Boston Jewish Now helps Boston’s Jewish community make sense of the issues, events, and public conversations shaping Jewish life here. Each episode breaks down what is happening in the news, local government, and community in our region — and, when relevant, the national or global dynamics that affect Jewish life here at home.
The podcast is designed for engaged members of Boston’s Jewish community who want to better understand the landscape around them, follow the issues shaping our community’s place in Massachusetts, and know what deserves their attention.
Israel’s Unfinished Promise: Building a Shared Society
Israel’s Declaration of Independence promised political and social equality to all its citizens. What will it take to make that promise a reality for Jewish and Arab Israelis?
On this episode of Boston Jewish Now, Jeremy Burton speaks with Mohammad Darawshe, Director of Strategy at Givat Haviva’s Center for Shared Society, about what it means to move beyond coexistence and build a country in which Jewish and Arab citizens can thrive together.
From bringing thousands of Jewish and Arab students together, to placing Arab teachers in Jewish schools and Jewish teachers in Arab schools, creating partnerships between neighboring municipalities, and opening pathways into higher education and tech careers, Givat Haviva is putting that vision into practice.
Jeremy and Mohammad explore why these efforts matter and what both communities must do to realize Israel’s founding promise.
Read the article Mohammad references here (https://shorturl.at/sfGCK).
15 Oct 2026
Addressing Antisemitism in K–12 Schools
Massachusetts created the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism to take a statewide look at how antisemitism is affecting Jewish life and what institutions can do about it. The Commission’s final report lays out recommendations across a range of sectors, including K–12 schools.
In this segment, we break down the K–12 recommendations and walk through what schools and districts can do to better recognize, prevent, and respond to antisemitism — and how students and parents can press for action when those practices aren’t in place.
If you’re a school or district leader, the included PDF guide (https://cjp.org/ccak12guide) makes it easier to get started. You don’t have to sort through the entire Commission report or figure out which recommendations apply to your school or district — the guide pulls together the relevant steps in one place.
If you’re a student or parent and you see a gap in your school, the guide can help you identify what may be missing and make a specific ask. These recommendations are endorsed by the governor, the attorney general, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, and backed by the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism. You can bring them to school and district leadership with the credibility of the state behind them.
Ready to get started?
Get the guide here (https://cjp.org/ccak12guide), and reach out to JCRC or CJP if you need help putting the recommendations into practice.
14 Oct 2026
November 3: Are You Ready to Vote?
Election Day is November 3. Are you ready to vote?
With nine statewide ballot questions, races up and down the ballot, and important decisions about how Massachusetts conducts its elections, there's a lot voters need to know before heading to the polls.
In this episode of Boston Jewish Now, Jeremy Burton is joined by our partners at Common Cause Massachusetts and JCRC's new Director of Government Relations, Ian Mackey, to help you prepare.
From voter registration deadlines and mail-in ballots to what to do if something goes wrong at the polls, we cover the essentials of casting your vote. We also break down some of the consequential ballot questions, and the future of Massachusetts' gun safety law (Question 9), which JCRC supports preserving.
And beyond the mechanics of voting, Jeremy reflects on why it's important to look beyond party labels, examine candidates on their merits, and recognize leaders willing to stand up to extremism.
Before you vote, do your homework. This episode is a place to start.
Register to vote/check your registration status here (https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/).
2026 MA Ballot Questions (red book) (https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/research-and-statistics/2026-information-for-voters/guide.htm).
Common Cause's election protection work (https://www.commoncause.org/work/election-protection/).
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
80,413
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
17
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
32
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