Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

[00:00:00] Jonah Platt: There hasn't been a single moment in my life where I haven't felt Jewish. Being a Jew has always been an intrinsic part of who I am. What being Jewish has meant to me, however, has shifted dramatically, ebbed and flowed over time. Sometimes my Jewish identity was in the background, a light that was always on, but maybe not the brightest.

[00:00:20] Jonah Platt: Sometimes it's been all about losing myself in tradition or rejecting tradition. Other times it's been about faith or lack of faith, values or aspirations, people, food, music, and yes, Israel. But my Jewishness was never the focus of my public life. until the spring of 2021. That spring, as you might recall, saw violent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians.

[00:00:47] Jonah Platt: These clashes came right in the midst of COVID, and at a time when social justice was at the center of many conversations. People felt pressured to make declarative statements on complex issues most of us barely understand. [00:01:00] The details of the conflict were confusing, the noise loud from all sides, and in that chaos I saw an opportunity to maybe help folks, to educate, to foster a more nuanced, fact based, curious, and considerate examination of the current events, the Jewish experience, and society as a whole.

[00:01:21] Jonah Platt: Slowly, I began to dip my toes more and more into this newly discovered role as a filter. I began writing and speaking more about a range of topics regarding the Jewish community. But what has always been at the center of my advocacy is a simple, basic desire for Jews, and really anybody, to openly celebrate and take pride in who we are.

[00:01:44] Jonah Platt: Since the horrors of October 7th, I and all Jewish advocates like me have been working in overdrive to put out all kinds of fires, to stem the tide of anti Jewish hate, to uplift, to commiserate, We've been in reactive mode for a [00:02:00] year now, which has been important, but I didn't want to lose sight of my core mission, which brings us to this podcast.

[00:02:08] Jonah Platt: Why am I doing this? Why should you bother listening to me? If you're not Jewish, is this show even for you? The show's purpose is threefold. As I said, I want to celebrate what it is to be Jewish, while at the same time educating and dispelling many myths about what being Jewish looks like. There is no wrong way to be Jewish, and I've observed that so many people, Jews themselves included, do not fully understand or appreciate how vast the spectrum of Jewishness is, how different it can feel and look to each individual person, while being equally whole and sacred and valid.

[00:02:44] Jonah Platt: God bless. Number two, we need to normalize Jews talking about Jewish stuff. You don't have to be a rabbi or work at a Jewish organization or have a PhD to discuss being Jewish. It's not uncool, it's not weird, [00:03:00] and it shouldn't feel uncomfortable. We have as much right to revel in our personhood as anybody else.

[00:03:07] Jonah Platt: There is such a pervasiveness of fear in Jewish culture, after so many centuries of persecution, a seemingly unending historical cycle of hate that is rearing its ugly head in full force today. But we as a people need to push aside that fear and embrace our identity. People respect those who respect themselves.

[00:03:28] Jonah Platt: Everywhere you look there are examples of different groups celebrating their identity, excavating and debating their identity. In a way that is natural and wonderful. It's time for Jews to do the same. Third, I wanted to provide notable Jewish public figures and non Jewish allies with a safe space to explore and discuss their own unique connections to Jewishness.

[00:03:50] Jonah Platt: As leaders in their fields, these prominent professionals are rarely given the opportunity to answer deep questions about Jewish identity. And my hope [00:04:00] is that in doing so, both my guests and our audience will be enriched by this vibrant and candid experience. As for why should anyone listen to this?

[00:04:08] Jonah Platt: Well, we're going to have a good time. This ain't Dateline. We will be delving into meaningful and perhaps serious topics, but it will always be with an air of calm, compassion, camaraderie and curiosity. We'll also dive into topics outside of the Jewish experience and best of all, there'll be an opportunity every week for you to ask questions of me and my guests, which we will answer together on air.

[00:04:34] Jonah Platt: And finally, I know some of you are wondering, if I'm not Jewish, is this show even for me? The answer is absolutely yes. This show is for everyone. You will learn something valuable, whether it be new facets of your favorite celebrity, new understanding about Jews and Judaism, new ways to look at the world, or maybe just discovering something new in yourself.[00:05:00]

[00:05:01] Jonah Platt: I've been putting this show together for nine months now, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be getting started. Thank you for joining me on my Jewish journey and allowing me to be part of yours. This is the first episode of Being Jewish with me, Jonah Platt.

[00:05:44] Jonah Platt: I love that theme music. It was written by my friend, Gabe Mann, amazing composer, recording artist. Thank you, Gabe. Today, it's our first ever episode and I am sitting down with someone I've both admired and known for years. He [00:06:00] is an actor, a singer, a musician, a writer. You might know him from the Pitch Perfect movies, or So Help Me Todd, or the real ones might know him from Broadway hit Spring Awakening, or maybe a select few know him as the bar mitzvah boy who gave out CDs with his face on them.

[00:06:17] Jonah Platt: Welcome, Skylar Astin. Hey buddy, how are you? I'm great,

[00:06:20] Skylar Astin: thank you so much for being here. I'm so happy, I said yes right away, but I did not know that I was also on the inaugural episode. Yes. I feel very special.

[00:06:28] Jonah Platt: You should. So the reason I wanted you to Specifically to be the first guess is really when I was thinking about coming up with this show I thought about you because you're somebody that I know is Proudly Jewish is connected to their Jewish identity But has faced pushback at times or perhaps like not always been able to be comfortably open and talking about Jewish issues all the time, and I really wanted to create a safe space for you and others [00:07:00] like you to be able to do that.

[00:07:01] Jonah Platt: So really, you've been an inspiration. Hey, thanks, man. I'm happy to be here and talk about We know each other for a long time. Uh, we met, obviously, because my brother Ben was in Pitch Perfect. Yes. Skyler, you were in the hospital waiting room for the birth of my second nephew.

[00:07:18] Skylar Astin: That is very true. That is a fun fact.

