My Catholic Wife’s Jewish Conversion & How I Learned to Love Christmas

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And then October 7th happened and I was like this, these are my mother people.

There's nothing less Jewish than Christmas.

I gotta tell you, I don't know why God does a lot of the things that he does.

Jews definitely need a strong dose of that.

There is no hiding your star of David and not wearing your people where you don't wanna.

It's like there's none of that.

Emba welcome one and all to our Landmark 50th episode.

Whether you've been with me since day one, or discover the show somewhere along the way, I'm so happy you're here.

Now, today's guest is one I always knew I'd have on at some point, but I've been saving her for a special episode, and number 50 just feels right.

My guest is a world-class dance star who has performed in every major arena in every major city around the world.

She was a finalist and two time all-star on, so you Think You Can Dance A mainstay on TV series Glee and Hit the Floor.

A New York Knicks city dancer backed up music icons with canine names like Pitbull and Snoop Dogg, and appeared in a number of films with the word rock in the title like Rock of Ages, camp Rock Two, and The Rock with Sean Connery.

Except not that one.

That was a joke.

At 23, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and has been an incredible spokesperson and advocate ever since handling her condition with unbelievable grace and determination.

At 28, she converted to Judaism and is now the mayor of our kids' Jewish day school.

At 31, she became a mother, and now that we're done having kids, they're planning her Jersey retirement ceremony at Madison Square Garden.

She's balletic on the stage, a baab BoostA in the house and a straight baller everywhere it counts.

She's a my wife.

Please welcome at last, the greatest gift to the Jewish people since the 10 Commandments.

Mrs. Courtney Ann Platt.

Weekly.

Shout out to Courtney.

Wow.

That was, that was a pretty epic intro.

Oh, you're an epic woman, babe.

That is very nice.

Thank you for being here.

Thanks for having me.

This is so fun.

I'm very excited to have you.

I feel like this is like the, the longest we'll have like, get to have a conversation.

Have a conversation since, when was Jo 2019.

Yeah.

Since Joey was born.

Yeah.

It's like that.

Well, I've been waiting for this moment and I've been saving it and I'm, I'm glad it's finally here.

Oh my goodness.

So let's jump right in, shall we?

Okay.

Okay.

What would you say are my best qualities?

No, I'm just kidding.

Are you?

I was gonna say, I thought this was about me.

Okay.

Let's start.

I wanna start at the beginning.

Why don't we start with the story of how you and I met, and I would love to hear it in your own words.

The first time I met you, you said, I forgot your name.

Well, yes you did.

But that's, that came afterwards.

I didn't say that to your face.

That was no.

So the first time we met was in, um, rehearsal.

It was no, the first time we met was at the cast party where you forgot my name.

That doesn't count because I forgot your name.

So like, you didn't even make an impression of me.

You're saying that That's correct.

So that's fine.

So there you go, folks like, sorry, have hope you might meet the, the, I'm sorry, the person you're gonna spend your life with and they don't even remember they've met you.

So then we meet in rehearsal.

Yes.

Um, and uh, this is for hair the musical at the Hollywood Bowl in 2014.

What eventually, so first impression was it zero impression.

Then later you start to fall in love with me.

What soul You Correct.

I thought you were the, the smartest person ever and I thought you were so professional and well prepared and when so many people.

Forgot their lines.

Like you would jump in and know them, and it, you just like really stood out and you worked so hard and you, like, it was just a really, you made a really lasting impression for sure.

Like, I, I, I loved watching you, um, sing that was, and I, and hearing your amazing voice.

Um, yeah, you definitely, and everybody loved you.

Like you were, you were just like such a light in the rehearsal room and like, a lot of the time when you work with actors, no offense, but like, you have to like, sometimes not baby them, but be like, that was so good.

Mm-hmm.

Just like, stretch your arm a little for, meanwhile it's just like, you were just like, you just wanted to like, okay, gimme what it is.

Stretch your arm.

And I, and I really appreciated that.

When did it flip from like, oh, this is a, you know, an impressive cast member who I admire to like, oh, I, I might have feelings for this person.

You were like very flirty with me.

You were very flirty with me and you texted me.

About something, about a wine night or something.

You're like, so, well, we, there was like talks of having some sort of like cast wine night or something.

Yeah.

And you like texted me.

You're like, how about that wine night?

Like you were very, you were laying it on pretty thick.

And then I remember I stole your snack and I, it was like some like delicious zucchini chips or something.

And then I went and replenished them and I went and I put a little heart on, on the, um, the bag and I left it in your, um, in your dressing room.

I remember when I asked, um, some of the cast to sing at the MS event I was having, you were like the first one.

You were like absolutely the first one to respond.

Yes.

So you just, and you were hot babe.

Okay.

So then I, I've told this story on the show before.

Okay.

But I'd like to hear it in your words.

I want to hear the story of our first date, which came basically after we were already a couple.

Yeah.

It was, it was an interesting start.

Um.

Our first date, I feel like we really got down to business like we were sitting and it was Angelina, Austria, which is like, which was hilarious because years later it was became our neighborhood spot with our children.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Um, but I was so excited.

I remember I bought a new outfit and we were just sitting there and you just said to me like, you, you really, you just laid it out there.

You were like, listen, you know, Judaism is something that is incredibly important to me.

Is it something that you would consider?

You seem like a serious chick.

Um, I'm a serious guy.

I could see this going.

The distance.

Is it something that you would consider, you know, down the road, and I remember my answer was, I'd have to see it was.

Important to you, not just, you know, your family or like that you were being pressured to do it.

I'd have to see you, you know, live it.

And then the next one was, well, if you, if you do convert, our children will have to go to camper Ma.

So that, so you, you listen.

I was not messing around.

No, you were not messing around it.

I was like, a lot of my girlfriends were like dating these guys for a long time.

And then like two years later they're like, I don't want kids.

And she's like, what?

You know, so it was a, I really, at that time, I just, I really appreciated the clarity.

Like, I, I thought that was like another amazing quality.

If you wanna know some of your fantastic qualities, honey, good time.

Yeah.

You just were honest and laid it out and true to yourself and I appreciated that.

So like from the lens of, you know, the person that I am falling for or already love whatever is asking me to consider becoming Jewish.

Yeah.

Like.

Like what I, my memory of it, you know, I have a shit memory, but I remember smiles, like when I asked you this, you answered with a smile on your face.

It was not like a tense moment or anything like that at all.

Um, like how did that hit you?

Just that aspect of it.

I think I already loved you, so it was, you know, I mean, I did tell you I loved you later that evening, the day after that is correct.

Yeah.

Um, I also made a deal with you.

I said, listen, the, the one thing that will always happen no matter what is we will be, my, my children will believe in Santa Claus, and we will be at my parents' house for Christmas every single year.

You know, it's not this like crazy holy thing in my house.

