Jew in the City’s “Like a Jew” Video and More Featured with Allison Josephs on JM in the AM

maximize our time with the Jew in the city. That's why we're interrupting this election, but we're going to give her an opportunity to catch her breath on this Thursday morning broadcast. And what a day to have her in studio. Not only are we going to discuss some of the recent initiatives that she has undertaken and a brand new video that's gone viral. She'll tell us all about that. But then on top of that, today's show that she's doing at 10:00 in as far as I'm concerned, one of the most meaningful shows that she's presented in all these years that Allison Joseph Stew in the City has been part of our schedule on Thursday and we'll discuss that coming up. Allison Joseph Stew in the City. A pleasure to welcome you back to JM in the AM. >> Thank you for having me. >> A pleasure. So, you initially contacted me because apparently there's a viral video that you are responsible for. >> Yes. Yes. >> So, bring us up to date on that first. >> Sure. So, um you probably remember, most of your listeners probably remember a video that always did about seven years ago called like a girl. And the setup was that they asked the adults throw like a girl, run like a girl, and they behaved like society tells us that phrase means. So, the running and the throwing is like and very girlish and you know, not so strong and kind of pathetic. And then they ask the little girls to do those same things. And they have not been kind of brainwashed by society's negative message about girls. And they do all those things with strength and sincerity um and conviction. And as you're watching it, the viewer, I think male or female, begins to wonder, what have we done to that meaning of girls? Um and I was struck by that like everybody else was. Um and you know, some things just stick with you for years in a very good way. So over the summer, we were preparing to leave for uh an anniversary trip. My husband and I were celebrating our 25th anniversary this summer. >> Thank you. Um and um I saw an an Instagram clip of a famous actor being interviewed on a podcast and the interviewer says, "You know, you don't really come across as Jewish most of the time, but when you came in today, you seem pretty Jewish." Cut to a clip of the actor coming in tripping over some wires and apologizing to them. And everyone in the comment section thinks this is hilarious. And what's the joke? When he's cool and good-looking, he's like a gentile. And when he's klutzy and erotic, he's like a Jew. So, I'm typing this in the comments section like, "Oh, are we like the butt of all the jokes?" And as I in my head say like a Jew, I recall this like a girl commercial from Always. And I think like, what if we tried that with Jews? How would that come out? So, I reach out to a few people. I start to put a concept together on paper. Um, and some of the smartest marketing experts that I know tell me, "Don't do it. Horrible idea." Um, I think their worry is that it's gonna reinforce stereotypes. It will be the opposite message. Don't do it. But I have a bit of a stubborn streak. So, I'm like, I'm going to do it. Um, and so, um, from Italy, I am sending props to our house. I'm Robert Venice. >> Uh, both. Um, it's the 25th anniversary. So, um, I'm sending props to our house. I'm doing casting calls um collecting our adult and children actors. Um and then I knew I wanted to film it before school started. So I actually filmed it the day I got back. Um and then the idea was to release it in conjunction with fall television. So we released it as the second season of um Nobody Wants This came out because that would sort of give us a a buzzy moment >> and it's called >> it's called Like a Jew. Um and you can find it very easily and >> you just search that >> search it up as the kids say and um what you will see is that um the comments are so poignant and emotional >> diverse or >> diverse uh the so there are almost no negative comments. >> Oh wow. >> First of all I don't know where the anti-semmites went. They just left us alone for the >> Where's all the free Palestine stuff? >> They are not here. and even within the Jewish or you know allied non-Jewish community so supportive I saw on our LinkedIn someone that directs the Motion Picture Academy show a non-Jewish man who directs the show he shared it and right below him aidic man shared it um and seeing the response of the entertainment community um people noting oh no I've been a part of this they made me do this wow it really hits me to watch this and I think what is so powerful about the video is that we held up a mirror to Hollywood and people suddenly see the shame of all of those tropes together. We held up a mirror to Torah and people see the light of what Torah is. And then when you compare the discrepancy between the