[00:07:21] Skylar Astin: I know, right? I was just hanging with Ben, and then, I don't know how that actually came up. I think they were like, yeah, my sister's in labor, and it was just up the street, and we were going to hang out every day. After and he's like, I mean, you could come and I'd like, I'm so close with your fam. Yeah. And I think I like overheard, obviously your mom on the phone being like, tell him to come.

[00:07:38] Skylar Astin: It's going to be a wait. And I'm now one of those guys that could go up to someone and be like, I was there when you were

[00:07:43] Jonah Platt: born.

[00:07:44] Skylar Astin: Literally.

[00:07:44] Jonah Platt: Literally. Yeah. Speaking of births, let's like go back to the beginning of your Jewish journey as, as you were growing up as a kid, like what was Jewish for you then?

[00:07:56] Skylar Astin: Well, my town. Was fairly Jewish. I [00:08:00] wasn't like in a Jewish community by any means, but like there was there were a few temples there was a Jewish day school and Growing up since like the town over like there weren't really many Jewish people But I just thought that the world is half and half. Uh

[00:08:15] Jonah Platt: huh.

[00:08:16] Skylar Astin: I didn't know that I was a minority.

[00:08:19] Skylar Astin: I didn't even know, like, much else. I just thought it's like, do you celebrate Hanukkah or Christmas? And when I went to Hebrew school, of course, and like, learned a lot about, like, the history of the Jewish people, that I kind of, like, understood that and then experienced some, some of that, like, kind of firsthand.

[00:08:35] Jonah Platt: So you said you went to Hebrew school. Like how observant were you guys growing up? Would you celebrate what, what were the, we were

[00:08:40] Skylar Astin: pretty reformed. I feel I'm very like culturally Jewish. Um, I, we are like high holidays people. So we're like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur are kind of the only days we really would, would go as a family.

[00:08:54] Skylar Astin: And then, of course, for like events, like, uh, Brits or life events or bar [00:09:00] mitzvahs and stuff like that. So we weren't like, you know, I think in my Hebrew school, we like did a sukkah for Sukkot and some stuff like that. But I have a very, I had a very base knowledge other than just kind of the reform curriculum, you know, at my Hebrew school.

[00:09:14] Jonah Platt: Has that shifted at all as you've grown up as an adult? Or is it still about like the traditions from family? Have you made your own?

[00:09:21] Skylar Astin: It's shifted a little bit. Especially kind of like recently. I mean, I just like, we never had Shabbat growing up, uh, just because we weren't that, that religious. But like, I, I happen to like love everything it represents.

[00:09:35] Skylar Astin: I love introducing people to Shabbat. Um, and I, I just think like, I, I resonate more with it. nowadays, especially as like an ethnicity. I mean, I did like a 23 and me and it came back Jewish. What other religion does that happen with? And you know, I've seen, because Jews are not just a religion where people, exactly.

[00:09:55] Skylar Astin: And that, and I feel like that I understand more and I'm very [00:10:00] prideful of that. And um, so I carry that with me. Like, as you say, like I'm very open and proud of my identity. Like it's in that kind of way, especially

[00:10:08] Jonah Platt: love that.

[00:10:08] Skylar Astin: Yeah.

[00:10:09] Jonah Platt: Have you had any fun Shabbat dinners lately?

[00:10:11] Skylar Astin: I had a really fun one with my friends, Brandon and Angel, in like this, they live in like this Tonga Canyon.

[00:10:17] Skylar Astin: It was this like, they're very like LGBT group. So it was like a very like gay Shabbat, which was very fun. It's like we were just kind of like messing with the traditions and I don't know, doing a little bit of like witchcraft with it. Like it was just really, it was really sweet. And like very, very like welcoming.

[00:10:31] Skylar Astin: Cause I don't even think many of the people there were Jewish. Like definitely the people that held it were. Yeah. And it was just like, it was just such a symbol to me that like Shabbat could be like anything, whatever it means to you, or at least like that's how I observe. It, you know, I, my, my family has always been like, you know, come to Hanukkah, come to Passover.

[00:10:48] Skylar Astin: Like you're more than welcome. And that's, that's kind of the part of the traditions that I, uh, like I resonate a lot with

[00:10:55] Jonah Platt: you and me both. Yeah. Um, going back in time again, you mentioned going to a [00:11:00] lot of bar mitzvahs. Were you bar mitzvah? I was bar mitzvah. And was there a

[00:11:03] Skylar Astin: theme

[00:11:04] Jonah Platt: to your party?

[00:11:04] Skylar Astin: There was a theme to my party.

[00:11:06] Skylar Astin: My parents, uh, since they paid for it, they chose the theme. So it was like a thing where I. It wasn't like a controlling thing. I think, like, I was one of the few, like, members, like, I, I followed the order in, like, thinking it's, like, very important and exciting, but I wasn't, like, a kid that was, like, for mine, it's gonna be this and that, and, like, so, it never really dawned on me what I would do, and I felt that that was very fair.

[00:11:34] Skylar Astin: Um, They chose for me music and specifically the Dave Matthews band. I was, uh, it was Skylar and the Dave Matthews band. So I actually thought they kind of nailed it. Did

[00:11:46] Jonah Platt: you like the Dave Matthews band or did

[00:11:47] Skylar Astin: they? I loved the Dave Matthews band. So at least like they, they listened and yeah, no, I don't think they could even sing one single Dave Matthews song, but it was like, my centerpiece was like a cutout of me playing like the bass with like Dave Matthews.

[00:11:59] Skylar Astin: So yeah, I think I got [00:12:00] to see like what happened for my brother, Jason was like such a fun party and it was such a fun experience. And, you know, they had all like the decoration. So I was, and I'm very indecisive too. So I was very like, yeah, no, no, I don't want to know. Yeah, cool. And it was fun. It was like, it was, it's, you know, it was like a surprise.

