Unapologetically Jewish: Public Voices Shaping 2025

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks:  

Delivered in his distinctive, warm yet prophetic voice, as if opening a global conference on Jewish identity in 2025.

“There are moments in history when the Jewish people are called not simply to survive, but to speak. To lend their voice—not in anger, not in fear, but in hope. This, I believe, is one of those moments.”

Today, antisemitism has returned—not with swastikas alone, but with hashtags, firebombs, and whispered excuses at faculty dinners. Israel is no longer the consensus of Jewish belonging, but the lightning rod of division. Free speech, once our greatest defense, now threatens to become the weapon that wounds us most. And amid all this, there are those who dare to say: I am Jewish. Openly. Publicly. With pride.

But what does it mean to be Jewish in 2025? Is it a faith? A people? A politics? A resistance? Can we carry the weight of history without being crushed by it? Can we pass on our strength without handing down our fear? And perhaps most urgently—can we disagree, even fiercely, without destroying the sacred thread that binds us together?

I have often said that Judaism is the voice of protest against the world that is, in the name of the world that could be. Today, five conversations will unfold. They will not offer easy answers. But if you listen closely, you may hear something older than any argument—something eternal.

The voice of a people who have walked through fire and chosen, again and again, to sing.

Let the conversations begin.

(Note: This is an imaginary conversation, a creative exploration of an idea, and not a real speech or event.)

Topic 1: Rising Antisemitism and the Redefinition of Jewish Identity

Moderator: Bret Stephens

(Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times, known for his balanced and principled voice on Jewish issues, identity, and free expression.)

Scene Setting

A grand roundtable inside the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York. Tall windows overlook the Hudson River. Behind the speakers, a screen flickers with headlines—rising antisemitism reports, university protests, mezuzahs defaced, Jewish students harassed, and rallies across the political spectrum. In the center of the room: a simple menorah, unlit.

Bret Stephens (moderator)

“We are witnessing what some call a 'perfect storm'—antisemitism rising from both extremes, while Jewish identity itself becomes more contested than ever. Some are responding with louder pride. Others feel silenced, even afraid. I want to begin by asking—”

“What does it mean to be publicly Jewish in 2025?”

Ben Shapiro
“To be publicly Jewish now is to be unapologetic. The double standard is glaring: if you're pro-Israel, you're smeared as complicit in genocide. Meanwhile, real threats—Hamas, Iran—are romanticized. I wear my kippah. I speak Hebrew in public. Not to provoke—but because we must stop apologizing for existing.”

Abby Stein
“For me, it means complexity. I was once told my identity was a chillul Hashem, a desecration. Now, I walk into Jewish spaces as both a rabbi and a trans woman. That visibility itself is a mitzvah. Being publicly Jewish means carrying our contradictions with pride.”

Emily Austin
“On social media, I get death threats daily for saying ‘Am Yisrael Chai.’ But I won’t stop. Gen Z Jews are learning to be louder than the hate. For us, being Jewish means defending ourselves, yes—but also dancing on TikTok, sharing our Shabbat joy, showing we’re alive and thriving.”

Jonathan Greenblatt
“There’s no such thing as neutral visibility anymore. Antisemites don’t care how Jewish you are—culturally, religiously, politically. So being ‘publicly Jewish’ means taking responsibility. It’s choosing to speak up before someone else tells your story for you.”

Deborah Lipstadt
“It means remembering. Jews are often the canary in the coal mine. Being publicly Jewish in 2025 means embodying the memory of six million—and defying those who want us to disappear, whether by violence or silence.”

“Is the definition of Jewish identity expanding—or fracturing?”

Deborah Lipstadt
“I think it's doing both. Jewish identity has always had tension—between tradition and adaptation. What’s new is the velocity of that tension in a digital world. But historically, that friction often strengthens us. We argue, therefore we are.”

Ben Shapiro
“It’s fracturing. Let's be honest. When Judaism becomes synonymous with progressive politics, or worse, anti-Zionism, we're losing the plot. There is a core: Torah, Jewish peoplehood, and Israel. Without those, the identity becomes spiritual cosplay.”