two, there's such a sadness and disappointment. >> Uh Jew in the City, Allison Joseph's here. It's called Like a Jew. It's a video about how many views at this point? >> Oh, across our platforms, we're like at a million views. Um, we got a like from Jessica Seinfeld, Selma Blair, Deborah Messing, shared it. Um, uh, Nancy Spielberg, little sister of, uh, Stephen and Mayolic shared it the day of that we put it out. Um, and we've just been so moved by the feedback and you know, so much of what we're doing. Let me just take a step back. We created a Hollywood bureau. Um, it's going on four years ago was when I had my first conversation with the Muslim pack, >> right? Nobody told you that the Jews control Hollywood. You didn't know that, did you? Well, >> because you keep getting out there and saying to people that you have not been treating us well in Hollywood. >> Correct. So, this is what I would say. There are Jews. Hollywood was founded mainly by Jews fleeing anti-semitism. Hollywood has been always predominantly um run by people who are ethnically Jewish. And with all that, Hollywood was never a place where you could be too Jewish. You could be Jewish, but not like very Jewish. could not sort of and I will tell you um so the Jews that are in power by and large are not helping the Jewish community. They're by and large um scared and timid and not willing to stand up. And you know what? If you're the if you're the children of people that escaped anti-semitism either you could have one attitude which is to stand up and be extra proud and strong. And I've seen so many Holocaust survivors in our community kind of have this commitment of we'll rebuild, we'll be successful, we'll give back, we'll show them. The other possibility is we'll be rich and successful, but we'll hide our Jewishness and no one will ever know. It >> It sounds so much like you're speaking to one specific person, but I guess there are many that I could be imagining on the other end of your comments. >> There are many. When people say, "Why did you do this? Why is it you doing this?" I tell them, "I wonder this all the time. There are legacy organizations that could have taken this on." when you go when you go to Hollywood, >> you're boy, [laughter] we're limited on time, but boy, that's a whole other topic. >> When because the conversations that you have to have in Hollywood to say Jews have always been here and Jews have not been helpful to the community and Jews also deserve this type of dignity and the same treatment. What we discovered four years ago is that every other group has been advocating for decades for authentic representation, proud representation, having culturally competent consultants in the room, training for executives and creatives before the project even happened so they know what to look out for. We're dealing with a situation where in 2023 Netflix put horns on a Jew and their final artwork for their maidoff series. >> So, how has this been going? And then we'll talk about how the war may have changed things, but how's it been going since you started this effort? So um >> to get the right people in the room to get the consultants, you know, on board, etc., etc. >> So um we're on retainer, um at major studios to be their Jewish subject matter experts. Um our fact sheet, which we developed through research, um is being used at major studios. Um we conducted a >> regular viewer would see the difference at this point. A TV expert would be able to tell the difference. You can start to see there are some examples where you're seeing people who are familiar with our work starting to make shifts in their um in their content. It's a slow process. Nobody really wants us there. Let's just be honest. They don't want us there. Uh one of the first questions we were asked by a major studio when we had the first call was um what's your proof? Do you have any research backing this? And we're like uh wait one second. It took a long time to get our research done. We finally did it with University of Southern California. It came out in the last year. um they misrepresented the Orthodox session completely. We had 108 regular Jewish characters and then 30 shows with Orthodox themes. They found nothing in the Orthodox themes. And again, as I mentioned, I'm stubborn. I rewatched 30 episodes myself. Um and I spoonfed to them all the things they missed and then the research actually the outcome was significantly different. And there's a footnote in the study which says, "We found nothing. Allison found everything. We changed our findings." Um, so now we are using that for our trainings, for our fact sheet, um, and for our advocacy. >> I admire you because I I've had it with TV. I have no patience for it anymore. That you could sit and watch 30 episodes and do that kind of research is is admirable. >> So what I would say is that even though