Long before Oct. 7, actor Jonah Platt wanted to create Jewish content. When that tragic day happened, however, it gave him the fuel to ramp up his activism and be more outspoken than ever.
“Oct. 7 poured gasoline on the fire of my Jewish advocacy,” he told The Journal. “I found myself being pulled away from my usual career pursuits to this other thing, which felt so much more important.”
Platt, an actor who appeared in “Wicked” on Broadway, Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos” on Amazon Prime and “Hair” at the Hollywood Bowl, broadcasts his pro-Israel, proudly Jewish views to his 151,000-plus followers on Instagram. And recently, he started “Being Jewish with Jonah Platt,” a podcast where he interviews Jews and non-Jewish allies on topics related to the community. So far, guests have included Rabbi David Wolpe, the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple and the ADL’s inaugural rabbinic fellow, CNN contributor Van Jones, dancer, singer and activist Montana Tucker and actor Skylar Astin.
“It seemed like a natural move to expand the work I was doing online via this podcast and get back to my proactive mission of celebrating Judaism,” Platt said. “People are afraid to speak up. I want my show to inspire and educate people.”
It was important for Platt to feature non-Jewish allies on his podcast, because a big portion of his fans are not Jewish, either. He wanted to reach outside his community bubble. “I hear from them constantly and I know they are listening,” he said. “I truly want this show to be for everyone. I’ve received some really beautiful responses to my work.”
Personally, Platt had a florist he’d worked with every week to make bouquets for his wife and pieces for his children’s birthday parties. But after Oct. 7, the florist started believing the anti-Israel rhetoric, and instead of showing up with flowers for Platt’s daughter’s first birthday, she completely ghosted his family.
That wasn’t the end of the story, thankfully.
“I got another recommendation for a florist, and we had the opposite experience with him,” Platt said. “He’s a gay, non-Jewish man, and he told me, ‘I am so honored to be part of your weekly life and family. I’ve learned so much from you. There was so much I didn’t understand. Being a gay man and someone who cares about oppressed groups, there was so much for me to learn.’”
When Platt met Van Jones, who has been vocally pro-Israel over the past year, at a freedom seder and again at a Mimouna event, the two connected. On the podcast, they talked about their communities uniting. “Once I launched the show, he immediately said yes,” said Platt. “It was clear he and I were aligned on bringing the Jewish and Black communities together.”
Other highlights on the podcast include Astin talking about his deep connection to his Jewish identity and what he’s experiencing as a Jew in Hollywood right now, as well as Wolpe and Platt discussing tattoos in Judaism. “That was our most popular clip,” Platt said. “It got half a million views on TikTok.”
Throughout his life, the actor has been a proud Jew thanks to his family’s dedication to their Judaism. His mother, Julie, is a philanthropist who has served as the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America since 2022. She also recently received the Israeli Presidential Medal from President Herzog. “My mom passed down to us that it’s not enough to be proudly Jewish,” Platt said. “We need to be leaders and heavily involved in our communities and working for the benefit of the Jewish people. I’m so inspired by her.”
He said he and his mom “tag team” tasks and work together; for instance, if he wants to have a certain guest on his show, he reaches out to her, and she makes the connection. “Growing up, in my family, I was the most rebellious when it came to Jewish things, and I had the most tenuous relationship with my spirituality,” he said. “I don’t think any of us would have guessed that I’d be the one doing the Jewish work.”
“Growing up, in my family, I was the most rebellious when it came to Jewish things, and I had the most tenuous relationship with my spirituality. I don’t think any of us would have guessed that I’d be the one doing the Jewish work.”
– Jonah Platt
Along with recording more episodes of his podcast, Platt is serving as co-executive producer for two new films with Jewish themes, “Over the Hill” and “The Mensch.” He believes “we need more celebratory, joyful Jewish movies … I want to make very universal, human and entertaining pieces that are meant to be enjoyed on their own merits.”
When he’s not working, Platt engages with his L.A. Jewish community; he recently sang at his synagogue for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and is an active part of his children’s temple day school community.
Though he still does voiceover and acting work outside of the Jewish world, Platt’s main focuses are his podcast and, of course, building up his fellow Jews during this difficult time. “The pull to do this kept feeling stronger and stronger,” he said. “This is the work my heart and soul need to be doing.”
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