My Catholic Wife’s Jewish Conversion & How I Learned to Love Christmas

It's a very special 50th episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt. Jonah celebrates with his wife, Courtney Ann Platt (Glee, So You Think You Can Dance, Rock of Ages), the world-class dancer, television star, and multiple sclerosis advocate whose Jewish conversion journey has become a defining part of their family's traditions and values. From growing up Italian Catholic in New York to becoming a Jewish mother raising three young Platts in Jewish day school, Courtney opens up about the turning points that reshaped her life. With humor and candor, Courtney and Jonah revisit the early days of their relationship at the Hollywood Bowl, the emotional path of her Orthodox conversion with Rabbi Riskin, and their commitment to blending Catholic and Jewish traditions under one roof—from negotiating Christmas celebrations to creating a home where Shabbat and Jewish values are woven into everyday life. Courtney also reflects on Jewish motherhood, the visceral awakening she felt after October 7th that transformed her Jewish identity, and how becoming part of the Jewish community changed her understanding of resilience, belonging, and responsibility. 00:00 - Welcome to The 50th Episode, Courtney Platt! 02:22 - How We Met: Rehearsal Romance 05:05 - The Honest First Date 07:43 - Italian Catholic Upbringing 13:30 - Family Reaction to Conversion 17:28 - The Conversion Process (Geirut) 21:40 - The Mikveh and Shabbat 25:02 - Multiple Sclerosis and Faith 29:19 - Children and Jewish Identity 32:00 - Post-October 7th Fear 40:40 - MS, Mortality, and Perspective 49:50 - Family Observance and Social Fallout 58:10 - Strength of Jewish Parents #CourtneyPlatt #JonahPlatt #BeingJewishPodcast #JewishConversion #ConvertingToJudaism #JewishMotherhood #MSAwareness #JewishIdentity