Podcast Summary: Digital Social Hour – "How I Built My Brand Amid Controversy | Jewboi" (DSH #1372)

Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Jewboi (Tv, a 24-year-old Chabad rabbi and social media personality)
Date: May 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a candid conversation between Sean Kelly and Jewboi, a young rabbi and content creator who has built a significant online brand amid controversy and anti-Semitism. The episode dives deep into the origins of his online persona, navigating hate online, the misrepresentation of Judaism, and how he’s choosing to fight back with humor and facts. The dialogue is bold, sometimes irreverent, and includes detailed debunks of common anti-Jewish myths circulating on social media.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin of "Jewboi" and Handling the Name (01:11–02:44)

• Jewboi shares the story behind his provocative online handle. Initially unaware of its derogatory uses, he wanted a catchy name; only later did he realize its loaded history.
  • Quote: “I thought Jew Boy would be a cool online name... I didn’t even know it could be taken derogatory. Then people started calling me that, trying to insult me, and I was like, ‘That’s exactly my name!’” (01:19–01:41)
• He aims to "normalize" the name so it refers to him as a personality, not as a slur.

2. Dealing with Hate and Misinformation Online (02:47–05:40)

• Jewboi outlines the hostile environment for Jews, especially on Twitter/X, highlighting influencers like Nick Fuentes, Dan Bilzerian, and Sneako who spread disinformation.
• He criticizes the tactic of lying about Judaism and the Talmud, emphasizing misinformation’s viral capacity online.
  • Quote: “These guys… They’re pretty much dedicated to blatantly lying about Judaism… They like, you know, have this whole thing that they’ll call you an antisemite but never a liar, and I’m looking at the things they say… No, you’re a liar, you’re a blatant liar.” (03:08–03:36)

3. Demystifying the Talmud and Debunking Common Myths (03:49–10:39; 07:46–09:41)

• Jewboi explains the Talmud is not a rulebook but a record of rabbinic debate — likening it to "Jewish Reddit."
• He dismantles the “Jews call non-Jews animals” myth, providing cultural and textual context, and clarifies that “goy” just means "nation," not "cattle."
  • Quote: “The Talmud is essentially trying to figure [Jewish laws] out. It’s open discussion. Majority of the things in there are hearsay. It’s not a book of law...” (03:50–04:14)

4. Antisemitic Tropes and Their History (22:05–23:49)

• The conversation explores historical roots of stereotypes about Jews in banking and entertainment, pointing out how discrimination forced Jews into certain roles.
  • Quote: “Jews were literally forced into that position... They got really good at interest and lending, eventually opened banks… They were forced into that position and now we’re good at it.” (22:40–23:17)
• The enduring myth of Jewish control in media is criticized, especially as Jewboi points out how pro-Jewish voices are censored.

5. Contemporary Antisemitism & Social Media (26:15–32:32)

• The rapid surge in online Jew hatred—magnified after global events (e.g., October 7th)—is dissected.
• Observations about how Israel-Palestine discourse is used as a mask for pure antisemitism on platforms like Twitter/X and Instagram.
  • Quote: “You have guys like Nick Fuentes… Jake Shields and Tate… They’ll just use [Israel] as a shield for actual Jew hatred.” (26:40–27:42)

6. Censorship and Double Standards in Media (29:44–30:40)

• Jewboi recounts being banned from TikTok for defending Jews, challenging the assertion that "Jews control the media."
  • Quote: “They’ll say Jews run the media... Well, I was talking about pro-Jewish stuff and I got factory banned.” (30:09–30:40)

7. Combatting Myths: Holocaust Denial (33:09–34:27)

• Detailed breakdowns of Holocaust denial memes; explains mechanical realities of crematoriums to challenge denialists.
  • Quote: “They had this running clockwork... eyeballing it, they could have burned easily ten million bodies. This takes two seconds to research.” (34:04–34:27)
• Shares family history, noting a relative who survived the Holocaust and later marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in the US.

