On Being Jewish Now is the gift that keeps on giving.

As Zibby Media’s Founder and CEO, a bestselling author, editor, and podcaster, Zibby Owens set out to amplify Jewish voices after the explosion of antisemitism ignited by the October 7th attack.

But she didn’t just edit and publish personal essays from 75 authors and advocates in an anthology titled On Being Jewish Now. She didn’t just build the foundation for Jewish creatives to speak in a series of live events across the country, or create a book that spent 27 weeks on the USA Today Bestseller list. And she didn’t just donate the profits to Artists Against Antisemitism or continue to validate the Jewish experience by featuring essays from 200 contributors (and counting) on a Substack of the same name.

Zibby’s work has gone far beyond the scope of editing and publishing a book—it’s fostering dialogue when it’s essential for Jewish voices to be heard. It’s inspiring community when solidarity is needed more than ever. And now? In partnership with The Braid, 14 of the lived, personal experiences from the anthology are being adapted for a live audience in a landmark stage production premiering March 22.

On Being Jewish Now features a small ensemble of actors playing multiple narrators, and will tour Southern California and the Bay Area with performances through April 23. For those who can’t make it in person, there will be performances live on Zoom Thursday, April 16 at 4 PM (PT) and Sunday, April 19 at 11 AM (PT). Tickets can be purchased here.

Zibby reflects, “It gives me goosebumps thinking about all the personal, moving stories I’ve read and edited now coming to life, especially in front of an audience. I always imagine people hearing the stories but being in a room together, a true community, and sharing the experiences will be so incredible. I can’t wait.”

This isn’t just a win for Zibby—it’s a triumph for the entire On Being Jewish Now family. From essay contributors to the theatrical team bringing a selection of these pieces to life, it felt only fitting to capture reflections from the robust community of advocates who are connected to these stories.

It is a wild and incredible honor to bring these stories to life. Knowing that we are sharing deeply personal stories, lived experiences, in this heartbreaking and chaotic time makes me feel so connected to the Jewish People at large. We sing a song in the show that translates to “all the world is a very narrow bridge,” and right now this show is the bridge we need to feel healing, validation, and connection.

Abbe Meryl Feder, OBJN Cast Member

There’s a quote painted outside of Zibby’s bookstore that says, “stories are best when shared,” and to me, that’s what this project comes down to. It feels like such a gift that our essays, our stories, are going to be shared with a broader audience through this stage adaptation. I was so honored and excited to learn that my essay had been selected that I booked a 24-hour trip out to LA so I could see it in person. I have goosebumps just thinking about it. And I hope that people in the audience are so moved that they buy the book so they can read the other 60+ essays. They’re all truly amazing.

Alison Hammer, OBJN Contributor

Seeing On Being Jewish Now move from the page to the stage shows that our stories were never meant to sit quietly in a book – they’re living testimonies. Theater brings breath, voice, and community to narratives that so many Jews are carrying right now. Being part of the OBJN community means standing with fellow writers who chose to stand tall in the face of silence. It’s a reminder that our stories continue to move, gather community, inspire forward, and endure.

Alyssa Rosenheck, OBJN Contributor

The Jewish response to this moment in history is not one voice but a chorus, and I’ve found it deeply moving to help bring these layered and human stories to the stage.

Benmio McCrea, OBJN Cast Member

Being part of the OBJN community has meant the world to me. I write and talk often about Jewish representation and how Jews, in all our diverse glory, must be seen and heard. What a gift it has been that OBJN has inspired this important conversation both on the page and stage.

Corie Adjmi, OBJN Contributor

Our book has fostered dynamic, meaningful conversations; contributing an essay to this collaborative project feels supportive and deeply impactful. What began on the page has expanded and evolved, reaching readers worldwide. Zibby Owens created the space for each contributor’s story while shaping the book into a heartfelt, cohesive collection of experiences. I’m honored and grateful to be part of On Being Jewish Now.

Dara Levan, OBJN Contributor

After appearing on banned “Zionist author” lists and being quietly sidelined by indie bookstores that once welcomed me—along with losing close friends—my already small creative community shrank even further. But being part of this project and meeting the other contributors gave me something even more meaningful than what I had lost—it gave me the family I never knew I needed. And the overwhelming success of this book proves that Jews around the world were searching for that same connection and sense of belonging.

