The WJW Podcast: A Conversation With John Ondrasik (8/7/24)

John Ondrasik, aka Five For Fighting, is a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter.

To date, Five For Fighting has released six studio albums, including the platinum-certified “America Town” and “The Battle for Everything,” and he has several major hits, including “Superman,” “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “Chances,” “World” and “Easy Tonight.” His music has been featured in more than 350 films, television shows and commercials.

Ondrasik’s songs include “OK (We Are Not OK)” in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, “Blood On My Hands” about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and “Can One Man Save The World?” which he recorded in Kyiv in support of Ukraine.

On the WJW Podcast, Ondrasik spoke about the importance of condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel and why he has been so vocal about what happened, his upcoming tour and why he thinks it is important to use music to call attention to world-changing events and supporting humanitarian efforts.

The WJW Podcast: A Conversation With Amy Spitalnick (7/31/24)

Amy Spitalnick is the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the national convener of Jewish coalitions working across communities to build a just and inclusive American democracy.

Spitalnick previously served as executive director of Integrity First for America, which became a strong and prominent voice in the fight against white supremacy and extremism during her tenure.

A graduate of Tufts University, Spitalnick has extensive experience in government, politics and advocacy, including working in various roles for the New York State Attorney General, Mayor of the City of New York and in the New York State Senate. She also serves as a senior adviser on extremism to Human Rights First and on the Advisory Board of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at American University.

On the WJW Podcast, Spitalnick spoke about her work at JCPA, the polarization in the American political arena, the presidential race, antisemitism and her groundbreaking lawsuit against the neo-Nazis, white supremacists and hate groups responsible for the violence in Charlottesville in 2017.

‘5,000 attend pro-Israel rally in Washington’

The following is an article that I wrote, which appeared in the June 13, 2024, edition of the Washington Jewish Week:

June 1967 is a significant period in the annals of Jewish history. In response to attacks by Jordanian forces and mobilization by Arab forces, Israel mounted an assault on the morning of June 5, 1967, and succeeded in disabling the Egyptian air force. By the end of the Six-Day War, Israel defeated Egypt, Jordan and Syria and brought about the reunification of Jerusalem.

On June 5, we celebrated Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) and marked 57 years since Motta Gur, commander of the Israel Defense Forces’ paratroopers brigade, proudly and famously proclaimed “Har HaBayit B’Yadeinu” (The Temple Mount is in our hands).

In this month’s installment of “Remember When,” we look back at an event that preceded the historic reunification of Jerusalem by just a few days. In an article titled “5,000 attend pro-Israel rally in Washington” that appeared on the front page of our June 1, 1967, issue, we reported on a large rally organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington in response to events unfolding in the Middle East.

The purpose of the gathering was to “urge a firm United States commitment to the security of Israel.” U.S. Sen. Eugene McCarthy (D-Minn.) assailed Egypt’s blockade of the Gulf of Aqaba, calling it “an affront to any nation respecting international law and the traditions of the open sea,” and noting that “the U.S. must respond to Israel’s aid if she is attacked.”

Other speakers also spoke about the importance of the U.S. standing with Israel in the face of threats to its borders by its Arab neighbors, including Msgr. George G. Higgins, director of the social action department of the U.S. Catholic Conference, Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy, Washington representative of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Rev. Graydon E. McClellan, general presbyter of the Presbytery of Washington, who said that Egypt’s blockade presents an “intolerable threat to the security and integrity of a nation whose existence has been certified by the United States.”

At the event, Rabbi Ralph Simon, vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly of America, said that “the existence of Israel is not negotiable.” At the end of his remarks, Simon asked the audience to join with him in singing Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem.

The notion that the American Jewish community needs to be vocal and active in seeking and securing the United States’ support for Israel is as relevant today as it was in June 1967. In the wake of the horrific and barbaric terrorist attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7 and in the face of the serious threats facing Israel from Hezbollah, Iran and others, we need to continue rallying and working with other faith communities to advocate for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. With antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments rising in the U.S. and around the world, we are duty-bound to make our voices heard.

The WJW Podcast: A Conversation With Adam Lehman (5/23/24)

Adam Lehman is president and CEO of Hillel International, which is the largest Jewish student organization in the world and engages 200,000 students on 850 college and university campuses in the U.S. and 16 other countries.

