Show notes
He's worth hundreds of millions, runs one of Canada's most powerful companies, and he still gets antisemitic replies every Friday when he posts “Shabbat Shalom,” here's why he refuses to stop.Shopify President Harley Finkelstein joins host Jonah Platt for a wide-ranging conversation about Jewish identity, antisemitism, entrepreneurship, and legacy. Finkelstein, a grandson of Holocaust survivors whose family fled Hungary during the Soviet crackdown of the 1950s, opens up about why he has grown increasingly vocal as a public Jewish figure in Canada, especially in the wake of October 7th. He recounts two pivotal incidents that motivated his public advocacy: protesters storming his Big Shot podcast recording at Startup Fest, and demonstrators disrupting his speech at the opening of the Finkelstein Chabad Center in Ottawa. He discusses his relationship with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Shopify's massive e-commerce footprint (14% of all U.S. e-commerce), and his journey from being one of Shopify's first 136 merchants to its president. He also digs into Big Shot, his podcast with David Siegel that archives the stories of legendary Jewish entrepreneurs, from Charles Bronfman to Jeffrey Katzenberg, arguing that grit is the defining trait behind Jewish entrepreneurial success.Plus, Jonah shares about his recent trip to Thessaloniki, Greece where he explored Jewish history. Topics:His published an op-ed in the National Post about rising antisemitism in CanadaMeeting Shopify founder Tobi Lutke at a Saturday entrepreneur coffee groupFinkelstein advocates loudly for visible Jewish philanthropy, arguing that public giving creates a "flywheel" of inspirationFinkelstein and David Siegel co-founding Fire Belly TeaFigures who inspired him like Jerry Schwartz and Izzy Sharp. His optimism for AI and technologyMeeting his wife Lindsay Taub, and his view on her being a partner in lifeWhy he does the Big Shot podcastBeing in a public role and the responsibility that comes with thatThe importance of jewish advocacy and leading by exampleA special thanks to our partner this week - Hadassah.orgMentioned in the episode:The Jews of Thessaloniki, a Once Great Jewish CitySephardic Jews in Eastern Europe and GreeceRomaniote Jewish HistoryThe Route Saint Paul Followed In Greece1492 Alhambra DecreeTalmud Torah HaGadolThe Cooking Accident that Decimated a Jewish Community of 70,000The Treaty of LausanneThe Nazi Occupation of GreeceAristotle University Built on The Ruins of Jewish CemeteriesJewish Federations’ National Young Leadership CabinetJonah Describes “The Jeremiah Effect”Jewish Museum of ThessalonikiSynagogue of the MonasteriotesThe Jewish Community of AthensChabad of GreeceHarley Finkelstein InstagramHarley Finkelstein LinkedInRed ScareHow September 11 Affected the U.S. Stock MarketShopifyBig ShotHarley Finkelstein weekly Shabbat Shalom post on XHarley Finkelstein’s Article: Canadian Jews are being targeted simply because they are JewishHeather ReismanShopify President Makes Good on 18-Year-Old Promise to His Campus RabbiTobias Lütke LinkedIn Harley Finkelstein X Jonathan GreenblattThe Right Honorable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of CanadaJustin Trudeau | Former Prime Minister of CanadaSamuel BronfmanBobby KotickIsadore SharpDubai-based Augustus Media pushes Shopify boycott over president’s tweet supporting fair reporting about IsraelGerry SchwartzBJJP Howie Mandel EpisodeLindsay Taub (Harley Finkelstein’s spouse)David SegalHollywood’s Jewish FoundersCharles Bronfman: A Lifetime of GivingJeffrey KatzenbergBarry DillerLynda ResnickThe Merchant Prince: The Man Behind The Gap, Old Navy, and J. Crew | Mickey DrexlerLarry SilversteinDeni Avdija becomes 1st Israeli named to NBA All-Star GameSupport the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcastSubscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletterFor Sponsorships, please email:[email protected]://beingjewishpodcast.com/merchTo contact us & all things BJJP:www.BeingJewishPodcast.comFollow Jonah on:Instagram - @JonahPlattX - @JonahPlattFollow Being Jewish on:Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcastTikTok - @BeingJewishWritten and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt