Ep. 26: Was the Superbowl Antisemitism Ad Misguided?

What if everything you’ve been told about fighting antisemitism isn’t just ineffective—but could actually fuel the problem? Rabbis Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe and Rabbi Leora Londy dive headfirst into the controversy sparked by a $15 million Super Bowl ad, dissecting whether public campaigns against antisemitism truly help—or just reinforce Jewish vulnerability.They unpack the critiques swirling around the ad’s messaging, and explore Bret Stephens’ provocative call for Jews to “stop fighting hatred” and instead invest in Jewish life and identity. Is Jewish resilience found in building bridges and institutions or simply by “leaning in” to authentic Jewish practice? The episode tackles the tension between withdrawal from public advocacy versus the risks of becoming insular, and asks whether Jewish identity should hinge on opposition to antisemitism or on positive, lived experiences.Listen as Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe and Rabbi Leora Londy share personal stories about raising children safely in America, discuss the ebb and flow of Jewish history—from Mount Sinai Hospital to Brandeis University—and debate the complexities of intermarriage and inclusion in today’s Jewish community. As they reflect on powerful moments with their teens, the hosts leave us with a message of hope: Maybe the most sacred work is neither fighting nor fleeing, but deepening relationships and living Jewish authenticity.Episode Overview by Timestamp:00:00: Welcome and introduction to the week's conversation00:19: Setting the stage: Super Bowl antisemitism ad and Bret Stephens’ speech01:01: Hosts’ reactions to the ad, and issues around “victimhood”04:34: Comfort, discomfort, and playing into antisemitism05:51: Martin Buber, self-understanding, and the futility of fighting hatred06:48: Is money spent fighting antisemitism wasted?08:47: The ebb and flow of Jewish history and communal strategies11:10: Teens’ response: less reactionary, more rooted Jewish identity13:13: College safety, guidance counselors, and Jewish identity after Oct 715:05: What are the actionable steps? Learning and investing in Judaism18:42: The risks of leaving the public arena19:46: What does it mean to be Jewish—identity vs. opposition20:39: Sustaining Jewish identity: holding onto values and knowledge22:28: The dilemma of inclusivity, standards, and intermarriage24:25: Real-life examples—the most Jewish kids sometimes come from intermarriage27:12: Personal stories: Is it worth explaining yourself to others?29:42: Is one conversation at a time the way the world works?33:27: Recap of the second, AI-generated rebuttal ad35:39: Diasporic Jew vs. Israeli Jew—narrative fatigue and what comes next37:38: The power of authentic relationships (Pardon The Interruption, community, allies)41:48: Final reflections & a hopeful call for deeper Jewish identity and connectionSubscribe, listen, and ask yourself: Should we redefine what it means to be Jewish—starting now?