Here I Am With Shai Davidai

In this episode of Here I Am, host Shai Davidai sits down with Jewish advocate, organizer, and "campus mom" Valerie Gerstein, who shares her firsthand experience confronting antisemitism as a graduate student at Columbia University. Valerie, a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and lifelong Jewish community leader, enrolled in Columbia's nonprofit management master's program in her 40s in 2022,...

In this episode of Here I Am, Shai sits down with Nate Shalev, co-founder of Shalom Dykes, an organization creating safe, inclusive, and joyful spaces for Jewish LGBTQ dykes. Nate shares their decade-long journey organizing with the NYC Dyke March, a community that once championed inclusion for all, and how everything shifted after October 7th when conversations about Israel within the march's lea...

In this episode of Here I Am, host Shai Davidai sits down with Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, senior rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun (KJ) on Manhattan's Upper East Side and author of Despite Everything: A Chronicle of Jewish Resilience in the Aftermath of October 7th. Rabbi Steinmetz shares what it means to be a "loving Jew" and how he balances embracing all Jews while navigating deep communal dis...

Anila Ali, founder of the American Muslim Multi-Faith Women's Empowerment Council, joins Shai to share her journey as a Pakistani-American Muslim woman fighting extremism from within. From growing up in Pakistan's Sufi-influenced culture, to witnessing radical ideology infiltrate American mosques after 9/11, to speaking at the March for Israel in front of 300,000 people post-October 7th, Anila has...

In this episode of Here I Am with Shai Davidai , Shai sits down with Rebecca Schgallis and David Litman from CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis). They discuss how misinformation and ideological framing can shape public understanding of Israel and the United States, from news coverage to classroom curricula. Rebecca shares what she saw as a former high school histo...

In this episode of Here I Am with Shai Davidai, Shai sits down with clinical psychologist, trauma expert, and educator Miri Bar-Halpern for a candid conversation about trauma, identity, and what it means to keep showing up when the world feels unstable. Miri shares how her upbringing in Israel and her family history as a third-generation Holocaust survivor shaped her work, and she explains the dif...

In this episode of Here I Am with Shai Davidai, Shai sits down with actor, writer, and filmmaker Ari Frenkel for a wide-ranging conversation about Jewish identity, comedy, creativity, and grief. Ari shares what it means to be an “October 8th Jew,” how his Israeli upbringing in America shaped his relationship to Judaism, and why humor and satire can reveal (and trigger) so much in people. They dive...

In this episode of Here I Am with Shai Davidai, Shai sits down with Ilana Ybgi, a doula, life coach, and founder of the Crown Heights Birth Justice Project. Ilana describes herself as a “social justice Jew” and explains what social justice means to her: seeing what is broken, taking responsibility, and becoming part of the solution, even through small but real actions. Their conversation explores...

In this episode of Here I Am with Shai Davidai, Shai sits down with Emmy-nominated journalist and Karsh Journalism Fellowship founder Jacki Karsh for a wide-ranging conversation about media, misinformation, and Jewish identity in a post–October 7 world. Karsh shares how moving from New York to Los Angeles reshaped her Jewish life, why she believes social media is built to drive engagement rather t...

In this episode of Here I Am with Shai Davidai, Shai speaks with Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), about antisemitism, Zionism, and the challenges facing the Jewish community after October 7. Greenblatt shares his personal Jewish story, including his family’s Holocaust and Iranian refugee background, and explains how his path through politics, tech, and entrepreneurship...

In this engaging episode, Shai Davidai sits down with Ryan Turkienicz, co-founder of The Daily Brine, a satirical news platform often described as “the Jewish Onion,” focused on Israel and the Jewish diaspora. Ryan shares how his background in real estate investment and development, combined with years of experience in music, improv, and comedy, set the stage for launching a humor-driven advocacy...

In this inspiring episode, Shai Davidai sits down with Justin Yehuda, the 24-year-old founder and CEO of Iron Dome Coffee—a coffee subscription company that donates 18% of its profits to charities supporting Israel. Justin shares his journey from growing up in a Zionist community in New Jersey to launching a business that unites and empowers pro-Israel supporters through coffee. He opens up about...

Join host Shai Davidai as he sits down with Leslie Schapira for an honest and lively conversation about Jewish identity, activism, and community. Leslie shares her journey from attending a progressive school to becoming a passionate advocate for Jewish causes, and discusses the importance of recognizing and combating antisemitism today. The episode explores her work organizing influential dinners...