Abby Stein
“I couldn’t disagree more. It’s expanding. And thank God. Jewish identity is now pluralistic enough to include people like me. And if that expansion bothers some, maybe it's not the identity that’s breaking—but the walls around it.”

Emily Austin
“It’s messy—but inspiring. We’re remixing what it means to be Jewish. Some of my followers post videos of challah baking to trap racists into learning about antisemitism. That’s 2025 Jewish identity—disruption through creativity.”

Jonathan Greenblatt
“It’s a crisis and a renaissance. Yes, some bonds are fraying—but new ones are being forged. Jews from every background are rallying together online, on campuses, and in the streets. It’s tribalism, but in the best sense: chosen family.”

“How do we fight back without becoming what we fear?”

Emily Austin
“We educate, but we also celebrate. I post dance videos and memes not just to push back—but to remind people we’re more than a target. Joy is resistance. Humor is armor.”

Jonathan Greenblatt
“We lead with facts, not fury. We hold platforms accountable, yes—but we also empower young Jews to be articulate defenders of their story. We don’t win by shouting louder. We win by shining smarter.”

Ben Shapiro
“We don’t win by trying to please the mob. We draw moral lines. We call out hypocrisy. And we stop pretending that hate will go away if we just stay quiet. Strength is not cruelty. It’s clarity.”

Deborah Lipstadt
“We remember who we are. We don’t become like our enemies. We don’t erase nuance. The Holocaust didn’t teach me to hate back—it taught me to defend civilization. That's the Jewish way.”

Abby Stein
“We refuse to give up empathy. Even when it’s hard. Especially then. Fighting antisemitism doesn’t mean silencing Palestinians. It doesn’t mean policing Jewish gender or belief. We rise by lifting our humanity above our fear.”

Final Reflection by Bret Stephens

“Today, you've each reminded us that Judaism is not a relic—it’s a living identity, ever under threat, yet ever reborn. If there’s one thread in all your words, it’s this: to be publicly Jewish in 2025 is not just an act of visibility—it’s an act of courage.”

Topic 2: Israel, Zionism, and the Global Jewish Divide

Moderator: Bret Stephens

(Returning as moderator for continuity; as a longtime commentator on Israel, Jewish identity, and global politics, he brings clarity, nuance, and respectful challenge to this complex terrain.)

Scene Setting

A circular rooftop terrace in Jerusalem at twilight. In the distance: the glowing Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, and cranes building a modern skyline. A round table sits beneath string lights and olive branches. Each chair bears a nameplate—five voices from five corners of the Jewish world.

Bret Stephens (moderator)

“Few topics divide Jews today more sharply than Zionism and Israel’s evolving role in global Jewish life. Some see it as a refuge. Others, as a source of moral dilemma. Let’s begin with what might be the hardest question.”

“What does Zionism mean in 2025—and is it still relevant?”

Gal Gadot
“Zionism, to me, means home. It’s not about politics—it’s about the soul. When I see Israel demonized on the global stage, I speak out because this land isn’t perfect, but it’s ours. And we need to protect its heart.”

Shaun Maguire
“It’s still incredibly relevant. In Silicon Valley, Israel represents innovation, grit, and survival. Zionism isn’t a relic—it’s the playbook of the Jewish future. But it needs rebranding. We must show how it fuels peace, not just defense.”

Simone Zimmerman
“I respect the history, but Zionism in its current form feels broken. It was supposed to be about dignity and safety—but now it often justifies domination. I want a version of Zionism that includes Palestinians, not erases them.”

Noa Tishby
“Zionism is simply the belief that Jews have the right to self-determination in our ancestral homeland. That’s non-negotiable. The lies being spread about Israel today—genocide, apartheid—they’re blood libels in modern disguise. Zionism must remain relevant if truth matters.”

