Making Mensches

Join Elana and Jesi from the Making Mensches team for a conversation with Stacy Friedman (she/her) and Elly Stern (she/her), the author and illustrator of new children’s book, “Never Again, for Anyone.” We talk with them about the genesis for this book and all the considerations that went into the writing and illustration of the book, the importance of community and how their community influenced this book, and the necessity of a children’s book like this one. Stacy is a Jewish mama, educator, and organizer committed to creating a world where all children are safe. Guided by cultural teachings of empathy and justice, she learns and teaches with land, food, and community. Never Again, for Anyone is her first book and the first Jewish children’s book that supports Palestinian liberation. Elly is an award-winning artist, animator, and community organizer who uses visual storytelling to inspire change. Through stop-motion film-making and mixed media, her works capture the textures of human experience. As a third-generation Holocaust survivor and anti-Zionist Jew from Israel-Palestine, Elly is committed to intertwining art with justice advocacy. Never Again, for Anyone is her first book. If you want to read the book with children in your life or buy it for loved ones with kids, it’s available for pre-order and will be in stores in North America on September 29th. If you want to support the book, request it at your local bookstore and library! Ask your synagogue or other local orgs to buy it for their library! Share it on social media! [This episode was recorded in May 2026.] Big thanks to Stacy and Elly for this conversation, Jesi for being part of the team, Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Making Mensches team (Elana, Jesi/Rocki, and Jessie) and Rachel Joy (they/she) for the third episode of our Judaism and Abolition series! Rachel is an abolitionist social worker, lay leader, and organizer. Rachel has been teaching, leading Jewish services, and community building with folks inside jails for the past five years and spent the past 9 months organizing with Matir Asurim: The Jewish Care Network for Incarcerated People . Rachel also started the NYC Resource Library - a database of free resources across NYC and an in-person mutual aid distribution. In this episode, we talk about supporting Jewish folks who are incarcerated, the connections between anti-zionism and abolition, the importance of our own healing when engaging in movement work, racism in Jewish communities, how to get involved in mutual aid/organizing work, and soooo much more. It was a true pleasure to get to talk to Rachel and this episode is so full of wisdom. We hope it moves you in the direction of community and true justice <3 Show Notes: Matir Asurim matirasurimnetwork@gmail.com NYC Resource Library nycresourcelibrary@proton.me If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to Matir Asurim. [This episode was recorded in May 2026.] Big thanks to Rachel for this conversation, Jesi for being part of the team, Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Making Mensches team (Elana, Jesi/Rocki, and Jessie) and Ayeola Omolara Kaplan for the second episode of our Judaism and Abolition series! Ayeola is a revolutionary surrealist artist who creates artwork that synchronizes abolitionist dreams and experiential reality. Ayeola’s craft is inspired by her Jewish eco-spirituality and the divinity that seeds the intersecting threads of disability justice, gender liberation, racial equity, and class abolition. In this episode, we talk about ecospiritualism, Cop City in Atlanta, the significance of ecological consciousness in abolition work, teshuva, how we can reconstruct Judaism, and so much more. We are so grateful for Ayeola’s wisdom and art and hope if you’re listening, you’ll go support her. Show Notes: BUY AYEOLA’S ART DWELL in Revolution MM episode with Ayeola Why Cop City Goes Against Jewish Values The Prisoner’s Herbal by Nicole Rose Uncle Jim’s Worms Vermicomposting Reorienting Within a World of Plastic episode Rose Luxemburg’s prison letters If you enjoyed this episode, please support Ayeola’s work. [This episode was recorded in April 2026.] Big thanks to Ayeola for this conversation, Jesi for being part of the team, Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

