A podcast dedicated to exploring the multiple truths that fill our beautiful world because that's the only way we shall rebuild the bridges and find our way back to each other.
gamvgam.substack.com (https://gamvgam.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Special Episode: David Daoud of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Shalom Chaverim -
Today we have a special episode featuring David Daoud. Normally, my Gam v’Gam episodes are reserved for political and social discussions and debate while my On the Road to Zion episodes are reserved for more intimate conversations, we are doing both today. Because David Daoud’s personal story intertwines so much with his professional career, I felt this was a unique opportunity to combine the two.
The first half of our conversation focuses on David’s upbringing and personal journey with Judaism and then we transition into extreme depth regarding the situation in Lebanon.
David Daoud is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Lebanon and Hezbollah. He previously worked as a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, director of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria research at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), and a research analyst at FDD. David also has experience working as a staff member on Capitol Hill providing analysis on matters related to the Middle East, Israel, and Iran.
David holds a JD with a concentration in International Law and the Laws of Armed Conflict from Suffolk University in Boston. He is fluent in Arabic and Hebrew and has spent extensive time living in the Middle East, primarily in Israel and Lebanon. His work has been cited or published in outlets including Haaretz, Foreign Policy, Newsweek, New York Times, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to David Daoud and His Background
02:58 The Lebanese Jewish Community: History and Identity
05:54 The Impact of the Lebanese Civil War on Jews
08:39 The Decline of the Lebanese Jewish Community
11:18 Personal Reflections on Growing Up as a Lebanese Jew
14:15 Cultural Dynamics of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews
17:06 The Evolution of Jewish Identity in Israel
20:07 The Tension Between Right and Left in Israeli Politics
22:57 The Future of Jewish Identity and Community
34:08 Exploring Jewish Prayer Traditions
37:39 Halachic Perspectives: Ashkenazi vs Sephardic
41:25 Jewish Identity and Community Dynamics
46:28 Lebanon’s Complex Historical Landscape
01:00:19 The Sectarian System and Its Challenges
01:02:25 Lebanon’s Cultural Identity: A Facade of Progressivism
01:07:55 The Rise of Hezbollah: Historical Context and Dynamics
01:18:15 Hezbollah’s Role in the Modern Geopolitical Landscape
01:28:22 Understanding the Complexity of Lebanon’s Political Landscape
01:32:55 The Role of Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Society
01:39:17 Challenges in Addressing Hezbollah’s Influence
01:47:42 Strategies for a Sustainable Future in Lebanon
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gamvgam.substack.com (https://gamvgam.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
1 Dec 2025
On the Road to Zion - Jenny Anne Hochberg
Today, we speak with Jenny Anne Hochberg, a New York based actor, acting coach, content creator, and Jewish activist. We get a chance to talk about her personal journey of reconnecting with her Jewish identity following the events of October 7th, the challenges of being a Jewish actress in the entertainment industry, and the importance of activism and community support. Our conversation naturally led to one about accurate Jewish representation in media and how we can think about telling the stories of everyone who’s a member of Am Yisrael.
Jenny recently starred in the Verbatim Off-Broadway play “October 7th,” portraying a Nova festival survivor. Her screen credits include countless TV Series like “Blue Bloods,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “House of Cards,” “Parks & Recreation,” and various award-winning indie films. A trained solo improviser, known for her act “I Am Not Sara Bareilles.” She has performed nationwide at comedy festivals. Jenny also coaches actors in on camera work and audition prep.
Beyond performance, she’s a proud Jewish voice in the arts, using storytelling and social media to combat antisemitism and share stories of resilience and identity. For Jenny, art and activism are inseparable. Her content has reached 162K views per video.
Where You Can Find Jenny
Instagram: jenny.anne.hochberg
IMDB: Jenny Anne Hochberg
Check out her Reel Here! (https://linktr.ee/JennyAH?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAOVp1hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAae4lcnce1V9mSMJn7y_Q6lFAGsgP0z2j7f0hQiSGnZAHTaYYgQF1J6o9s4Dbg_aem_mUbmEzyEZjq-agsJNTER6Q)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Jenny Hochberg
02:54 Jenny’s Jewish Journey and Identity
06:11 Impact of October 7th on Jewish Identity
09:07 Experiences in the Entertainment Industry
11:53 Navigating Anti-Semitism in the Industry
14:52 Community and Activism Post-October 7th
18:07 The Role of Jewish Day Schools
21:07 Current Experiences in New York City
23:56 Reconnecting with Jewish Practices
26:52 The Future of Jewish Representation in Media
38:04 Exploring Jewish Identity in Acting
39:54 The Balance of Judaism in Character Development
42:21 Navigating Jewish Identity in Non-Jewish Spaces
44:00 The Dilemma of Jewish Representation in Media
45:53 Opportunities in Christmas Movies: A Jewish Perspective
51:21 Diversity Within the Jewish Community
55:25 The Need for Diverse Jewish Narratives
01:01:23 The Future of Jewish Identity Post-October 7th
Watch on Youtube
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gamvgam.substack.com (https://gamvgam.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
17 Nov 2025
Pushing Jewish Institutions to Do Better - Shabbos Kestenbaum
Shalom Chaverim -
On this episode of Gam v’Gam, I interview Shabbos Kestenbaum. You may know him only as the student who successfully sued Harvard, complains a lot on TV, and spoke at the RNC as a former Bernie Sanders supporter. What you may not know is that he has his own show on PragerU called The Brief where he interviews such people like Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren and provides analysis on breaking news. More importantly, you might know that Shabbos isn’t actually a MAGA fascist, and the more you get to know him, the more you realize he’s not even the bombastic personality you might assume (okay maybe I’m only talking about myself).
Shabbos is someone who believes in pushing Jewish organizations to do better because as he says at the very beginning: The better that legacy Jewish institutions, the better the American Jewish community does overall.
Where You Can Find Shabbos
X: ShabbosK
Instagram: shabboskest
The Brief on PragerU (https://www.prageru.com/shows/the-brief)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Shabbos Kestenbaum
02:38 The State of American Jewry
06:26 Critique of Legacy Jewish Organizations
10:20 The Role of Student Activism
12:08 Free Speech and Anti-Semitism on Campus
16:57 Strategies for Combatting Anti-Zionism
20:35 The Intersection of Jewish and American Identity
27:08 Legal Action and Community Support
29:28 The Isolation of Jewish Communities
31:54 Addressing the Needs of Smaller Jewish Communities
34:23 The Importance of Jewish Day Schools
38:23 Balancing Resources Between Coastal and Non-Coastal Communities
42:58 Engaging with Smaller Communities
54:05 Proposing Solutions for Jewish Community Challenges
Watch on YouTube
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gamvgam.substack.com (https://gamvgam.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
8,056
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 32 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
25
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
32
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