Elisha Wiesel
“It means taking responsibility. Zionism must grow beyond survival. It must be ethical, inclusive, and awake to the suffering of others. Not as a concession—but as a sacred duty. Relevance doesn’t come from slogans—it comes from self-reflection.”

“Is global Jewish support for Israel collapsing—or evolving?”

Simone Zimmerman
“It’s evolving. Young Jews want to love Israel without lying about it. We’re done pretending. If Israel is truly ours, then we should be allowed to wrestle with it—just like Jacob wrestled the angel.”

Shaun Maguire
“I think many Jews are silent because they’re scared—cancelled by their friends, judged on campus. But privately? They’re more pro-Israel than you’d guess. Support hasn’t collapsed. It’s just gone underground.”

Noa Tishby
“It’s become polarized. And that’s dangerous. The far left has abandoned Israel. The far right fetishizes it. But neither understands it. We need a sane center again—where Jews don’t have to choose between pride and compassion.”

Gal Gadot
“I’ve felt the shift. In Hollywood, just existing as an Israeli is controversial. But what I’ve seen, too, is deep curiosity. People want to understand. We need to answer with beauty, not just bullets.”

Elisha Wiesel
“It’s splitting—but not fading. Some Jews are doubling down. Others are stepping away. The challenge is: can Israel inspire us—not just obligate us? That’s how you win hearts—not with guilt, but with vision.”

“Can we imagine a Zionism that unites rather than divides?”

Elisha Wiesel
“Yes. But it must begin with radical empathy. Imagine a Zionism that builds—not just fences, but bridges. That sees Jewish and Palestinian liberation as bound, not opposed. That’s a Zionism I can pray for.”

Noa Tishby
“We have to stop apologizing for existing. But yes, we also have to listen. Unity comes when we see one another’s fears—not just our facts. Zionism won’t unite unless it becomes a conversation, not a verdict.”

Simone Zimmerman
“I believe in a post-Zionism that centers dignity over dominance. Call it what you want—but yes, we can build something new, together. Jews. Arabs. Shared land. Shared future. That’s the dream worth fighting for.”

Shaun Maguire
“I think it’s possible—but we need better storytelling. Let’s show Zionism building desalination plants and hosting LGBTQ parades, not just Iron Dome launches. The world needs a new face of Zion.”

Gal Gadot
“Unity doesn’t mean sameness. It means standing side by side. I’ve seen it—Muslim nurses caring for Jewish babies, soldiers praying beside Arab tech workers. Zionism can be the poetry of our shared survival—if we let it.”

Final Reflection by Bret Stephens

“Tonight, you’ve given us five very different maps—but one shared destination. Zionism in 2025 may be fractured—but perhaps it’s through those cracks that new light can enter. The question isn’t ‘Who owns the word?’ but ‘Who dares to redeem its promise?’”

Topic 3: Free Speech, Censorship, and the Role of Jews in the Culture Wars

Moderator: Bari Weiss

(Journalist, founder of The Free Press, and a leading voice defending open discourse in Jewish and secular spaces. Known for standing at the intersection of identity, speech, and modern liberalism.)

Scene Setting

A gritty downtown studio in Brooklyn. Exposed brick walls, books piled high, studio mics on. Around the table: five voices from politics, academia, media, and tech. A neon sign behind them reads: “Uncancellable.”

Bari Weiss (moderator)

“We’re living in an age when expressing certain truths can get you deplatformed, doxxed, or fired. But free speech isn’t just a political issue—it’s a Jewish issue. Jews have always been storytellers, questioners, dissenters. So let me ask first—”

“Why are Jews often at the center of speech controversies in 2025?”

Ben Shapiro
“Because we refuse to shut up. Jews are overrepresented in media, academia, and tech—not by conspiracy, but by culture. We argue. We analyze. And that threatens the illiberal left, which thrives on emotional dogma, not rational discourse.”

Yair Rosenberg
“We’re caught between extremes. The right accuses us of controlling the narrative. The left accuses us of weaponizing victimhood. In reality, we’re just telling our stories—and asking questions that uncomfortable ideologies want silenced.”