As a note, we discuss colonial violence in its many forms - including sexual and racial violence - in this episode. In the liberatory tradition of pesach, the Making Mensches team (Elana, Jesi/Rocki, and Jessie) bring you the first episode in what will be an ongoing series on Judaism and Abolition. In this first episode, we discuss the many overlaps between Judaism and Abolition, how abolition shows up in Jewish text and ritual, what abolition means , what this can look like in practice, how it relates to anti-zionism, and so much more. If you add berries to your seder plate, send us a picture! We are excited to continue discussing this topic and bring other wise folks into the conversation in future episodes <3 Show Notes: Judaism and Abolition resource document Making Mensches Haggadah Library Critical Resistance⁠ ⁠Letter to the Anti-Rape Movement by Project Nia ⁠What About the Rapists? - Abolitionist Toolbox⁠ ⁠Hidden Water⁠ Khalil’s fund If you enjoyed this episode, we are suggesting that donations be made to Matir Asurim ! [This episode was recorded in March 2026.] Big thanks to Jesi for being part of the interview and the team, Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We are so excited to share this podcast mashup with you! Elana, Jessie, and Jesi of Making Mensches in conversation with the incredible Lexi Kohanski of Torah for Trans Lives (T4Torah). In addition to her podcast, Lexi is also the Director of Online Learning at the Torah Studio and is currently designing Worlds To Come, a first-of-its-kind tabletop roleplaying game to teach Biblical Hebrew. Obviously Lexi is brilliant beyond belief and it was a true joy to get to co-create with her. In this episode, we explore the ways people engage with Torah both for life and for death, what it means to find ourselves in the texts as queer and trans people, how to begin your Torah exploration if it feels daunting, and so much more. Zionists love to suggest that anti-zionist Jews don’t know Torah and weaponize the text, but truly - the Torah is ours. We must continue to make it so. Some links… You can find Torah Studio classes here Although Lexi’s class with Shel Maala has since happened you can find more Shel Maala classes here and listen to our podcast episode with the founders here or wherever you listen to podcasts More about the Jewish Liberation Theology Institute can be found here [This episode was recorded in February 2026.] Big thanks to Lexi for this collaboration, Jesi for being part of the interview process, Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

