A New Platform for Jewish Conversation and Community, where ideas are exchanged, diverse voices are heard, and community is built, one conversation at a time.

Wed, Sept 10, 2025 @ 7pm | JCC Columbus

Jonah Platt is a leading voice on Jewish identity, culture, and current events. He hosts the hit podcast Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, featuring wide-ranging conversations on the modern Jewish experience. An entertainment multi-hyphenate, Jonah has performed on Broadway and in Hollywood, written for TV comedies, and is producing and starring in his first feature film, The Mensch. His writing on Jewish life has appeared in Variety, The New York Post, Times of Israel, and more.

$25 | Limited seating | Tickets on sale August 4, 2025

Thurs, Oct 16, 2025 @ 7PM | JCC Columbus

Sarah Hurwitz served as a White House speechwriter from 2009 to 2017, first as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. She was also the chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign. Hurwitz is the author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There), which was a finalist for two National Jewish Book Awards and the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature. She has been featured throughout the media, from profiles in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, and The Guardian to appearances on the Today show, Morning Joe, and NPR. The Forward twice named her one of 50 Jews who has impacted American life. AS A JEW: Reclaiming Our Story From Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us (HarperOne) was named the “Natan Notable Book” for Summer 2025 by Natan and the Jewish Book Council. Hurwitz is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and was a 2017 Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard. SarahHurwitz.net

$36 Event & Book Bundle
$20 Event

Tue, Nov 11, 2025 @ 7PM | JCC Columbus

Lihi Lapid is an author and jour­nal­ist whose books deal with con­tem­po­rary women’s issues. She has writ­ten two best­selling nov­els in Israel, Secrets from With­in and Woman of Val­or, and a third nov­el On Her Own; a cook­book enti­tled Lihi Lapid’s Favorite Recipes, and a best­selling children’s book, The Mag­ic Whis­per. Pri­or to becom­ing a writer, Ms. Lapid was a pro­fes­sion­al pho­tog­ra­ph­er. Edu­cat­ed at the pres­ti­gious Cam­era Obscu­ra School of Art and Tel Aviv Uni­ver­si­ty, she served in the Israel Defense Forces as a pho­tog­ra­ph­er for its Bamachane mag­a­zine. She lives with her hus­band, for­mer Prime Min­is­ter Yair Lapid, in Tel Aviv.

$10 | Limited seating

Danielle Sharkan, Author w/ Illustrator Selina Aiko
Family Friendly Event

Sun, Jan 25, 2026
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Learn More About Danielle

Jack Fairweather, Author

Mon, May 11, 2026
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Learn More About Jack

Why Support JChats? Your sponsorship brings powerful Jewish programming to life — helping to fund top-tier speakers, keep events accessible, and foster connection across our community.

We’re proud to launch JChats with the generous partnership support of the Carol Folkerth Fund for Jewish Inspiration, and invite others to join in sustaining this meaningful new initiative. 

Sponsorship Levels & Benefits Subject to Change 

Visionary Thinker – $10,000

8 reserved seating tickets per event
Access to pre-event VIP receptions
Prominent name/logo recognition on stage, screen and website

6 reserved seating tickets per event
Access to pre-event VIP receptions
Name/logo recognition on stage, screen and website

4 reserved seating tickets per event
Access to pre-event VIP receptions
Recognition on screen and website

2 tickets per event
Access to pre-event VIP receptions
Recognition on screen and website

4 complimentary event tickets
Recognition on website

Questions? Contact Eva Golden at egolden@columbusjcc.org