People of the Pod

Latest Episodes:

Israel and the International Criminal Court; The Power of Music Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

Last weekend, the International Criminal Court at The Hague determined that it has jurisdiction in the West Bank and Gaza, taking a major step toward prosecuting Israelis for alleged war crimes. To help us unpack what's been happening and what it means for Israel, we're joined by Barak Ravid, Contributing Correspondent for Axios and Diplomatic Correspondent for Walla News.

Then we hear from AJC Chief Innovation Officer Belle Yoeli on the power of song during the pandemic, Manya Brachear Pashman on how Israel expects the unexpected, and Seffi Kogen on how snow is affecting both the United States and Israel.

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Episode Lineup:

(00:40) Barak Ravid

(17:22) Belle Etra Yoeli

(19:26) Manya Brachear Pashman

(22:12) Seffi Kogen

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Show Notes:

Episode Transcript

The Real Danger of QAnon; Telling the Jewish Story in Arabic Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

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.

Then we hear from AJC Managing Director of Global Communications Avi Mayer on storytelling and AJC's Arabic video series, Manya Brachear Pashman on President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Seffi Kogen on the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

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Episode Lineup:

(00:40) Pamela Paresky and Joel Finkelstein

(19:05) Avi Mayer

(21:18) Manya Brachear Pashman

(24:15) Seffi Kogen

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Show Notes:

Arabic Video on Protocols of the Elders of Zion

Episode Transcript

The Problem with California's Ethnic Studies; Mayors United Against Antisemitism Feb 04, 2021

Show notes

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.

Then, on Shabbat Table Talk, AJC's Chief Field Operations Officer Melanie Maron Pell joins us to speak about AJC's Mayors United Against Antisemitism initiative, Manya Brachear Pashman on why she isn't laughing at the Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) jokes, and Seffi Kogen on antisemitism on college campuses.

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Episode Lineup:

(00:40) Rabbi Serena Eisenberg

(13:24) Melanie Maron Pell

(18:15) Manya Brachear Pashman

(20:27) Seffi Kogen

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Show Notes:

We need your help before California's Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum is finalized

Mayors United Against Antisemitism

AJC Arabic video - Protocols of the Elders of Zion

Seffi Kogen's Op-Ed in Inside Higher Ed

Episode Transcript

International Holocaust Remembrance Day with Mandy Gonzalez; Israel's COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout and the Palestinians Jan 29, 2021

Show notes

In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Museum of Jewish Heritage held a special event, "18 Voices: A Liberation Day Reading Of Young Writers' Diaries From The Holocaust." We sit down with Broadway actress Mandy Gonzalez, who read diary excerpts during the virtual reading, and Alexandra Zapruder, curator of "18 Voices" and author of "Salvaged Pages."

Then, we speak to Lahav Harkov, Senior Contributing Editor and Diplomatic Correspondent for The Jerusalem Post, about Israel's record-shattering vaccine rollout and the controversy over access for Palestinians.

Finally, to close out the episode, past president of AJC Westchester/Fairfield Beverly Block Rosenbaum shares the story of her mother, a survivor of multiple concentration camps who was told by a Nazi officer that she was "too pretty to be a Jew," to which she bravely replied: "I am a Jew and I'm proud of it."

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Episode Lineup

(00:45) Mandy Gonzalez

(11:28) Alexandra Zapruder

(27:41) Lahav Harkov

(38:15) Beverly Block Rosenbaum

(43:32) Manya Brachear Pashman

(46:48) Seffi Kogen

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Show notes:

Watch Museum of Jewish Heritage's 18 Voices event

Transcript of Interview with Lahav Harkov

The Biden Administration Gets Underway and Post-Inauguration Reflections Jan 22, 2021

Show notes

One day after inauguration, 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, Manya Brachear Pashman on President Biden's call for truth and his condemnation of white supremacy, and Seffi Kogen on the photo of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) that launched a million memes.

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Episode Lineup:

(0:41) Jason Isaacson

(16:10) Julie Fishman Rayman

(19:26) Manya Brachear Pashman

(21:46) Seffi Kogen

Inside America's Far Right; Congressman Ritchie Torres Jan 14, 2021

Show notes

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. Then, if you missed our special episode yesterday, freshman Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) shares his reflections on the antisemitism, racism, and white supremacy he witnessed on January 6; impeachment proceedings in Congress; and how the nation can move forward.

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Episode Lineup:

(0:40) Daniel Lombroso

(24:42) Ritchie Torres

(39:11) Holly Huffnagle

(41:50) Manya Brachear Pashman

(44:44) Seffi Kogen

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Show Notes:

White Noise on Amazon Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/White-Noise-Lauren-Southern/dp/B08M5XPRLT

White Noise on Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/white-noise/umc.cmc.6m36k2zgurb8lhdg4na0nw55s

A Special Conversation with Congressman Ritchie Torres Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

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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Show notes:

We must not ignore the presence of antisemitism in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol - Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJywbSQLJuV/

Ambassador Daniel Shapiro on Biden's Foreign Policy; Responding to the Attack on the Capitol Jan 07, 2021

Show notes

Earlier this week, we spoke to former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro, who served alongside President-elect Joe Biden in the Obama administration and was an advisor to his presidential campaign. Ambassador 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 on Shabbat Table Talk.

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Episode Lineup:

(00:40) Daniel Shapiro

(23:17) Laura Shaw Frank

(26:48) Manya Brachear Pashman

(29:29) Seffi Kogen

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Show Notes:

12/17 Episode with UN Mideast Envoy Nickolay Mladenov: https://www.ajc.org/news/podcast/un-mideast-envoy-nickolay-mladenov-celebrating-hanukkah

Georgia Runoff Elections and Tackling Hate in America Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

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. _____ Episode Lineup: (01:52) Greg Bluestein (19:36) Melanie Maron Pell (25:07) Manya Brachear Pashman (27:56) Seffi Kogen

UN Mideast Envoy Nickolay Mladenov; Celebrating Hanukkah Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

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 on People of the Pod to reflect on his vital work. Then, AJC's Director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations 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. _____ Episode Lineup: (01:50) Nickolay Mladenov (13:56) Noam Marans (16:53) Manya Brachear Pashman

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