People of the Pod

Latest Episodes:

The State of Jewish Life on College Campuses Aug 26, 2021

Show notes

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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Episode Lineup:

(0:55) Tilly Shemer

(24:15) Jeffrey Herbst

(35:54) Manya Brachear Pashman and Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman

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Show Notes:

Fighting Campus Anti-Semitism Before It Explodes: Op-ed by Jeff Herbst

Afghan Jewish Leader on the Taliban's Takeover Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

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.

Afghanistan was once home to an estimated 40,000 Jews, centered in Herat, where they played an important role along the ancient Silk Road trading route. But starting in 1933, the community faced antisemitism, persecution and exile influenced by Nazi ideology, and Muslim solidarity with Palestinians and suspicion that Soviet Jews who sought refuge there were "Bolshevik agents." By the middle of the last century, there were fewer than 5,000. By the time the Taliban came to power in 1996, the country's Jewish population had dwindled to single digits, and today only one remains.

Then, Manya Brachear Pashman shares what she will be talking about at her Shabbat table this week: the recently released study Beyond the Count: Perspectives and Lived Experiences of Jews of Color.

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Episode Lineup:

(0:40) Jack Abraham

(15:04) Manya Brachear Pashman

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Show notes:

Visit our website for photos mentioned throughout the interview.

How the Abraham Accords Has Changed Hearts and Minds: A Sit-Down with Israel's Top Official in the UAE Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

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.

Then, Manya Brachear Pashman and Avi Mayer discuss Jews in sports and the Jewish Olympic athletes that brought them pride and joy in the games that ended last week in Tokyo, including Linoy Ashram, Artem Dolgopyat, and Jessica Fox.

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Episode Lineup:

(0:40) Eitan Na'eh

(19:10) Manya Brachear Pashman and Avi Mayer

Israel's Diaspora Minister on Surfside Visit and the Israel-Diaspora Relationship Aug 05, 2021

Show notes

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.

Then, stick around for a special tribute from colleagues and friends to our longtime co-host Seffi Kogen, including Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) and AJC CEO David Harris, as Seffi ends his tenure at AJC.

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Episode Lineup

(0:40) Nachman Shai

(24:00) Seffi Kogen

(27:26) Manya Brachear Pashman

(28:55) Special guests including Ted Deutch and David Harris

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Check out Nachman Shai's first appearance on People of the Pod

Hear from America's New Antisemitism Envoy Deborah Lipstadt Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

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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Episode Lineup:

(0:40) Deborah Lipstadt

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Show Notes:

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Antisemitism in the Kidlit World; Ben & Jerry's Shameful Surrender Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

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.

Then, Manya Brachear Pashman weighs in on the controversy surrounding Ben & Jerry's decision to stop selling their ice cream in the territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war, and how Jewish advocates, including those at AJC, are urging state lawmakers to invoke their anti-BDS statutes.

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Episode Lineup:

(0:40) Gabby Deutch

(19:09) Manya Brachear Pashman

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Show notes:

Fill out our podcast audience survey here!

Antisemitism in the Kidlit World; Ben & Jerry's Shameful Surrender Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

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Episode Lineup:

(0:40) Gabby Deutch