[00:12:12] Skylar Astin: Like you walk in the catering hall and they're like, you know, show you, you're like, Oh, so you didn't know anything. Yeah, no, no, I didn't know anything. I had plenty to learn with the half Torah and all that kind of stuff. Do

[00:12:22] Jonah Platt: you remember any of your

[00:12:25] Skylar Astin: thing? I mean, I remember the alias. I remember like Certain parts of like, I think the give a road is kind of a banger.

[00:12:30] Skylar Astin: Like I always liked that one, but yeah, I, I don't speak much Hebrew, nor do I remember. It was a lot of memorization because it's truly a tape recorder and you just drilling this.

[00:12:42] Jonah Platt: I mean, that's why I was curious, especially as, you know, as a musician, like for me, it's like, It's like drilled in there. Like, like, like row, row, row your boat.

[00:12:49] Jonah Platt: Like, I just, it's comes right out.

[00:12:51] Skylar Astin: I think I, I didn't get into like theater especially, or really, really seriously into music to like after that time in my life, like high school, I kind of got into [00:13:00] theater. So I think had those synapses has already been firing, it would probably be in there. But at that point, I was so nervous, like, I mean, now I've done theater and all this kinds of stuff, but I was so nervous to be singing or even speaking in rhythm in front of people.

[00:13:13] Skylar Astin: It was like I had a panic attack the morning of my bar mitzvah because I was like, wait, I can't believe I have to do this in front of people. And I've never really been a performer other than like a couple piano recitals, but I could hide behind a piano. This was like front and center. You know, kind of singing, but not like, you don't want to be that like musical theater boy.

[00:13:32] Skylar Astin: That's like, you know, but you know, we can carry a tune. So it'll, we have a nice tone obviously when we sing. So you can't really get away from that. So I remember people thought I did such a beautiful job.

[00:13:47] Jonah Platt: So, you know, that's, that's very encouraging for folks. If you know, if your kids are 12, 13, they're not showing signs of full musical talent yet they could still turn into Skylar Astin as an adult.

[00:13:56] Jonah Platt: Pretty

[00:13:57] Skylar Astin: good. You never know where your Torah portion can lead you as [00:14:00] a

[00:14:00] Jonah Platt: kid. So you were born Skylar Astin

[00:14:03] Skylar Astin: Lipstein,

[00:14:04] Jonah Platt: very Jewish name. And when you were 15, you, your agent suggested you drop that name and just go by Skylar Astin, something many entertainers have famously done before you.

[00:14:13] Skylar Astin: Sure.

[00:14:13] Jonah Platt: What was that decision process like for you?

[00:14:16] Skylar Astin: You know, it's interesting because like in hindsight, I think back of it back to it and I feel like it seems like more of a serious decision now when you talk about it because you have to almost explain it. It's like, are you erasing part of your identity? Is there something that you don't like about your name?

[00:14:28] Skylar Astin: Because I actually very proudly, I love my last name and I never like shy away from it and be like, you know, I really know what your real last name is. I was like, it's not like I'm like, you can't tell. Oh my God, keep this secret for me. It was literally, uh, yeah. It was as if someone's like, so you're going to school.

[00:14:47] Skylar Astin: You should probably get like a number two pencil and you should probably do it. Like someone was just like, you should probably change your name. It's just like. It seems more of like a, uh, more of a stage name, Sound. It does. Uh, it is interesting though because like, I'm not going to be one of [00:15:00] those actors that, you know, like 20 years into my career now I'm going to like change it and, and, and really, but I do resonate more with my last name and I kind of wonder like what would have happened had I questioned that more or, you know, Or, um, didn't do that.

[00:15:12] Skylar Astin: You know what I mean? If my career would have been the same, probably, you know, I hope so. I hope it's not just because of my name, right? That would be another issue, I'm sure. But, uh, no, it wasn't like that dramatic of a situation. I was just so young and just trying to like get my foot in the door. So. I, I think that that just was like, Oh, that, that'll be a good universal sounding names.

[00:15:30] Skylar Astin: I can play a bunch of different kinds of roles. And that was really all, all that went into that.

[00:15:34] Jonah Platt: So going back to the career, have you ever been in a situation at any point in your career where you were made to feel uncomfortable because you were Jewish?

[00:15:42] Skylar Astin: I mean, there's been a lot of times where I've been told, you know, we're looking for more of that classic, you know, look, which I always kind of know what that means.

[00:15:54] Skylar Astin: Um, I've been told for like theater things, like I'm like, not, not white [00:16:00] enough or like not. Um, and like, this is not me playing the violin for myself, but just to answer your question, definitely, um, definitely come up where they've even kind of said like, you know, Oh no. Or, or what happens a lot is I'll sign on to a role.

[00:16:15] Skylar Astin: And the last name is like McCarthy or like something like that. And then it becomes like Altman or like, you know what I mean? Or Schoenberg. And like it happens a lot with the Jewish part. And, uh, it happens a lot with singing. What do you mean? Where there's like nothing, there's no singing in the script.

[00:16:32] Skylar Astin: And then immediately in the blue pages, it's like, now he sings a song. Well, you know,

[00:16:36] Jonah Platt: you gotta work with what you got. Sure, sure. You got the talent,

[00:16:38] Skylar Astin: you gotta. You got to use it. It's fine. I mean, I like signing up for things knowing I'll be singing rather than like, it's a surprise. You have a solo? Yeah, we're doing a, because it's not even a musical or it's not even a thing where the character would ever sing.

[00:16:50] Skylar Astin: Oh, but now he has like a hobby where he also has like an acapella group or something like that. And I'm like, that's not how that works. Um, that's the only time that that's ever frustrating. And then, yeah, the [00:17:00] Jewish thing, it tends to happen. And then there's like a plethora, sometimes of like Jewish jokes.

[00:17:04] Skylar Astin: And sometimes that's not really written. by a Jewish writer, which isn't the best.

[00:17:09] Jonah Platt: Yeah.