After a brief pause, we're back and better than ever with the poetic presence of Aiyana Masla ! In this episode, Elana, Jessie, and Jesi talk to interdisciplinary artist, intergenerational community member, and an anti-bias educator ⁠ Aiyana Masla (she/her) about her debut poetry collection ⁠The Underdream . We talk with her about the inspiration for and process of writing The Underdream, the idea of presence as purpose, being in a body, accessible ritual, becoming a dream, finding and connecting to g-d in the world around us, and everything in between. We are so grateful for this gorgeous conversation and can't wait for you to listen too. If you want to support Aiyana and The Underdream, the best way to do so is request a copy of the book at your local bookstore or library! You can also purchase it here . In this episode we focus almost solely on The Underdream, but we encourage you to explore ALL of Aiyana's offerings and hope to have her back soon to talk about more of her practices <3 Some links… -The Underdream -Aiyana's website (With art for purchase!) - Aiyana's Poetry Instagram -Aiyana's Art Instagram [This episode was recorded in January 2026.] Big thanks to Aiyana for being on the pod, Jesi for being part of the interview process, Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we talk to writer, performance artist, and organizational consultant Alissa Schwartz (she/her) and book worker, artist, and publisher Patrick Barber (he/they) about Alissa’s book Ancestral Performance Art , published through Patrick’s publishing company - Impeller Press . We talk with them about so many things - but it centers around how we can build deeper relationships with our ancestors (not just genealogical, deceased, human ancestors - but all ancestors!), through speculative work, re-narrativization, and drag. We are so appreciative to them both for this conversation and if you’re in NYC, we hope you’ll come see Alissa perform an ancestral drag piece at our upcoming Hanukah Market with Pushcart Judaica on December 14th! Some links to things mentioned in this episode… -Alissa’s new book! -Alissa’s first book -Patrick’s publishing company & instagram -Alissa’s website & instagram -Theydy Bedbug’s drag class -Helen Klonaris’s workshop -My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem [This episode was recorded in August 2025.] Big thanks to Alissa and Patrick for being on the pod, Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join Jessie (she/her) and guest interviewer (and beloved Making Mensches collaborator) Jesi (fae/they) for their conversation with artist Liz Awesome (he/him) 🎨 Jessie, Jesi, and Liz talk all things trash, art, and Judaism - as well as ways to infuse our lives with liberation, anger, and grief. As Liz says, “We already have everything we need, and we’re throwing it away in the trash.” They discuss the ways that the internet both inhibits and encourages our modes of connection, including how we can best leverage the algorithm to ensure the most marginalized stories are being amplified and heard. Some links to things mentioned in this episode… Politics of Disposability bell hooks on composting anger [This episode was recorded in August 2025.] Big thanks to Liz for being on the pod, Jesi for co-facilitating this interview, Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hi Mensches! In this episode we’re joined by Wes (Wendy Elisheva Somerson) , author of new book An Anti-Zionist Path to Embodied Jewish Healing: Somatic Practices to Heal Historical Wounds, Unlearn Oppression, and Create a Liberated World to Come. This is a rich conversation filled with so much wisdom from Wes talking about trauma and somatic healing, taking actionable steps to address fear and shame in our bodies, how living into intention (kavanah) can guide us, and truly… so much more. We’re so excited for this episode to finally be out in the world and can’t wait for you to listen. You can buy Wes’s book from the publisher - North Atlantic Books , at Third Place Books in Seattle , at Jewitches , or at any local bookstore. While Wes does not recommend purchasing the book on Am*z*n, they do ask that you go and write a review there to help boost the book :) Some links to things mentioned in this episode… Ruach Healing Group Sefaria The Embodiment Institute [This episode was recorded in July 2025.] Big thanks to Wes for being on the pod, Emily from North Atlantic Books, Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome back, Mensches! Join us for a conversation with Deatra Cohen and Adam Siegal, co-authors of Ashkenazi Herbalism and new book Woven Roots: Recovering the Healing Plant Traditions of Jews and Their Neighbors in Eastern Europe. We discuss how Deatra and Adam began doing this work, the main differences between Woven Roots and Ashkenazi Herbalism, communal care in the Pale, the process of recovering traditions, plant medicine, and so much more. You can buy both of their books on Jewitches.com . Some of the things they mention during this episode are… Yizkor books Memoirs of a Grandmother Our episode with Julie Weitz Rokhl Kafrissen Max Dashu and the Suppressed Histories Archives [This episode was recorded in July 2025.] Big thanks to Adam and Deatra for being on the pod, Emily from North Atlantic Books, Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join Making Mensches for our special conversation with Binya and Xava, creators of Shel Maala Yeshiva - a digital-first queer Yeshiva! We talk about the importance of queer, anti-zionist, accessible Torah and Talmud study, the rewards and challenges of this work, abolitionist and anti-zionist Torah, and so much more. We can’t wait for you to listen, and we hope you’ll join us for our joint event on MAY 23RD - both in NYC and online on Zoom. Please RSVP for more details! The work Shel Maala does is essential, please consider supporting their work! Join one of their classes, such as the one we discuss in this episode, Torah from the Inside Out: Cohort for Incarcerated People and Allies . If you’re curious about (or want to support, we hope!) Matir Asurim, you can find more info here. [This episode was recorded in March 2025.] Big thanks to Xava and Binya for being on the pod, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