A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Lehman began his career in Mergers and Acquisitions at Skadden, Arps and then spent two decades as an executive and entrepreneur, developing and growing a variety of new technology, marketing and media ventures, including as a Senior Vice President at AOL.

Lehman is active in the Jewish arts scene, having wrote a series of plays inspired by the Jewish holidays and he was a founding member of the D.C.-based Jewish a cappella group JewKvox.

On the WJW Podcast, Lehman spoke about Hillel’s work to bring vibrant Jewish communities to university campuses across the country and around the world, and the need to ensure that Jewish students can feel safe and protected on campus.

The WJW Podcast: A Conversation With Rachel Goldberg-Polin (5/16/24)

Rachel Goldberg-Polin is the mother of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Hersh, who is 23 years old, was kidnapped on Oct. 7 from the site of the Nova music festival in southern Israel. Seven months later, Hersh, who was injured by a Hamas grenade prior to his abduction, is still being held captive by the terrorist group.

On the WJW Podcast, Rachel spoke about the events of Oct. 7, the current plight of the hostages, her faith, and her advocacy on behalf of her son and the other hostages and their families.

‘Flag of Israel Raised Over Jewish Agency’

The following is an article that I wrote, which appeared in the May 9, 2024, edition of the Washington Jewish Week:

When Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion, who later became Israel’s first prime minister, declared the establishment of the sovereign state of Israel on May 14, 1948, it was a watershed moment that would become forever etched in the hearts and minds of worldwide Jewry. Ben-Gurion’s historic pronouncement, which was followed by President Harry Truman’s recognition of the fledgling Jewish state, came after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Nov. 29, 1947, to create a Jewish state.

In this month’s installment of “Remember When,” we look back at our coverage of this extraordinary event that altered the course of Jewish history. In an article titled “Flag of Israel Raised Over Jewish Agency” in the May 21, 1948, issue of the National Jewish Ledger, which subsequently became the Washington Jewish Week, the founding of the state of Israel was celebrated prominently on the front page.

Accompanied by a large photo, the story recounted the scene when the Israeli flag was raised by the Jewish Agency of Washington, D.C., on May 14, 1948. Rabbi Zemach Green of Ohev Sholem Congregation who also served as co-chair of the Rabbinical Council of Washington, donned a white robe and tallit, and delivered a heartfelt prayer at what was an incredibly exciting and emotional time for the Greater Washington, D.C., Jewish community and for Jews throughout the world.

“We pour forth our hearts unto Thee, our Father in Heaven with thanksgiving and hallelujahs for Thy wonderous deeds unto the people of Israel, and for Thy grace with us of this generation to be privileged to live and witness the realization of the ancient dream, the age-old dream that was begotten from sacred tradition, nurtured with the people’s lifeblood, reared in the crucible of martyrdom and fostered in the eternal hope and trust in God,” Rabbi Green said.

“Out of the soil of the Holy Land, drenched with the pure blood of its builders and defenders, shall grow and blossom forth a Tree of Life for all inhabitants of the land and for all who strive to settle thereon — a Tree of Life in whose shade Jew and Arab shall peacefully live and work together, for the mutual welfare and advancement of the two peoples, and the promotion of peace,” he continued.

Seventy-six years later, the state of Israel is thriving, although the sentiments expressed by Rabbi Green about a Tree of Life under which all inhabitants of the land would live in peace and harmony have not yet come to fruition. This year in particular, as we mark Yom Ha’atzmaut and celebrate the fact that we have a Jewish homeland, we are keenly aware of the challenges that we continue to face, and we yearn for a time when our brothers and sisters in Israel can finally live in peace.

Commanders Managing Partner Josh Harris on Jewish Identity, Israel and Making Sports a ‘Shared Community Experience’

The following is an article that I wrote, which appeared in the April 18, 2024, edition of the Washington Jewish Week:

Josh Harris (Courtesy of the office of Josh Harris)

For some people, being involved in professional sports is a dream come true. For Josh Harris, it’s a way for him to effectuate positive change and make other people’s dreams come true by transforming sports into “a shared community experience.”

