Hen Mazzig launches new show ‘humanising’ Jewish celebrities - The Jewish Chronicle

Israeli writer and activist Hen Mazzig is addressing what he sees as a gap in Jewish entertainment with his new show And They’re Jewish, an online series offering glimpses into the personal lives of famous movers and shakers like Debra Messing, Mayim Bialik, and Emmanuelle Chriqui - who just so happen to be Jewish.

Mazzig came up with the idea for the series as part of an effort to “humanise Jews” during a time of virulent antisemitism, providing a medium for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences alike to engage with distinguished members of our community without centring discussions around the war in Israel but the unique talents of those individuals.

Hen Mazzig chats with artist Zoe Buckman while filming an episode of And They're Jewish. (Photo: Hen Mazzig/And They're Jewish)[Missing Credit]

It’s a new adventure for Mazzig, whose activism has made him a wildly successful influencer, whose reach also extends into academic and political circles. And They’re Jewish will not only expose viewers to fresh perspectives on well-known Jewish figures but on Mazzig himself; whether it’s getting in a sauna with Love Island star Eyal Booker, attending a Pacers NBA game with billionaire Rachel Simon, or doing vocal warmups with Broadway icon Alexandra Socha, Mazzig will reveal a bit of himself alongside each of his guests.

“I think there's something so special and unique in seeing people in the environments that they feel most comfortable with and for me to participate in whatever they're doing that made them great, to learn about this world through this special angle of their passion, really,” said Mazzig.

Hen Mazzig, centre, gets his sweat on with Eyal Booker (left) during an episode of his new web series And They're Jewish. (Photo: Hen Mazzig/And They're Jewish)[Missing Credit]

Co-founder of the social media-focused Tel Aviv Institute and author of The Wrong Kind of Jew, Mazzig has become a key voice in today’s discourse on the Israel-Gaza conflict and modern Judaism. But for Mazzig, who is hoping And They’re Jewish will appeal to non-Jews too, dismantling antisemitism calls for more than just engaging in political debates online.

“The fear that I have looking into the rise of antisemitism around the world is that once you hear so much hate about a specific group of people and you don't know them, it's very easy to scapegoat this community, and we've seen it happening to specifically our community for so long,” he said.

Hen Mazzig visits with actress Debra Messing for an episode of And They're Jewish. (Photo: Hen Mazzig/And They're Jewish)[Missing Credit]

“I kept thinking, how are we going to change that and how are we going to make people know that we are real, that we are human and that we're more than just what people said about us?

“Even though you know some Jewish actors in Hollywood and even though you know some Jewish business leaders, it's not enough to just know about them - you really need to see that they are just like you and that they have very similar challenges and that they're not the scary community that many are telling you that we are,” Mazzig said.

The name of the show is itself a nod to the way in which Mazzig hopes to characterise his guests: first as human beings, second as Jews.

“It's showcasing all of the talents of these incredible visionaries and groundbreaking individuals, and they happen to be Jewish,” he said. “The goal is to really show who they are and the Jewish part, of course, is part of it, but it's just how incredible they are beside the fact that they're Jewish.”

The first season of the show, which includes eight episodes, will be released weekly on Mazzig’s YouTube channel starting on 2 April.

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Entertainment

Jewish identity