Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

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.

Episodes

Maytal Kowalski Is Having Tough Conversations With Canadian Jews

August 12, 2026 • 51 mins
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 executive director of JSpaceCanada, has leapt headfirst into all of these uncomfortable questions. In this episode, Noam and Maytal discuss her unique background, the bond between Canada's Jews, a...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Can Australia's Jews Ever Recover From Bondi? With Jeremy Leibler

August 5, 2026 • 41 mins
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 antisemitism continued to grow after October 7th. Will Australia's Royal Commission on Antisemitism be a meaningful step towards change? Jeremy speaks openly to Mijal and Noam about the commission, h...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Matthew Nouriel Always Had Shabbat

July 29, 2026 • 43 mins
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 an emphatic "yes." His Mizrahi family may have struggled to accept him, but they never left him behind. Now, Matthew is using his voice to encourage Jews of all kinds to make that same embrace.Lea...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

The Meaning of Love with Rabbi Shai Held

July 22, 2026 • 42 mins
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 Dean of Hadar and host of the podcast Answers WithHeld. Together with Mijal and Noam, he wonders about how to balance the needs of our Jewish family with the biggest family of all: hu...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

The Family Cycle Moran Atias Had To Break

July 15, 2026 • 34 mins
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 Moran broke from that tradition, it threatened to tear her family apart. In this deeply personal conversation, Moran shares her unforgettable journey towards motherhood with Noam and Mijal. To ch...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Revisiting The Question: What Is Judaism?

July 8, 2026 • 37 mins
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, where are hosts start with a basic question: What is Judaism? Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouT...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Nas Daily: The Identity Crisis October 7 Forced Me to Face

June 30, 2026 • 74 mins
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. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Learning To Swim: How Jews Build Resilient Families

June 24, 2026 • 33 mins
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 about Judaism within our four walls. Our hosts break down the reciprocal obligations between parents, children, and siblings, with plenty of personal anecdotes to illuminate their significance.Mijal...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Telling The Jewish Story with Jennifer Tepper and Etai Benson

June 17, 2026 • 38 mins
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, and Etai Benson, a Broadway actor, to discuss the art of crafting stories, and the innovative ways in which Judaism has intersected with the stage. If you’re interested in bringing Etai&...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Mijal and Noam Answer Your Questions About Denominations

June 10, 2026 • 36 mins
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-button issue of affordability, and more. We have the best audience in the world, and we hope you'll keep commenting and writing to us at wonderingjews@unpackedmedia.org for the next Q&A episode. ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Stars Of David: Jews at Carnegie Hall with Kathleen Sabogal

June 3, 2026 • 40 mins
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 Heritage Month, Noam joins Kathleen Sabogal (Director, Rose Archives and Museum) on-location at the famous venue. On the corner of 57th Street and 7th Avenue, great names like Leonard Bernstein, Ra...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Matbucha And Mishpucha: Life As An Israeli-American Chef with Michael Solomonov

May 27, 2026 • 37 mins
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 American Heritage Month, Michael shares his remarkable family history, how his restaurants tell the Israeli story in America, and his take on ranch dressing. To learn more about Zahav--and the rest ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Revisiting Chabad with Rabbi YY Jacobson

May 20, 2026 • 34 mins
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 week, but Noam kicks us off with a fresh greeting and a few words about Chabad before re-introducing our episode from last summer with Rabbi YY Jacobson. We're getting ready to respond to more of ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

What's So Funny About Antisemitism? With Raanan Hershberg

May 13, 2026 • 46 mins
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 than ever, can Jewish comedians still thrive? For our second episode honoring Jewish American Heritage Month, Noam is in conversation with Raanan Hershberg, a brilliant comedian who tackles ques...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Is the Zabar's Story A Jewish Story? With David Zabar

May 6, 2026 • 32 mins
Please fill out this short survey. Go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠unpacked.bio/podsurvey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We want to hear from you! The story of Zabar's--a NYC foodie fixture--is bigger than bagels: it includes a horrifying pogrom, a narrow escape to America, and success in the face of countless setbacks. For Jewish American Heritage Month, Noam asks: what does does this story mean to American Jews, and America at large? In a rare interview, David Zabar, a s...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Is the Future Non-Denominational? With Rabbi Avi Killip

April 29, 2026 • 35 mins
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 Killip, the executive vice president of Hadar. In this can't-miss conversation, Rabbi Killip makes the case for Hadar as a movement that is ready to meet the the challenges of contemporary Jewish li...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Is Reform Judaism About Modernity Or Tradition? With Rabbi Rick Jacobs

April 22, 2026 • 39 mins
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, joins Noam to explore these queries, and the meaningful tension they create. Plus: Reform Judaism's evolution on Zionism, and uplifting stories from congregations that were attacked in Mississippi an...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Will Conservative Judaism Survive? With Rabbi Nicole Guzik and Rabbi Erez Sherman

April 15, 2026 • 36 mins
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. Together with Mijal and Noam, they discuss the beautiful nuances of Conservative Judaism, and what its future might mean for all Jewish denominations. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.med...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Why Does Judaism Have Denominations? With Zev Eleff

April 7, 2026 • 38 mins
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist... where do these religious practices come from? What do they even mean? Zev Eleff, the president of Gratz College, is here to lay out the fascinating origins of denominations, and how they intersect with Protestantism and American culture. Plus: Zev, Mijal, and Noam reflect on the rich tapestry of Orthodox Judaism, and what its future might be. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpa...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Straight Outta Egypt with Michael Rapaport

March 31, 2026 • 35 mins
For this special Passover episode, Mijal and Noam open their door to actor and comedian Michael Rapaport (Friends, Only Murders In The Building, The Traitors). If the conversation had only been about the holiday, dayenu. But there's plenty more on the seder plate, including that viral meal from The Traitors and Michael's campaign to become the next mayor of New York City. Careening between moments that are funny, irreverent, wistfu...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Betrayal Weekly

    Betrayal Weekly

    Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Wearables

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices