So you're Jewish? Over the centuries that has meant countless things - sometimes anti-Semitic violence. Must it always be that way? You decide!

This is The God Show, a conversation about the human spirit, with your host, Pat McMahon.

You know, on The God Show for 24, 25 years now, we have covered so many subjects, and one that continues to come up, because I just keep thinking, maybe if we do the subject enough... they'll just simply stop picking on Jews. Who they are? Just about everybody that's not Jewish. Or, in some cases, Jews picking on Jews. Anti-Semitism. Why... Is it continuing? Why does it go on no matter what's going on? In the Middle East, there's something else going on in Toledo, Ohio. And here to explain all of it to us and perhaps even solve the entire problem before the hour is out is Danielle Gross. And Danielle, the very first thing I'm going to do is I'm going to leave the responsibility of all of your titles up to you. And so just keep on going until we end the show. But no, Danielle Gross recommended to us because of your background in water organizations.

So I'm involved in quite a few different organizations. For me, it's really important to be involved and to make a difference. And to do that, I think oftentimes it requires working... over time as much as you can to really make that difference. So starting here locally, involved with the Center for Jewish Philanthropy as the incoming board chair in January. And the Center for Jewish Philanthropy is a part of the Jewish Federation system. And so I'm also involved through Jewish Federations of North America, right now doing advocacy work with them, and recently was the co-chair for the Young Leadership Development Program at Jewish Federations of North America. And I'm also involved with AIPAC, doing some leadership work and helping make a difference, building the U.S.-Israel relationship.

What does that stand for?

Everybody thinks it stands for Political Action Network. This is

APAC.

APAC. It's American-Israel Public Affairs Committee.

And you just came up with that off the front of those marvelously attentive reporters. frontal lobes of yours, actually you didn't, you just looked it up, right? You made all of us feel a whole lot better. Because I just simply had to get all of that out of the way. Just all the titles and everything, we're not even gonna go back to that. Because while you said, well, here locally, and this is an international broadcast, so we should explain that locally means the greater Phoenix area. And you come from... About as far away as you possibly can. But you come with thousands of other people from the Middle West to settle down in Phoenix or Scottsdale or Mesa, Arizona. And you came from Lincoln, Nebraska.

Yes. That's

where you grew up.

Yes.

With seven Jews. Yes.

I know. I grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, which is a very small community. My mom grew up in Omaha, which is still a vibrant community. So I did participate in Omaha a bit and then also an active Jew in Lincoln, where I really realized that you need to raise your hand. You have to participate.

Yes, and just not because of the fact that there aren't a lot of active Jewish organizations and Jews in the Middle West. You just don't think of a pocket of Judaism as being Lincoln, Nebraska. You think of the University of Nebraska being there.