EP 172: Being Jewish At A Time Of Rising Antisemitism - A Conversation With Jonah Platt

Actor, activist, and “Being Jewish” podcast host Jonah Platt joins Mosheh for a wide-ranging conversation about Jewish identity, politics, culture, and the intense pressures facing American Jews after October 7th. Platt reflects on the fear, confusion, and polarization running through the community, and why so much of today’s antisemitism shows up not through slurs or symbols, but through omissions, framing, and coded language around Israel. He argues that this moment requires clarity, context, and calm engagement — not panic and not denial. The episode also explores the creation of Platt’s podcast 'Being Jewish,' which aims to expand how people understand Jewishness — as a people, culture, history, and set of values, not just a religion. Platt takes listeners inside Hollywood, an industry where many Jews have had to historically hide their identity. He also talks about the impact of October 7, and why some are now pushing forward Jewish and Israeli stories despite fear of backlash. Also in the interview: Breaking down where Jewish institutions have fallen short in educating younger generations about Israel, and how better storytelling could counter both misinformation and apathy. Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.