In this energetic and wide-ranging episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah sits down with comedy and television icon Howie Mandel (America’s Got Talent, Deal or No Deal, Gremlins, St. Elsewhere) for a conversation that moves effortlessly between laughter and reflection. From his early days as a stand-up comic to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in television, Howie reflects on a career that has spanned more than four decades, and the values that have grounded him throughout it.

With trademark honesty and humor, Howie opens up about his Jewish upbringing, family life, and how Jewish values have shaped his worldview both onstage and off. The conversation also takes a more serious turn as Howie speaks candidly about the resurgence of antisemitism, the aftermath of October 7th, and what it has felt like to navigate Jewish identity in an increasingly hostile global climate. Thoughtful, funny, and unexpectedly moving, this episode offers a rare glimpse into how one of comedy’s most familiar figures navigates faith, fear, and responsibility to show up when it matters most.

Topics Discussed Include:

Howie’s Jewish upbringing in Toronto
How comedy became a creative outlet and coping mechanism for anxiety and OCD
The influence of Howie’s father on his Jewish values and identity
Howie’s early years doing stand-up
Howie’s opinion on tzedakah
Why Israel struggles with public perception
Jewish identity and visibility in a time of rising antisemitism
Howie speaks out about injustice and intolerance
Pro-Palestinian vs. Anti-Israel movements: understanding the difference
Howie on NBC, Hollywood, and Jewish representation
Jews being targets for their appearance outside of NY and LA
Howie’s goal, “I just wanna do the right thing.”

Thank you to this episode's sponsors The Dream Raffle and SAPIR.

Mentioned In The Episode:

Ultimate Nite Out Featuring Debra Messing and Jonah Platt

Watch America’s Got Talent (NBC)

Howie Mandel Instagram

Howie Mandel Website

Howie Mandel Does Stuff (YouTube)

What You Need to Know About Israel's The Iron Dome

Qatar’s Investments in the US Education System

Russia’s Interference in US Elections Continues to Get More Brazen

China’s Potential Use of TikTok Is A National Security Threat

Yuri Bezmenov and his Stages of Ideological Subversion

Israel Recognizes Somaliland as an Independent Country

“I Have a Tough Time Being with Myself.” Howie Mandel on living with OCD, ADHD, and anxiety

B’rit Mialh: The Circumcision Ritual

Howie Mandel discusses saying the Kaddish for his father

Everything You Need to Know About the Jewish Custom of Shiva

Minyan: The Congregational Quorum

Tzedakah 101

Are the Jews the Chosen People?

Meet Howie Mandel's 3 talented kids with his wife of 45 years

—2 options with regard to his in-laws being holocaust survivors—

A survivors’ love story, and a game-changing secret

Howie Mandel to Appear at Malibu Film Society

The Role of Doctors and Nurses

Myth: Jews Have Too Much Power

Why Israel is losing the PR war

Did Israel Bomb a Hospital? No. What to Know About Hamas’ Lie About a Rocket Strike on a Gaza Hospital

Collecting German Air-dropped Leaflets on Britain

Israeli film on Oct. 7 premieres at Toronto film festival after initially being dropped

Masada

Haifa

Watch Inspector Gadget (Xumo)

Haim Saban (IMDB)

Shuki Levi

Bondi Beach terrorists ‘acted alone’ in attack on Hanukkah event

Howie Mandel Ari Shaffir clip on antisemitism.

Ari Shaffir Instagram

Why Do We Wear a Kippah?

What Is Tzitzit?

Former SNL comedian Jay Pharoah says he was racially profiled by police, detained with knee on his neck

St. Elsewhere (Apple TV)

Demonstrators rally across the U.S. in response to violent conflict between Israel and Hamas

Watch Little Monsters (Pluto TV)

Dayenu

Proto Hologram

Howie Mandel Become ESports Team Owner

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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Nayman, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

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