I don't care to initially watch this myself, I know the world is watching this content and so it's important. So the the other thing that we've really been good at is the Jewish media awards. We had one last year. We're gearing up for the third Jewish media awards now. Will that be? >> Uh, we're looking at November 2026. People are like a year off. Well, number one, um, we there's not that much good Jewish content, so it takes us time to just even collect. >> No, not a complaint. I'm just saying that if people are expecting it'll be about a year from now. >> Right. Right. Exactly. People wrote to me like, "Where's it this year?" I'm like, "Uh, well, you can give a donation in the meantime if you're missing it to help us gear up for next year." But, a, we have to wait for the Jewish content, and b it really is a big strain in our organization. And so, it takes time for us to um, and at last year's Jewish Media Awards, my husband flew my future son-in-law in as a surprise. It was the first time I met him. He had just gotten out of war in Lebanon. And my husband thought it would be a great It was a very nice idea in theory. If anyone had asked me if I wanted the surprise, I would have said, "Are you out of your mind?" So, basically, we went from planning this huge gal at Lincoln Center. I'm like, "Let's invite Hollywood." Hollywood shows up. I'm like, "That terrifies me. Thank God. It was beautiful." I went from that to meeting my future son-in-law, meeting my future Makatanim. Um, in Israel, wedding in Israel. >> I was just going to say, I remember you went straight to Israel from there. >> Yes. Well, I see that your energy level has not suffered. That I see. I mean, it's amazing that you're able to do all this. Now, on the subject of they don't want us there, which is an interesting comment coming from you being so embedded in this whole Hollywood scene. Uh you have, and I don't know if this is the reason, you'll explain it to us. You have a couple of people in your family who might have felt they don't want us here. And I'm referring, of course, to your two daughters who are now living in Israel. and you're actually going to be speaking with them at 10 o'clock this morning on this network in what I consider one of the most important conversations you've ever had here. Uh is it a why have you done this? Is it how did you get the idea to do this? What's it all about? >> Yeah, we indoctrinated them. Um so, you know, um my sisters I became religious first and then um I kind of dragged different family members along with me. >> But none of your siblings moved to Israel, did they? >> Yeah, they did. My sisters and my parents all live there. >> All Yeah. Yeah. >> You're the only one here. So we um we stayed because my mother um has cancer and when we were sort of doing our pilot trip many years ago, she um came back to get treated here. So um we kind of then sort of stuck around here and we were waiting for a house to get built that is now getting built. Um yes, we and our sons are the last ones here. Um my sisters each have five kids, uh Kinahara and um we have a house that's in the works. Um and my sons would love to go. Um yeah, my daughters um went because I think they saw that things were shifting um in the vibes were changing as the young people say. And um I you know my mother warned us when we were little. She's feeding us bacon cheeseburgers and she's like things are good today but things were good in Germany and things were good in Spain and every country eventually tires of its Jews and one day we may need to run. And by the way I use that framing in these conversations in Hollywood when I say you think we're white you think we're privileged. We are people that walk around with an uncertainty that's in our bones. And if our parents or grandparents knew what they were doing, it's in our minds as well. >> And their trauma has been handed down to the next generation. >> 100%. Um so, um look, I love being American. I was raised to be very patriotic. My grandfather was a World War II hero. Um and so I really I bought into all the, you know, promise of America and it's treated us well. And I feel like it's been a good run. But um it looks like it may be coming to an end. Um you know, I feel like this mom Donnie win um was a warning shot because here's a guy that came out of obscurity with no resume, no background. >> Haven't we heard that story before? >> A smarmy smile and suddenly the majority of New York City where 911 happened 25 years ago doesn't care that he believes in um globalizing the Antifa. So I could unfortunately see a scenario in the next presidential election where both of our options are very bad. Y >> and so although we were thinking, you know, by the time my youngest graduates in three and a half years, that might be the time to pull the trigger, I said to my husband, let's