Michael Rapaport
“Simple. We speak truth with chutzpah. I get canceled every Tuesday and reborn by Thursday. The culture war ain’t about logic—it’s about fear. Jews are used to being the scapegoat. We just don’t back down anymore.”

Shai Davidai
“Because we demand nuance. And nuance is poison to dogma. I was attacked for saying Israel isn’t perfect and shouldn’t be demonized. In 2025, that’s heresy. So yes, Jews are targeted—because we don’t do binary thinking.”

Emily Austin
“We stand up. We speak up. And when the mob comes, we don’t hide. That makes us a problem—for people who’d rather erase complexity than face it.”

“Has free speech become a shield for hate—or the only defense against it?”

Emily Austin
“It’s both. Antisemites scream ‘free speech’ while spewing hate. But if we censor them, they grow in the dark. Sunlight’s the best disinfectant. Let them speak—so we can outshine them.”

Ben Shapiro
“Free speech is not the problem—it's the solution. The answer to bad ideas is better ideas, spoken louder. Censorship doesn’t silence hate—it drives it underground, where it festers. Let everything be said. Then crush it with facts.”

Yair Rosenberg
“We must distinguish between free speech and platformed speech. I don’t believe in censorship—but I also don’t believe Twitter owes anyone an audience. The line is blurry, yes—but Jews should defend speech and discernment.”

Shai Davidai
“Free speech is oxygen for a liberal society. But right now, it's weaponized by people who want to destroy liberalism itself. We need boundaries—but we also need backbone. Don’t censor. Challenge.”

Michael Rapaport
“Real talk? Everyone’s full of it. They cancel who they don’t like and hide behind ‘free speech’ when it suits them. Me? I say what I want. If it offends you—good. Maybe you needed that.”

“What role should Jews play in defending speech—without losing their soul?”

Shai Davidai
“We should be the moral memory of freedom. We know what happens when speech dies—pogroms begin. But we also know what happens when hate goes unchecked. Our job is to walk the tension, not run from it.”

Emily Austin
“Be fearless. Be joyful. Don’t just defend your right to speak—use it. If your voice shakes, speak anyway. That’s how you keep your soul intact—by refusing to go silent.”

Yair Rosenberg
“We should model ethical courage. Not just yelling louder—but thinking deeper. Being Jewish isn’t just about surviving—it’s about elevating the conversation. We don’t need to win debates. We need to raise the tone.”

Ben Shapiro
“We speak the truth, even when it's unpopular. Especially then. Our soul depends on that clarity. Judaism is about argument. About moral law. About civilization. Free speech is the soil where all that grows.”

Michael Rapaport
“Simple: speak up, don’t sell out. The soul gets lost when you worry too much about followers and blue checks. Say your truth, let the trolls scream. And if they come for you—go louder.”

Final Reflection by Bari Weiss

“We’ve always been the people of the book—and of the bold question. In this age of cancellation, conformity, and rage, the Jewish response isn’t just to speak—it’s to speak with integrity. Because when we defend words, we defend the very world they build.”

Topic 4: Bridging Faith, Inclusion, and LGBTQ+ Values in the Jewish World

Moderator: Mayim Bialik

(Actress, neuroscientist, and practicing Modern Orthodox Jew. A rare voice who balances traditional Jewish observance with deep compassion for diversity and dialogue.)

Scene Setting

A serene courtyard in Tel Aviv’s Neve Tzedek district. Between modern cafes and ancient stone walls, the five panelists sit in a semicircle surrounded by rainbow-colored prayer shawls fluttering in the breeze. Strings of lights hang between olive trees. On the table: challah, Shabbat candles, and open siddurim from across denominations.

Mayim Bialik (moderator)

“In 2025, more Jewish communities are debating what it means to be both rooted in tradition and open to transformation. For many, LGBTQ+ inclusion is no longer a fringe issue—it’s a litmus test for the soul of our people. So let me ask you this—”

“Can Judaism remain authentic while fully embracing LGBTQ+ inclusion?”

