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Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman are two of the most dynamic, interesting, and thought-provoking Jewish leaders today. Two seasoned educators who love to talk, listen, laugh, challenge, and grow, Mijal and Noam are the Wondering Jews, leading us through thought-provoking discussions that are as serious as they are entertaining.
Whether you're a seasoned scholar or just curious about Jewish culture, this show offers a refreshing perspective that's both enlightening and enjoyable. It's not just a podcast; it's a thoughtful conversation that invites everyone to wonder about the rich tapestry of Jewish ideas in the context of our daily lives. Brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.
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Is Israel A Mizrahi Nation?
In this special episode of Wondering Jews, Mijal and Noam break down a major aspect of Israeli elections that Western observers have missed: the Mizrahi vote. What defines Mizrahi Jews, what are their values, and what do they want to see in
Revisiting The Heart Of Jewish Comedy with Raanan Hershberg
What’s so funny about growing up as a Conservative Jew in Kentucky? Plenty, according to comedian Raanan Hershberg. We’re off this week, so we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations, where Noam and Raanan tackle Jewish upbringing,
Is Antisemitism On Campus As Bad As It Seems?
In the aftermath of October 7th, our feeds were filled with reports of antisemitism at Columbia and UCLA, among other colleges. But are these schools part of a broader trend, or merely outliers that received outsize attention? In this episo
On East Of Eden, Dinner With God, And Ambition
Is ambition a virtue that allows us to reach our full potential? Or is it a trap that leaves us dissatisfied and burnt out? With Florence Pugh starring in a new Netflix adaptation of Noam's favorite book (East Of Eden), it seems like a grea
Are We As Divided As We Think? Reflections On October 7th
In the immediate aftermath of October 7th, 2023, there were incredible signs of unity within and alongside the Jewish people. But there were also moments of profound division. Three years later, how has this infamous date--and the subsequen
How Mikey Greenblatt Turns Hate Into "Jewish Fan Mail"
Antisemitism on social media seems worse than ever. Scrolling through Instagram, X, or TikTok is enough to make any Jewish person hyperventilate. But are things as bad in real life as they are on the internet? And if not, how can we learn t
What Does It Mean To Be "Happy?"
In an era where we're more stressed, more depressed, and more isolated than we've ever been, what will it take to feel that elusive thing called "happiness?" How will we know when we've found it? This week, Mijal and Noam are doing a deep d
Olga Namer: A Modern-Day Mrs. Maisel
Olga Namer grew up in a Syrian Jewish Orthodox community and got married at the age of 18. Two years later, she was divorced and heartbroken. That could have been the end of her story. Instead, she turned tragedy into opportunity, pursuing
Why Is It So Hard To Admit When We're Wrong?
In an era where public figures double down instead of apologizing, and social media puts our every word under the microscope, saying "I'm sorry" feels scarier than ever. So what can help us conquer that fear? In this episode, Noam and Mijal
Can Israelis And Palestinians Ever Live In Peace? With Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib
Will the war ever truly come to an end? Can two populations with so much pain find common ground? Or is the hurt too deep, too vast to overcome? There are no questions more urgent than these, and there is no better guest to wonder with than
Revisiting The Future Of Judaism With Rabbi Avi Killip
This fall, Mijal and Noam are thinking of the big questions that the High Holy Days can bring with them. We're off this week, so it seemed like a good time to revisit a discussion with Rabbi Avi Killip, who has big questions of her own: Abo
Is The Middle East Finally Ready To Accept Israel? With Jason Isaacson
As threats to Jews spike around the globe, there's a part of the world with a brighter outlook--and it's not where you'd expect. This week, Noam and Mijal are joined by Jason Isaacson, the Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer for the
Maytal Kowalski Is Having Tough Conversations With Canadian Jews
As antisemitism has exploded in Canada, debate has raged within its Jewish community. Is the government doing enough to combat Jewish hate? What does it mean to be zionist? Why are young Jews walking away from Israel? Maytal Kowalski, the e
Can Australia's Jews Ever Recover From Bondi? With Jeremy Leibler
On December 14th, 2025, a pair of gunmen killed 15 people attending a Hanukkah event on Sydney's Bondi Beach. For Jewish leaders like Jeremy Leibler (Zionist Federation of Australia), the killings were shocking--even as concerns around anti
Matthew Nouriel Always Had Shabbat
There are many words to describe influencer and activist Matthew Nouriel: Persian, Jewish, Gay, Zionist... But when you belong to so many different communities, do you really belong anywhere at all? As Mijal discovers, Matthew's answer is a
The Meaning of Love with Rabbi Shai Held
How do you even begin to define love? How are we supposed to balance love of family with “love thy neighbor?” These are the kinds of questions Rabbi Shai Held tries to tackle in his latest book, Judaism Is About Love. Shai is President and
The Family Cycle Moran Atias Had To Break
Actress and philanthropist Moran Atias was raised in a Moroccan Jewish home that expected her to marry young and have children, just like the generations before her. Her mother married at 18. Her grandmother was wed at the age of 12. When M
Revisiting The Question: What Is Judaism?
