From Compton to Jerusalem: Bishop Michael Fisher Leads Black Jewish Alliance Post-BLM & October 7th

This Week on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, our guest is Bishop Michael J. Fisher, a prominent Los Angeles faith leader and longtime advocate for Black–Jewish solidarity. The two of them explore Bishop Fisher’s personal journey, deeply influenced by his father, Reverend W. Jerome Fisher, a World War II medic who helped liberate Jews from the Dachau concentration camp. Jonah and Bishop Fisher dig into the real actions Bishop Fisher is taking to strengthen bonds and build bridges between the Black and Jewish communities, and their shared perspective on what advocacy truly means. Bishop Fisher reflects on building interfaith relationships with leaders such as Rabbi Stewart Vogel and Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, and the shared spiritual foundations of Judaism and Christianity, such as the meaning of Zion. He and Jonah also address the rising antisemitism, the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks, and the responsibility of leaders to speak out clearly against violence and hatred — even when it is unpopular to do so. This episode highlights initiatives like the Freedom Seder and the From Compton to Jerusalem trip, celebrating Israel’s diversity and the Ethiopian Jewish community, while offering a hopeful vision of unity grounded in building relationships and discovering truth. Follow Bishop Michael J Fisher on nstagram -   / michaeljtfisher   00:00 - Black-Jewish Relations & Black History Month 02:05 - Bishop Fisher's Father's Legacy and Ministry 03:14 - First Encounter with Antisemitism 08:10 - Martin Luther King's Jewish Connections 16:45 - October 7th Response 22:15 - Van Jones and Exodus 25:40 - Visiting Israel Post-Attack 32:50 - Experiencing Israeli Faith 38:30 - Misunderstandings Between Communities 45:20 - Hamas and False Narratives 51:30 - Building Bridges and Future 54:50 - Hope for the Alliance 56:20 - Minister Me Game #BlackJewishAlliance #FightingAntisemitism #IsraelSupport #BishopMichaelFisher #BlackHistoryMonth #JewishBlackUnity #October7th