8. Refusing Victimhood: Jewish Resilience (31:52–32:36; 36:15–36:51)

• Jewboi asserts Jewish endurance and historical survival, recognizing the dangers of recurrence but affirming a positive mission.
  • Quote: “These neo-Nazis now… think, ‘If we band together, we’re gonna get rid of the Jews again.’ Well, guess what… None of those nations exist anymore, and Jews are still here.” (32:03–32:32)

9. Content Creation & The Purpose Behind It (36:54–38:07; 46:02–46:32)

• Discusses the decision to more actively refute online lies, filling a void left by older or less internet-savvy Jewish voices.
  • Quote: “I kept on sitting around waiting for someone to say something… So I’m like, OK, I guess I have to do it.” (36:54–37:34)
• Balances entertainment and activism, choosing to stand up against Nazi content and misinformation.

10. On Debates and High-profile Foes (20:11–22:05; 44:41–46:32)

• Expresses willingness to debate figures like Dan Bilzerian and Nick Fuentes, with the goal of fact-based, peaceful discussion.
• Notes previous online exchanges with Sneako, calling out casual, direct antisemitism and expressing hope that education can prevail.

11. Media Representations and Influencers (38:07–41:31)

• Critiques certain rabbis (e.g., Rabbi Shmuley) who become the de facto “face” of Judaism in media, sometimes to the community's detriment.

12. Looking Forward (36:51; 46:32–46:58)

• Jewboi is committed to producing both comedic and myth-busting content, providing nuanced, fact-based Jewish perspectives for mainstream audiences.
  • Quote: “I just want to be entertaining… but very much stress on just anti-Nazi content. I've been doing some of that on Instagram and it’s been performing, because Jews finally feel like there’s… a group starting to fight back.” (37:09–37:34)
• Ends with self-aware humor about the ever-present conspiracy theories surrounding outspoken Jews.
  • Quote: “I was paid by AIPAC to be here. I am a Mossad agent. I was planted here to influence the youth… to pay us your interest.” (46:38–47:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On re-owning a slur:
  “When people say that name, they’re just thinking of me.” — Jewboi (02:40)
• On misinformation about Judaism:
  “You’re not being serious when you say we think non-Jews are animals, right?” — Jewboi (13:13)
• On the economics of antisemitic hate:
  “Myself, Dan Bilzerian, Nick Fuentes, Sneako… We all milk Judaism for clout and financial gain… I try to do it in a positive way, and they do it in another.” (18:43)
• On social media bans:
  “This stream will probably get taken down… and right after I said that, the TikTok Live got banned, my account got banned, and my entire phone got banned.” (29:52–30:09)
• On Jewish resilience:
  “Statistically, logically thinking, [they] tried getting rid of us like a hundred times and we’re still here.” (32:36)
• On Holocaust denial memes:
  “One of the big dog whistles is, ‘If I have five ovens that burn X cookies, how many cookies can I burn in four years?’” (33:45)
• On debating with bad faith actors:
  "I'm not even going to say I'm the biggest professional in the world, but this is what we got here. So I do everything that I can to just debunk those things." (43:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:11–02:44: Origin and reclamation of the name "Jewboi"
• 03:02–03:48: On anti-Semitism and confronting misinformation online
• 03:49–10:39: Demystifying the Talmud and debunking antisemitic myths
• 22:05–23:49: History of Jews in banking and entertainment
• 26:15–32:36: Online Jew hatred, Israel-Palestine discourse, and social media double standards
• 33:09–34:27: Holocaust denial and mechanical realities
• 36:54–38:07: Balancing comedy, activism, and mythbusting as content focus for the year
• 44:41–46:32: Experiences with debating—willingness and preparation
• 46:38–47:00: Satirical “confession” about being a Mossad agent

Conclusion

This episode is a powerful, raw exploration of contemporary Jewish identity in the social media age, offering listeners both humor and hard-won perspective. Jewboi brings lived experience and deep Jewish knowledge to bear against hate, making a compelling case for reclaiming the narrative and arming the next generation with truth and courage.