On the Road to Zion - Jenny Anne Hochberg

Today, we speak with Jenny Anne Hochberg, a New York based actor, acting coach, content creator, and Jewish activist. We get a chance to talk about her personal journey of reconnecting with her Jewish identity following the events of October 7th, the challenges of being a Jewish actress in the entertainment industry, and the importance of activism and community support. Our conversation naturally led to one about accurate Jewish representation in media and how we can think about telling the stories of everyone who’s a member of Am Yisrael. Jenny recently starred in the Verbatim Off-Broadway play “October 7th,” portraying a Nova festival survivor. Her screen credits include countless TV Series like “Blue Bloods,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “House of Cards,” “Parks & Recreation,” and various award-winning indie films. A trained solo improviser, known for her act “I Am Not Sara Bareilles.” She has performed nationwide at comedy festivals. Jenny also coaches actors in on camera work and audition prep. Beyond performance, she’s a proud Jewish voice in the arts, using storytelling and social media to combat antisemitism and share stories of resilience and identity. For Jenny, art and activism are inseparable. Her content has reached 162K views per video.Where You Can Find JennyInstagram: jenny.anne.hochbergIMDB: Jenny Anne HochbergCheck out her Reel Here!Chapters00:00 Introduction to Jenny Hochberg02:54 Jenny’s Jewish Journey and Identity06:11 Impact of October 7th on Jewish Identity09:07 Experiences in the Entertainment Industry11:53 Navigating Anti-Semitism in the Industry14:52 Community and Activism Post-October 7th18:07 The Role of Jewish Day Schools21:07 Current Experiences in New York City23:56 Reconnecting with Jewish Practices26:52 The Future of Jewish Representation in Media38:04 Exploring Jewish Identity in Acting39:54 The Balance of Judaism in Character Development42:21 Navigating Jewish Identity in Non-Jewish Spaces44:00 The Dilemma of Jewish Representation in Media45:53 Opportunities in Christmas Movies: A Jewish Perspective51:21 Diversity Within the Jewish Community55:25 The Need for Diverse Jewish Narratives01:01:23 The Future of Jewish Identity Post-October 7thWatch on Youtube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gamvgam.substack.com