We hope you're as excited as we are for this conversation with Joey Ramona , iconic Toronto based punk rock tattooer, visual artist, and a self-described “weird Jewish punk guy.” We talk with Joey about being an anti-zionist Jewish tattooer, about how tattoos can help people deepen their connection to Judaism, about the concept of doikayt and researching ashkenazi tradition, about mutual aid and community organizing, and so much more! If you want to book an appointment with Joey, reach out to them at Bookingsbyjoey@gmail.com⁠ We feel so lucky that we get to have incredible conversations with people we admire so much <3 Links to things we discuss in the episode: The zine Joey made a few years ago about Jewish tattooing Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction org Sudan Solidarity Collective Toronto PYM chapter Jews Say No to Genocide [This episode was recorded in March 2025.] Big thanks to Joey for being on the pod, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join us as we talk to Stephanie (they/them), founder of T aste of Olam Haba , a vibrant Jewish community in Central Arkansas founded in 2021. We discuss the growth of Taste of Olam Haba and what building this community has looked like, what it's been like to engage with the rise and presence of fascism in the South, backlash from zionist Jewish community, and much more. Thank you to Stephanie and Taste of Olam Haba for this conversation and for all the work you do in Arkasas! If you're in Central Arkansas and looking for anti-zionist Jewish community, make sure to connect with Taste of Olam Haba. Stephanie is also a co-founder of Little Rock Peace for Palestine, and you can find more information about their work here . This episode is the first in what will be an ongoing conversation series with Jewish spiritual communities that exist outside of major cities, in an effort to uplift these spaces and discuss the unique challenges and joys that these communities face. [This episode was recorded in March 2025.] Big thanks to Stephanie for being on the pod, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join us for an extra special episode with ⁠Ayeola Omolara Kaplan⁠ and ⁠ ⁠Hadar Cohen⁠ , two of the talented artists who created pieces for the ⁠⁠DWELL in Revolution project . In this episode, we discuss their creation processes, the ancestors that they depicted, why this project is important, and everything in between. Listen to the full episode to hear ⁠Shelby Handler⁠ reading their piece from DWELL! So much work went into this beautiful project, a project that enables folks to learn about and honor their anti-zionist ancestors. It is so essential that we see these examples of anti-zionism in our history, so that we can strengthen our own anti-zionist foundations. It’s equally as essential to begin learning about ancient ancestral practices and rituals that zionism has tried to stamp out of Judaism. ⁠⁠If you don’t already have it, you can purchase the DWELL zine here.⁠⁠ [This episode was recorded in February 2025.] Big thanks to Ayeola and Hadar for joining us, to Shelby for reading their piece, and to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠

Join us for an extra special episode with Micah Bazant and Ollie Schwartz , two of the main organizers of the DWELL in Revolution project, as we discuss the creation process and intention behind the zine, in addition to discussing the complexities and joy that are a part of organizing for our movement. So much work went into this beautiful project, a project that enables folks to learn about and honor their anti-zionist ancestors. It is so essential that we see these examples of anti-zionism in our history, so that we can strengthen our own anti-zionist foundations. It’s equally as essential to begin learning about ancient ancestral practices and rituals that zionism has tried to stamp out of Judaism. Stay tuned for the second part of this series where we talk with two of the artists included in the project about their creation process! If you don’t already have it, you can purchase the DWELL zine here. [This episode was recorded in February 2025.] Big thanks to Micah and Ollie for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠

For this episode, we are joined by ⁠Ariella Aïsha Azoulay , who graciously talks with us about her recent book, “The Jewelers of the Ummah: A Potential History of the Jewish Muslim World.” Ariella is a film essayist, theorist, curator of archives, and professor currently teaching Modern Culture and Media in the Department of Comparative Literature at Brown University . Ariella talks us through Jewelers of the Ummah, discusses what the Jewish Muslim world is, how empires dictate history and peoplehood to serve their own interests, what principled anti-zionism looks like, how she has deepened her ancestral connections, and much much more. This is not an episode to miss! Every second is full of wisdom and steadfast love. Join us in two weeks for an exciting episode with more than one special guest 👀 [This episode was recorded in February 2025.] Big thanks to Ariella for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠

we're back after our mid-season hiatus with our first episode in a long time that's just Jessie and Elana! we talk about the present moment and some of our upcoming events, and at the end is a rewind to our Instagram Live episode on tu b'shvat from 2022 (which was somehow THREE years ago). we've obviously grown and learned so much since then but enjoy our baby selves talking tu bish join us for our virtual tu b'shvat poetry event , find our events calendar here , and sign up for our newsletter! comment and let us know if you want more of us chit-chatting 👀