Abby Stein
“It must. I am living proof. I left a world that told me I was impossible. But here I am—a trans woman, a rabbi, a Jew who believes. If your authenticity requires excluding someone like me, then maybe it's your fear, not your faith, that’s the problem.”

Josh Malina
“Yes. Judaism has always evolved. Inclusion doesn't dilute authenticity—it deepens it. The Talmud was built on argument, not conformity. If we can't include the full spectrum of human experience, then we’ve forgotten our own story.”

Debra Messing
“Absolutely. The soul doesn’t come with a gender tag. Every queer Jew I know who still walks into a synagogue is practicing radical faith. If anything, they’re the most authentic Jews I know.”

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
“It depends how you define authentic. Torah law exists. But so does chesed, lovingkindness. I don’t believe we should change halacha to fit the times—but we must change how we treat people. Always. Compassion is never optional.”

Mayim Bialik
“As someone who holds both tradition and science close, I wrestle with this daily. But I’ve learned this: if you’re asking how to include, not how to exclude—you’re already on sacred ground.”

“Where is the greatest resistance—and the greatest progress—happening?”

Debra Messing
“Resistance? In pulpits afraid of losing donors. In schools that say ‘diversity’ but erase queer kids in the Torah portion. Progress? Online. In theater. In TikTok D’var Torahs by teens who use drag and Midrash in the same breath.”

Josh Malina
“Resistance hides in ‘tradition.’ But real tradition includes debate. Progress? I’ve seen it in small-town rabbis who now quietly officiate same-sex weddings. In parents who hang mezuzahs next to pride flags. That’s holy ground.”

Abby Stein
“The resistance lives in fear—fear that if we bend once, we’ll break forever. But I’ve also seen progress in yeshivas offering sensitivity training, in Orthodox parents joining pride parades for the first time. That’s not just change—it’s teshuvah.”

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
“Resistance is loud, but not deep. People fear change they don’t understand. But once they meet a gay Jew with emunah, that fear melts. I’ve seen that. The greatest progress is face-to-face, not in policy—but in people.”

Mayim Bialik
“I’ve seen resistance in silence. The refusal to engage is the most dangerous form of denial. But I’ve also seen progress in whispered conversations—‘I love my child more than I fear my rabbi.’ That’s where the future begins.”

“What does a fully inclusive Jewish future look like to you?”

Josh Malina
“It looks like a synagogue where nobody flinches when someone introduces themselves with their pronouns. Where aliyot are for everyone. Where the Torah speaks to all who stand before it—because we finally stopped editing people out.”

Abby Stein
“It’s a beit midrash where a trans girl leads a Talmud chevruta and no one blinks. It’s a mikveh that blesses all transitions. It’s a Jewish world where everyone can come home.”

Debra Messing
“It’s laughter, color, music. It’s davening in harmony with our differences, not in spite of them. It’s families formed in love—however they look—being celebrated under every chuppah.”

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
“It’s a Judaism that still believes in law—but remembers the heart. Where we debate vigorously—and embrace even harder. Where no one is turned away at the door of their people.”

Mayim Bialik
“To me, it looks like healing. Not perfect agreement—but fearless belonging. A Jewish future that isn’t either/or—but yes, and. Yes tradition. Yes progress. Yes each other.”

Final Reflection by Mayim Bialik

“Judaism thrives not because we agree—but because we care enough to wrestle with what matters. Inclusion is not the enemy of authenticity—it’s the test of it. And if our faith cannot embrace the full humanity of those who seek it—then we’ve reduced God to something smaller than love.”

Topic 5: Jewish Mental Health, Historical Trauma, and Post-Holocaust Resilience

Moderator: Elisha Wiesel

(Son of Elie Wiesel, human rights activist and bridge-builder between Holocaust memory and modern Jewish purpose. As moderator, he brings both gravitas and gentle empathy.)

