Im going to say that Isaac Mizrahi is an icon and has always represented the world of Diaspora Jewish culture with an amazing coolness that is very necessary to help combat the Jewish stereotype. However, him saying that antisemitism is inherently coming from the southern part of this country is a statement of denial. Perhaps because he is a fashion Mogul, that he may be in a bubble, but antisemitism is very much alive and well and has always been in northern big cities and the seemingly progressive left, who happen to be leading this front. I grew up in Chicago in a neighborhood with many Jews and Arabs. I am of Mizrahi descent, so people never assume I’m Jewish. My parents struggled financially and couldn’t send me to Jewish schools as the rest of the Jewish population was able to do so, so I found myself in Public schools, always existing as that one Jew. The Arab kids always asked if I was Jordanian, Iraqi, Syrian, etc, my response would be that I’m Jewish and all hell ensued. From the 3rd grade on through Highschool, I had over a dozen fist fights, I’ve been jumped on several occasions, chased with rocks being thrown at me, spat at, and called every Jewish slur under the sun. Most of these instances were from Arabs, but I also experienced such encounters with Black people and Latinos. I lived in NYC for 10 years, attending art school and starting my career as a painter and a tattoo artist. The amount of harassment I experienced from Leftist students and eventually my fellow co workers in tattoo shops is appalling. It all truly stems from the fact that I read as Arab or Latino, and when I tell people that “No, I’m a Jew and my family is Israeli”, I’m essentially no longer included in the cool crowd or get to claim minority status in this race obsessed society that is the United States, primarily amongst creative crowds where my experiences and background doesn’t fit their narrative, that Jews are white colonizers… so, that’s my rebuttal, and Issac should consider himself very lucky to not have experienced that. Everything has changed post October 7th, where even “white passing Jews” are facing discrimination on a mass scale. This has been my experience since my family arrived in 1986 from Israel when I was 4. It’s nothing new, it’s just that many Jews have been living in protected bubbles. October 7th has also brought Jews closer together. I’m finding more Jewish creatives to connect with. I’m discovering comics like Modi, I recently read that scribes can’t keep up with the demand for Tefillin. That is the beauty of our tribe. We always know how to find the light during the darkest of times. Or as Modi, puts it, channeling our Moschiach Energy….. I had to get that off my chest and thank you for the awesome podcast! Shabbat Shalom🪬✡️
I think you’re right that it was always in the cities. I grew up in the urban Northeast going to public schools but there was a significant Jewish population going to public schools… It has been getting significantly worse for the last 20 years, as much on the far left as on the right, but on the left, coded as anti-Israel (which does not make it better, just sneakier).
What anti-semites don't get is, - if they really want to end the "Jewish problem" they only need to stop hating us for juat a tiny bit of time... Maybe 20 years without someone attempting to kill us 😂.. the "problem" will be solved! We will not necessarily feel the need to be jews anymore.. at least notthe religious ones. But they have to have someone to direct all the anger at i guess...machshemoi haha They never seem to understand how much meaning they add to our lives, by pushing us to stick to our brothers and take care of one another, bringing our hearts closer together and bridging all the differences we thought we had between us. In one moment it all becomes so clear! Nothing metters, no difference can change the love and unity we have for our brithers and sisters. NOTHING else metters! its the best gift i could ever ask for. It precious. ❤
A shirt, I would definitely buy from Isaac Mizrahi. But for spiritual nourishment, celebrating the joy in life, and recognizing with gratitude all of God’s blessings, I’m team Modi all the way. Shabbat shalom!
I understand if Noam Chomsky never visited Israel but Issac with a last-name Mizrahi never visiting Israel in his entire life? That’s beyond a jaw dropping revelation. How do you not have curiosity or even career related events that never drew you to Israel?
This is an interesting interview. I would love to see Isaac be able to connect with his roots more. I think that modi has the right idea. Jews really are the choosing people and he chooses to connect with his Judaism. It's not 1984 anymore (or is it). But seriously I think Isaac is searching and he really should do some mitzvah. It would make him feel better
Modi and Isaac Mizrachi together has to be [as Modi would say] the ultimate in Moshiach energy [depending on you take on what Mosiach energy is for you]. Like most folk I'm overwhelmed by the news from Israel and about antiSemitic waves across Europe. This one hour podcast transported me to a long forgotten happy place.
Be beautiful thing about Judaism is the choosing. I love how you summed this up. Do good, be kind and choose to do mitzvot. Camp is often part of Judaism as well. Love this episode.