I mean, they, they acknowledge it, but like, um, it's more, it's like traditional and, and family.

And so that was something that like, I just wanted to make, get out there as well.

And then once you said Okay, I was, I was definitely all smiles.

Yeah.

So let's, let's get into your upbringing.

You were raised Italian Catholic, correct.

What, what did that mean in your house?

It was like, say your prayers at night, like, say Grace before meals, but it wasn't something that was like, um, in my every single day life.

It wasn't something like, I didn't read out of the Bible every single day, you know?

It was, it was for me, my parents really instilled like more of a belief in God.

Like, that was a, an incredibly important thing.

Um, growing up in my home, you know, my mom says her prayers every night.

My, my brother and sister-in-law go to church.

Like it is, you know, so for my dad has, has always struggled a bit with, you know, um, with the belief in God and, and things like that.

But he, you know, I can relate.

Yeah, I know.

It's, it's so, yeah, it was, it wasn't like this like crazy Catholic, you know?

Hardcore house, but it also wasn't nothing like no de wasn wasn't nothing, you know, like a lot of your, your, your father, your brother, they were cross necklaces.

Yes.

Your sister-in-laws, your mom likes to go to mass.

Like, correct.

It is definitely, um, a, it's a presence in their life.

Yeah.

It is not something that is like forgotten.

It is, it is a presence in their life.

There's no birthright for Catholics.

Like nobody's sending a bunch of kids to the Vatican, you know, to like learn about.

It's, it's, it is interesting.

It's like for Jews, and I didn't know this before, now I have, you know, the complete picture.

It's, it's a.

A way of life.

It is a who you are as a human, in your blood, in your, it is, it is your identity.

We go to church, we do all the things.

It's like, how like going, it's like interesting to me.

Yeah.

No, I, and I appreciate that so much because like, I appreciate you honoring my family because I will never not honor my family.

Of course.

Yeah.

And so I, I do appreciate that you have, I mean, you had a hard, hard time with like the Santa Claus piece in the, in the beginning.

Uh, I did.

There were some, definitely some growing pains around Christmas for sure, for sure.

Growing pains aren't Christmas.

But I mean, in my head I was like, what do you mean?

Chris Christmas is like the greatest ever.

It's like the most magical holiday on the planet.

Like, what are you, what are you talking about?

I know, but for, for a Jew, a Jewish kid growing up Yeah.

Christmas, like there's nothing less Jewish than Christmas.

It's like the le it is like a double bacon cheeseburger of a holiday.

Right.

And you grow up like feeling so not a part of that.

Right.

In a, in a, not in like a.

Oh, I'm excluded way, but just like that is not our people.

Right.

Like that is the other people's thing.

Right.

And so like when it was, okay, now Jonah, like, you're gonna be celebrating Christmas.

Yeah.

I was not like, okay, this is my thing now.

Right.

It was like, okay, I'm going to my wife's family to be there while they celebrate their Christmas.

Yeah.

You know?

And I think a lot of our growing pains, like it was like, I feel like I dove headfirst into your things and your traditions and your, so I think a lot of the growing pains was like your hesitation to dive in headfirst.

Yes.

And you, you didn't exactly like grease the wheels for me.

I definitely did not grease the wheel.

You, I didn't talk me through anything.

Didn't.

It wasn't like, here's what's important.

No.

Or like, this is what this means.

It was just like, here we're Christmas, doing Christmas, weren't you smiling?

Like, let's go.

That's fair.

Yeah.

That's fair.

You know, and it, it like took a second.

Yeah.

It, it took a couple years and then definitely, I mean, a memory I have that I'm sure you have is the first time I saw our son Joey, when we were at with some mall Santa, and everyone's like, go sit on Santa's lap and take a picture.

Mm-hmm.

And I had like a little tantrum, I don't know what you'd call it, but I was like, not okay.

Right.

It felt really, and especially because Joey was crying and everyone around, like the kid was crying, we're all laughing and thinking it's good.

'cause like that's.

A lot of the time what babies do when they see Santa Claus at first.

And you were like, he, why he's miserable.

Like, why are we putting this, this small baby on this fat man with a beard's lap?

Like you were stuck.

Yeah.

The strange employee and, and who's like, you know, the epitome of non-Jewish.

Yeah.

And like my Jewish kid is like sitting there crying on his lap.

It was like, that was, that, that was not, yeah.

A fun moment for me.

So the thing that like really unlocked it for me was your dad shout out to, to big.

Then, um, he was like, you know the feeling when you're a kid and you're driving to Disneyland, like that's Christmas.

That's what it's about.

And like, it's very simple to say, but like, once I understood that, like it's just about like the magic and the wonder and the like excitement for the kids.

Yeah.

Like it's even saying it now, I'm like, you're like, duh.

But like, I didn't.

Know that.

Right.

It wasn't my thing.

I didn't know.

I mean, it was like I, I had to like get it on that level and that sort of freed me up to just enjoy it Now, you know, I'm the, I'm rocking the Christmas shirts and the bacon, the tables.

Totally.

And having a great, totally good old time.

How did you break it to your family that like, Hey, I met this Jewish guy and I'm gonna marry him and become a Jew.

If you literally wanna talk about like, not preparing someone like I, I, I honestly blame some of the difficulties.

Like if there were like the small ones that we had, like on myself, like I did the worst job.

Like I, I literally called him up.

I was like, Hey, I, I'm totally in love with this guy and.

I'm gonna convert to Judaism if I marry him.

And I, it was just like, did you tell them that, right?

Like, was that after the first date kind of thing?

Yeah.

Like I immediately, here's the thing I with my, everyone's like, oh, you don't introduce them after the first date.

You wait.

Like you, with my, I never did that growing up.

Like if you, if I was dating you, like you came home and if, if you could hang with my family, you like passed it and then if you couldn't, like you we're not going on a second date.

It's just not happening.

I think I've always been the one to like, um, my poor parents like shock my parents.

Like, I've just been like, you're the only one that ever left in your entire Yeah.

Like I family, they're like, you left the New York City area.

Yeah.

There was nothing that could stop you if you sent, set your mind to something.

And it's interesting because it's like they're the ones who instilled that in me.

So yeah, I like called them up and I just kind of told them.

It wasn't like a permission thing, it was just, and you know, I was like, we'd still have Christmas and whatever.

And I think it just took them like a really long time to digest that and.

I just didn't, I don't think I did a good job like saying to them, you did the most incredible job raising me, and I believe in God because of you, because of what you've instilled in me.

You know, like even at the Badin when I had to, when I converted and we had that ceremony, I did a whole essay on how like my parents instilled God in me, like, hit the brakes here, like my, you know, um, and just honoring them in that way and allowing the fact that like, I know exactly who I am on the inside and I don't feel like changing, um, my religion.

Would be something that like changed who I was inside.

There was one phone call.