Scene Setting

A quiet study room at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. The table is surrounded by memory—photographs of families lost, letters of survival, and candles that never go out. Outside the window, children play under an almond tree in bloom. Inside, five voices gather not just to remember, but to reflect on how we carry forward.

Elisha Wiesel (moderator)

“We inherit more than stories. We inherit wounds, vigilance, and strength. The Holocaust and centuries of persecution didn’t just end—they echo. And yet, we’re still here. So I begin with this—”

“How does inherited Jewish trauma still affect us in 2025?”

Deborah Lipstadt
“It’s in our silence—and in our fire. Some Jews overcorrect with loud pride. Others retreat. We carry history in our nervous systems. The fear that the world will turn on us isn’t paranoia—it’s memory. And it still shapes us.”

Gal Gadot
“I feel it every time I read a comment calling me a Nazi just for being Israeli. That kind of hate, it awakens something older. We smile. We go on with our lives. But inside—we’re carrying a bunker. A coded vigilance. A survival rhythm.”

Josh Malina
“For me, it’s anxiety. The sense that joy might be dangerous. That good times are borrowed, not earned. But I’ve also learned to turn that into gratitude. We survived. So now, we have to thrive. That's the real revenge.”

Noa Tishby
“I see it in how we over-explain, apologize, try to prove our humanity. Trauma makes you feel like you have to earn your right to exist. For Jews, that’s generational. And still so present in public discourse.”

Emily Austin
“It's why so many young Jews are loud online. We’re not just fighting trolls—we’re fighting ghosts. The trauma doesn’t go away—it just changes form. We don’t inherit fear. We inherit the fight.”

“Can we pass down strength without also passing down fear?”

Josh Malina
“I think we must. Our ancestors gave us a legacy of courage. But we have to stop seeing the world through smoke. We need new rituals—not just for mourning, but for reclaiming joy.”

Deborah Lipstadt
“It’s a delicate handoff. We don’t need to make children afraid—but we also can’t lie to them. The strength is in the truth. The fear only takes root when we hide our pain.”

Emily Austin
“Yes. But only if we stop romanticizing trauma. ‘Never again’ can’t just mean being on alert—it has to mean building something so joyful, so alive, that trauma becomes context, not destiny.”

Gal Gadot
“For me, strength is dancing in the face of despair. Being Israeli means knowing rockets may fall—and choosing to celebrate anyway. That’s what we pass down: not the fear, but the courage to choose life anyway.”

Noa Tishby
“We have to model wholeness. Not perfection. Let our kids see us cry—and get back up. Strength isn’t about hiding fear. It’s about not letting it write our whole story.”

“What does post-Holocaust resilience look like today—and what are its limits?”

Emily Austin
“It looks like Jewish drag shows. Like startups in Tel Aviv. Like Hebrew on street signs in Berlin. It looks like defiance through beauty. But its limit is burnout. Constant defense mode kills creativity. We need to rest, too.”

Gal Gadot
“It looks like me, standing in Hollywood, saying ‘I’m Israeli’ even when it costs me. Resilience is quiet sometimes. Just not running away. Not changing your name. Not hiding.”

Deborah Lipstadt
“It’s education. Teaching even when the world wants to forget. But resilience can become brittle. If it hardens into pride without introspection, it loses its soul. The limit is when survival replaces meaning.”

Josh Malina
“It’s humor. Jewish resilience has always had punchlines. That’s not trivial—it’s sacred. But the limit? When we laugh instead of healing. Sometimes we need to stop being strong, and just be real.”

Noa Tishby
“It looks like love. Like building families, platforms, companies, art. Resilience today means knowing the world might hate you—and choosing to add more beauty anyway. The limit? When we mistake constant proving for living.”

Final Reflection by Elisha Wiesel

“My father taught me that memory is not a burden—it’s a sacred task. But memory without healing is just weight. What you’ve offered today is a vision of resilience that breathes, that dances, that forgives. We do not forget. But we are not only what was done to us. We are what we choose to build next.”

