Free Daily Podcast Summary
JCRC's Boston Jewish Now: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Boston JCRC
Real conversations with the voices who shape our community.For 80 years, we've led critical conversations for the Jewish community, and now, we're bringing them to you. Tune in as we share insights, engage with leaders and changemakers, and dive into the discussions shaping our future.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago42 min
Platner, Mamdani, and What We Expect From Civic Leaders
In this episode of Boston Jewish Now, JCRC CEO Jeremy Burton discusses what Jewish communities should expect from civic leaders — in moments of celebration, in moments of pain, and in moments when antisemitism and public Jewish life are being tested. The conversation covers Toronto’s March with Israel, Mamdani and New York’s Israel parade, and the question of what it means for civic leaders to show up for Jewish communities. Jeremy also discusses Graham Platner, Ralph Northam, Jake Auchincloss, and the double standard around racism and antisemitism in public life. The episode also covers Clover Food Lab and kosher food access in Boston, why consumer data privacy is a Jewish safety issue, and the importance of nonprofit security funding in the Massachusetts state budget.Find your legislators: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
- 1 weeks ago43 min
What It Means to Be Queer and Jewish Right Now
This Pride Month episode is a conversation between two queer Jewish professionals working inside JCRC, each bringing a different generational lens to what it means to be queer, Jewish, visible, and civically engaged in this moment. Rachel Schlesinger, JCRC's Marketing Coordinator, and Jeremy Burton, JCRC's CEO, are living different chapters of the same larger story. Jeremy brings decades of experience as an out Jewish communal leader who has seen the evolution of LGBTQ belonging in Jewish spaces. Rachel brings the perspective of a younger Jewish professional navigating a post-October 7 world, where being out can sometimes feel easier than being visibly Jewish or Zionist in some progressive and LGBTQ spaces. Together, they talk about Pride, authenticity, Jewish belonging, antisemitism, Israel, civil rights, and the responsibility of communal institutions to make room for people to show up fully.
- 3 weeks ago54 min
Are Jewish Families Chasing Prestige Over Education?
Many Jewish parents are looking at college differently right now. Dr. Greg Weiner offers a perspective few others can. He is the 17th president of Assumption University, the first Jewish president of a Catholic university in the United States, and a scholar of American political thought. In this episode, Jeremy Burton speaks with Dr. Weiner about why Catholic education may offer Jewish students something many families are looking for now: a serious educational environment where faith is taken seriously, difference is treated with respect, and students are formed to think, question, listen, and live responsibly with others. Dr. Weiner makes clear that Catholic universities are not trying to evangelize Jewish students. They take faith, reason, learning, and human dignity seriously. For Jewish students, that can mean entering a community where difference is understood, where conviction is respected, where education is about more than ivy-league prestige — and where there are no encampments. Together, JCRC CEO Jeremy Burton and Dr. Greg Weiner unpack what a college education is, at its best: a place to produce the kinds of people a healthy civic society depends on.
- Apr 24, 202628 min
What We Can Learn From Hungary… and More
This week, we’re catching up on the stories and events that had us talking — from Boston to Israel and beyond. We’ll look at what stood out, the questions these moments raised, and why they matter to us as a Jewish community.Reach out to your legislators to support data privacy: https://www.aclum.org/campaigns-initiatives/data-privacy-now/Read Alan Dershowitz's Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/alan-dershowitz-why-im-becoming-a-republican-86c19b66Check out the conversation from Yehuda Kertzer and Jeffrey Goldberg: https://jewishinsider.com/2026/04/yehuda-kurtzer-american-jews-political-homelessness-identity/
- Mar 26, 202646 min
Are "Mainstream Jewish Institutions" Making Jews Less Safe?
A recent Boston Globe Ideas essay made sweeping claims about mainstream Jewish institutions, suggesting that their posture on Israel and their approach to defining antisemitism are themselves contributing to the climate that makes Jews less safe.In this episode, Jeremy Burton and Oren Jacobson unpack that argument, challenge its logic, and examine how reducing diverse Jewish communal leadership to a single caricature can easily become a way of blaming Jews for the harm or violence directed at them. They also explore where criticism of institutions is fair, where it starts to revive old tropes about Jewish influence, and what it means when those “ideas” gain legitimacy in public discourse.Oren Jacobson is a civic entrepreneur and the CEO of Project Shema, where he works with communities and institutions across the country to better understand and respond to contemporary anti-Jewish bias and anti-Jewish ideas. His work focuses especially on how these ideas show up in public discourse, even subtly and unintentionally.Oren is a regular partner to JCRC and CJP here in Greater Boston and has previously testified before the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism, helping commissioners and State House leaders better understand Jewish identity in public life.
- Mar 19, 202616 min
More Attacks on Jews, More Security — But Is It Enough?
A week with more attacks on Jewish institutions than days in the week. That’s the reality many are waking up to, and asking: what happens next?
- Mar 11, 202626 min
When Does JCRC Speak — and Why?
In this episode, we explain how and why JCRC speaks publicly during moments of crisis and controversy. When statements appear under Jeremy Burton’s name instead of the organization’s, what does that actually mean? Who is the real audience for those comments? How does a coalition of 40 Jewish organizations decide what to say in real time when civic leaders are asking for guidance — and why even speak publicly at all?The conversation explores how JCRC engages civic leaders and institutions, the process behind public comments, and why relationship-building — not public outcry, outrage, and blasting — is the most effective way to advance the interests of the Jewish community in Massachusetts.
- Dec 19, 202550 min
Massachusetts Action on Antisemitism After Sydney
What does it take to move from listening to action when confronting antisemitism? In this timely episode of Boston Leaders Unplugged, JCRC CEO Jeremy Burton sits down with Representative Simon Cataldo to reflect on the work and impact of the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism — the first commission of its kind in the nation — against the backdrop of the recent deadly attack at a Chanukah gathering in Sydney. With Jewish communities around the world grieving and reassessing safety, this conversation explores how local action, policy, and community solidarity can make a tangible difference. Together, they discuss the Commission’s unprecedented listening process behind the Commission’s final report, key recommendations across education, public safety, and policy, and what it will take for leaders, communities, and allies to translate these findings into meaningful, sustained action across the Commonwealth. Learn more about the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism and read the final report: https://malegislature.gov/Commissions/Detail/646/Documents
About JCRC's Boston Jewish Now
Real conversations with the voices who shape our community.For 80 years, we've led critical conversations for the Jewish community, and now, we're bringing them to you. Tune in as we share insights, engage with leaders and changemakers, and dive into the discussions shaping our future.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from JCRC's Boston Jewish Now in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's JCRC's Boston Jewish Now daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of JCRC's Boston Jewish Now as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the JCRC's Boston Jewish Now podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official JCRC's Boston Jewish Now product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Boston JCRC.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does JCRC's Boston Jewish Now release new episodes?
JCRC's Boston Jewish Now publishes monthly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does JCRC's Boston Jewish Now cover?
JCRC's Boston Jewish Now covers topics including Business, Non-Profit. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting JCRC's Boston Jewish Now summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.