You Think You Know Chabad? Think Again — With Rabbi YY Jacobson (#2 Staff Pick)

In the aftermath of October 7th, our feeds were filled with reports of antisemitism at Columbia and UCLA, among other colleges. But are these schools part of a broader trend, or merely outliers that received outsize attention? In this episode, Noam sits down with Ethan Goetz, a leader of Jewish student life at the University of Miami. The discussion isn't about what other colleges are doing wrong. Instead, Ethan lays out what Miami is doing right, and shares a moving story about his own Jewish journey. There's also plenty of sports talk, cholent recipes, and a spontaneous recital of the Barchu.

Is ambition a virtue that allows us to reach our full potential? Or is it a trap that leaves us dissatisfied and burnt out? With Florence Pugh starring in a new Netflix adaptation of Noam's favorite book (East Of Eden), it seems like a great time to wonder about the ambitions of Steinbeck's most notorious character, and why that matters for the rest of us. Along the way, Mijal has her own thoughts on a viral "would you rather" question, Jewish leadership, and Simchat Torah.

In the immediate aftermath of October 7th, 2023, there were incredible signs of unity within and alongside the Jewish people. But there were also moments of profound division. Three years later, how has this infamous date--and the subsequent war in Gaza--brought people closer together, or further apart? Mijal and Noam's discussion is one of hope: perhaps tragedy has united us more than television or social media would have us believe. Emotions run high as Mijal and Noam reflect, reminisce, and discuss the future of Israel and the Jewish people in this new reality.

Antisemitism on social media seems worse than ever. Scrolling through Instagram, X, or TikTok is enough to make any Jewish person hyperventilate. But are things as bad in real life as they are on the internet? And if not, how can we learn to take the trolling with a grain of (kosher) salt? There's no better guide than Mikey Greenblatt, who turns nasty comments on his posts into "Jewish Fan Mail." In a heart-to-heart with Noam, Mikey explains how his connection to audience members means so much more to him than vitriol from anonymous bots and trolls.

In an era where we're more stressed, more depressed, and more isolated than we've ever been, what will it take to feel that elusive thing called "happiness?" How will we know when we've found it? This week, Mijal and Noam are doing a deep dive into whether the "pursuit" of happiness is problematic, why pain can sometimes bring us closer to joy, and just what exactly is written on Noam's t-shirt.