High Holiday Recap and the Matriarchs
This month on the podcast we’re talking about the High Holiday season. We’re just off a solid month of holidays, and we thought it might be a good time to reflect on what makes the chagim, or holidays, successful and/or meaningful to us. And we’re talking about the matriarchs. How do we feel about the foremothers of the Jewish people.
Further reading
Rosh Hashanah
Anatomy of Injustice by Raymond Bonner
When God is Near by Rabbi Yehuda Amital
Professor Sarah Wolf’s Yom Kippur drash
Matriarchs
Wrestling Jacob: Deception, Identity, and Freudian Slips in Genesis by Shmuel Klitsner
Endorsements
Zahava recommends Overlooked No More: Clara Lemlich Shavelson, Crusading Leader of Labor Rights by Zoe Greenberg in the New York Times. Relatedly, Tamar recommends Brave Girl by Michelle Markel, a children’s book about Clara Lemlich. Zahava also recommends more of the essays from When God is Near by Rabbi Yehuda Amital.
Mimi recommends the BimBam video about Kohelet and Rachel Calof’s Story, a memoir by Rachel Calof. (Tamar seconds this endorsement and has also heard good things about And Prairie Dogs Weren’t Kosher by Linda Mack Schloff.)
Tamar endorses the book This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared by Rabbi Alan Lew.
#MeToo in the Jewish community and BlackkKlansman
This month on the podcast we’re talking about #MeToo in the Jewish world and about Spike Lee’s new film, Blackkklansmen, which follows a black detective in Colorado Springs as he and a Jewish colleague infiltrate the local chapter of the KKK.
Further reading
#MeToo in the Jewish community
My personal and professional reckoning with Steven Cohen’s #MeToo moment by Jane Eisner in the Forward
Me #MeToo moment haunts me – even four decades later by Jane Eisner in the Forward
Women in Jewish fundraising say harassment is pervasive by Debra Nussbaum Cohen in JTA
Female Rabbis Speak Out About ‘Pervasive’ Harassment by Stewart Ain in The Jewish Week
How Jewish Academia Created a #MeToo Disaster by Kate Rosenblatt, Lila Corwin Berman and Ronit Stahl in the Forward
Ken means yes, a Yom Kippur action
BlackkKlansman
BlacKkKlansman’ Recalls The Possibility, Then & Now, Of A Black-Jewish Alliance by Marc Dollinger in The Jewish Week
Why Spike Lee’s ‘BlacKkKlansman’ is a cautionary tale for 21st-century Jews by Charles Dunst in JTA
Why BlacKkKlansman Is Required Viewing for Jews by Abraham Riesman in Vulture
With BlacKkKlansman, Spike Lee Sounds the Alarm About America’s Past and Present by David Sims in the Atlantic
Endorsements
Zahava recommends the fact that there’s a blurb from ?uestlove on the back of the Zahav cookbook, and Rabbi David Ebner’s book of poetry, The Library of Everything, specifically the poems Yizkor and The Library of Everything.
Mimi recommends the Jewels of Elul, Elul writing prompts, giving something away every day of Elul, and talking to your friends about High Holiday services and studying the Machzor ahead of time.
Tamar asks for advice on how to not hate davening, and recommends the Spike Lee joint, Inside Man.
Ashkenazi Jewish food renaissance, and Neshikot B’Ivrit
This month on the podcast we’re talking about the Ashkenazi Jewish food renaissance with Liz Alpern, entrepreneur and co-founder of the Gefilteria, and co-author of the Gefilte Manifesto. And for our second segment we’re talking about the new film Neshikot B’Ivrit, or Hebrew Kisses, by filmmaker Manya Lozovskaya.
Further reading
Ashkenazi Jewish food renaissance
The Gefilte Manifesto: New Recipes for Old World Jewish Food by Jeffrey Yoskowitz and Liz Alpern
How Katz’s Delicatessen Became a New York Icon by Ted Merwin in From the Square
Can the Jewish Deli Be Reformed by Julia Moskin in the New York Times
Food trends for 2017: Filipino fare, modern Jewish, ‘waffling’ in the Times Columnist
The classic Jewish deli is dead? Get stuffed! by Michael Kaminer in the Jewish Chronicle
Hebrew Kisses
Hebrew Kisses on IMDB
Endorsements
Zahava recommends The story behind the funniest e-mail Hillary Clinton has ever sent by Roberto A. Ferdman in the Washington Post.
Mimi recommends the Rosemary Garlic Challah recipe from the Modern Jewish Baker cookbook by Shannon Sarna, and the reading list 7 Female Israeli Writers You Should Be Reading from alma.
Tamar recommends Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar.