As Mijal and Noam explore the idea of "family" through the Jewish lens, it's necessary to step back and wonder if the Jewish people are an extended family of their own. We're off this week, so we're revisiting an episode from last fall, whe
Nas Daily: The Identity Crisis October 7 Forced Me to Face
Does identity define us or limit us? In this crossover episode with Unpacking Israeli History, Noam searches for answers with Nuseir Yassin, better known as internet personality Nas Daily. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follo
Learning To Swim: How Jews Build Resilient Families
What does it mean for parents to act as priests? Does teaching a child to swim mean more than just laps in a pool? In our first episode exploring family through the Jewish lens, Noam and Mijal are tackling profound, meaningful questions abo
Telling The Jewish Story with Jennifer Tepper and Etai Benson
Can a musical teach Torah? Why is Fiddler on the Roof beloved in Japan? The answers to these questions could have implications for the future of the Jews and their place in the world. Noam sits down with Jennifer Tepper, a theatre historian
Mijal and Noam Answer Your Questions About Denominations
Mijal is back, and this week we're responding to your comments! Spurred on by awesome listeners like you, our reunited hosts ponder the dynamic relationship between Zionism and Reform Judaism, the question of Jewish continuity, the hot-butt
Stars Of David: Jews at Carnegie Hall with Kathleen Sabogal
Jews have left an indelible mark on the fabric of America, impacting activism, music, and religion. One venue holds so many inspiring examples of these contributions: Carnegie Hall. For this episode celebrating the end of Jewish American He
Matbucha And Mishpucha: Life As An Israeli-American Chef with Michael Solomonov
For years, the famous Philly chef Michael Solomonov has grappled with his American and Israeli identities. What can his journey teach us about American Jews and their relationship with the Jewish state? In this episode exploring Jewish Amer
Revisiting Chabad with Rabbi YY Jacobson
In the wake of our Denominations series, many of you wrote to us asking "what about Chabad?" As a leading resource for all Jews, it makes perfect sense to consider how Chabad fits into the denominational puzzle of America. We're off this we
What's So Funny About Antisemitism? With Raanan Hershberg
America has enjoyed a golden age of Jewish comedy: Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, and Amy Schumer are just some of the luminaries that have graced our stages and televisions. But with antisemitism on the rise and Israel becoming more divisive
Is the Zabar's Story A Jewish Story? With David Zabar
Please fill out this short survey. Go to: unpacked.bio/podsurvey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D6J95C7). We want to hear from you! The story of Zabar's--a NYC foodie fixture--is bigger than bagels: it includes a horrifying pogro
Is the Future Non-Denominational? With Rabbi Avi Killip
Do the words that once categorized Jews--reform, conservative, orthodox--still matter today? And if they don't... then what's next? To answer these questions and close out our series on denominations, Noam and Mijal speak with Rabbi Avi Kil
Is Reform Judaism About Modernity Or Tradition? With Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Will Reform Judaism be defined by the past, or the future? Does it emphasize the Jewish community, or the community at large? Does it feature personal choice, or obligation? Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, join
Will Conservative Judaism Survive? With Rabbi Nicole Guzik and Rabbi Erez Sherman
What is Conservative Judaism? Why is its share of American Jews shrinking? Can you take a Waymo to Shabbat services? Here to explore these questions is a married rabbi team: Erez Sherman and Nicole Guzik, from Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. T