Oh, there was one phone call.

My poor mom, she was yelling, who's gonna have Christmas if I die?

And I'm like, your two sons and your Catholic daughter-in-laws like, like they'll have Christmas.

Like it's gonna be okay.

But it's like, it's fair.

It's like I'm the only, I'm Yeah.

And you're her oldest girl.

You're the only girl.

And then I moved 3000 miles away and I'm like, Hey, I'm a Jew now.

I'm a Jew.

How are you?

Hi.

I am a Jew.

How are you?

Yeah.

And it came out a couple years into our marriage that, you know, there were some conversations that we probably should have had at the beginning.

Oh my God, we never had a hundred percent.

I feel like I like shielded.

I feel like instead of like you talking about it with my parents as well, it's like I never brought you in on the conversation.

I, I was totally the middleman because I never wanted anyone to like.

Feel bad or, you know, fight or, and one night it came to a head and it went to the wee hours of the morning.

The, our conversation.

Yes, yes.

There was arguing at my brother's.

We went home, drank a bottle of wine.

I think I drank a bottle of wine, a full one, like to my face because I was just like, I, I couldn't believe that we were doing this.

But it was, it was good.

Like I, it ended up ultimately it was like they didn't know a lot of the things that you did like to, to kind of like prepare me.

I wasn't forced into it.

I wasn't, you know, you didn't say you have to be a Jew or I can't marry you.

It was like, this is something that's important to me, like the way you presented it.

I don't think I did a good job explaining to them and.

I don't know.

It was just, it was a, it was a big blow up, but at at the end of it all, I'm really happy it happened.

I think they were just like, they were hurting because they looked at you and they were like, so what?

We're not good enough.

Yeah.

Just because we're not Jewish, we're not good enough.

Right.

My daughter has to change.

Yeah.

To like be good enough to be with you.

Right.

And me, I never felt like I had to like, it wasn't this like insane change.

I really felt like, well, if I'm going to be able to celebrate all the holidays with my family and my children are going to be able to experience it, and they're gonna know their grandparents in and out and where they came from and.

Honor all of those things.

It, it, I think it felt like a little bit of a betrayal, almo almost in a, in a way to them.

And, and I get it.

I get it now looking back and now I have kids and I, it, everything hits different when you have kids.

Of course.

And you, I feel, I feel for them and I should have done a much better job of bringing them in on the conversation.

So conversion.

Yes.

Let's talk about, you're the first guest I've had on the show who's converted Yeah.

You know, start to finish.

Modern Day, Ruth.

It's a huge commitment.

It is.

And I mean, honestly, like you were doing it for me.

Yes, yes.

I mean, you didn't do it 'cause you found Judaism.

You were doing it because the guy you were gonna marry said, well, you please become a, I saw how important it was to you.

Were, were you ever able to make it for yourself in the process?

After we were married, like, I think it took a couple years.

Yeah.

You know, like, it, it, it just, how it did for you, it just, it took, it took me a couple years, frankly, if I'm, I'm being completely honest.

Please.

When we went to Israel together, I was pregnant with Joey and you were like, do you feel the magic of Israel?

And I was like, I don't.

Okay.

I'm like, it's beautiful.

It's beautiful.

It's amazing.

Like, you know, like I said the other day they were digging for excavating for a parking lot and then all of a sudden they found something from the Ottoman Empire.

It was like, it was like, oh my God.

So it.

It's an incredible place, but I, it didn't feel like spiritual to me.

Right.

And then October 7th happened and I was like, fuck this.

These are my motherfucking people.

Like I was, I I like jumped on the train real quick.

I wanna put a pin in that.

Okay.

'cause I want to get to that.

Okay.

But we have, we have a lot of ground to cover.

Wow.

Before we get to your October 7th moment.

Okay.

Okay.

Um, we're still, we're still back on conversion.

Okay.

So we're like 10 years away.

Sorry.

No, it's good.

So take us through what the process was for you.

I enjoyed the process.

Actually.

I had, um.

A, I would have weekly sessions with Rabbi Kab, um, and we would sit down together at like a Starbucks or a restaurant, whatever, and we would talk for three or four hours.

And we, it starts at the beginning of, um, the year, so Rosh Hashanah and, and it takes you through an entire Jewish calendar year.

And he was amazing because he was, he was modern Orthodox and he was so honest about everything.

And like, I just, um, I enjoyed the back and forth.

I enjoyed that.

Judaism, this is something that has always stuck to me, like Judaism, like welcomes questioning like that it is like based on questioning and like, that is something I, I love because I think like in your faith you're constantly questioning and it life tests you and you're constantly questioning things.

And so, yeah, I, I.

That was an amazing experience.

And like a lot of people went through the, um, you know, reformed conversion or, but I, I like that I did the orthodox conversion.

Like if I'm gonna do something like, um, let me just do it and like, know all of the things.

And then when we're living our lives together, we could, you know, pick what we love, what we don't love, what what is right for us.

And that's what we did.

And it was just a, I, I really enjoyed meeting Rabbi Riskin.

So, rabbi Kin, rabbi Calb, you converted through a program called or to Stone?

Yes.

Shout out to those homies.

They're pretty awesome.

Yep.

Or Tourist Stone is something that like.

Your family had a, had a big hand in Well, my grandfather.

Yeah, your grandfather and I, I was just like, may his memory be a blessing.

Totally.

But he, you know, you were nervous that this was like, this, like your my more orthodox grandpa.

There you go.

So don't be, don't be shy.

See what you're thinking.

You were nervous that my more observant grandfather was like, you need to use this rabbi.

Yes.

And this rabbi's gonna like be Yeah.

Strict and lay down the law.

But that is the opposite.

It was the opposite.

The purpose of what or to stone is, which, which is to try to bring Orthodox Judaism to the modern person.

I had all these preconceived notions and I, and I enjoyed talking to him so much and he, I remember he really loved the letter I wrote, um, at the bein when, at the mikvah when I read that letter before I went in For About your parents?

Yeah, about my parents.

And he like, was like, this is what it's about.

Like this is, this is the most beautiful thing.

He was like, I want, he, he, he made me send it to him.

And so I, and he.

You should always honor your family.

You should never do, not ever, you know, forget where you came from.

And so I, I really appreciated that about him.

I appreciate it too.

I mean, that's, that's, that's sort of Judaism is my kind of Judaism.

Yeah.

What were some of the challenges of the conversion process for you?

I definitely took issue with the way, like, go ahead.

Okay.

The, the whole like sleep separately when you have your period thing.

Like, I, I was like, that is some bullshit.

That's like some caveman shit that, like, before there were pads and tampons, some guy was like, that's gross.

You go sleep over there and I didn't ask for this, and you're gonna go over, I have to leave because you go, you know, so it's like, it like pissed me off.

So I was annoyed about that.

And then I was annoyed that like, just like.