Heidi Shertok, OBJN Contributor 

Contributing an essay to On Being Jewish Now felt like an opportunity to connect with so many others who were examining or re-examining the meaning of their Jewish identity during newly turbulent times for the community. Seeing the concept move from the page to the stage feels incredibly meaningful as a way for the readers, writers, actors, audience members, and others to expand the dialogue and consider questions from new angles. I am honored to be part of a community that creates spaces for Jewish voices and allows for thoughtful reflection and connection.

Jacqueline Friedland, OBJN Contributor

In the wake of the recent nightmarish attack on a Michigan synagogue, OBJN—both the book and this new stage adaptation—feels more relevant and urgent than ever. My own essay looks at the endless cycles of anti-Semitism and the ways Jews have never, ever felt fully safe, while offering a glimmer of hope that one day we might. I’m thrilled it hit home with The Braid and hope it resonates with audiences.

Joanna Rakoff, OBJN Contributor

I feel honored to be a part of bringing these powerfully relatable stories to life, about what it feels like for many of us to be Jewish in today’s world. As a Jewish woman and the daughter of an Israeli, and as a mother of American Jewish college students, I have found myself sometimes struggling to put into words what these past few years have been like for me. These stories give voice to what I believe so many of us Jewish Americans have been thinking and feeling.

Karen Agam Macarah, OBJN Cast Member

Seeing On Being Jewish Now move from page to stage is deeply meaningful. These essays were born from identity, urgency, and the courage to stand up to hate—using our words to make a difference. Bringing them to life in the theater transforms personal testimony into a powerful shared experience. At a moment when Jewish voices matter more than ever, this brilliant project reminds us that storytelling isn’t just preservation—it’s resilience. Mazels all around!

Lisa Barr, OBJN Contributor

I am over-the-moon that my essay was selected to be adapted for the OBJN stage production. Honestly, since acting is my day job, I have been so honored to be in the company of such prestigious writers, not just in the book, but on the email thread which has become its own community and running commentary on being Jewish in these challenging times.

Mark Feuerstein, OBJN Contributor

It makes perfect sense that OBJN would take to the stage, as everything Zibby and her team create very much pinpoints the heartbeat of Jewish lives. Each project shines in relevance and artistic significance. Knowing Zibby Owens, the OBJN book, and Substack, I have complete confidence that this stage production will be timely, beautiful, and deeply true—a masterpiece that the world, both Jews and non-Jews, must experience.

Melissa Uchiyama, OBJN Substack Contributor

The magic of On Being Jewish Now lies in how it serves as a time capsule for a particular moment while continuing to evolve. It captures the singularity of individual perspectives and gives voice to a shared collective experience. Seeing it come to life on stage is a triumph, broadening the space where our stories will be told and retold.

Rachel Caplin, OBJN Substack Contributor

Our goal is to give voice to the unscripted interior lives of American Jews in this moment. In bringing Zibby’s acclaimed book to the stage, I hope the Jewish community feels seen, and in doing so, be a unifying force in a deeply divided world.

Ronda Spinak, Founder & Artistic Director of The Braid

This is about two things converging: a growing hunger for Jewish content and the magic of having the talented and determined Zibby Owens behind it. Everything she touches turns to gold.

Samantha Ettus, OBJN Contributor

The collection of essays in On Being Jewish Now truly mirror The Braid’s mission of “leaving no contemporary Jewish story untold,” so as Director, I’m very grateful to take on the challenge of bringing a variety of these stories to life on the stage. In rehearsals with three Jewish actors and one non-Jewish actor, we’re all finding deeply relatable shared experiences together. We all identify strongly with these authors, so in this rehearsal process in particular, we’re feeling the full range of our own emotions. Our rehearsals are vibrant with our tears and laughter, grief and celebration, heartache and joy.

Susan Morgenstern, OBJN Director

The On Being Jewish Now Substack description says it best:

“If it were just the anthology, dayenu! If it were the anthology, but not the regular essays posted? Dayenu! If it were the anthology and essays, but not the events? Dayenu! If it were the anthology, essays and events but not the community? Dayenu.”

And now we have the stage production in the mix.

Zibby, thank you for amplifying the voices of this exceptional community. Your work is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

View the schedule and purchase tickets here to see a live performance of On Being Jewish Now March 22 – April 23.

Can’t make it in person? Watch a performance live on Zoom Thursday, April 16 at 4 PM (PT) & Sunday, April 19 at 11 AM (PT).

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)