How to Build a Jewish Future: Jewish Federation's Julie Platt on Supporting Israel & Communal Safety - Video

A VERY special episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt!! Julie Platt — lifelong Jewish leader, philanthropist, Chairwoman of Jewish Federations of North America– and Jonah’s mom! — joins Jonah for the highly anticipated Season One finale of Being Jewish. Her tenure as Chairwoman of the Diaspora’s largest philanthropic organization has seen Julie lead the Jewish community through Covid, the war in Ukraine, the horrors of October 7th and its aftermath, Israel’s war with Iran, and more. Through these crises and her decades of leadership, Julie has amassed a lifetime of wisdom and experience that she generously and candidly shares with Jonah and the BJJP community.

If you’ve ever asked, “What can I do to help?” — this is the episode for you. Julie offers rich stories, practical insights, and inspiring advice to power up the leader in each of us.
In this dynamic and heartfelt episode, Jonah and Julie dive into:

✡️ Why and how to be a leader
????️ Why Jewish Summer Camp is more than just fun — it’s formative
???? All the big Jewish orgs– AJC, ADL, JFNA, FJC, JDC, Hillel, Prizmah, The Jewish Agency– and how they’re trying to work together as never before
???????? When Julie received Israel’s highest civilian honor from President Isaac Herzog
???? Campus antisemitism in America — and how as interim board president, Julie helped steer the University of Pennsylvania through the most chaotic period in the school’s history
???? A hilarious and personal peek inside Jonah and Julie’s own family dynamic

It’s a finale full of heart, humor, and hope — guaranteed to leave you empowered, emboldened, and inspired to be a leader, even from the comfort of your own home.

???? Subscribe, like, comment, and share!
???? Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more

???? Follow Us: @JonahPlatt @BeingJewishPodcast

Host & Production Team
Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editors: Patrick Edwards & Nathan Wheatley); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell; Interns: Sasha Nelson & Emma Webb

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00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement
00:48 Introducing Julie Platt: A Leader in Jewish Philanthropy
02:20 Julie Platt's Ongoing Initiatives and Security Efforts
03:29 The Importance of Jewish Community Security
06:10 Julie Platt's Political Engagement and Advocacy
07:29 Julie Platt's Early Life and Jewish Identity
12:21 The Impact of Jewish Summer Camp
16:30 Challenges and Achievements in Jewish Summer Camps
20:44 Julie Platt's Dedication to Jewish Federation
23:24 Gender and Leadership in Jewish Federations
25:01 Lessons from COVID-19 and Jewish Community Collaboration
27:31 Combating Antisemitism: A Unified Approach
28:59 The Power of Collaboration in Scientific Research
29:40 Coordinating Messaging Against Antisemitism
30:47 Leadership During Crisis: COVID and Ukraine
33:05 Challenges and Triumphs at Penn
40:37 Emotional Stamina and Community Inspiration
43:22 Personal Reflections and Family Values
43:33 Fundraising and Leadership Insights
51:39 Honors and Leadership in the Jewish Community
56:09 Season Finale: Gratitude and Future Plans

MENTIONED IN EPISODE

Julie Platt’s Legacy at JFNA
https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/what-we-can-learn-from-julie-beren-platts-legacy-at-jfna/

JFNA (Jewish Federations of North America)
https://www.jewishfederations.org/

Julie Platt Receives Presidential Medal of Honor in Israel
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-838346

What is LiveSecure? Understanding the Jewish Protective & Security Initiative
https://www.jewishfederations.org/livesecure