maybe have a plan before the next presidential election. >> So Jew in the city might turn into Jew in the holy city. >> That's a thing that already came. So since since the title is already in place, like the you know, it can already be done. I've always just worked on my couch. Um I was actually >> Doesn't matter where the couch is. >> I've always um that's why coming out here this morning was a big struggle to get here. Um, I don't even know how long it takes to get to things. I have my director of operations, Tammy, like has to actually tell me this is how long it takes to get from one and consider parking, consider traffic, and I'm like, it'll take me five minutes. Um, that may have happened this morning. But, um, what's it called? I was going to open an office fall of 2020. Uh, we had a big a big year 2019. I'm like, fall of 2020, we'll open our office. Obviously, that was co that didn't happen. That was Hash's way of saying, yeah, you can just be anywhere. Yeah. The work that we're doing, a lot of the work we do in Hollywood is via Zoom. the work we do with MCOM. There is the in-person component, but still going strong. MCOM is still over 300 members. Um, we have a member that just posted about how she got married at the coel and this is and it was the most epic experience of her life. >> Did she marry someone of a similar background? >> Yeah, she did. And um, she came to us uh, with such a sad story and um, you know u hurt in the home, hurt in the school and uh, and rebuilding a Jewish life now. Um and then we have another thing that's really exciting in our tun branch because we have three branches. Keter is our media arm which is mostly the Hollywood bureau. Now Makum for our exclared uh members and then Tikun is to work behind the scenes on issues within the Kharedi community that our MCO members brought us. We've partnered with Debbie Fox over the last couple of years to build a a toolkit of policies and procedures to go into schools. Checks and balances because in schools before there's been curricula on good touch, bad touch. Debbie was one of the first people to, you know, normalize this in ultraorththodox schools. Uh what we found from some members that there are uh principles that pretend to be sadikim but really have a hidden dark side and they may never even um touch anybody, lay a finger on anybody and yet the emotional abuse and you know the way they terrorize them um or in some cases for the boys physical abuse uh can really destroy lives. And so I approached Debbie after I heard the story and I said, "What if we build a framework so that schools and administrations know from the outset how do you prevent the bad things from happening? What are the things you're not allowed to do? How do you create spaces where >> they welcome her into schools?" >> So um she is building up a task force Huskamos. We we're launching it now in many pilot schools. Um thank god we are getting a very very good reception on this. Here's the thing. Most people are good and want to do good. So this tells you how to do good and be good. how to set up scenarios where the bad things won't happen and then if the bad things do happen, go to the back of the manual and figure out now how do you report it? How do you deal with it? >> So the bad is a small percentage in your in your belief. >> Correct. But the thing is that unless you have policies in place, the bad guys will find ways to get in. So the the good >> and then it'll feel like they dominate. >> Exactly. And because no one doesn't feel like anyone's standing up to them. So the idea is that we we're going to normalize this, God willing. This will be the standard everywhere. and the schools where they don't allow it in. That's going to become the red flags. Why don't you have this oversight in your schools? [snorts] >> Wow. You have a lot of work that's going on. It's amazing. Um the video is entitled >> Like a Jew. >> Like a Jew. That's number one. First assignment that Allison's giving everybody. Make sure to check out the video. Like it, share it, distribute it, make people around you aware of it. It's called Like a Jew. That's number one. It's got a million hits or more at this point. Uh secondly, everything Allison described this morning, whether it's the arm of her organization, Jew in the City, that deals with Hollywood, uh with the uh with those who've left the Karedi community, with the problems in the Karedi community, the the recognized ones. This is not me uh accusing anybody of anything. These are problems that even those in the Karedi community will acknowledge are problems. All these are worth supporting. They could do so, I'm assuming, on your website. >> Yeah. Our annual campaign is starting. There's not really. Yeah. Meaning we didn't put up the link yet, but the donate button works all year round. And this is the time of year that