What Came After

In this episode, we travel to Paris to speak with Anna Veronese, a rabbinical student at Maharat—the only institution offering both Orthodox ordination to women and virtual learning, creating a global community she deeply values. We talk about Veronese's identity as a feminist, left-wing Jew who remains a committed Zionist while being selectively critical of some Israeli policies. She shares how t...

Earlier this year, What Came After traveled to Brussels for a sobering conversation with Rihards Kols, Latvia’s Member of the European Parliament. Recorded inside one of the European Parliament’s media studios, this interview confronts a chilling possibility: that the world may be repeating the darkest chapters of the 20th century. Kols offers an unflinching look at how his own country has confron...

In this episode, we travel to Rome to speak with Luca Spizzichino and David Fiorentini. Luca is the current president of the Italian Union of Jewish Students and Young Professionals (UGEI) and a freelance journalist. David, a recent medical school graduate, is UGEI’s former president and its current Policy Officer. Luca discusses the growing challenges of combating antisemitism online and how Holo...

Céline Bardet is an international lawyer who has worked in over 50 countries, specializing in war crimes, international justice, post-conflict security, and the prosecution of sexual violence in conflict. She is the founder of We Are NOT Weapons of War (WWoW), a nonprofit organization that develops innovative legal strategies to combat the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war. In this episode...

Dov Sabo, who was raised in Israel and has lived in the Netherlands for over 25 years, discusses his decision to move from Israel to the Netherlands following his service in the IDF. Coming from a religious background, Dov reflects on how life in the Netherlands initially felt more “relaxed”—until October 7th, when he was jolted awake to a reality his Auschwitz-survivor grandmother had known: that...

Raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Rabbi Ari Koretzky (known on campus as “Rabbi K”) made his way to College Park via stops Israel, Ner Israel Rabbinical College and Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a Masters in Creative Nonfiction Writing. Ari brings his passion for Judaism, podcasting (check out “ Jews You Should Know “ and " Iyun "!), jetskiing, racquetball, music and more, to his work as...

Matthew Schultz is an author and rabbinical student living between Boston and Tel Aviv with his partner Yoav. He is the author of Torat Ha'Aretz, Torah of the Land, a weekly look at the Torah portion through the lens of the Jewish relationship to the land of Israel and the idea of exile.  Torah Ha'Aretz: https://matthewschultz.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthew_a_schultz/ ...

Sara Dahan is a community builder and mental health enthusiast with a mission to foster belonging, bring difficult topics out of the shadows, and ask big questions. Sara studied neuroscience at MIT with a special interest in developmental cognitive science followed by a degree in epidemiology from NYU focusing on the health of communities. She spent 10 years as a community strategist in Brooklyn w...

Season 2 has just wrapped, and we’re gearing up for an incredible Season 3. If you're interested in getting bonus content via email, you can sign up on our website, www.whatcameafter.com. Don’t forget to check out any episodes you may have missed in our first two seasons, and be sure to follow and subscribe to What Came After wherever you get your podcasts. Season 3 is coming soon and we can’t wai...

Nicole Jansezian lives in Jerusalem where she reports on the complicated yet beautiful aspects of this city as well as the challenges facing the people of the Holy Land. She and her husband Tony are part of the Armenian Christian community of Jerusalem and are raising their three children in a crossroads of languages, cultures and religions.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya...

Rafael Aronov is 30 years old and originally from Arad. He now lives in Be'er Sheva and is happily married to Lior. He is the son of two Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union. Coming from an athletic family, Rafael, and his brother and sister are all martial artists. He is also a special forces police officer and takes pride in serving his country.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Produ...

Dr. Hemi Rotenberg is an assistant professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. He also happens to be an IDF reservist (used to be less demanding in past years), and since Oct 7th, he has served 8 months in total during three rounds of service. He lives in Kiryat Tiv’on with his wife, four children, and a dog, which he mistakenly brought home a week before th...