I don't know, like the whole, um, not annoyed, but I didn't really understand it.

Like the whole, when women wear their wigs, it's like, if, if my hair turns your husband on, that's your problem, not mine.

You know?

So it's like, there was like a, there was like some things with the, the whole women aspect of it that I, that I didn't love.

Yeah.

Like I, I felt like I don't, like where did these men think that they came from?

You're welcome for your life.

Like, don't ever treat me any less equal than you are.

You know, and I'm, and listen, I'm like super traditional, but I'm like.

Also believe that women are strong and amazing individuals that create life and should be treated as such.

So, and it's not to say that they're not, because I, right.

I think just like on the outside looking in, that's what it, um, could look like.

So I think just, you know, I remember I was at, hi, um, rabbi Kbs daughter's Bar Mitzvah.

She's dyslexic and she's reading from the Torah.

And there was Ajita in the middle, like the men and women were separate.

Right.

And some men, when this little girl who pro worked incredibly hard for her, you know, to, for this moment, these men got up and left.

'cause women aren't supposed to read from the, like, I, I was, I wanted to like, kick him.

Yeah.

It was, it was horrible.

I literally, I, I was pissed.

I looked at Rabbi Hill, I'm like, how you're gonna let that happen?

What's the matter with you?

Like, you know, and he was just like, it is what it is.

And to me it's not, it is what it is.

It's like, that's my daughter, you know, she worked really hard for that and.

Just because she's a chick, you're gonna get up and like leave, gimme a break.

Like the whole, like, they can't hear women saying like, why not?

What are they sirens?

You're gonna like, what's it, what's gonna crash?

Your, the rocks.

You're crash, your shit.

Gimme a break.

Like, so it's like, and now I, I respect it and I understand it more.

Are there any sort of elevated moments from your conversion process that stick out?

Like things that were really, you know, meaningful or remarkable or positive?

I think Shabbat was like my, my greatest, the greatest thing to ever enter my life.

Like I think that to the ability to like try and disconnect and like a ma a night that is like.

Life is so insane.

And, and to have a night that is like mandatory just for family and just we're focusing on like what really matters to kind of bring you back to zero again is, is an incredible part of Judaism.

Like I, I I think that is, that was like the greatest gift for sure.

Can you recall any of your fondest, earliest Jewish memories, like as your first becoming a Jew or maybe after you convert or during and I think my first Shabbat at Susan Schmidt's house after we got married.

Yes.

Shout out to Susan.

Yes.

I I think that was an incredibly special And shout out to Isaac.

May his memory be a blessing.

Yes.

We miss him.

He's the best.

I loved being at my nephew's, you know, Briss and, um, just like, I, I think the Jews do a good job of like celebrating, you know, I rem and I also remember being very impressed with you on Yom Kippur.

Like, I, it is like, you take it very seriously.

I know, but like a lot of it's, it's interesting because like when you talk about like your struggle with God and like your things that.

You take Yom Kippur like very seriously.

I definitely didn't know that.

So that was like a surprising thing for me when you were like, no, I'm not wearing lead.

Like you do, you do, you did all the things and you took it very seriously and you wanted to be in show all day.

And, and so I, I, I loved that.

I, I did, I loved seeing that.

Thanks babe.

Mm-hmm.

Maybe one year you'll join me.

Listen, I, I, I don't fast because I, well, I don't care about the fasting.

What do you mean you don't care about the fasting?

No, I mean, for you, you, you take medications.

Oh, it's like, you, you don't fast.

It's hard when you don't feel good.

It, no.

It's like, what's the point?

Right?

It is, it's hard when you have little kids, I think like, it's, it's hard to like, like actually focus when you have little kids running around and, you know, and I, I do reflect on that day.

I do, I do.

And like, you know, we, we sin, we betray, we blah, blah.

We do all the things.

We do it all horrible things.

And.

It is a, it is a reminder to like, you know, check yourself.

Yeah.

I'll be, I'll be in synagogue and we'll be doing that one and I'm like to Courtney, like, we did this.

You did it.

You did this.

Yes.

This is, we're familiar.

You wonder why I get annoyed at it.

The culmination of the conversion ceremonies.

Mm-hmm.

The day at the Mikva.

Yes.

The bait.

Dean, you go before the rabbis.

Yes.

Have to answer questions.

Do you remember what they asked you?

What do I love most about Judaism?

Do you remember what you said?

Shabbat?

Mm-hmm.

What don't I like?

What's the least thing I like about Did you say?

I did, like I said, all the things, the things that we just talked about, why I am doing this, and I was honest.

I said because of you, but like along the way I'm slowly starting to love things and you know, adopt them as my own.

They didn't do the whole like.

I, I, we were in the car with your cousin and he was like, you know, did, did they have to deny you?

And it was like, the first time I've ever heard that.

And I was like, deny me.

I was like, they're point dear.

I was like, what do you mean deny me?

I was like, so I like didn't get it.

And you were like, relax.

Like you were like, that's a thing that sometimes the traditional thing they deny you to like, make you really prove you want to be there.

Yeah.

Yeah.

When you had that day at the mikvah mm-hmm.

You do your, the bein, you do the ceremonial dunk.

Um, did you feel, okay, I am a Jew now, or you were like, okay, that's done, like onto the next thing.

Yes.

That's how I felt.

Yeah.

But, 'cause it's, you can't, you can't force, you can't flip a switch.

You can't flip a switch.

Like, I think it's like, I knew we were gonna be married, we're spending our life together.

Like I knew what I was getting into, but it's like to actually feel it in your heart and like, you know, believe and, and.

I, I think you, it takes time.

And so I know we're gonna get to, we're, we're still gonna get there, we're gonna get to October 7th.

Mm-hmm.

And what that meant to you.

Mm-hmm.

Was there even a moment between your conversion in 2016 and October 7th, 2023, where you were like, okay, I am a Jew now?

I think when Joey was Shabbat Abba.

Oh yeah.

Like seeing my ch my kid do it and like, love it so much.

And, um, it be something that is just like he knows and is in him.

And I think I was like, okay, this is, this is mine now.

That's so nice.

Yeah.

Do you think in Jew, like, what do you mean about that?

Like, if we got divorced?

Mm-hmm.

Would you be like, oh, I can stop being Jewish now?

No, I, I, I don't think that, I've never been a part of a community like this.

It's crazy.

It's like, it is so overwhelming at times, but it is.

So overjoyed, like you just feel like you are a part of something and anybody will do anything for you.

It's definitely become a part of my everyday life and become a part of my children's everyday life.

And it doesn't take away from where I came from and like who I am and like my past, honestly.

Right.

It just, it just doesn't, it's like, it, it, it has added to my life.

To your parents' credit.

They've always made me feel very embraced and comfortable and supportive of my Jewishness and all of that.

Um, even from the, the day we were married.