A Jewish Man’s Rebellion and Disobedience
This month on the podcast we’re talking about a now infamous op-ed in the Washington Post, “I am tired of being a Jewish man’s rebellion” by Carey Purcell, and the resulting backlash. And for our second segment we’re talking about the new film Disobedience, based on the novel by Naomi Alderman, and starring Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams as two women who grew up Orthodox struggling with their love for each other.
Further reading
I am tired of being a Jewish man’s rebellion
I am tired of being a Jewish man’s rebellion by Carey Purcell in the Washington Post
‘Til Faith Do Us Part by Naomi Shaefer Riley
Disobedience
Disobedience Review: A Strangely Staid Story About Hidden Passions by Richard Lawson in Vanity Fair.
Endorsements
Zahava recommends a monologue in Angels in America, and as performed by Meryl Streep.
Mimi recommends counting the omer, and specifically her husband’s omer beard.
Tamar recommends The Dyke and the Dybbuk by Ellen Galford, and The Modern Jewish Baker by Shannon Sarna.
Memoirs About Leaving Orthodoxy and Anti-Semitism in the Women’s March
This month on the podcast we each read a different book about someone leaving Orthodoxy, and we’re going to discuss the themes and reactions that came up for all of us. In our second segment we’re going to discuss the recent blowup around Women’s March leaders Tamika Mallory and Carmen Perez and their support of Louis Farrakhan, a virulent anti-Semite and misogynist.
Further reading
Memoirs about leaving Orthodoxy
All Who Go Do Not Return by Shulem Deen
Foreskin’s Lament: A Memoir by Shalom Auslander
Cut Me Loose: in and Salvation After My Ultra-Orthodox Girlhood by Leah Vincent
A Book of Separation: A Memoir by Tova Mirvis
Anti-Semitism and the Women’s March
The Women’s March Has a Farrakhan Problem by John Paul Pogano in The Atlantic
Why Tamika Mallory Won’t Condemn Farrakhan by Adam Serwer in The Atlantic
A Word About Louis Farrakhan and Tamika Mallory by Terrell Jermaine Starr in The Root
What Black People Hear When You Demand That They Denounce Louis Farrakhan by Anoa Changa in the Forward
Why Won’t Women’s March Leaders Denounce Louis Farrakhan’s Anti-Semitism? by Jesse Singal in New York Magazine
We Need To Talk About Black Anti-Semitism by Ben Faulding in the Forward
To My Black Brothers And Sisters: I’m Black And Jewish. Farrakhan Is Bad For Us All. by Nylah Burton in the Forward
Memo To The Left: Denounce Anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan by Elad Nehorai in the Forward
Embracing Farrakhan Betrays The Most Essential Principles of The Women’s March by Christina Cauterucci in Slate
D.C. lawmaker says recent snowfall caused by ‘Rothschilds controlling the climate’ by By Peter Jamison and Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post
Some wanted a D.C. Council member to resign for his anti-Semitic comments. Jewish leaders invited him to Seders instead. by Michelle Boorstein in the Washington Post
Endorsements
Zahava recommends Making the Second Ghetto: Race and Housing in Chicago 1940-1960 by Arnold Hirsch
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
Mimi recommends the Torah.
Jewish music and Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s music
This month on the podcast we’re talking about Jewish music, about prayer, and about what happens when these things come together. These three interrelated topics are an amalgam of various conversations we’ve been wanting to have with one another, spurred in part by renewed discussions about Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, famed composer of many Jewish liturgical melodies, who has been accused of sexual assault by several women in the Jewish community.
Further reading
Jewish music
Evolution of Jewish Music by the Y-Studs
Evolution of Music by Pentatonix
Evolution of Jewish Music by Meir Kay
Avinu Malkeinu by Phish
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s music
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach‘s Shadow Side by Susan Blustain in Lilith
My Sisters, I Hear You by Neshama Carlebach in The Times of Israel
You’ve Come a Long Way, Sister: 20 Years After Carlebach Allegations, His Daughter Hears #MeToo in Lilith
Central Synagogue puts a moratorium on Carlebach melodies”
Should We Still Be Singing Shlomo Carlebach’s Songs In The #MeToo Era? By Laura E. Adkins in the Forward
The Last Klezmer film
Endorsements
Zahava recommends My Church by Maren Morris, and the online tikkun offered by the Beverly Hills Chabad.
Mimi recommends a chocolate cinnamon mandel bread recipe.
Tamar recommends After A Teen Tour Turned Into An Abuse Nightmare, Waiting On An Apology by Josh Nathan-Kazis in the Forward.