This conversation was fascinating on so many levels. A lot of food for thought from two delicious contemporary Jewish personalities. A feminine gay man would definitely be conspicuous in the frum world, no wonder Isaac had challenges with those intersecting identities (from a young age.) Also, just a question, I’m curious if hyper-masculinity is valued more in the Sephardi/Mizrahi communities? Modi’s positivity and love for Yiddishkeit is infectious, you get glimpses of Isaac processing it. 💙
About the acceptance of homosexuals, by jews. I noticed some differences in acceptance in mizrahi/Sephardic and Ashkenazi families. Ashkenazim tend to be more accepting, but this is really fading away, because we are very mixed as times goes on, so were all hybrids in our coltural differences. But if i think of the former generation, the closer we lived to arab coultures- the less accepting er tended to be. Which makes sense, we absorbed our environment. And this is of course a huge generalization, so dont it with a grain of salt. Anyways, what is beautiful about our jewish culture in general, nometter what origin, the younger generation simply knows not to automaticly continue bad traditions or bad ideas, we truly are open minded as a people, it might take time and patience, but eventually we get there. And yes its in the bible - (about the stoning) But its not in reality, and never was probably. I grew up in extremely religious hassidic home. And i never heard any refrence tothrowing stones, not at gays and not at anyone. Violence was not an option i heard discussions about . Of course there were cases of ignorance and looking down on who ever is the other at any given moment, but at the end of the day, my father loved knowing different people and allways invited people for shabbat dinner, not because he thought it was a mitsvah, he simply had an open heart, there was a Chinese man who used to come all the time and this was not an issue, But if i was to ask my father what he thinks about goyim, he might be saying some stupid ignorant shit, but its pike he did not connect it to the people he actually saw in reality. He didnt even explain himsrlf, its not like saying "your are not like other Chinese" he never said that, he simply spoke the words he heard from his parents but he did not believe it. My mother was different, she used to warn me not to merry a romanian or hungarian jew. (Jew!) Because she does not like them apparently.. only polish like us. But we all knew not to take her seriously, its stupid, there is no difference, and if there are differencs- maybe they're good differencs, who knows.. So of course all my sibling merried all kinds of people. And my point is that Ashkenazi parents dont have the same authority like Sephardic or mizrahi perents, (unless they are billionaires, thats a different category haha. Thats not an issue in my case 😅) So if you look at the bible, there are mentions of things, not all sound good to our ears today, because hello its an ancient text, even some texts from 1800 aged worst 😂 And the main point is that Judaism was reformed whenever it didnt fit the times. Stoning people was banned long long ago. Taking two wivws was banned long ago. (By rabeinu gershom) And many of the texts are basically an ongoing scholarly debate, which if you think about it, that is so open minded, way ahead of its time. There was allways a place for different opinions of different leaders and rabbies to co exist, the problems came from humen nature, not the books. The books allways said this rabbie thinks xthe other thinks y, it was not decided, /was decided. Growing up it was very clear to me that different jews have different ways of doing things, and no one is preferred by god. Because its based on where your heart is when you worship. Not the details. Compate it to islam for example, where you have explicit orderes to hate and kill people, no place for different opinions. and the nature of it does not allow reforms. Its the final word and the last prophet. Reformes are not allowed as a rule. So i wonder if throwing stones at gays was an example of an ideaabsorbed from other cultures. There is alot to improve, im not minimsing any problems we have as a people and as a society or religion, but i can see huge changes, Im an atheist, my brother married shikse, and my hassidic parents hug me when i come for shabbat dinner in bnei brak, i park farther away , just to make my mom happy, bevause she thinks the neighbors care ... 😂 And she does not give a fuck about me not keeping shabat, as long as the neighbors dont see me drive, as if they dont know me 😂 And you know what? The neighbors are much more accepting then my mom, because they are younger.. So, i am proud of my people. I did not know it before, i used to disrespect it alot, thought we are horrible and assholes of a people, but realized how wrong i was, since the war i opened my eyes, and found out how actually not all people in the world are like that, not at all. I love this culture!!! This is truly liberalism in my eyes.
Isaac needs to meet Rabbi Mike Moskowitz and Rabbi Steven Greenberg. There are a few great books they have written as well. Judaism and Queerness can 100% coexist in this world.