In our midseason finale, we are joined by Eliana Rubin , who talks (among many, many other things) about their new book, “Taking the State out of the Body: A Guide to Embodied Resistance to Zionism.” Eliana builds transgressive relationships with bodies, land, and lineage through their work as a somatic practitioner, politicized facilitator, anti-Zionist organizer, full spectrum doula, land steward, and queer pleasure instigator. They run a somatic facilitation practice with Sanctuary Embodied aimed at resourcing organizers in developing embodied leadership and power for movements for justice. While discussing her brilliant book, Eliana gives insight to what somatics are, how somatic practices can support us through challenging conversations with Zionists, speaks to some of the plants and body parts that informed the book - like calendula, redwoods, and the vagus nerve, and talks about the pitfalls of individualistic models of therapy. Eliana goes beyond fighting for liberation, and teaches us how to live for liberation. Find more of Eliana on their instagram or website , and go buy the book ASAP! We truly could not recommend it enough. We will be back with more episodes in February , see you then! [This episode was recorded in November 2024.] Big thanks to Eliana for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠

Golems, Dybukks, Psychedelics, oh my! Today we are joined by Julie Weitz (she/her) - diasporic performance artist, Fulbright Scholar, and co-creator of the Tzitzit Project - some of you may know her as @MyGolem_is_here . In this episode, Julie reflects on her time in Poland and the ways that we can reconnect with our ancestral homeland outside. Julie talks about recent and past projects, what brought her to performance art, and the ways her work is informed by anti-zionism. We can’t wait for you to listen! UPCOMING OFFERING FROM JULIE: Online Dybbuk Workshop Sunday, December 8 at 11am pst / 1pm cst / 2pm est / 8pm cet / 9pm ist Registration Link: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/event_step2/MTkzNzI1/289544 Join artist Julie Weitz for a dynamic online workshop exploring ancestral folktales about the dybbuk and Jewish rituals of exorcism. Drawing from her extensive research and artistic practice, Weitz will share stories, images, and videos that illuminate the cultural and spiritual significance of the dybbuk. Participants will also explore simple, accessible movement techniques inspired by Yiddish dance, fostering embodied connections to their ancestors. The session incorporates insights from Holy Names for Our Dybbuk , Weitz’s performance art project that reimagines dybbuk exorcism as a movement-based ritual at sites of Jewish memory in Poland. Conducted in English, this workshop welcomes participants of all backgrounds and requires no prior experience. Come dressed comfortably and ready to engage in storytelling, movement, and learning. All ticket proceeds will support the artistic collaborators of Holy Names for Our Dybbuk . If funds are a concern, use the discount code DISCOUNT50 at checkout for 50% off. Links to things we mention in this episode: -No State Manifesto -Rabbi Aaron Tamares -The Great Dominatrix - Kosmic Kamels (@kosmickamels) [This episode was recorded in October 2024.] Big thanks to Julie for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠

We are joined by the brilliant Jules Pashall (they/he) for this episode! Jules is a fat, white, trans/queer Jew who holds space as a somatic, creative and spiritual practitioner. Their offerings are built on the belief that undoing violent hierarchies and how they live in our bodies is part of the path of soul retrieval and collective liberation. For 15 years, they have been exploring fat as a resource for transformation. Jules holds a master’s degree in Somatic Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and their writing can be found in The Fat Studies Journal and Diverse Bodies, Diverse Practices: Toward an Inclusive Somatics. In this episode, we explore all things fat. How Judaism loves fat, how fat is connected to liberation, how fatness is weaponized in our world, how people can be invited into - and celebrate! - their fat, and so so much more. Jules is an endless well of wisdom and we imagine you will feel as inspired by them as we do after listening! UPCOMING OFFERINGS FROM JULES: -Feeding the Erotic: A Jewish winter journey spanning Hannukah to Tu Bshvat Dec 19-Feb 13th Thursdays 8-10 ET / 5-7 PT (Led by Jules and elana june margolis) -Tonguing the Divine: a Tu B’shvat Retreat at Mariposa Institute in Ukiah, CA 2/14-2/17 (Led by Jules and elana june margolis) -One on one work with new clients for 10 weeks of “a season of practice” - follow him for more information! You can read “thank god i’m fat: gifts from the underbelly” by Jules here and join his email list here to stay updated on upcoming offerings. [This episode was recorded in August 2024.] Big thanks to Jules for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠you can do so here.⁠