In this inspiring episode, host Shai Davidai sits down with Rabbi Moshe Mayerfeld, rabbi, educator, and co-founder of Kii NYC. Rabbi Mayerfeld shares his remarkable journey from a small town in New Jersey to Israel, the UK, and finally Manhattan, discussing his family’s refugee roots, his early work with troubled youth, and his passion for building inclusive Jewish communities. The conversation ex...

In this powerful episode, host Shai Davidai sits down with Patricia Heaton—Emmy-winning actress, writer, producer, and co-founder of the October 7th Coalition. Patricia opens up about her personal journey, faith, and what inspired her to become an outspoken advocate against antisemitism after October 7th. She shares moving stories about her connection to the Jewish community, the importance of Jud...

In this episode of "Here I Am," host Shai Davidai sits down with renowned British author, journalist, and broadcaster Melanie Phillips for a candid and thought-provoking conversation. Melanie shares her personal journey from growing up as a British Jew to relocating her center of gravity to Israel, discussing identity, belonging, and the challenges faced by Jews in Britain and the West. The discus...

In this powerful episode, host Shai Davidai sits down with Fay, an activist and entrepreneur who founded the WhatsApp-based movement "Pens for Swords." Fay shares her journey from being a proud Jewish mother and business owner to leading a grassroots campaign mobilizing tens of thousands to fight anti-Semitism and support Israel through coordinated letter-writing efforts. She discusses the emotion...

In this episode, host Shai Davidai sits down with Suhag Shukla, Executive Director of the Hindu American Foundation. Suhag shares her personal journey growing up as a Hindu American, the challenges of confronting stereotypes, and her passion for advocacy and education. The conversation explores the impact of colonial narratives on perceptions of Hinduism, the importance of truth and open dialogue,...

In this episode, host Shai Davidai sits down with Brian Spivak, founder of Barzel Media, to discuss Brian’s journey from tech sales in Tel Aviv to Jewish advocacy and influencer marketing after October 7th. Brian shares how the events of October 7th transformed his identity and led him to support Israel and the Jewish diaspora through innovative influencer campaigns. He talks about his work with t...

In this episode, host Shai Davidai sits down with Barak Sella—Israeli-American educator, Harvard Kennedy School researcher, and expert on US-Israel relations. Barak shares his personal journey from growing up in Texas to becoming a leader in Israeli youth movements, and discusses his work on impactful projects like Operation Human Warmth and the fight against child poverty in Israel. The conversat...

In this episode of "Here I Am," host Shai Davidai sits down with Jessica Zmood and Shelly Steinwurtzel, co-founders of Gesher Campus Care. They discuss their personal journeys as Jewish therapists, the impact of October 7th on the Jewish community, and the rise of anti-Semitism and traumatic invalidation on college campuses. Jessica and Shelly share how their nonprofit connects Jewish students, fa...

Join host Shai Davidai as he sits down with Jonathan Harounoff, British journalist, international spokesperson for Israel’s Mission to the UN, and author of "Unveiled: Inside Iran’s Woman Life Freedom Revolt." Johnny shares his unique perspective as a British Jew of Persian descent, reflecting on his multicultural background, experiences with anti-Semitism at top universities, and his journey into...

In this episode, host Shai Davidai sits down with actor, advocate, and podcast host Jonah Platt for a heartfelt conversation about Jewish identity, community, and advocacy. Jonah shares his personal journey growing up in a deeply Jewish family, the importance of intentionality in passing down Jewish values, and how he fosters a sense of belonging and pride in his own children. The discussion explo...

In this episode, host Shai Davidai sits down with Andrew Pessin, a philosophy professor at Connecticut College and author of several books on anti-Semitism and philosophy. Andrew shares his personal journey, including his "Herzl moment"—the realization that anti-Zionism is a form of anti-Semitism—sparked by a social media controversy in 2015. He recounts the backlash he faced after a Facebook post...

In this powerful episode, host Shai Davidai sits down with Vanessa Hidary, a Sephardic Jew, acclaimed spoken word artist, and Def Poetry Jam alum. Vanessa shares her journey of embracing her Jewish identity with pride and authenticity, breaking stereotypes in the spoken word scene. She discusses her upbringing in New York’s diverse neighborhoods, the creation of her signature piece “Hebrew Mamita,...