Final Thoughts by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Delivered after all five panels, like a closing benediction—intimate, reflective, and filled with moral clarity.

“To be a Jew is to know that history is not destiny. It is instruction.”

In these five conversations, we have heard the sound of living Judaism—not merely preserved, but evolving; not confined to synagogues or treaties, but echoing through studios, campuses, rooftops, and digital landscapes. We have heard fear—but also courage. We have heard division—but also the yearning for wholeness.

We spoke of antisemitism—but what shone through was pride. We argued over Israel—but not because we hate it, because we love it fiercely and differently. We debated free speech—not to win points, but to defend the soul of our civilization. We wrestled with how to include without breaking—and discovered that compassion, like Torah, is inexhaustible. And we grieved, gently, the weight of our history—while dreaming of a future more worthy of our pain.

Judaism has never been about agreement. It has always been about sacred disagreement—for the sake of heaven. What makes us a people is not uniformity—but covenant. A shared commitment to memory, to moral responsibility, and above all, to hope.

In a world of shouting, let us be the voice that listens.

In a time of forgetting, let us be the people that remembers.

And in a century still shadowed by fear, let us be the light that refuses to go out.

Thank you.

Short Bios:

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and one of the most influential Jewish thinkers of the 21st century, known for bridging faith, philosophy, and public ethics.

Bret Stephens: Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist at The New York Times, respected for his clarity on Jewish identity, global affairs, and principled free speech.

Ben Shapiro: Conservative commentator and founder of The Daily Wire, widely known for defending Israel, Western values, and Jewish identity in modern culture.

Abby Stein: Transgender rabbi, author, and activist who left the Hasidic world and now advocates globally for LGBTQ+ inclusion and spiritual authenticity in Judaism.

Emily Austin: Israeli-American media personality and Gen Z advocate using her platform to fight antisemitism, promote Zionism, and celebrate Jewish culture online.

Jonathan Greenblatt: CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, leading international efforts to combat antisemitism, hate speech, and extremism.

Deborah Lipstadt: Renowned Holocaust historian and former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, known for her work confronting denial and distortion.

Noa Tishby: Actress, author, and Israel’s former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism, recognized for her public advocacy on Zionism and Jewish rights.

Simone Zimmerman: Co-founder of IfNotNow, a progressive Jewish activist speaking out on human rights, Palestinian justice, and the moral future of Jewish communal leadership.

Gal Gadot: Israeli actress and global icon who publicly embraces her Jewish and Israeli identity while navigating criticism in international cultural discourse.

Shaun Maguire: Venture capitalist and outspoken pro-Israel voice in the tech world, known for challenging ideological orthodoxy and defending Jewish self-determination.

Elisha Wiesel: Investor and son of Elie Wiesel, deeply engaged in human rights, Holocaust memory, and bridging moral clarity with modern Jewish leadership.

Yair Rosenberg: Senior writer at The Atlantic and creator of Deep Shtetl, focusing on antisemitism, online misinformation, and Jewish cultural commentary.

Michael Rapaport: Actor and podcast host known for his unapologetic defense of Jewish identity, comedic bluntness, and bold commentary on culture and politics.

Shai Davidai: Columbia University professor who gained prominence for his outspoken resistance to campus antisemitism and efforts to defend Jewish students.

Bari Weiss: Journalist and founder of The Free Press, a leading voice for civil discourse, free thought, and Jewish values in public intellectual life.

Shmuley Boteach: Orthodox rabbi and author known for engaging popular culture with Torah teachings and for publicly addressing controversial social issues.

Mayim Bialik: Actress, neuroscientist, and practicing Modern Orthodox Jew, balancing science and spirituality while advocating for inclusive Jewish dialogue.

Debra Messing: Actress and activist vocal on Jewish identity, LGBTQ+ rights, and progressive social causes within and beyond the Jewish community.

Josh Malina: Actor and producer best known for The West Wing, using his public platform to discuss Jewish ethics, faith, and social responsibility.