Im going to say that Isaac Mizrahi is an icon and has always represented the world of Diaspora Jewish culture with an amazing coolness that is very necessary to help combat the Jewish stereotype. However, him saying that antisemitism is inherently coming from the southern part of this country is a statement of denial. Perhaps because he is a fashion Mogul, that he may be in a bubble, but antisemitism is very much alive and well and has always been in northern big cities and the seemingly progressive left, who happen to be leading this front. I grew up in Chicago in a neighborhood with many Jews and Arabs. I am of Mizrahi descent, so people never assume I’m Jewish. My parents struggled financially and couldn’t send me to Jewish schools as the rest of the Jewish population was able to do so, so I found myself in Public schools, always existing as that one Jew. The Arab kids always asked if I was Jordanian, Iraqi, Syrian, etc, my response would be that I’m Jewish and all hell ensued. From the 3rd grade on through Highschool, I had over a dozen fist fights, I’ve been jumped on several occasions, chased with rocks being thrown at me, spat at, and called every Jewish slur under the sun. Most of these instances were from Arabs, but I also experienced such encounters with Black people and Latinos. I lived in NYC for 10 years, attending art school and starting my career as a painter and a tattoo artist. The amount of harassment I experienced from Leftist students and eventually my fellow co workers in tattoo shops is appalling. It all truly stems from the fact that I read as Arab or Latino, and when I tell people that “No, I’m a Jew and my family is Israeli”, I’m essentially no longer included in the cool crowd or get to claim minority status in this race obsessed society that is the United States, primarily amongst creative crowds where my experiences and background doesn’t fit their narrative, that Jews are white colonizers… so, that’s my rebuttal, and Issac should consider himself very lucky to not have experienced that. Everything has changed post October 7th, where even “white passing Jews” are facing discrimination on a mass scale. This has been my experience since my family arrived in 1986 from Israel when I was 4. It’s nothing new, it’s just that many Jews have been living in protected bubbles. October 7th has also brought Jews closer together. I’m finding more Jewish creatives to connect with. I’m discovering comics like Modi, I recently read that scribes can’t keep up with the demand for Tefillin. That is the beauty of our tribe. We always know how to find the light during the darkest of times. Or as Modi, puts it, channeling our Moschiach Energy….. I had to get that off my chest and thank you for the awesome podcast! Shabbat Shalom🪬✡️
I think you’re right that it was always in the cities. I grew up in the urban Northeast going to public schools but there was a significant Jewish population going to public schools… It has been getting significantly worse for the last 20 years, as much on the far left as on the right, but on the left, coded as anti-Israel (which does not make it better, just sneakier).
What anti-semites don't get is, - if they really want to end the "Jewish problem" they only need to stop hating us for juat a tiny bit of time... Maybe 20 years without someone attempting to kill us 😂.. the "problem" will be solved! We will not necessarily feel the need to be jews anymore.. at least notthe religious ones. But they have to have someone to direct all the anger at i guess...machshemoi haha
They never seem to understand how much meaning they add to our lives, by pushing us to stick to our brothers and take care of one another, bringing our hearts closer together and bridging all the differences we thought we had between us. In one moment it all becomes so clear! Nothing metters, no difference can change the love and unity we have for our brithers and sisters. NOTHING else metters!
its the best gift i could ever ask for. It precious.
❤
A shirt, I would definitely buy from Isaac Mizrahi. But for spiritual nourishment, celebrating the joy in life, and recognizing with gratitude all of God’s blessings, I’m team Modi all the way. Shabbat shalom!
I understand if Noam Chomsky never visited Israel but Issac with a last-name Mizrahi never visiting Israel in his entire life? That’s beyond a jaw dropping revelation. How do you not have curiosity or even career related events that never drew you to Israel?
Chomsky is a disgusting traitor and doesn't deserve to be allowed to set foot in Israel. Mizrahi is just far removed. Very different
He went to Skokie. It’s the next best thing 🥰
We all love #MashiahEnergy, keep it up MODI!
This is an interesting interview. I would love to see Isaac be able to connect with his roots more. I think that modi has the right idea. Jews really are the choosing people and he chooses to connect with his Judaism. It's not 1984 anymore (or is it). But seriously I think Isaac is searching and he really should do some mitzvah. It would make him feel better
Modi and Isaac Mizrachi together has to be [as Modi would say] the ultimate in Moshiach energy [depending on you take on what Mosiach energy is for you]. Like most folk I'm overwhelmed by the news from Israel and about antiSemitic waves across Europe. This one hour podcast transported me to a long forgotten happy place.
Isaac Mizrahi is an icon. Loved this man since at least the Isaac Mizrahi Show back in like, 2001.
That was absolutely fantastic, I was glued to every second, super interesting and funny xxx ❤❤❤
Be beautiful thing about Judaism is the choosing. I love how you summed this up. Do good, be kind and choose to do mitzvot. Camp is often part of Judaism as well. Love this episode.
This conversation was fascinating on so many levels. A lot of food for thought from two delicious contemporary Jewish personalities. A feminine gay man would definitely be conspicuous in the frum world, no wonder Isaac had challenges with those intersecting identities (from a young age.) Also, just a question, I’m curious if hyper-masculinity is valued more in the Sephardi/Mizrahi communities?
Modi’s positivity and love for Yiddishkeit is infectious, you get glimpses of Isaac processing it. 💙
Absolutely wonderful show. I love Isaac. I love watching him on QVC, lol.
