Being Jewish in the Headlines

On a recent episode of “IsraelCast,” Jewish National Fund-USA’s premier podcast, host Steven Shalowitz spoke with entertainer, advocate, and host of the “Being Jewish” podcast Jonah Platt about Jewish representation, advocacy, and navigating discourse in a polarized era. In this adapted Q&A excerpt, Platt shares why authentic representation matters now more than ever.

SHALOWITZ: You’re uniquely positioned to share your thoughts on the portrayal of Jews and Israel in the media. What’s your take?

PLATT: It’s not great, Steven. Most people on planet earth don’t know Jews, so their only touchpoint is the news and the media, which generally underrepresent us. Most commonly, you’ll see Jews on TV as victims of the Holocaust, as Orthodox—who certainly exist but are not all Jews—or as “Seinfeld” characters who are culturally Jewish, but aren’t meaningfully engaged in Jewish life day to day.

SHALOWITZ: On Netflix, “Shtisel” and “Fauda”—two very different portrayals of Jews—became global hits among non-Jewish viewers. Why did those resonate?

PLATT: Part of the reason is that they’re great pieces of entertainment. They’re not Holocaust or Bible stories. They’re good, contemporary narratives that show what Jews today might really be like.

SHALOWITZ: Why does that kind of representation matter so much right now?

PLATT: Especially since October 7, there’s greater urgency for shows that humanize contemporary Jews living Jewish lives. There’s a lot of work to be done.

PLATT’S POINT IS SIMPLE: Representation matters not only for Jewish audiences, but for the broader public whose perceptions are shaped by what they watch, and he calls for fuller, more honest depictions of Jewish life today.

New episodes of “IsraelCast” are released every other Thursday. Other notable guests include actor and comedian Michael Rapaport, Australian journalist Erin Molan, and Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi, with conversations exploring Israeli history, current affairs, culture, and more. 

Listen to the full episode: jnf.org/israelcast/jonah-platt

Subscribe to “IsraelCast” on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, or Spotify.