[00:17:09] Skylar Astin: You know what I mean? That never, I never, and then I puts me in kind of an uncomfortable situation where I'm like, Hey, like, I'm fine doing this, but like why, you know what I mean? Or, or can we not make that about, could we just no, no Jewish stuff?

[00:17:21] Skylar Astin: It could be his name or something like that. And then I always worry that that kind of makes me seem like I'm now not wanting to, you know, That's the totally

[00:17:30] Jonah Platt: tricky calculus about it. It's like you want to be able to advocate for yourself, especially with other groups. You know, it's, there's a very clear line about writing jokes for other people.

[00:17:40] Jonah Platt: Minority groups or whatever, but with Jews just like there tends to be a little more leniency towards that because you know David Baddiel famously says Jews don't count. Totally. Well, this is a good segue because I want to ask you about On screen representation. On screen, especially in this past year We saw a lot of examples of famous historical Jews being played by non Jews.

[00:17:59] Jonah Platt: And as I always say, [00:18:00] it's like It's not like it's like a 50 50. It's like all of them are non Jews. So, you know, we have Bradley Cooper, we had Helen Mirren, we have the Funny Girl Tour.

[00:18:08] Skylar Astin: Totally. I think that Jewish people should be playing Jews, especially when it's just like every other minority. Like, Especially nowadays, like, you know, people understand the error of their ways in the past.

[00:18:21] Skylar Astin: Like, God, what were we thinking? Why were we casting, you know, Jonathan Pryce and Miss Saigon? And like, you know, things like that. It's like, whoa, Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's. And, you know, uh, I think Sarah Silverman, like, mentioned, like, Jew face. Right. And it's, you know, there's prosthetic noses, and there's just all sorts of things that are just, They really don't feel helpful and they feel like quite the opposite and I even even answering this question I feel like I have to like make a bunch of disclaimers being like not saying that not say but like why can't I actually Just say like that that it does bother me.

[00:18:52] Jonah Platt: I try to take it a little bit on a case by case basis There are some times where I'm more okay with it than others. For example, like with the Helen [00:19:00] Mirren one When I think about it, I'm like, who's going to get that movie made? And she's like, she spent time in Israel. She knows the family. She had the blessings of everybody.

[00:19:09] Jonah Platt: And there's, there's only so many people in the world who are at a Helen Mirren level and that age range and whatnot. But then I'll see something like I saw a production of the Lehman brothers trilogy. The Lehman brothers are three Jewish European guys. All three guys were clearly not being played by

[00:19:26] Skylar Astin: Jewish people.

[00:19:26] Skylar Astin: I mean the Helen Mirren thing should be the exception to the rule. Okay. And I think more often than not, it's, that's not even remotely it. It's just like one of many.

[00:19:35] Jonah Platt: Yes. I mean, like, right. The, the ratio right now is so. incorrectly skewed where it's like they all go to non Jews as opposed to like every once in a while a Helen Mirren plays a role like that.

[00:19:47] Jonah Platt: It's always,

[00:19:48] Skylar Astin: I always say the thing of like, if people say that Jewish people run Hollywood, they're not putting them as the leads though, especially when it's about

[00:19:57] Jonah Platt: that. I think like the core [00:20:00] misunderstanding at the heart of that and like all the Jewish issues we face today is, is the misunderstanding that Judaism is just a religion right.

[00:20:09] Jonah Platt: that a bunch of people share, and not that Jews are a person, that it's an ethno religion, that it's a tribe. And I feel like if people had that understanding, it could really filter in an important way into things like this. But people are like, what's the big deal? It's just like a religion. It's like, Jew can play Christian, Christian can play Jew, what does it matter?

[00:20:28] Jonah Platt: Totally.

[00:20:29] Skylar Astin: I had never seen It's like any other group where people try to tell you what they are more than Judaism. Yeah. It's, it's wild. It's like the, the gall, you know, of some people to just be like, well, you're not this, you're this. And it's actually only this. And you probably, people think. And it's, it's crazy.

[00:20:47] Skylar Astin: I don't know what it is. I mean, I'm sure we could talk, I'm sure, at length about where it stems from and why, but it, that, that always kind of blows my mind, especially lately. Totally. When people try to really explain something that you're like, hey, this is like in [00:21:00] not only my DNA, but it's like, I've, I've went to school for this.

[00:21:03] Skylar Astin: I like, I've, I've, I've read up on this for so many years because it directly involves my people. I had a

[00:21:09] Jonah Platt: social media. person, um, into my comments recently, you know, trying to convince me of something I wasn't going to be convinced of being like, well, you should read this book. I was like, all right, you be Jewish for 37 years.

[00:21:23] Jonah Platt: I'll read that book. And then we can have a conversation. Right.

[00:21:26] Skylar Astin: I mean, I appreciate people at least reading a book and trying rather than just, but no,

[00:21:30] Jonah Platt: we know, we know what's up. Right. You know, we know ourselves. That's true. So in 2022, You did a special called Recipe for Change, which I watched and was really fun.

[00:21:42] Jonah Platt: First, like, what was that experience like? It was like such a cool, unique thing they put on. It was

[00:21:45] Skylar Astin: so cool. Um, we, we ate at Nancy Silverton's house, who's just like this incredible world renowned chef. It was

[00:21:52] Jonah Platt: so cool. You a home cooked meal at Nancy

[00:21:54] Skylar Astin: Silverton's house. That in and of itself is very special, but then just the conversation and just being with people.

[00:21:59] Skylar Astin: It [00:22:00] was really nice. It was obviously pre, pre 10, seven. And so it was just a slightly more wholesome chat about combating antisemitism. And it just felt like it was, it just had such good intentions. And everyone was, you know, on the same page, just on kind of historical antisemitism and how. There's still so much today and, you know, just people more celebrating all kinds of, you know, Mizrahi Jews, Sephardic Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, people's connection to people in Israel.

