Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

In the latest episode in the miniseries, “Faith on Faith,” Mijal Bitton sits down with special guest, speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz, to explore the many layers of Jewish faith, identity, and text-based tradition. Sarah, a former White House speechwriter and author of Here All Along,  shares insights from her journey from political speechwriting to passionate advocate for Jewish learning and spiritual depth. In their conversation, Mijal and Sarah explore: what does it mean to have faith as a Jew? Is it belief in God, or is it faith in a countercultural, resilient civilization with thousands of years of wisdom? Sarah reveals what she believes we’ve lost in modernity—and what we can reclaim. From the power of study as spiritual practice, to the impact of assimilation, antisemitism, and internalized narratives, this episode is a must-listen for anyone rethinking their Jewish identity in today’s complex world. Click here for Sarah Hurwitz's bio and the link to Here All Along. Click here to pre-order Sarah Hurwitz's latest book As a JewCo-host Noam Weissman will be back in two weeks. In the meantime, get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube.------------This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:Jewish History NerdsUnpacking Israeli HistorySoulful Jewish LivingStars of David with Elon Gold 

This week, host Mijal Bitton kicks off a new mini-series, “Faith on Faith,” by diving deep into Jewish theology, post-Holocaust faith, and the story of Purim with renowned educator and theologian Dr. Tanya White. Together, they explore profound questions: What does it mean to believe when God seems hidden? How do we make sense of divine absence in the face of suffering, from the Holocaust to today’s crises? And what lessons can Purim—often seen as a lighthearted holiday—teach us about faith, agency, and moral courage? Drawing on Rabbi Yitz Greenberg’s “dialectical faith”, Tanya shares her personal and academic journey into post-Holocaust theology and her reflections on Esther’s transformation from hidden figure to Jewish savior.Click here for Dr. Tanya White's bio and podcast.Co-host Noam Weissman will be back in two weeks. In the meantime, get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube.------------This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:Jewish History NerdsUnpacking Israeli HistorySoulful Jewish LivingStars of David with Elon Gold 

Mijal and Noam sit down with barrister and legal expert Natasha Hausdorff to explore the weaponization of international law, the ICC and UN's stance on Israel. They discuss the challenges of lawfare in the modern world. In their conversation, Natasha breaks down complex legal frameworks, debunks myths about genocide allegations and proportionality in war, and clarifies misconceptions surrounding the West Bank and occupation debate.Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube.Natasha Hausdorff's bio:Natasha Hausdorff is a barrister and expert commentator on international law, including the law of armed conflict, foreign affairs and national security policy. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on lawfare and the weaponization of international law against Israel. She regularly briefs politicians and international organisations and has spoken at Parliaments across Europe and at the United Nations. Natasha is a frequent contributor on legal matters for international media, including the BBC, Sky News, CNN, GB News, Talk TV and Fox and has written for publications including the Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, The Times, The Mail and Law Society Gazette. She holds law degrees from Oxford and Tel Aviv Universities and was a Fellow in the National Security Law Programme at Columbia Law School in New York. Natasha previously worked for American law firm Skadden Arps, in London and Brussels, and clerked for the President of the Israeli Supreme Court, Chief Justice Miriam Naor, in Jerusalem. She serves as legal director of UK Lawyers for Israel Charitable Trust.------------This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:Jewish History NerdsUnpacking Israeli HistorySoulful Jewish LivingStars of David with Elon Gold 

Mijal and Noam dive into the complexities of religious Zionism in Israel with renowned journalist, Yair Ettinger. They explore the historical roots of the movement, from the pragmatic vision of Rabbi Reines to the messianic approach of Rabbi Kook and discuss how these ideologies helped shape modern Israeli society. They ask tough questions, including why figures such as Meir Kahane are resurfacing in popular discourse. With the rise of hardline religious Zionist factions, Mijal and Noam delve into what religious Zionism means today, its diversity and its role in Israel’s security, politics, and peace efforts.Frayed by Yair EttingerClick here for Yair Ettinger's full bio.Yair Ettinger is a former Kogod Research Fellow at Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and an Israeli journalist whose work focuses primarily on religious affairs, the religious and Haredi communities, and their politics. Previously, he covered issues relating to Palestinian citizens of Israel and was a foreign affairs correspondent in Paris. Until 2017, he served as a journalist with Ha’aretz for 20 years.Get in touch at our new email address: WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube.------------This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:Jewish History NerdsUnpacking Israeli HistorySoulful Jewish LivingStars of David with Elon Gold 