Harris is one of the most powerful people in professional sports. He became the managing partner of the Washington Commanders after leading a successful effort to buy the team for $6.05 billion in 2023.

In addition, Harris is the managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the co-managing partner of the New Jersey Devils, which makes Harris a formidable player in the NFL, NBA and NHL. His involvement in the sports arena extends across the Atlantic as well, as Harris is also the general partner of the Crystal Palace Football Club in the English Premier League.

His love of sports stems from his childhood experiences, which led him to pursue a path that propelled him to the pinnacle of the professional sports world.

Harris grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, not far from Washington, D.C. Both sets of his grandparents came to the U.S. in the early 20th century from the Russian territories. His mother attended Temple University and his father went to the University of Pennsylvania. “They were both the first in their generation and their families to go to college,” Harris proudly noted.

“I grew up as an upper-middle-class kid,” said Harris, who went to Rollingwood Elementary and then attended Leland Junior High School, describing his upbringing as “pretty normal.”

For Harris, wrestling played a pivotal role in his life. He recalled a time when wrestling became more important to him than his studies.

“When I wasn’t doing so well in school — I was more focused on wrestling — and my grades were down, my parents were smart enough to yank me out of public school going into 10th grade, and I went to The Field School [in Washington, D.C.] from 10th through 12th grade.”

“Sports ended up having a big impact on me in terms of my experience wrestling, where I was not doing very well at school, but there’s nothing like having to go out on a mat one-on-one with another human being who’s trying to physically dominate you to sharpen your desire to work hard and dig in,” he said.

“I was very competitive and started preparing for wrestling, and working, lifting and running, and started doing well in wrestling. And that really changed my life trajectory because I started applying that to school.”

Harris’ renewed focus on academics earned him admission to Penn.

Josh Harris receiving the game ball following a Commanders preseason victory to celebrate a new chapter for the team. (Photo credit: Washington Commanders)

“I had never heard of the Wharton School, but I took an economics class and the next thing you know, I transferred into Wharton. I was lucky enough to find my calling early, which was investing, and I ended up on Wall Street and achieved a lot of financial success. And that gave me the opportunity to get involved in sports.”

While wrestling played an important part in Harris’ personal development, his Judaism also played a big part in making him the person and leader he would ultimately become.

“I was bar mitzvahed at Washington Hebrew Congregation — we were Reform Jews,” Harris said. In the summer between 10th and 11th grade, Harris went on a NFTY trip to Israel, in conjunction with the Reform Jewish Youth Movement. He worked at Kibbutz Yahel for three weeks picking pears but also traveled around the country and got to experience Israel in a significant, meaningful way.

“My family is deeply connected to Israel. And I’ve gotten more religious as I’ve gotten older. I study with a rabbi, and it’s something that’s really important to me. And obviously, when I look at my life, going from my parents, who had been the first in their generations and in their families to go to college, and now, all of a sudden, to have the blessing of immense financial success and then the ability to be involved with the teams that I rooted for growing up or in college, I feel deeply blessed. It’s made me really take a step back and try to engage in making the world a better place and having an impact.”

The Jewish tenet of tikkun olam, using acts of kindness to help repair the world, is something that resonates with Harris and his wife Marjorie, and it drives their philanthropic endeavors in a significant way.

“As a Jewish American, I really care about the state of Israel and its ability to thrive. We’ve gotten deeply engaged in it and it’s a community that I’m a part of. Over the years, people have made immense sacrifices to have the state of Israel be a homeland for Jews, but also for all people, and make it a thriving democracy. And my job is to support it and help the people that are there,” he said.

The Harris family has gotten deeply involved in several initiatives in Israel, including establishing a basketball league called the 48ers, which Harris noted “is a takeoff on the 76ers, but it’s also the year that Israel was founded,” referring to the formation of the state of Israel in 1948.

The 48ers, which Harris said has more than 25 teams and initially began as a program for Ethiopian Jews, now serves “people that are less fortunate and aren’t necessarily ready to serve in the military.” The basketball league provides young Israeli boys and girls with a means through which they can work hard and develop life skills and physical abilities to get ready for service in the Israel Defense Forces.