About the acceptance of homosexuals, by jews.
I noticed some differences in acceptance in mizrahi/Sephardic and Ashkenazi families. Ashkenazim tend to be more accepting, but this is really fading away, because we are very mixed as times goes on, so were all hybrids in our coltural differences.
But if i think of the former generation, the closer we lived to arab coultures- the less accepting er tended to be. Which makes sense, we absorbed our environment.
And this is of course a huge generalization, so dont it with a grain of salt.
Anyways, what is beautiful about our jewish culture in general, nometter what origin, the younger generation simply knows not to automaticly continue bad traditions or bad ideas, we truly are open minded as a people, it might take time and patience, but eventually we get there.
And yes its in the bible - (about the stoning)
But its not in reality, and never was probably.
I grew up in extremely religious hassidic home. And i never heard any refrence tothrowing stones, not at gays and not at anyone. Violence was not an option i heard discussions about . Of course there were cases of ignorance and looking down on who ever is the other at any given moment, but at the end of the day, my father loved knowing different people and allways invited people for shabbat dinner, not because he thought it was a mitsvah, he simply had an open heart, there was a Chinese man who used to come all the time and this was not an issue,
But if i was to ask my father what he thinks about goyim, he might be saying some stupid ignorant shit, but its pike he did not connect it to the people he actually saw in reality.
He didnt even explain himsrlf, its not like saying "your are not like other Chinese" he never said that, he simply spoke the words he heard from his parents but he did not believe it.
My mother was different, she used to warn me not to merry a romanian or hungarian jew. (Jew!) Because she does not like them apparently.. only polish like us.
But we all knew not to take her seriously, its stupid, there is no difference, and if there are differencs- maybe they're good differencs, who knows..
So of course all my sibling merried all kinds of people.
And my point is that Ashkenazi parents dont have the same authority like Sephardic or mizrahi perents, (unless they are billionaires, thats a different category haha. Thats not an issue in my case 😅)
So if you look at the bible, there are mentions of things, not all sound good to our ears today, because hello its an ancient text, even some texts from 1800 aged worst 😂
And the main point is that Judaism was reformed whenever it didnt fit the times.
Stoning people was banned long long ago.
Taking two wivws was banned long ago. (By rabeinu gershom)
And many of the texts are basically an ongoing scholarly debate, which if you think about it, that is so open minded, way ahead of its time.
There was allways a place for different opinions of different leaders and rabbies to co exist, the problems came from humen nature, not the books.
The books allways said this rabbie thinks xthe other thinks y, it was not decided, /was decided.
Growing up it was very clear to me that different jews have different ways of doing things, and no one is preferred by god. Because its based on where your heart is when you worship. Not the details.
Compate it to islam for example, where you have explicit orderes to hate and kill people, no place for different opinions. and the nature of it does not allow reforms. Its the final word and the last prophet. Reformes are not allowed as a rule.
So i wonder if throwing stones at gays was an example of an ideaabsorbed from other cultures.
There is alot to improve, im not minimsing any problems we have as a people and as a society or religion, but i can see huge changes,
Im an atheist, my brother married shikse, and my hassidic parents hug me when i come for shabbat dinner in bnei brak, i park farther away , just to make my mom happy, bevause she thinks the neighbors care ... 😂
And she does not give a fuck about me not keeping shabat, as long as the neighbors dont see me drive, as if they dont know me 😂
And you know what? The neighbors are much more accepting then my mom, because they are younger..
So, i am proud of my people. I did not know it before, i used to disrespect it alot, thought we are horrible and assholes of a people, but realized how wrong i was, since the war i opened my eyes, and found out how actually not all people in the world are like that, not at all. I love this culture!!! This is truly liberalism in my eyes.
❤ Isaac M
great energy of a podcast! ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
I bought Isaac Mizrahi glasses for years until they weren't available anymore. We need more designs Isaac.
Isaac…I can’t you crack me up so bad 😂 are you wearing a harness and a ball gag 😂
Isaac needs to meet Rabbi Mike Moskowitz and Rabbi Steven Greenberg. There are a few great books they have written as well. Judaism and Queerness can 100% coexist in this world.
Yes. It’s sad that he hasn’t encountered anything else… He is stuck in his childhood experience.
We love mister Mizrahi 🎉❤
Elsa Klentsch, darling. Yes. Zichrona l'vracha.
SATC season 4 is the best
woman on sofa keeps changing topic & interrupting with irrelevant comments when Isaac or Modi in the middle of great stories.
Having TDS! Who is marching on the streets of New York and chanting “From the river to the sea “?
The deplorables? Wake up!
How sad that Mizrahi has had those experiences and has not found Jewish movements that have reconciled halakhic issues (there are gay rabbis).
I hope he is not a Zionist.
Why?