[00:22:29] Skylar Astin: And, uh, and it was just a wonderful Shabbat dinner, honestly. It's so cool. That was recorded with cameras and stuff like that. I'm glad because people got to see it. I think it got nominated for an Emmy. Um, but yeah, it was an amazing, amazing thing to be a part of.

[00:22:42] Jonah Platt: It was, it was really fun to watch. But what, what struck me was Like, the, it seemed like the impetus for that show was the insane rise in anti semitism, and this was 2022, you know, and, and, uh, Jonathan Greenblatt of the ADL, who was at the dinner, he goes into like, you know, it's, it's doubled, it's [00:23:00] tripled, it's like, it's increasing, it's increasing, and that was two years ago, so like, How crazy and how different does it feel now from two years ago when you literally did a special because of a rise in anti Jewish hate?

[00:23:11] Skylar Astin: Right, well, um, I think, like, it was actually 2021 when there was a flare up in, in Gaza, uh, when I kind of really went headfirst and, like, really wanted to get an understanding. And what's actually funny is that still with just so much research, so much reading, so much, like, intel, From all sides of everything to really get a good understanding.

[00:23:31] Skylar Astin: I still don't consider myself remotely an expert or someone who remotely can like, you know, stand on a soapbox. And, um, though, I feel like I entered the conversation a lot sooner than a lot, a lot of people of today, uh, you know, I, uh, something I've said on social media is just like, um, whether or not you believe in the government over there, whether or not, uh, you know, no matter what, like it, it's It's no excuse for the attacks [00:24:00] for, uh, any, you know, people should not be scared to go in their place of worship.

[00:24:04] Skylar Astin: But people don't realize that Jews have had that feeling since before 10 7. I mean, like, there's a lot of metal detectors and things like that. I think

[00:24:12] Jonah Platt: about it every time I'm driving on a Sunday morning and I see everybody walking out of church and hanging out on the steps. I'm like, oh, we have like concrete barricades there.

[00:24:21] Jonah Platt: We got armed guards and bulletproof glass there. Yep.

[00:24:24] Skylar Astin: And that's, it's a necessity, unfortunately, and it has been, and it's just something, just like, again, like, to your point of having 37 years of being Jewish rather than reading one book, like, we know this, like, we've been told it, uh, and then we've now lived and experienced this, you know, uh, I, Um, sometimes in New York, I deliver food to Holocaust survivors and I was speaking to one.

[00:24:46] Skylar Astin: That's awesome. Just after 10 7. Thank you. And it feels like the least I could do and just to hear these stories and I, and we weren't even talking about 10 7 though it was on the news and he was just like, [00:25:00] you know, asking him all sorts of questions about his experience. Really they're just offering up so much and telling so much and, and he says, I just, tears in his eyes.

[00:25:09] Skylar Astin: And he's like, I just like, The, the question I keep asking myself to this day is why?

[00:25:14] Jonah Platt: Mm.

[00:25:15] Skylar Astin: And it was just so sad because to really know , um, the innocence of, of, of so much of the people who've experienced the worst forms of anti-Semitic hate, uh, that is something that I thought at eight years old when I was in Hebrew school, when I was first learning about Kristol, Nat and the Holocaust.

[00:25:34] Skylar Astin: And the pogroms, I was just like, why? I just don't understand that. Especially now going back to what I said of like thinking that I'm like half of the world, you know? So I'm just like, wait, why the people that celebrate this, people just hate them just because that is my very base knowledge. But now, you know, years later, 30 years later, like I still.

[00:25:54] Skylar Astin: I find myself asking that question, and so does this poor man who has [00:26:00] every reason to have his own theories, you want to talk conspiracy theories, um, and he still really, it boils down to like, why?

[00:26:07] Jonah Platt: That's, it's very poignant, because it's, I mean, it is so true. I'm sure most Jewish people have that thought cross their minds often, just like,

[00:26:17] Skylar Astin: And even saying this on camera, in this medium, I feel like, Oh, well people think we're playing the victim and we're victimizing.

[00:26:25] Jonah Platt: That's

[00:26:26] Skylar Astin: even ingrained. But, but truly at the, at the core of it, like, you know, you talk to your Jewish friends and neighbors and people that are scared, especially like, you know, in the first few months after the attack, it's, uh, there's a sense of, um, fear, but also a sense of security and feeling like you're not alone in that fear of like, why is this happening?

[00:26:46] Skylar Astin: What's going on? Like, why are people like, I, you know, uh, when I was a little bit more active on social media about everything, like I would say something. and hold space for everyone involved. You know what I [00:27:00] mean? And really see things not so black and white the way I actually do see them and make just a really important distinction about how just because, you know, people are not their government and how, you know, that directly translates to antisemitic attacks in California, in Australia, um, rallies and like, do we see what this spread is?

[00:27:21] Skylar Astin: And just to kind of point that out. And I'm sure you've seen the most bulletproof, you know, distinctions you can make. You're met with the meanest, most horrible, frightening things that anyone's ever said about. You and your and it's flooded and it's like a, um, it, it kind of, it's not like it hasn't discouraged me, but it really realized that like it made me realize that it's, it's, it, I don't know if it's, I don't know what it's doing actually, if it's helping, if it's hurting, it made me feel very confused actually.

[00:27:54] Skylar Astin: What you posting

[00:27:55] Jonah Platt: that?

[00:27:56] Skylar Astin: Yeah. I mean, it's not like, like, look, I'll always stand up for what I believe in, [00:28:00] um, but to continue to make those distinctions, especially since it's kind of all on the same theme. I was like, I don't know. If this is and forget about like me being attacked and like, Oh, I don't want to lose followers.

[00:28:13] Skylar Astin: It wasn't about that. It was like, I just feel like, um, it felt almost like I was stirring up more hate, uh, by trying to bring awareness to it, which was just a weird feeling. Uh, it's not saying like, so now I don't or whatever. I just, it was just a weird. It made me like lose a little bit of faith in in that like in just people I guess So it's been it's been like I guess a really troubling time because I haven't gone away from the conversation I just have them off social media.