Josh and Marjorie Harris and their family following a game of basketball with the 48ers’ players, coaches and staff. (Courtesy of Harris Philanthropies)

The Harrises also sponsor archaeological digs in Israel. “They bring the Bible to life, where you get to literally, whether it be the City of David or the Western Wall, dig up first Temple artifacts that show that a lot of the stories that you and I heard about when we went to Sunday school are true … there is real archaeological data and remnants that prove out that Solomon really existed and that David really existed and people before that.”

The events of Oct. 7 impacted the lives of Israelis in a multitude of ways that before that fateful day would have seemed unthinkable, and it affected Jews and other people around the world. For the Harrises, the current situation in Israel serves as a call to action.

“Given the tragic events that have occurred, we’ve ramped up our giving in terms of supporting a lot of the people that have been affected in a very tragic way by this horrible conflict,” Harris said. “The biggest thing we’re doing is called ‘The Day After Fund,’ which is something we’re doing with a series of families and the President of Israel and the First Lady, in terms of helping people rebuild their lives — a lot of people’s lives have been shattered.”

Harris ruminated on the responsibility he feels to give back, help others and strengthen communities, particularly as a Jewish American who cares greatly about the well-being of the state of Israel.

“I think when you’re a member of a community and you’re fortunate, it’s your obligation, it’s your job, to try to pay it forward. And if people hadn’t done that for me, I wouldn’t be where I am. And so, it’s what fulfills me and what makes me get up in the morning. I feel like you’re on Earth for a small amount of time, and your job is to leave it better than where it started. And so that’s what my job is, and I really am taken with the communities that I’m a part of. And certainly, being Jewish, you’re part of the community and all of us need to do our part to support Israel, and obviously there’s a lot of people that are supporting it with their lives. And so, I need to support it by helping people rebuild.”

While discussing his Jewish identity, Harris addressed the issue of antisemitism and the importance of people maintaining their Jewish pride.

“Obviously, we’re living in a dangerous time in terms of the rise in antisemitism, but it’s really the rise of hate of all kinds. If you look at history, antisemitism increases when other forms of hate increase as well … As Jews, we’re a small minority of the people in the world and I think it’s important for us to support each other visibly and to speak out against hate of all kinds … I think that’s the best way to possibly counteract some of the tougher things that are going on. I hope that I can influence people to do that, by example.”

Josh Harris greeting fans at the Washington Commanders’ Jewish Heritage Day on Dec. 3, 2023.
(Photo credit: Daniel Swartz)

In that same vein, Harris spoke proudly about the Jewish Heritage events that each of his teams organizes every year.

“I like the idea of celebrating all people that want to be recognized. That’s what sports are for — you can bring groups together … We use the teams for positive convening and celebration for all forms of expression and religion and cultural things. And so, obviously being Jewish and proud of the Jewish people, I think that we go out of our way, whether it be celebrating Chanukah or Jewish Heritage Night across all the teams, and I like to get personally involved in it and be visible, and I really enjoy doing Chanukah with people in the city.”

“Spending time in our stadiums and arenas and meeting fans is such an invigorating experience for me and reminds me why it’s so important to connect with the communities where our teams play. I really get a kick out of just wandering around the stadium or the arena and shaking hands and being part of that community — both the community in Philly and the community in Washington — but also the Jewish community. It’s something that I really derive a tremendous amount of positive energy from,” he added.

In addition to being an owner of several sports franchises, Harris is also a huge sports fan and is quick to link milestones in his life to significant sporting events that corresponded to them on the calendar.

“I grew up in the Washington area, so I was a fan of all the Washington sports teams, but at that point, Washington football was dominant … Some of my earliest memories had to do with Washington football.”

Harris recalls watching Super Bowl VII in 1973 when the Washington football team squared off against the Miami Dolphins. He remembers vividly how the Dolphins’ Garo Yepremian had his kick blocked and the Redskins’ Mike Bass returned it for a touchdown (although Washington ended up losing, 14-7).

Josh and Marjorie Harris and their five children at Commanders Field shortly after Josh’s acquisition of the team in 2023. (Photo credit: Washington Commanders)

“For me, Billy Kilmer, Sonny Jurgensen, the ‘Over-the-Hill Gang’ [the Washington team of the early 1970s] into John Riggins, ‘The Hogs’ [the nickname given to the Washington offensive line during the 1980s and early 1990s], Joe Gibbs, Darrell Green, and Art Monk, all of that was really part of my psyche growing up — it was deeply ingrained in me.”