Roxana Ostrovsky was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, and has been living in Tel Aviv for the past 20 years. She balances a full-time career in consulting with raising two children in the White City.   Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Beautiful Day" by NURIEL Listen on Spotify or App...

Rami Zelikovich, born in January 1959, has been the head of the Eldar Barnir Foundation since 2010. A tennis coach for the past 40 years, he spent 19 years in the United States, primarily as a tennis professional. In addition to his work in tennis, Rami has studied music, graphic design, and interactive media—disciplines he continues to practice daily. Through the foundation, he established a yout...

Chani Turk made Aliyah in 2004 from Chicago to Modiin. She is a wife ,  mother and nurse  midwife. Chani got her midwifery degree from Tel Hashomer and has been in the delivery room there for close to five years. Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar Outro Music: "Am Yisrael Chai" by Malkie Levine Listen on...

Greg Kunin is a multilingual comedian with performances in English, Russian, and Hebrew. Born in the Soviet Union, raised in Israel, and having navigated the corporate world in America, Greg brings a sharp and unique perspective on global events and everyday life. In addition to his comedy career, he teaches public speaking and draws from his background as a former entrepreneur. A dedicated family...

Yoni Collins is an award-winning Israeli-Canadian filmmaker and activist. After serving as a lone soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, he studied film in both Canada and Israel. He works as a filmmaker and videographer in the film, music, and commercial industries. His filmmaking largely deals with war, Judaism, antisemitism, and PTSD. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, Yoni has been vol...

Sarit Gradwohl is a writer, lecturer and social worker. She holds bachelor's degrees in film & television, majoring in screenwriting (2004), and social work (2007), from Tel Aviv University, as well as a master's degree in social work (2024) from Haifa University. Her first book “Sapari Tama Temima” was published by Pardes Publishing House (2014), and its English translation “ Hamama ” was pub...

Yisrael Tsadok is an educator, both by profession and at heart. Formerly an Israeli shaliach at the Chicago Jewish Day School, Yisrael is now the Director of Education for Kibbutz Nir Am. Yisrael is proud to be the husband of Tammy and the father of their five amazing children. _________________________________________________ Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Edi...

Joe Wolfson is the co-director and rabbi of JLIC TLV - a community of young olim in Tel Aviv working in partnership with local synagogues and organisations. From 2015 to 2022, he served as the JLIC Rabbi at NYU in downtown Manhattan. He is passionate about building welcoming Jewish communities in urban environments that are deeply connected to their surroundings. In 2020, he was recognized as one...

A note about our music as we wrap up Season 1 and prepare for Season 2. _______________________________________________________________ Host and Creator: Manya Marcus Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar

On October 7th, defying his commander's orders, Nimrod Palmach traveled south towards the border, where he faced and eliminated over 30 Hamas terrorists. Preventing the terrorists from entering Kibbutz Alumim as well as Kibbutz Be'eri, he saved hundreds of Jewish lives. Hailed a "hero" by many international news outlets, including Fox News USA, ABC News UK, CBN News, Sky News Australia, and the Je...

Talya Tomer is an Israeli social entrepreneur in community-based placemaking. As the spouse of a IDF reservist and mother of three ages 2, 6, 8, her personal experiences since October 7th have deeply influenced her recent projects. In response to the ongoing war, Tomer has been supporting children affected by the war. She authored and spearheaded the publication and distribution of two children’s...

Since 1982, Jeff Seidel has introduced thousands of Jewish college students to their first Shabbat experience as well as offered free tours and classes through his Jewish Student Centers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, and IDC in Herzliya. He has lived in Jerusalem’s Old City for over thirty years and connected tens of thousands to the La...

Mazal Tazazo, an Ethiopian Israeli woman who volunteers with at-risk youth, was forced to run once the terrorists infiltrated the Nova festival on October 7, 2023. One of the terrorists hit her in the head with his rifle, then dragged her across an open field. As she regained consciousness, she felt them tying her up with rope, straightening her legs and coming closer to her. As they reached towar...