Tracy-Ann Oberman: Unabashedly Fighting Antisemitism and Reclaiming "The Merchant of Venice"
All About ChangeShow Notes
Tracy-Ann Oberman is a British actress. She gained prominence for her role as Chrissie Watts in the long-running British soap opera "EastEnders." Oberman has appeared in numerous television shows, including "Doctor Who," "Friday Night Dinner," and "Toast of London."
Tracy-Ann is passionate about Jewish rights and uses her platform to speak about these issues and has been doing so for decades. In 2025, she was awarded an MBE for services to Holocaust Education and Combatting Antisemitism.
In a tweet announcing the award, she wrote that her “recent production of The Merchant of Venice 1936—is driven by a commitment to Holocaust education and challenging antisemitism through storytelling. As well as bringing communities together through shared understanding. This recognition is deeply meaningful and I’m grateful to all who have supported this journey.”
We discuss Tracy-Ann’s fearless commitment to publicly defending jews wherever she can, and the way she has combined her activism with her art in The Merchant of Venice 1936.
Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.
Episode Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:22 Early influences and defining moments
4:01 The rise of antisemitism
8:16 Courage in advocacy
12:41 A new perspective on The Merchant of Venice 1936
24:09 Fortitude in activism
28:00 Conclusion
For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation
Stay in touch:
X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn
LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation
Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation
To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/
Looking for more insights into the world of activism? Be sure to check out Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at www.jayruderman.com.
More from All About Change
After years of sharing stories of relentless activists and world-shapers, All About Change is taking an intentional break. Even the most dedicated movements need a moment to recharge, and we’re doing exactly that.
Kenneth Cole, has been a fashion icon for decades, innovating a unique and lasting style for which he is known. But he comes to All About Change to talk about another of his great passions: mental health awareness. Kenneth won the 2025 Morton. E Ruderman Award in Inclusion, an award my foundation presents to an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the inclusion of people with disabilities.
Few things bring me joy and hope quite like young people who are already involved in making the world a better place. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with celebrity chef Eitan Bernath. The youngest individual ever to be named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Food and Drink, Eitan found success cooking on Tik Tok, and quickly moved to TV, where he has served as the Principal Culinary Contributor on the Drew Barrymore Show on CBS since 2020.
In light of the ongoing crisis and the profound resilience of the Iranian people, we are revisiting this timely conversation with Princess Noor Pahlavi.
Sometimes the hardest type of activism is the activism that happens inside ourselves. It’s easier for us to give others support and grace when they need it than it is for us to look in the mirror and do the same for ourselves. For recent guests Jeffrey Marsh and Jackie Goldschneider, this internal activism became a platform from which they were able to support others, and today’s guest Ari’el Stachel is doing that same work.