“In my senior year in high school, Washington football won the title — that was the famous 27-17 game against the Dolphins where Riggins broke that tackle,” Harris said, referring to Super Bowl XVII, when Washington running back John Riggins scored on a fourth and one with 10 minutes left in the game and helped propel Washington to its first NFL championship since 1942.

“I got to witness the parade, and as you know, Washington was a deeply divided city at that point, and I got to see sports bringing everyone together,” Harris said as he recalled the aftermath of the 1983 Super Bowl victory.

Harris’ exuberance about sports was equally evident as he talked about his beloved 76ers.

“I went up to Philly and the Sixers won the title,” Harris said, referring to the Sixers’ 1983 NBA championship. “It was Dr. J [Julius Erving], Moses Malone, Maurice Cheeks and Andrew Toney.”

As he reflected on this year’s Sixers squad, Harris focused on the two-month absence of reigning NBA MVP and Sixers star Joel Embiid due to a knee injury.

“We had our fastest start since the [Allen] Iverson years and then Joel was making another MVP run and was dominating, and then he got injured … When you lose the league MVP, it’s hard,” Harris said, noting that the Sixers are a dangerous team with Embiid in the lineup.

Not only is Harris a big sports fan, but he’s someone who views sports as an opportunity to inspire people and touch the lives of others, and he recognizes that he needs to lead by example.

“In terms of sports, I look at it as a great responsibility … Your job as an owner is to be a steward for a city. If you make it about yourself, it doesn’t work. Your job is to win championships and to put your all into doing that, and to help the city … You have an enormous megaphone and an enormous platform … You’re an example to people, so how you act is under a microscope,” he said.

“I think that the cities really want you to behave in a righteous way, in a way that sets an example of how to have a big, positive impact on the world. And then you need to engage with the cities and create memories, like memories that I had. Obviously, winning is the biggest thing, but then how did fans feel when they’re in the stadium? How do you treat them? The thing about a sports team is everyone, from the person you meet in the parking lot, the person that’s serving you the hotdog or checking your ticket, to the players, have an impact on your experience. So, you’re basically inviting people into your house for two hours, three hours, and your job is to create amazing memories and positive experiences.”

Josh and Marjorie Harris with the 48ers organization. (Courtesy of Harris Philanthropies)

The Harrises created Harris Philanthropies a decade ago, which focuses on youth and community development, and helping kids has become a primary emphasis of their charitable efforts.

“Your job is to help the community and help those people that are less fortunate,” Harris said. “And obviously, sports has a tremendous impact on kids. Kids love sports … You can use sports to help them achieve better lives, whether it be keeping them safe, whether it be education, or life skills, or any number of things. And so, that’s a big element of what we use the teams for as well. Each team has a foundation and does a lot of things in the city.”

Harris is admittedly self-aware when it comes to the roller coaster of emotions that he and the fans experience depending on the teams’ successes and failures.

“When the Commanders win, the city of Washington is excited. When the Sixers win, the city of Philly is excited. I’m affected by it deeply. I’m not very fun to be around when we lose. I’ve learned how to manage it. I just don’t talk to a lot of people, which is not fair to my family. I think that unfortunately, winning or losing really matters. And then beyond that, how you treat people [is important].”

Despite the success he’s had in life, on Wall Street and in professional sports, Harris counts his blessings and doesn’t take his experiences for granted.

“It’s pretty incredible now to be able to look back and be a part of these storied franchises from an ownership point of view and I think it’s a great responsibility. Obviously, it really changed my life.”

“I think it’s amazingly fun,” he continued. “You’re around amazing athletes, the best in the world at what they do. And they’re all unique — they’re unique people … They put themselves through amazing agony to be really good at something. And you get to experience all that and compete at the ripe old age of 59 — right now, that’s my age — and so it’s super-fun, but it’s also an awesome responsibility, and I sweat it. I think about it. I wake up in the middle of the night. And we have an enormous amount to do in Washington around finding a new stadium, around fixing the team, fixing how we engage with the community. And every day there’s just an enormous amount to do, but it’s a labor of love for me.”