[00:28:47] Skylar Astin: Yeah And I have them on With people who are, you know, sometimes willing to listen. I just don't ever want it to get to a shouting place. Uh, cause that's, that's not where I'm like [00:29:00] entering this conversation from. But it really quickly becomes that. And, and, and really quickly from people who are not involved at all.

[00:29:06] Jonah Platt: Yeah. And so they're always the loudest. The people who have no skin in the game whatsoever. Right. Who think they know the most about

[00:29:12] Skylar Astin: it, and they can be, you know, they can feel passionate with, with their empathy for what they think is happening or, or, um, you know, for only one, the one side of the story that they may know or, or just actually the blatant disregard to actually really learn what's happening in any real true context because it just fits a very comfortable.

[00:29:35] Skylar Astin: mold for them just about who we are. I like to say like, I don't think like Hitler would have really cared if you, um, Believe in God. He would have killed you because it's in your blood. We know that's true. So. Didn't matter if you never picked up a prayer book in your life. Exactly. So when people say it's just a religion, it's like, well, it's actually kind of, it's really complicated.

[00:29:58] Skylar Astin: And I've just been doing a lot of soul searching [00:30:00] about that. And like, nothing has changed. In fact, I'm more, more proud. And, and more willing to have these conversations. And the only reason why I'm not banging my chest on social media, because it's a really destructive conversation. Also, it's really devastating.

[00:30:13] Jonah Platt: Yeah.

[00:30:14] Skylar Astin: Um, because in trying to say anything, you can't deny the horrors on both sides. Just like the devastation and the pain and the, and the little suffering and the death. It's a really awful conversation. So to be like beating your chest super hard, like in, in either way is just, it's a, it's a weird. I appreciate everything you do.

[00:30:34] Skylar Astin: And I've told you so much. Like I, I, I learn a lot, you know what I mean? I, I, I appreciate you saying what you say because sometimes I can't like boil my thoughts down the way you can. I think your mom and I talked about you becoming an accidental activist. Yeah. She told me that. Yeah. Which I think that that's pretty cool.

[00:30:54] Skylar Astin: apropos for what you've got going on. I mean,

[00:30:57] Jonah Platt: here we are now. Yeah, yeah. Literally, literally. I [00:31:00] will say as somebody who spends a lot of time talking to people and Jews on social media, you know, you ask whether you're helping or not. I know for sure that there are people that you are helping when you put that stuff out.

[00:31:13] Jonah Platt: People who feel seen and empowered. And braver by seeing you and you know when I when I post stuff and people will say something to that effect I'm, like it doesn't feel like i'm being like brave or something It just feels like i'm saying what I want to say, but people do feel emboldened by it And they're they're like wow, you know, and I and I know that you are reaching people when you do say stuff the part that's tricky is it's like, you know, I've Posted or been a part of posting something that has like nothing to do with the conflict whatsoever, but it's even tangentially related to being Jewish and you're getting comments about the conflict on it.

[00:31:50] Jonah Platt: I could say

[00:31:50] Skylar Astin: happy Rosh Hashanah and I'll get well, what about the people and it's like that's You know, again, what other people would you ever have the nerve to do that with? But, [00:32:00] yeah, it is tough. But, but you're right. Like, uh, I, I feel so much for Jewish young people and people in colleges, um, experiencing just like really, really, um, brutal antisemitism.

[00:32:16] Skylar Astin: I, I, I mean, if, if I can, lend a voice and let them know that like I am one of you and that you are not alone and that like I felt versions of that in my own life like then, then it is absolutely worth it. It feels like a responsibility to be, you know, people don't understand how few Jewish people there are in the world.

[00:32:34] Skylar Astin: And then on top of that, how many people have like influential voices that can in platforms. So it does feel like something that I'm, I'm, I definitely stand by everything that I say.

[00:32:44] Jonah Platt: That's awesome. So on the flip of that, as you're looking around, you know, the entertainment industry, how does it feel to see, you know, certain colleagues, perhaps Taking to to the airwaves with anti Israel or anti Jewish sentiment.[00:33:00]

[00:33:00] Jonah Platt: Have you seen that?

[00:33:01] Skylar Astin: Yeah, I've seen a lot of that. Yeah It's really when it the issues get very conflated and I feel read up enough and knowledgeable enough to know when something is blatantly anti semitic and I think that that's A word that has even been like weaponized and now people tell you what antisemitism is.

[00:33:21] Skylar Astin: I mean, again, like what other group is someone telling you not only what you are, but like what actually being racist towards you is and looks like. There's some people out there that I'm just like, I've never, um, like you are, you're posting about lunch and hating Jews. That's it. That's your whole social media.

[00:33:42] Skylar Astin: Come to my show. Also, Jews are horrible. You know, here's my baby. Also, Jews are horrible. Which is just a lot, it's just, it was heartbreaking, honestly. It was really heartbreaking. I think even before Israel retaliated, how many people were like, just providing this context, uh, [00:34:00] of just, you know, Uh, you know, the most brutal attack on, on Jewish people since the Holocaust and people were non Jewish, people were American as we know, and like, uh, all sorts of countries and I don't know.

[00:34:11] Skylar Astin: There's just, um, it really quickly snapped into this like very comfortable Western narrative of oppressed versus oppressors and white settlers versus, uh, colonized people. And it just, uh, and you couldn't get a word in edgewise all of a sudden. Yeah. That was my experience with it.

[00:34:30] Jonah Platt: Ugh. And have you had to, you know, come face to face or work with any of these people in this time?

[00:34:38] Jonah Platt: I have. People that you know hold these sentiments?

[00:34:40] Skylar Astin: I have. Um. How does that go? You know, this is the first time I've spoken about it and that's pretty much all there is to it. I don't know. I haven't said a word.