Unterzakhn and a Triple Wedding in New York
This month on the podcast we got a request from a listener to discuss the graphic novel Unterzakhn by Leela Corman. For our second segment we’ll be discussing the recent triple wedding in New York of couples who couldn’t or wouldn’t get married in Israel under the rabbinate.
Further reading
Unterzakhn
Buy Unterzakhn by Leela Corman
Rob Clough reviews Unterzakhn in the Comics Journal
Kirkus review
Review by Lightsy Darst in Bookslut
The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden
Civil marriage in Israel
This Normal Life: Breaking the Rabbinate’s Monopoly on Marriage by Brian Blum in the Jerusalem Post
A Triple Wedding. A Defiant Protest by Bari Weiss in the New York Times
Tzohar Engaging Secular Israelis by Peter Kohn in the Australian Jewish News
In a first, Tel Aviv rabbis partner to ease burdens of Israel’s religious wedding establishment from JTA
Who Was She? A DNA Test Only Opened New Mysteries by Libby Copeland in the Washington Post
Endorsements
Zahava offers her weekly dvar Torah template at Sefaria, and Pledges of Jewish Allegiance by David Ellenson and Daniel Gordis, and a twitter thread by Laura Moser. recommends how Judaism has pre-set things to say in call kinds of situations, including grief, and seeing old friends.
Mimi recommends My sisters I hear you by Neshama Carlebach in the Times of Israel, and You’ve Come a Long Way, Sister: 20 Years After Carlebach Allegations, His Daughter Hears #MeToo by the staff of Lilith magazine.
Tamar recommends The Power and Disobedience by Naomi Alderman, the divrei Torah by Bar Ilan faculty available for each week’s parasha, the Mormon Stories podcast interview with Tova Mirvis.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and “the Holiday Season”
This month on the podcast we’re talking about the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, a new show on Amazon Prime, and we’re talking about what it’s like to be Jewish during the (secular) holiday season.
Further reading
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Is the Ultimate ‘Winning the Breakup’ Fantasy by Anna Silman in The Cut
The holiday season
Jews & Christmas by Rabbi Joshua E. Plaut on MyJewishLearning.com
Endorsements
Zahava recommends how Judaism has pre-set things to say in call kinds of situations, including grief, and seeing old friends.
Mimi recommends learning Talmud with a havruta.
Tamar recommends the book Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein.
Awesome Historical Jewish Women, and Rituals We’d Like to Create or Destroy
This month on the podcast we’re talking about awesome historical Jewish women that we didn’t learn about when we were kids. And we’re going to talk about Jewish rituals that we wish existed, and ones we could do without.
Further reading
Awesome Jewish women in history
Take the Prominent Jewish Women in History quiz from MyJewishLearning.com.
Regina Jonas, an Orthodox Jewish rabbi who died in the Holocaust
Short film: In the footsteps of Regina Jonas
Ray Frank’s Yom Kippur sermon, 1890
Justine Wise Polier is dead; A judge and child advocate, by Edward Hudson in the New York Times
Rituals we love, hate, want to exist, and would do away with
Endorsements
Zahava recommends the Jewish Women’s Archive, and the poem called Ba’al Teshuvas at the Mikvah by Yehoshua November.
Mimi recommends The Meyerowitz Stories, and the Heavyweight podcast, specifically the episodes Buzz and Jeremy.
Tamar recommends the song What the Hell is Simchas Torah by Jewnmongous, aka Sean Altman.
If All the Seas Were Ink and How Parenting Changes Our Jewish Practice
This month on the podcast we’re talking about If All the Seas Were Ink by Ilana Kurshan, and we’ll be speaking with Ilana. And for our second segment we’re talking about how parenting can/should change your Jewish practice.
Further reading
If All the Seas Were Ink
Ilana recommends the Dafyomi4women podcast, as well as A Bride for One Night by Ruth Calderon, Maggie Anton‘s books, and a new book by Dr. Ruhama Weiss, in Hebrew, called Yalta.
Religious changes while parenting
Finding God in a Hot Slice of Pizza by Tova Mervis in the New York Times
Shpitzle’s Secret, an episode of the Longest Shortest Time
Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, a wife concluding that she’s a lesbian, and child custody, by Eugene Volokh in the Washington Post
Endorsements
Yael recommends the food, particularly the tahina shakes at Goldie, a kosher restaurant in Philadelphia.
Zahava recommends that everyone know that Rav Shlomo Aviner says that it’s prohibited to using the praying hands emoji because that’s idol worship. She also recommends an amazing video of the Chief Cantor of the IDF (apparently a real job) singing Unetaneh Tokef.
Tamar recommends the book 100 First Songs, a book and CD collection of classic Israeli children’s music. There is also a youtube version, which is less good.