The world’s response to Hamas’s brutal terror attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, has exposed a painful reality that many of us never wished to face. In this episode, Daniel Ohana and I explore the moral inconsistencies prevalent in the wake of the Israel-Hamas War. We examine the boundaries of free speech and activism versus performative activism. We relate intersectionality to our understanding of our political identities and argue why it is dangerous. We share conflicts we have faced and our nonnegotiable values.
The March for Israel on November 14, 2023, was the largest pro-Israel rally in United States history with over 290,000 people marching peacefully at the National Mall in Washington DC and over 250,000 participating online. The rally aimed to show solidarity with the state and people of Israel, condemn antisemitism, and demand the immediate and safe release of the hostages taken by Hamas. In this episode, Levi D’Amato and Ailee Shanes from the “Two Jews, 10 Opinions” podcast and I reflect on our experiences at the monumental rally. We discuss the struggles we are facing as Jewish student journalists and how far antisemitic media has gone. We share what Jewish pride means to us as well as what the state of Israel represents to the Jewish people worldwide. Thank you to the UF Hillel delegation for this incredible opportunity and Am Yisrael Chai!
A resource list for the Israel-Hamas war
Listen to the Two Jews, 10 Opinions podcast here.
Follow Levi and Ailee on social media: @a_shanes10 on Instagram and X @levidamato on Instagram
Over the last century, the media has misled the public by villainizing and politicizing the fight for Jewish survival. The Jewish nation has been threatened since the beginning of time, yet we have prevailed. Many believe that educating themselves through the news and research can give them an understanding of the complicated and lengthy history of the Middle East conflict and by extension, Israel and the Jewish people. What we cannot learn through textbooks is the culture and values surrounding a place and people. Listen as 30 friends from around the world share stories that highlight the beauty of the Jewish people and the Jewish state. From mundane normalities to perspective-shifting occurrences, people who visit Israel feel a strong sense of community and shared identity that they have never experienced anywhere else.
Resources to support the Jewish cause:
The question “Who are you?” has compelled many to set foot into long self-discovery journeys over several years or even decades. But what if it is more simple than we think? In this episode, I break down the concept of inner child and why is it important to understand ourselves and others through it. I reflect on how many people, including myself, find themselves drawn to what they loved doing as a child. Be kind to yourself and remember that everyone is a child inside.
Links:
Many people deem energy to be a sham or ludicrous while in reality, it is what our entire universe is comprised of. The conceptual idea of this episode has been in the works for over a year and now felt like the right time to talk about it. In this episode, I explore how energy and the 12 Laws of Karma manifest themselves in our daily lives. Each of the laws is profound enough to be explored and internalized on its own.
Silent lovers have been finding their way into my life recently quite often. In this episode, I explain the concept of silent lovers and read letters people wrote me. If you have something nice to say, say it. Let people know how you feel and compliment a new person every day. Collect words of affirmation and praise you receive and look back on it whenever you feel down.
Starting a completely new phase of life unlocked a new level of freedom I had never felt before. In this episode, I speak about the importance of having that freedom and how I have been putting my energy back into myself. Most of what it takes to do everything I dreamed of doing is believing that I can. And now I do.
Please donate to my Sharsheret fundraiser, every dollar counts:
Have you ever been to a concert where everyone in the crowd was nearly identical to each other in appearance and behavior? Have you ever noticed how you feel much more free when listening to coming-of-age music while angrier when listening to rap? Well, Leah Chambers and I have. In this episode, we examine different identities and “eras” created by being a part of a certain audience and whether we should judge an artist by their art. We then discuss how our relationship with music has changed over time and with social media. Leah introduces the concept of decision fatigue and how important it is to actively choose what we consume.
Sources:
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
“Lew’s Lullaby” by Ritt Momney
"Auntie Diaries" by Kendrick Lamar
How does music affect your brain? | Live Science
The inescapable nature of musicals artists’ influence
The harmful side of music: Understanding the effects of rumination on adolescent mental health
This episode is a part of a series that explores the good, the bad, and the ugly of womanhood. The topics covered in this episode are:
- Wedding Pinterest boards
- The confidence gap between men and women
- The expectation of perfection
- The scene of girls getting ready to go out
- The deep natural capacity to love, care, and sympathize
Sources:
Opinion | The Hunger Fed by ‘Barbie’ and Taylor Swift - The New York Times
“In a Good Way” by Faye Webster
"How does perfectionism influence body image?" Episode
America Ferrera's Empowering 'Barbie' Monologue: Read the Full Text | Entertainment Tonight
Preview: Taylor Swift on sexist labels in the music industry
There is a reason why people argue that love is necessary for our existence. We consume love in the media we watch, the music we listen to, and the art we admire. But what is love? To understand why love is such a fundamental value and inspiration in our society, we must examine what it means at a basic level. In this episode, I explore Ancient Greek's seven forms of love found in various relationships. I discuss what it means to "love" versus to "be in love" and how understanding the five love languages is crucial for relationships.
Sources:
The Ancient Greeks Recognized 7 Different Forms Of Love | by Acamea
How do you learn to love yourself? (“Love Yourself Without Likes” Episode)
9 Core Differences Between Love And Being In Love
Love in Different Languages: 118 Various Ways to say I Love You
In this episode, my friend, Leah Chambers, and I have a conversation about everything from confidence and our inner child to our addiction to our phones and why we need an internet apocalypse. Listen as we share our thoughts and laugh together.
If you were to open the YouTube app on my phone, most of the videos you would see on the Home page are philosophy related. But, that is the extent of my philosophy knowledge. In this episode, Mateo Resnick, a friend of mine who has been studying philosophy since he was sixteen, enlightens me on some basic schools of thought and his philosophy journey. He explores the everyday benefits of understanding philosophy, as well as how to set boundaries for yourself while studying it. Mateo then shares different resources to help you start a philosophy journey of your own. Sources: “School of Life” on YouTube “Sisyphus 55” on YouTube and Spotify The Egg- A Short Story by Kurzgesagt “Daily Stoic” on Spotify “The Republic” by Plato “The Stranger” by Albert Camus “Philosophy For Dummies” by Thomas V. Morris
Look up the word “gratitude” on any search engine and you will find millions of results. In this week’s episode, Edan Green joins me to explore why. In honor of Thanksgiving, we consider what gratitude means, as well as different ways to practice it. Edan shares what gratitude is through the lens of Judaism and Kabbalistic thought. We then contrast the pursuit of happiness to acceptance and discuss how to ultimately tap into your latent gratitude. Sources: “The Attitude of Gratitude” Episode Playlist 30-Day Gratitude Challenge by BestSelf Co. Grateful Living The Five Minute Journal