This week, Mijal and Noam dive into the existential question of Diaspora Jews: Should Jews move to Israel? Mijal and Noam engage in a thought provoking conversation about Zionism, Aliyah and Jewish identity. They explore historical, religious, and philosophical debates about Aliyah, which literally means ascent or rise and refers to Jewish immigration to Israel. Mijal and Noam share their personal stories, experiences of cognitive dissonance and insights from great Jewish thinkers. Together, they unpack some of the complexities of living in the Diaspora versus embracing life in Israel.Here are some of the sources referenced in the episode:Unpacking Israeli History: Does Israel Represent All Jews?: The Great DebateBlaustein/Ben Gurion exchangeLubavitcher Rebbe’s response to Ariel SharonProgramming note: Next week, Wondering Jews will release its new episode on Thursday.Get in touch at WonderingJews@jewishunpacked.com, and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube.------------This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:Jewish History NerdsUnpacking Israeli HistorySoulful Jewish LivingStars of David with Elon Gold 

Mijal and Noam are back with a provocative conversation about the term Zionism and what it means to be a Zionist today. They explore whether the term itself does more harm than good and discuss why it’s so polarizing. Listen to Mijal and Noam grapple with questions about Zionism's relevance by drawing on research, insight and personal reflections about language, history, and identity.Report by Matthew Boxer: What is Zionism? Assessing the Diversity of Discourse in a Charged EnvironmentProgramming note: Next week, Wondering Jews will release its new episode on Thursday.Get in touch at WonderingJews@jewishunpacked.com, and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube.------------This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:Jewish History NerdsUnpacking Israeli HistorySoulful Jewish LivingStars of David with Elon Gold 

This week, we are re-releasing the top episode chosen by Wondering Jews' loyal listeners. Mijal and Noam are joined by special guest Rabbi Joe Schwartz, director of Makom, the Israel Education Laboratory of the Jewish Agency. They explore the complexities of Jewish identity, Zionism, and the evolving relationship between Israel and the global Jewish community, particularly in light of the events of October 7th. The discussion includes the challenges of bridging the gap between American Jewry and Israel, the implications of Israel's rightward political shift, and personal reflections on what it means to be a Zionist today.Get in touch at WonderingJews@jewishunpacked.com, and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube.------------This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:Jewish History NerdsUnpacking Israeli HistorySoulful Jewish LivingStars of David with Elon Gold 

Wondering Jews is marking its first birthday with the re-release of the Unpacked staff's all time favorite episode. Mijal and Noam talk to friend and journalist Haviv Rettig Gur in a conversation that illuminates the complexity of the Jewish story and the history of Zionism. Together they explore: What does Zionism mean to you? What does it mean to the Jewish people and the world at large? Haviv delves into Zionism as a means of survival while exploring how it has been misunderstood. Listen again or the first time to this thought-provoking episode about self determination, resilience, and Jewish identity.Get in touch at WonderingJews@jewishunpacked.com, and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram and check out Unpacked on youtube.------------This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:Jewish History NerdsUnpacking Israeli HistorySoulful Jewish LivingStars of David with Elon Gold 

As we approach our one-year anniversary, we’re counting down the top five episodes from our first year, as chosen by the team at Unpacked. This week, Mijal and Noam revisit episode #2, a special live recording at the Jewish Federation General Assembly (JFNA GA). In this landmark episode, we’re joined by Meghan McCain—New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and former co-host of The View. Meghan, the daughter of the late-US Senator, John McCain, opens up about her experiences standing up against antisemitism, her personal connections to the Jewish community, and the importance of nuanced, bipartisan dialogue.Get in touch at WonderingJews@jewishunpacked.com, and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram------------This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:Jewish History NerdsUnpacking Israeli HistorySoulful Jewish LivingStars of David with Elon Gold 

Mijal and Noam are back with the countdown to Wondering Jews' first birthday. In the third staff pick of the year's top episodes, they revisit an intense conversation about the 2024 campus encampments advocating for Palestinian causes. Catch this thought-provoking episode for the first time or listen again to Mijal and Noam's discussion on the backlash, and the strong emotions the encampments evoked in the Jewish community. Noam shares his philosophy on empathy, even for critics, while Mijal challenges the line between understanding and endorsing.Letter from Columbia studentsGet in touch at WonderingJews@jewishunpacked.com, and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews.Follow @jewishunpacked on Instagram------------This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:Jewish History NerdsUnpacking Israeli HistorySoulful Jewish LivingStars of David with Elon Gold