Daniel Herz sits down with community leader Donna Weintraub for a powerful and deeply personal conversation following their recent mission to Israel as board members of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.

Together, they explore what “the mission” truly means, not just as a trip but as a responsibility and a call to action. Through firsthand reflections, Daniel and Donna share unforgettable encounters, including the courage of a Nova festival survivor who faced unimaginable terror, and the strength of Meirav Leshem Gonen, a mother turned global advocate for her kidnapped son.

This episode is both moving and inspiring, highlighting how ordinary individuals rise to extraordinary moments and how each of us can play a role in supporting Israel and one another during challenging times.

If you are looking for stories of resilience, purpose, and impact, this is a conversation you will not want to miss.

Learn how you can get involved: https://JewsforNJ.org

Connect on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jfnnj

So this is episode one of Jew-ish: Where Everyone Belongs! You are probably asking yourself, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? Well, this new Jews for NJ podcast is hosted by Chair, Board of Trustees’ of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, Daniel Herz, and in this inaugural episode, Daniel welcomes Laura Freeman, the lead of Jews for NJ and Managing Director of marketing & communications at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, as they put a spotlight on the urgent need to unite New Jersey's 600,000+ Jewish residents and how we can get everyone to feel more connected and be collectively heard!

Tune in as Daniel and Laura discuss discuss real-world incidents of rising anti-semitism, including a recent incident involving influencer like Dave Portnoy, as well as the highly organized anti-Israel protests happening on college campuses. They also break down the "horseshoe effect," exploring how the extreme left and extreme right are finding common ground in their hatred of Jewish people.

Learn how Jews for NJ is empowering the community to take collective action and discover how you can get involved, volunteer, and proudly support the diaspora. This episode is proudly sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.

Sign up at https://JewsforNJ.org

Connect on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jfnnj