[00:34:54] Jonah Platt: Are you thinking it while you're doing what you have to do, or are you able to put that away and be like, I'm here to do a job, I'm [00:35:00] gonna do the job.

[00:35:01] Skylar Astin: I'm a professional. Like, I I protect my professionalism by not engaging because I don't, I'm not an expert. I don't know how composed I can stay. Right. I think if I were to have a conversation, I would be prepared to make sure I was the most composed and I just don't think it belongs in a professional setting.

[00:35:24] Skylar Astin: If someone said something that was absolutely insane in my, You know, in your presence, but it would be, but it is crazy to see someone post something 14 minutes ago when you know, I'm literally at work with you and it's like, you never crossed your mind. You know me, you know, I wear a business every day, you know.

[00:35:42] Skylar Astin: You know, but like that, it's so important to you that you overlook that. So there you go. That is your profile. That is your voice. That is your right, I guess. Um, but I'm going to be over here keeping it professional because I think that that's just how I want to operate in these, in that [00:36:00] situation. Cause I, I just think I could, I, I would get really upset.

[00:36:03] Skylar Astin: Uh, and, uh, that just doesn't belong at work.

[00:36:06] Jonah Platt: And I, I, I'm glad you share that. I think understanding what that experience is like and what that calculus is, is really important for people to hear. Sure.

[00:36:14] Skylar Astin: I've shut it down a few times. What do you mean? Like, I just, I've given like a don't go there look, you know, or like, uh, you know, or someone says something that's like blatantly Uh, just something that they shouldn't say.

[00:36:32] Skylar Astin: I'm good at shutting things down fast without saying something rude or a curse word or something like that. And I think like that enough, that enough has been like a, you don't want to go there kind of a thing. No, no threats, of course, but like, just, just a real, a real, you know, Sign of like, and I think people know better too because they, they don't want to be doing that at work either.

[00:36:55] Skylar Astin: Right. Um, so it's like you said, they don't, it's like, they don't even think about it. Right. That this

[00:36:59] Jonah Platt: is [00:37:00] going to be somehow offensive to you. Right.

[00:37:02] Skylar Astin: Right. Which is crazy. Someone once said something at work like, I know, I have known a lot of Jewish people. I know how to say that like word. It was like a shalom or something like that.

[00:37:10] Skylar Astin: I was like, I think I know more than you. I mean, it was like something like, I'll do it in jest. Because it is. It's funny. And, and by the way, like, in that moment, that was, that person wasn't being anti semitic, you know, that person wasn't being bad. Yeah, context matters, and the way you know a person, that matters.

[00:37:24] Skylar Astin: That was just me kind of like standing up for my identity in that moment, in that group setting. And I feel like a lot of people would do that and should do that to me if I was mansplaining someone's ethnicity or religion or something like that. And I'd say, I think I would know, and I would go, but I don't.

[00:37:38] Skylar Astin: You're right. You know what I mean? So it's like that is the most I've ever kind of engaged, especially at the workplace. Nice. Have you ever been to Israel? I have not. Um, and I've always wanted to, it's been like an absolute dream of mine that I was always working. I was wanted to. Right. I mean, you've been

[00:37:54] Jonah Platt: working since professionally since what age?

[00:37:56] Skylar Astin: Like 15 I think the birthright age is what like [00:38:00] I think it's 18, 18. Okay. My sister did it. She had the best time ever. She always talks about it and I've actually, it's been like a dream of mine to go. I've, I've always wanted to and it was like very, very top of my bucket list to go to. So I will definitely go.

[00:38:14] Skylar Astin: I'm going on like two weeks if you want to go. Are you actually? Yeah. Um, I can't in two weeks, but, uh, but, but no, I will definitely be here soon. We'll talk. I'll, I'll help you get there. Okay, good.

[00:38:25] Jonah Platt: You have written a script called The Hanukkah Guy. Yes.

[00:38:28] Skylar Astin: Tell me about The Hanukkah Guy. I just wanted to make that like kind of classic, the Santa Claus jingle all the way kind of Christmas movie, but fun.

[00:38:35] Skylar Astin: family, but for, but with Hanukkah. Important question. Yeah. How do you spell Hanukkah? C H or H? I do the, the Smokey Robinson Chanukah. Chanukah? Yeah. The C H A N U K A H. What was that clip

[00:38:47] Jonah Platt: from? When did he call it Chanukah? He called

[00:38:48] Skylar Astin: it Chanukah, which is very sweet. It was like making a cameo for someone.

[00:38:51] Skylar Astin: And he was just like, I don't know what Chanukah is, but happy Chanukah. And it's just like, I love that. I've seen that a bunch of times. It's like the least, the least [00:39:00] offensive, funniest thing. It's just so wholesome and we love it.

[00:39:04] Jonah Platt: Also, the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, as you mentioned earlier, it's right around the corner.

[00:39:11] Jonah Platt: What are your Jewish New Year resolutions? Or wishes? For the new year.

[00:39:17] Skylar Astin: Poof. I mean, peace, uh, in the world. And for me personally, I want to be on my phone a little less. That's actually kind of like a Jewish new year and a regular new year thing. Um, just for the times where I just don't need to be. Yup. And, uh, I don't know, just happy and healthy.

[00:39:39] Skylar Astin: Just a sweet little apple and honey new year. Yeah.

[00:39:42] Jonah Platt: Okay. So the last thing I want to do is we're going to take some questions and comments that our followers have left for us, uh, on the being Jewish podcast Instagram. Uh, okay. Here's an important one from melissa underscore nine, seven, nine, seven. Kala [00:40:00] rip or slice.

[00:40:02] Skylar Astin: Rip. I mean, well, I'm a ripper terror breaker. Like when I snack and anything, I'm just very, like, there's always crumbs whenever I've, I've eaten there. Um, sliced for the, uh, like for the Shabbat or Rosh Hashanah or because my mom always makes, um, challah French toast the next day, which is incredible.

[00:40:23] Jonah Platt: That is exactly why I prefer a slice.

