Ep 18: My Return to Words with Lee Kofman

In this episode of The Actual, author and editor Lee Kofman reflects on writing, identity, and Jewish life in the aftermath of October 7 2023. She examines the surge of disinformation, antisemitism, and the pressure placed on Jewish voices in public discourse. Lee describes co-editing Ruptured, an anthology documenting Jewish women’s lived experiences post October 7, and felt the urgency of recording history as it was still unfolding. She shares the emotional cost of writing without a sense of distance, whilst also addressing the damaging “good Jew/bad Jew” binary, and the loss of nuance around the term 'Zionism'. This episode is a call to amplify Jewish narratives and to recognise that confronting antisemitism is not solely a Jewish issue, but a societal responsibility requiring collective action. Original music in this episode: “Kama At Yafa (כמה את יפה),” performed by CHUTNEY, from the album Ajar (2024). Courtesy of CHUTNEY/Ben Adler. Used with permission.