There's a story that you just told me recently that I wasn't even aware of on the night of our, our wedding, uh, about something your dad said to some of your friends.

Could you please recount that story?

So Josh actually told us about it.

Oh, that's right.

Yeah.

Josh shout out to Josh.

So he said that they were all at.

Table at the Friday night dinner.

It was like all, all of my friends from home, um, they were so, it was all the Long Island.

All the Long Island people.

You, Ella?

Correct.

All, all the, you know, ri and this group.

And so they, you know, one of my friends was not wearing the kipa.

And so my father comes over and he goes, where's your little hat?

And he's like, I don't, I don't have to wear a little hat.

I'm not, he goes, everybody wears the little hat.

Put your little hat on.

He slammed his hand down on the table.

Like, just like everybody wears a little hat.

Yeah.

It was like Josh did a much better job, but it was just, it was totally like, my parents definitely embraced it.

Yeah, I know.

Yeah.

I just love that story.

Yeah.

It's such a good story.

So you've, you've sort of touched on this a little bit, but how, how do you think about being a wife and a mother through a Jewish lens after October 7th?

I feel like, um.

A wife, no problem.

And a Jew, no problem.

But a Jewish mother, I was like, I had my claws out.

Anyone in my life that would be cool with them, wrapping my children up, burning them, raping me, and then shooting my husband while like, he got to watch them.

It's like, you're toast.

You're done.

You're done.

To me, you're dead.

To me, it's like I've, I'm very black and white with that.

It's like, my kids are Jewish and this is what it is, and I will fuck you up.

Like I, I'm sorry.

I know it sounds terrible.

Well, no, it doesn't sound anymore.

It's like I just, and I will never let my children feel afraid of being Jewish.

Like to me, that is.

That that is, that is not a, I, I will not allow that.

I, I, you know, like when, after October 7th happened, you know, we, we lived in a very Jewish neighborhood, Orthodox neighborhood, and everyone, some people were like, oh, should we take our mozza down?

I was like, don't you dare take those mozza down.

It's like, because then they win, you know, then they win.

It's like, that's not, you know, on that Friday where they claimed Jihad and they were gonna do whatever, you know, like, they were like, we're keeping our kids home from school.

I was like, hell no.

My kid's going to school.

Like the day that they affect my children's life, like these parents who have college, the kids in college and like their graduations were canceled.

They weren't able to go to class.

I would've shown up with a baseball bat.

Hell no.

My kid is, he's gonna be proud of who he is through and through and who she is through and through and, and there is no hiding your star of David and not wearing your ki where you don't wanna, it's like there's none of that.

There, there will be none of that if you gotta throw a couple punches in there, because like, that's what happens because somebody hates you because of it.

You go, you do what you gotta do.

Okay.

So that's the, the Jewish mom in relation to people who don't like Jews.

Yeah.

What about the Jewish mom in relation to what we like about being Jewish?

So like how are you trying, what values do you try to adhere to as a Jewish wife and as a Jewish mom that you wanna infuse into your marriage and instill into your kids?

It's like a way of life.

I, I it's like they're living it.

What is it?

What is the way of life?

I mean, they go to Jewish day school.

It's, but like, is that important?

I didn't want our kids to go to like Hebrew school.

I wanted our kids to it.

It, it is a part of their day and like, and, and a part of their education and a part of like, what is.

You know, their lives.

This isn't some like separate thing, like it is intrinsically like in their day-to-day life.

And I think sometimes when like kids go to like Hebrew school or they're like forced to go sit for three hours and, you know, study something after they've already been at school day.

It's like I didn't want that.

I wanted them to like have Jewish joy and like, you know, love being Jewish.

What are some of your favorite ways that we've merged our different backgrounds into one Plat Family identity.

You have done a, a wonderful job of honoring where I came from and I think like the, the way that like you will, where your Christmas sweater and you will go to church when needed and like you will, it's like, if anything, I feel like maybe it's made your Judaism stronger.

'cause you're like, I remember a Rabbi Ka said.

His son's like favorite thing was when the, they would be deciding the pope, who the next Pope would be.

The conclave.

Yes.

And I was like, what?

And he was like, yeah.

He's like, he loves like the tradition of it.

He loves like, like everybody loves a conclave.

But the It is, it's very interesting.

It's very interesting.

But the thing is, it's like his point was, I will never shield my child from not knowing about other cultures and other religions.

If anything, it makes himself be more secure in who she is, in who he is in his, his belief system and Judaism.

I think that's one of my favorite quotes from the 50 episodes of this show.

What?

Everybody loves a Conve.

I'm gonna put that on a shirt.

Being Jewish, everybody loves a conclave.

That's good.

We're gonna do that.

Well, some of them, like one of the favorite ways that.

I love that the way that we like our family traditions.

Like I love that we now host, like first Night Hanukkah, I decorate for every season, every holiday.

And I think it was, that was like a huge adjustment was like not having a Christmas tree and you were like, Courtney, make our house a winter wonderland.

And and I took that and I ran.

Yeah.

I feel like we've done a good, a really nice job of negotiating that.

Yes.

And our, our house, it's beautiful.

Is beautiful, beautiful.

And we, like, I have stockings, but we have manure on them with everyone's name on it.

And like there's like, you know, we have so ornaments and things like that.

It's just enjoyable.

Ornaments and, and yeah, we host the first night of Hanukah because to me it's like, it gives me a taste of where I.

Came from mm-hmm.

And like tradition.

And so I, I love that very much.

I loved when we hosted Passover too.

We did, like, I loved when we like did one ser we did a nice Eder.

Yeah.

It was like, I love having your family over and doing these things.

I, I do.

I love, I love it.

So, uh, recently I held an event in our home that I called the being Jewish together.

Mosaic Shabbat.

Yes.

And although it was your home, you were very much not the hostess, you were a participant.

I was a participant and I was.

Shocked.

I want to, I want to hear about your experience.

Okay.

It truly ended up being like, one of the most special nights.

I probably have, like, I would say like in the top 10 of like my life.

Please say more.

It was just like, it was so amazing.

Like everyone had different backgrounds.

Everyone was from a different walk of life.

Like who was Jewish, who wasn't, who was black, who was white, who was Asian, who was, you know, it was, everybody was so different.

Yet you found a similarity between, between each other and the talk.

The way that you orchestrated it with, you know, you switched seats each course and it was so organized and so planned out that it was just you, you walk, you walked away, like really getting something from it.

It was, it was so special, like comfort.

My, you know, one of my best friends, she, she was there and she literally said, she was like, listen, growing up in Texas, I was like.

The Jews, we grew up rich.

They were rich white people.

I didn't know there were any other Jews that existed.

And so, you know, for her to be brave and to have to feel comfortable enough in a space to be able to say that, and for everybody being vulnerable, to have those like difficult conversations and for her to get to be at a dinner with an Asian Jew.