[00:40:26] Jonah Platt: Cause I make it in the mornings for my kids on Saturday. Yes. But when I rip it to shreds,

[00:40:30] Skylar Astin: you can't, you got no French toast. Exactly. So, and it's like. When it's home turf, it's got to be sliced. But I went to Shabbat recently where it was a kind of a tear situation. Rip and pass. Well, then you can kind of get a big chunk for yourself.

[00:40:41] Jonah Platt: The, I feel like the best move is the combo where you're like, you're ripping half of it off and then you save it. You slice a little bit off to save for the French press. Yeah, rip and slice. Exactly. Nice. Paige Megan asks, Who is your favorite wrestler? My favorite wrestler Wow, you came so fast, ready with that?

[00:40:56] Jonah Platt: Yeah, yeah,

[00:40:56] Skylar Astin: yeah. Well, well, my childhood favorite wrestler was Shawn [00:41:00] Michaels. Uh, my, my screen name was Heartbreak Kid, which was his nickname. I, I watched some WWF back in the day. Um, and nowadays, probably it's very, he's, he's like the most popular, but I, I think Roman Reigns is just incredible. So the tribal chief, I acknowledge him for, that's for the one, for the one person who got You, you really know your wrestling.

[00:41:22] Skylar Astin: I'm still very involved. I love it. It's my soap opera. That's awesome. Yeah.

[00:41:26] Jonah Platt: Um, as a Camp Ramachoi alum who had you lead song for my Color War team, I'm eternally grateful. What's your take looking back on your summer camp experiences? Asks Rachel Rothman. So I need to, I need to know what leading song means.

[00:41:44] Jonah Platt: And I want to know about summer camp.

[00:41:45] Skylar Astin: I think she means, okay, so So at the, so we, we used to do Rama games, which is like, I have a color war where like the, the, the camp was divided into four teams. It was red, blue, yellow, gold, and white. And there was always a theme every year. [00:42:00] And so at the very end of camp, like the last week, the whole camp would be like divided into four teams and you can compete in everything.

[00:42:06] Skylar Astin: I mean, it's like a field day Olympics kind of a situation where You could be going head to head in basketball or baseball, but also just like the spoon races. And even we did this at my camp. Yeah. So even like, by the way, we're on a podcast called being Jewish, explaining summer camp to people. I'm sure people understand, but basically like at the very end, there's song and cheer.

[00:42:26] Skylar Astin: And that's when you do like a, you know, third eye blind song, but you make it about your team. Right. So there was always a theme. So it's, if it was like the, if the theme was Hollywood, there'd be like famous Hollywood movies of that time. So it was like the green, the yellow Batman forever's or whatever, probably something that probably fit the color a little bit more.

[00:42:45] Jonah Platt: That dated us right there. Yeah, it sure did. It's 1994.

[00:42:49] Skylar Astin: Yeah. So that's, that's when this was. I probably, you know, being one of the kids who could sing, I remember leading a song in cheer, but I guess maybe I did. I don't [00:43:00] know. She thinks she did. Yeah, I must have. And yeah, you just sing like dummy lyrics to to a pop song.

[00:43:07] Skylar Astin: So you didn't write the lyrics? I definitely didn't, because those were like the lieutenant generals and the generals. We had a whole hierarchy of the staff. Yeah. The counselors, the counselors who were then put in charge of the team, they would write it. And we would perform it with so much heart and soul.

[00:43:22] Skylar Astin: It was so funny because this is before I ever did any theater or singing. And this is like a, you know, it's a, it's not a theater camp, which I've also then went to later in life. This is like a camp where it's like, Hey guys, we're going to sing and I need to see passion and I need to see volume. And that, cause I remember there was a big point allowance for the song and cheer winners.

[00:43:42] Skylar Astin: It's kind of like whoever wins song and cheer, you're gonna have a good chance. At the end. Wow. So Rachel, I'm glad you still remember that. Amazing.

[00:43:49] Jonah Platt: Um, Amanda underscore Palin asks, Do you have any dream Jewish Broadway roles? Um, I don't know. There's not a ton. It's not a, not a wealth of [00:44:00] options.

[00:44:00] Skylar Astin: There's, there's, there's parade like Ben just did, which is a great role and a great sing.

[00:44:05] Skylar Astin: Sure. Um, you know, maybe like in my forties I could do Tevye. That could be fun. Yeah. I think I've outgrown the other roles now. Yeah. Other than that, is that the two? Joseph. Joseph. I like Joseph. I always kind of wanted to do Joseph. That was my first musical I ever saw. And maybe I'll be the first male Fanny Bryce.

[00:44:24] Skylar Astin: And there you go. Boom.

[00:44:25] Jonah Platt: I'd watch that. Last question from Jewish Fertility Foundation. OK, what is your go to shower song? Do you have a go to shower

[00:44:33] Skylar Astin: song? I don't have a go to shower song. It's sometimes I listen, I put my speaker, I have like a waterproof speaker that I'll put in the shower so it'll just kind of shuffle.

[00:44:43] Skylar Astin: But I love singing along to Bruno Mars. I love singing along to Justin Bieber. Are you a shower singer in general? Yeah, I'm a shower singer like anyone's a shower singer. I don't think it changes based on your ability. It's like people are like, do you, are you someone who just like randomly sings? It's like, yeah, yeah.

[00:44:58] Skylar Astin: Cause just because I see it, [00:45:00] like everybody, but it's not, I'm not like really committing. I'm just, you know, it's similar to like when you're in the car karaoke, you're kind of just singing along.

[00:45:08] Jonah Platt: Yeah. Skylar, thank you so much. This has been a dream first episode and thank you for being so open and honest about everything.

[00:45:17] Jonah Platt: I'm just so happy you were here.

[00:45:18] Skylar Astin: I'm so happy to be here, man. Thanks for having me. I'll be back for sure. Right on. A hundredth episode.

[00:45:23] so much. Appreciate it.