices-for-every-day/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠ [https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/stars-of-david-elon-gold/]