we're saying, you know, >> are you doing a year ender? >> We're in competition with each other. >> Uh you we'll we're colleagues. We're colleagues. >> We're colleagues. We're we're all working for Clice. Yes. >> Well, I'll be giving to yours. Let me know when it And we'll feature it here. Of course. Let me know when it kicks off. And finally, Allison speaks with her daughters, Mira and Adena, uh, to explore why they turned away from their, uh, from the path that everyone assumed and chose to build their futures in the state of Israel, believing, as we always say, that the future of the Jewish people is in the state of Israel, not here. >> And I have translators when I go. >> Why? >> My daughters. Oh, you're not translating. Good point. Yes, you have people who who are surrounded by the Hebrew language >> and they are going to university in Hebrew. >> Oh, wow. That's pretty cool. >> It's pretty crazy that they're doing that. Um, and as we're trying to get our ducks in a row there, and every form I get, I put into Google Translate, but I can also, thank God, go to them. And they're, >> you know, it's funny because I remember when we first met, I mean, I don't even know, do you remember your first appearance on the show? 20 years ago, something like that. >> Yeah. Um, and I remember you had described your unique educational background because you you challenged yourself educationally your entire life, right? Would that be a good way of saying it? Sure. And it sounds like they're doing the same thing. >> It's true. They I think they kind of feel like mommy was the first one to become the family and you know, we'll be the first ones to like make Ali our family and >> end up with PhDs probably. >> Exactly. >> Anyway, it's very possible. We wish them the best of luck. Everyone should tune in 10 o'clock Eastern time. Uh Allison has done a show with Mira and Adena and there's no doubt uh that will inspire people to again think about heading east and making a life in Israel which has essentially become the main message of this show after all these years. It's basically what we're all about now that transition to get I mean mom Donni helps me >> right >> and other things that are happening here help as you just said. It's funny you said it like that by the way. It's funny you said it like that, that no matter who's running for president in the next cycle, it's very possible both major candidates will not be friendly toward the Jewish community the way things are going. >> So, we need Israel to make its own weapons. >> Yeah, obviously. >> Right. >> You saw the prime minister actually came out with a statement last week that he wanted to wean Israel off of aid from the United States. >> This is what >> what a coincidence of when he decided to make that statement. I >> I think that there is no way that we come out of this okay without divine assistance. And so I think it is now upon everybody that knows and understands to do whatever we can to increase ouros as a community. When the Jewish people are together and doing what we're supposed to do, rockets can rain down from our mortal enemies and the Jewish people are are safe. I'm going to give you one last sort of comparison for this and Hollywood. When I saw Wakanda >> Black Panther a few years ago, I was like so such a beautiful idea. black pride. This island off in the middle of nowhere full of different tribes of the people with a force field that protects them and everybody in the world wants a piece of this place and to get in. And I'm like, I wish we could have something like that for the Jews. What great representation that would be. And I'm like, oh wait, that's Israel. >> We have it already. >> We have it already. But it's not the stuff of fiction or superheroes. It's our reality. And this is why the world hates us because the stuff of superhero dreams for everybody else is the reality of the Jewish people. if we just wake up and we see that we are living with miracles and that we have Hashem's protection. >> I'd say one of many reasons they hate us, but you're right, that's a primary one. Uh the one thing we never really discussed this in this session was um the effects of the war on these efforts in Hollywood and how they made things even more difficult, but we'll save that for your campaign. Please God, >> sounds good. >> When you announce the big year ender and thank you for visiting us this morning. >> Thanks for having me. >> Allison Joseph speaks with her two daughters who are now living in Israel. Tune in at 10:00 this morning right here on the Nalom Single Network for that. JW in the City Speaks and go to her website to donate and support the amazing work that she's doing and for more information about all the initiatives you brought to our attention. And the video is entitled >> Like a Jew. More coming up. You're listening to JM in the A.M.