Yeah, I've never met any an Asian Jew.

That was great.

It was, it was awesome.

I've never, it was, it was so wonderful talking to everyone and getting to know them and, um, it was just so special under the stars in our backyard.

You did the most incredible job.

Thank you.

Yeah.

You really, really did.

It was such a special night and everybody felt it, you know, and the way you started it was like, you please assume that everybody is coming from a good place when they say things like a vulnerable and good.

Place that like, it is a safe space to say which, which I think you do very well.

You hear people, you're a good listener.

You've created something where people feel safe having difficult conversations around you and, and, and on their own.

And you've really, I'm very proud of you.

You're very spiritual person.

You always have been.

Why do you think God set you down this path?

I gotta tell you, I don't know why God does a lot of the things that he does.

I have, I, yes, I am spiritual.

I would say as of late I've had some questions, but in Judaism that is okay.

Have you ever thought about it in that way?

Your life at all of like being on a path?

No, but here's what I can say.

I, I do feel like there is a gener generational fear sometimes instilled within Jews because of the Holocaust, because of like the trauma that I don't carry, right?

So I feel like there's like a.

Refreshing energy to Judaism or excitement that maybe I can add.

I don't, I don't know.

Just like I, I don't carry the fear with me.

Right?

I, I, it's like, I am who I am and this is it.

And you're either gonna accept it or back off totally.

Jews definitely need a, a strong dose of that.

I, I do think so.

Like, being afraid to go places.

It's like, yes, there are some places that are dangerous to go to that you shouldn't go, but like being, just be proud of who you are and not do not be apologize or be afraid of, you know, what you believe in or who you are as a person.

How has being Jewish, if at all, changed your relationship to God?

The older we get and the more, um, tragedy.

I see, like when your best friend Mark passed a glio past, like I, I went into like a spiritual crisis.

Like I was like, he has a six month old child, a beautiful wife.

He just married.

Like why?

Why is this happening?

You know?

And I, I remember like reaching out to Rabbi Ope, I was like, this is some bullshit.

Like, what?

You know?

And he explained like, without the bad, you don't have the good, you're not gonna be able to like, recognize the good.

Not everything can be good all the time.

That everything could be bad all the time.

And the point of faith is like, it's believing in what you don't see.

Like yet he, there is a plan.

Do you believe that?

I mean, sometimes yes, and sometimes no.

I, I, I feel like I've definitely grappled with it a little bit more as I become older and tainted.

Um, but then like I, I look at my kids, I look at our children and I'm like, oh my God.

Like there's no way God doesn't exist.

Like the world is really a remarkable place with like re and does carry these things like, and have these things that we take for granted every day.

So there isn't, it's like somebody had to do that.

There has to be.

Something larger than us.

So you mentioned that the, the death of my friend Mark.

Yeah.

May his memory be a blessing.

Kind of shook your, yeah.

Faith.

Um, I'll just do a quick shout out to my tattoo here.

This says WW MD.

What would Mark do?

Yeah, it's for Mark.

I think about it all the time.

I, he, I, I'm definitely a better person because of Mark.

When I think about him, I make the right choice instead of the, that's really nice.

The selfish or the wrong choice.

He always made right choice's.

Really nice.

Tragically, in the past couple years, two of the three other finalists from your season of, so you think You Can Dance, have taken their own lives, people you were very close to.

How have you handled that grief and, and where are you at with God and his role in death now?

Um, with the, both of them, especially Twitch, it, it was really hard.

It's like I, we do have free will, according to God.

We have free will.

So it's like they made a decision.

But on the flip side, it's like in cer certain cases they, they got a raw deal and I don't know, I, I'm, I'm confused by it honestly.

I, I look at like, their circumstances and when it comes to Twitch, I, I, I still don't have the why, which really, really bothers me.

Yeah, you don't have that closure.

I, I did.

There's no closure.

And I think like when, when Joshua passed, you were like, why are you so hell bent on like, yes, he's pa like, why are you keep reading about him wanting to like, know every single detail.

Like, that's horrible.

And I think it's because I didn't have any details with Twitch that like, I just, I wanted closure on something.

I feel a little mad about death.

Like I more than I ever have been, like I, I feel really mad about it.

And Twitch's grandfather said something at his funeral.

He said, there's such a fine line between life and death, and like one minute you were here and woman that you are permanently not, and that's a scary, it's a terribly scary thought.

I, I think about that all the time when like, you bang your finger into like a door Yeah.

And you're like, oh my God, that like hurts so much.

Yeah.

Like, we're so, we're like a little bag of like tissue, you know?

Yeah, totally.

It's like crazy.

Yeah.

Like one wrong freak thing.

And like your whole, your whole you done insides could rip out, you know?

Yeah.

Like I'm a little more, um, maybe like afraid of death because I feel like I have so much to lose.

Of course.

Um, like with my children, it's like, it's terrifying to love.

Something like so much.

Mm-hmm.

I believe in heaven, I believe in angels, I believe in hell.

And I feel like I have to because there has to be something like more.

And, and I don't know.

I don't know if that I'm telling, I'm doing that to like, tell myself and make me like, feel better or, you know, it's, it's 'cause it's just like, what is this all for?

And I, I just think you have to really enjoy life while you live it.

It makes me so sad to think that at the end of their lives they looked at themselves and said, the world is just better off without me, and I am better off gone.

My kids are better off without me.

It's like, I, it's an unfathomable, um, thought to think of, think of that when you have these afraid of death thoughts.

Yeah.

Do you have something you say to yourself to, to walk you back and be okay to move on?

I mean, I think you've said this about me.

No, I just like pummel through.

It's like I just like you shove it in a box.

I just shove it in a box.

Like it's definitely like I'm alive and I'm here now, but I'm shoving it in a box.

It's, you know, I think one of the things that I fear about death is if, God forbid, you know, I, I pass like I want my children to like know me and know, you know, my family and their traditions and where I came from and you know, 'cause what I have seen from people who have had their spouse's past is that a lot of that is somewhat erased and I just wanna be here for my children and you and my life and live life the way it's supposed to be lived.

So you were diagnosed with ms.

Yes.

At age 23.

I was, uh, how did that change your relationship to God?

Or did it.

I think it did.

I, I, I think in a way, um, it has definitely made me mentally stronger.

I've really tried to find like the silver lining in all of it.

And, um, some positives have really come out of it.

I called it a Brita, like the way it filtered people out of my life.

What about having MS was the, the catalyst for getting rid of those people?

Because like, life is, life is too short to spend time with people that you really don't give a shit about.

And it's also like, listen, sometimes we, it could, it could have been planned for six months, but as, you know, I could get to that night and I'm like, I feel like I was hit by a truck and I'm gonna go to bed now and we have to cancel.

And anybody who doesn't get that or is offended by that, I like get lost.

