Hen Mazzig speaking with Debra Messing in his YouTube series “And They’re Jewish.” Photo: Provided

Israeli author, activist, and social media influencer Hen Mazzig will host a new YouTube series in which he talks with a diverse group of Jewish personalities about how they connect with their heritage and Jewish identity.

The co-founder of the Tel Aviv Institute will host the weekly series “And They’re Jewish,” which premieres April 2 on his YouTube channel but will also be available to listen to as a podcast. The digital series has nine episodes so far – with potentially more as Mazzig conducts additional interviews with guests – and will give viewers an insight into the personal lives of stars like “Will & Grace” actress Debra Messing, who will appear in the premiere episode of Mazzig’s series, “Big Bang Theory” star Mayim Bialik, and Emmanuelle Chriqui from “Entourage.”

The series showcases the diversity of Jewish voices including Alexandra Socha – who played Glinda in the Broadway show “Wicked” and Esther Maisel on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” — Eyal Booker from “Love Island,” NBA Pacers Executive Rachel Simon, actor Etai Benson, “Stranger Things” actor Brett Gelman, and artist Zoe Buckman.

“My hope is that it will be a way to engage with Jewish people that is beyond just trauma, and to humanize Jews,” Mazzig, 34, told The Algemeiner. “There is nothing on the big screen or on TV that is really humanizing Jews in a way that is approachable [and] that you can connect to.”

“Jewish identity shouldn’t be controversial,” he added. “The fact that simply being openly Jewish in the media feels radical, is a big problem. And I want to live in a world where Jewish identity is as normal as any other identity. Where Jewish actors, artists, and musicians can just proudly embrace their heritage without fear. ‘And They’re Jewish’ is a step towards this future.”

Mazzig traveled around the world to speak with his guests for the digital series. He made stops in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Tel Aviv, and London. The activist himself was born in Israel but has family roots in Iraq and Tunisia. His ancestors immigrated to Israel as refugees, and he lives today between Tel Aviv and London.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, nearly 9,000 antisemitic incidents took place in the US in 2023, a year unlike any since the organization began tracking such data on antisemitic outrages in 1979. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found that anti-Jewish hate crimes in the US spiked to a record high that same year. Despite Jews making up just 2 percent of the US population, antisemitic hate crimes accounted for 67 percent of all religiously motivated hate crimes and 15 percent of all hate crimes of any kind recorded by the bureau.

“And They’re Jewish” is Mazzig’s unique approach to combatting the rise in antisemitism, he explained to The Algemeiner.

“Jewish representation in mainstream media is shrinking. Jewish identity is erased and reduced to cliches or only discussed when it’s tied to trauma or conflict,” he said. “And since Oct. 7, [2023], I’ve done whatever I can to help our community, and speak up and hear the truth about the conflicts and about the challenges that our community is facing.”

“‘And They’re Jewish’ was really a product of a lot of pain, so much pain for our community – for the Jewish friends I have in America, and the UK, and to see how much we’re being abused and othered,” Mazzig continued. “And I thought to myself, ‘How can we fight it in a more effective way to really impact our community?’ That’s how ‘And They’re Jewish’ came about. I’m reclaiming Jewish visibility, but not through the lens of victimhood. But through joy, success, and unapologetic celebration of Jewish identity.”

“And They’re Jewish” premieres April 2 on YouTube.