RSS
Hen Mazzig’s New YouTube Series to Be an ‘Unapologetic Celebration of Jewish Identity’ With Star-Studded Guests
Hen Mazzig speaking to NBA Pacers Executive and Pacers Foundation Chair Rachel Simon in his YouTube series “And They’re Jewish.” Photo: Screenshot
Israeli author, activist, and social media influencer Hen Mazzig will host a new YouTube series in which he talks with a diverse group of Jewish personalities about how they connect with their heritage and Jewish identity.
The co-founder of the Tel Aviv Institute will host the weekly series “And They’re Jewish,” which premieres April 2 on his YouTube channel but will also be available to listen to as a podcast. The digital series has nine episodes so far – with potentially more as Mazzig conducts additional interviews with guests – and will give viewers an insight into the personal lives of stars like “Will & Grace” actress Debra Messing, who will appear in the premiere episode of Mazzig’s series, “Big Bang Theory” star Mayim Bialik, and Emmanuelle Chriqui from “Entourage.”
The series showcases the diversity of Jewish voices including Alexandra Socha – who played Glinda in the Broadway show “Wicked” and Esther Maisel on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” — Eyal Booker from “Love Island,” NBA Pacers Executive Rachel Simon, actor Etai Benson, “Stranger Things” actor Brett Gelman, and artist Zoe Buckman.
“My hope is that it will be a way to engage with Jewish people that is beyond just trauma, and to humanize Jews,” Mazzig, 34, told The Algemeiner. “There is nothing on the big screen or on TV that is really humanizing Jews in a way that is approachable [and] that you can connect to.”
“Jewish identity shouldn’t be controversial,” he added. “The fact that simply being openly Jewish in the media feels radical, is a big problem. And I want to live in a world where Jewish identity is as normal as any other identity. Where Jewish actors, artists, and musicians can just proudly embrace their heritage without fear. ‘And They’re Jewish’ is a step towards this future.”
Mazzig traveled around the world to speak with his guests for the digital series. He made stops in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Tel Aviv, and London. The activist himself was born in Israel but has family roots in Iraq and Tunisia. His ancestors immigrated to Israel as refugees, and he lives today between Tel Aviv and London.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, nearly 9,000 antisemitic incidents took place in the US in 2023, a year unlike any since the organization began tracking such data on antisemitic outrages in 1979. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found that anti-Jewish hate crimes in the US spiked to a record high that same year. Despite Jews making up just 2 percent of the US population, antisemitic hate crimes accounted for 67 percent of all religiously motivated hate crimes and 15 percent of all hate crimes of any kind recorded by the bureau.
“And They’re Jewish” is Mazzig’s unique approach to combatting the rise in antisemitism, he explained to The Algemeiner.
“Jewish representation in mainstream media is shrinking. Jewish identity is erased and reduced to cliches or only discussed when it’s tied to trauma or conflict,” he said. “And since Oct. 7, [2023], I’ve done whatever I can to help our community, and speak up and hear the truth about the conflicts and about the challenges that our community is facing.”
“‘And They’re Jewish’ was really a product of a lot of pain, so much pain for our community – for the Jewish friends I have in America, and the UK, and to see how much we’re being abused and othered,” Mazzig continued. “And I thought to myself, ‘How can we fight it in a more effective way to really impact our community?’ That’s how ‘And They’re Jewish’ came about. I’m reclaiming Jewish visibility, but not through the lens of victimhood. But through joy, success, and unapologetic celebration of Jewish identity.”
“And They’re Jewish” premieres April 2 on YouTube.
The post Hen Mazzig’s New YouTube Series to Be an ‘Unapologetic Celebration of Jewish Identity’ With Star-Studded Guests first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
RSS
Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
RSS
Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.