I, it's like at this point I just, I can't, you know, and, and I was really worried in my professional life, like about that, but about like having ms and.

Like not being hired and, but it, it really, like, I feel like I had the strength to overcome all of that.

And I would, I would pray, I would be like, please, dear God, give me the strength.

Like, 'cause you do wonder why, but like, you can't wallow in that.

Do you believe in prayer or is it just an outlet for your hopes and fears?

I believe in prayer.

I do.

I You think they're being heard or being answered?

Yes.

My ultimate answer is yes I do.

But like, you have to wonder why do some get answered?

Why do some get like, why like I'm like pray, I pray for Mark and if everything is, you know Yeah.

Determined by God.

Right.

Whether prayer matter he would and if he knows all things Correct.

Is why you have to pray anyways.

You, he would already know.

No, I think, you know, no, I think these, these are my problems.

I know.

And I, this is the kind of shit I'm asking in second grade and they're like, go to detention.

That totally tracks.

Yeah.

When our daughter says, says her prayers with me at night.

Aw, I and she's like, dear God, thank you for all that I have.

And Raquel does this.

Yes, I do her.

She says, dear God, thank you for all that I have.

Yes, Jon, pat, I've never heard this well with me.

She does.

Every time I put her to bed, I said, we're gonna say our prayers.

Say don't gay, keep our daughter's beautiful.

Spirituality.

Just say, next time you put her to bed, say Raquel.

Let's say our prayers.

And she'll And she'll.

She's what to say.

It's, I can't wait.

Yeah.

What could you do to go fold Jew?

Maybe committing to Shabbat a little bit more like, like no phones or anything.

Oh, no.

Electronics on a friend.

Like just focusing on, just simply focusing on family.

I know it's what you want.

I know.

It's just really hard when like you have family everywhere and like you, you know, it's hard, but it's just like one night.

Yeah.

So it's like one day that I could I, that I could commit.

I feel like I would wanna commit to.

Alright, now we have arrived at a new segment called Five Deep Questions.

This segment is for our Kela only, our subscriber community, which if you have not joined yet, you can do right now@beingjewishpodcast.com slash community.

Click, join the Kehillah.

You get the opportunity for bonus content like this face to face time with me, all sorts of other cool, fun things.

So if you're a regular listener, we will see you on the other side.

And we're back.

Welcome back.

You missed a good one.

Uh, if you weren't listening to our five deep questions, uh, I wanna talk a little bit about Israel.

Okay.

You mentioned we went to Israel 2018.

Yes.

Uh, for Honeymoon Israel.

Amazing program.

Check it out.

We'll definitely link to it in the show notes.

You've already talked a little bit about it and how, you know, you didn't, it didn't really click for you.

You were too early in the Jewish journey for it to really be meaningful for you.

Do you feel like it would be different if you went now?

Yes, I do.

I do feel like it would be way different for me when I went.

Now in what way?

I think I just have more of a connection to it.

I, I think I understand why it matters so much to the Jewish people.

I've learned more about the country as a whole and what they've contributed to a society and to like be a part of those people is, you know, an honor and, you know, I just, it's, yeah.

I would love to go again.

When we did go.

Yes.

You had a unique experience at the hotel.

I did the western wall, which for most people is the, you know, the holy moment, the awe inspiring moment.

Not, not quite.

So for, for you Sweet Courtney.

I did not like how the men had like a gazillion feet of to, to worship, to pray, to, to move their bodies to everything.

And then the women were like crawling over each other to put a single note in, like a crack in the wall.

We were with 40 people and only, I was the only one that I was like, I'm not touching that thing.

And to me, I think.

What, what Rabbi Greenwald said to me, which I thought was interesting.

He said, shout out to Rabbi Adam Greenwald.

Yeah.

He's amazing.

Um, you have Kavanaugh, like you, you don't find God like in places.

Like if you go, like you don't have to feel God if you're just in a church or in a synagogue or in, right.

It's like you feel God out in the world.

You are much more of a spiritual person.

Right.

It makes sense.

I mean also that like, you know, you didn't yet feel like this deep connection to being part of this chain.

Like when I'm at the wall, it's not like I feel closer to God necessarily.

I feel closer to Jews being at the wall.

I don't think I would even feel the same.

This is like the, the place where our people first were praying thousands of years ago, you know?

Right.

And there were women there too.

And this wall keeps getting smaller and smaller because it's manmade.

So who you know And who asked you to do that?

Nobody.

So like, who told you to do that?

Nobody.

What to, to make a small and smaller area.

Yeah.

Who's asked, who told you to do that?

You guys decided that they were less than and then did it.

So I'm like, I'm not, I'm not into that.

What helps you stay grounded with all that's been going on in the last two years?

As, as a Jew in, in America?

I think that what keeps me grounded is, is you a lot of the time.

'cause I definitely could fall into the trap of like, the world is ending.

Um, just, just knowing that like it's, they're not the majority.

These crazy people.

They're not the majority.

They're very much the minority.

They're just extremely loud.

Yeah.

Um, so that definitely keeps me, you know, sane.

And, and you mentioned, and I made a sort of go away from it, but when October 7th happened is when you really clicked in as I'm a Jew.

Yeah.

It, it's, it was a, a very um.

Lioness kind of feeling like you're not coming after my people.

Like you're, you're not coming after my family and like my, my kids and my husband and you know, my friends.

Like, you're just, you're just not, you know?

So it was, it was a very like, visceral, like mama bear reaction.

And I, I, it kind of just was like, okay, if you're gonna be this, be it.

And so, yeah, October 7th did a, did a number.

It brought, I think it brought me closer.

I, I definitely like, felt like a Jew.

Um, I definitely felt closer to Israel.

I definitely understood it more.

Um, and listen, like there were a couple people that I was friends with for years and years and years, and I was like.

No, we're not, we're done here.

Because it's like, if don't talk to me like I caused the problem in the Middle East.

It's like, check in with me, check on my kids.

Like, you're, you're this like white chick from you.

You know what I mean?

It's like you're this like gay dude from, if you went to Gaza, you'd be shot in between your eyeballs faster than you could say Free Palestine, you know?

So it's like, just, just stop it.

What about when the, the threat recedes?

Like, do you still hold on to that newfound sense of identity?

Or is it only in opposition to, you know, a adversity that you feel like it, it, it shows up?

No, I think, I think it showed me a lot of the time, like, like bad situations and like hard times show you who you are.

Mm-hmm.

And so I do, I don't, no, I don't think when it recedes, I, I also, it's like they're, they're like a speck of sand on, on a giant beach surrounded by haters.

And it's just like, I don't think it's going away ultimately, but I do feel.

Definitely, um, a part of the family, the tribe.

We're happy to have you.

Um, this is an all hands on deck moment, as I like to say.

How are you meeting the moment?

We've talked about this, like, you, you think so big and you make waves in a really big way.

Like, to me, I'm like, I'm so involved with, with our child's school and like these up and coming little Jews, and like, I wanna make sure that you're, I'm having like a, a positive impact on these little people with these, you know, moldable minds.

And, um, I don't know, I think like that's how you, like, it's the next generation that you have to like, you know, um, really, really care about and, and show them the why and.

That's how you make waves for me.

I love that.

Yeah.

And, and just to be clear for you and for anybody listening, that's what I always say, right?

It's about Yeah.

Where you can bring your passion and your skillset Yes.

To your lane, to your sphere of influence.

And you're doing that in so many ways.

Your sphere of influence is just like, I'm gonna, this is, I'm making like a, a total life change and I'm going to, but not everybody has to do that.

I know, but I'm proud of you.

That's correct.

You do say that all the time.

You're like, the littlest thing can make the biggest difference.

Yeah.

So, you know, I'm proud of you and what you're doing.

Thanks.

Honor for our kids and our school and our community.

Okay.

We're gonna end things as we usually do with a lightning round.

What's your favorite Jewish holiday?

Hanukkah.

How come?

Because I get to host it.

Nice.

Least favorite Jewish holiday.

Oh, I feel bad.

Everybody else says one.

Okay.

Ur, I knew you were gonna say, I'm sorry.

Favorite biblical figure.

Ooh, Vashti.

I knew it.

I knew you were gonna ask me that.

Yeah.

Like if you really think about it, Vashti was like the ultimate like feminist, badass chick.

And if she didn't do what she did, Esther wouldn't have been able to do what she did.

Yeah.

So really, Vashti put that domino effect and, and move.

Nice.

Yeah.

All right.

You get to pick two famous Jews to come over for dinner, one alive, one dead.

Who do you pick?

Okay.

Um, dead and Frank, you've always had a connection to Anne Frank.

We have the same birthday.

Yeah.

Um, and I just think what I think of like what a 14-year-old, like a little kid like her is and what they had to endure and, and the attitude that she had when she was writing the listen.

Like yes.

Like we always say yes.

And then she didn't because she went out and then she was killed, you know?

But.

Through the, I mean, who, who, who can hide for that many years who they are and, and in their like most formative year, I don't know.

She just seems like she had such a remarkable head on her shoulders.

Um, and then alive.

Okay.

You're gonna think I'm so ridiculous, but like, I love him.

Duff, Duff Goldman love him.

He was sitting in that chair.

I know.

You could have just come here.

I know, but I didn't.

I love Duff.

Who else?

My love.

Well, we'll hit him up.

Whitney.

Whitney Cummings.

Okay, well I'll just text both of these people.

Just text all these people.

All right.

Okay.

Wait, no, I'm not done.

And she's, well, she is Jewish.

I think Jason Alexander's awesome.

If there's anyone on earth who could have also met these people, it's me.

It was you.

I know.

Golden.

My ear is amazing.

Yeah, she's incredible.

She, I can't help you with I know.

I'm sorry.

Who are your Jewish role models?

Your mother?

I knew you would say that.

Yeah.

That was mostly just a shout out to mother.

Your mother is like the, is an incredible woman.

She's an incredible woman.

I always tell this story.

I'm like, she was in Washington, like planning like a 300,000 person rally, right?

And then the next day was like, hi, I'm back.

Can you take Raquel to music class?

I'm like, aren't you tired?

Like she just somehow, somehow has the capacity for everyone and everything and making everyone feel like they are all that matters.

What's your favorite Jewish food?

The horseradish.

I love horseradish.

I love the, um, osa.

Two different things.

No, the, the osa and then I love the horseradish.

What, like together?

Yeah.

Yeah.

The Matza.

You like, so you like a, A Clorox sandwich.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Love it.

Delicious.

Corra.

Um, I like to call you Martha Jew.

Yes.

'cause you're a wonderful Jewish home decorator.

Thank you, honey.

If you were to design your own line of Jewish home goods, what would you be your first item?

My first item.

Would be like a, a beautiful like Hanukkah wreath or like a gorgeous Hanukkah table runner.

Like stop hitting me with just the blue and just the white.

So reath and runner, that's what we're going with, like wreath and runner and like even like, just stop giving me these like kitschy, like who said, who was like, you know, what's really Jewish, a gnome?

What do you not go, if you go in all the stores and around Hanukkah there are these gnomes for Hanukkah, they say Happy Hanukkah.

They hold a sign and their eyes are covered and it's a frigging gnome.

I'm not, I've never seen, I will literally Hanukkah pictures on my phone.

You go into TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, all these places.

It's all Christmas.

And then you go in the corner and there's this tiny little manure, these plastic menos with these frigging gnomes.

And I'm like, what?

Who?

Who said with the gnomes?

Well, there was probably non-Jews who were like, well, we have elves.

We gotta give the Jews something, a gnome.

So let's give them one that's like, you know, rounder and fatter.

And, no, not, we're not, we don't, no, not a gnome.

Not a gnome.

Gnome.

We're saying gnome on the gnomes.

Ome on the gnome.

Alright.

What are my best qualities?

You are incredibly smart.

You're incredibly handsome.

You are so empathetic and compassionate.

You are an amazing dad.

Um, you're hot and you love good food.

So I love good food.

And we love good food together.

We do love good food together, babe.

We love food together.

Yeah.

What makes you proud to be Jewish?

The community I'm a part of, honestly, they, I think.

The way that they live their lives and the way your family lives there.

I I, it makes me very proud to be Jewish.

I think you make me very proud to be Jewish.

I'm, I am grateful you brought it into my life.

Yeah.

And what would you say to anyone else who's on their own journey of conversion right now who might be watching or listening?

Like, be patient, be patient, but also like, make sure you're not losing parts of yourself.

Like make sure you are, you are very clear about the things you want to keep in your life, that if you get rid of them, you'd spiral and not be you.

So it would be to keep a clear head perspective on like who you are and what really matters to you as well.

And to also like, give yourself some time and to see like what it's like and to, and to just open your eyes and really absorb what you can.

Honey, I love you.

I love you.

Shout out to you today and every day.

Thank you, honey, love you.

Huge thank you to my wife for marrying me and also for being on this show.

It's totally okay for now.

All bigger fans of her than of me.

It literally happens every time.

Also, big thank you to everyone on the BJJP team, past and present, who has made it possible to reach this momentous 50th episode.

I literally could not do this without each and every one of you, and I'm immensely grateful for your dedication, passion, support, and trust, and all of you beautiful people out there.

Thank you for watching and listening, and for sharing with me what this show means to you.

Knowing the impact it has on your lives is literally the reason I do this.

The only reason.

And I thank you for your dedication, support, and trust as well.

All right.

I'll see y'all back here for the next 50 episodes of being Jewish with me, Jonah Platt.