GOLDA Girls

GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelist Esther Chehebar, and Rabbi Diana Fersko, celebrate Jewish Book Month and the launch of the new Tchotchke x GOLDA menorah. 

Anna and Adam Paskow of Tchotchke join the GOLDA Girls to discuss the hot pink collaboration that will brighten up your Hanukkah, and Naomi Firestone-Teeter of the Jewish Book Council shares the story behind Jewish Book Month, which started 101 years ago with a determined librarian named Fanny Goldstein.

The GOLDA girls also chat AI for women, Zabar's Christmas ornaments, and Jewish “shelebrities.”

Links from today’s episode:

The Pink Edition menorah from Tchotchke x GOLDA: shoptchotchke.com/golda 

Jewish Book Month 

Jewish Book Council 

Fanny’s Great Idea, the children’s book about Jewish Book Week founder Fanny Goldstein

Bentzion Goldmans’ 2026 Jewish Book Month poster 

Maurice Sendak’s 1985 Jewish Book Month poster 

Zabar’s ornament 

Zabar’s Kids Bagel T-Shirt 

Good for the Jews: 

Stephanie: Batsheva’s recent fashion show at the Jewish Museum.

Esther: Here there are Blueberries on Broadway.

Diana: Rabbi David Ingber of 92NY, Dr. Erika Brown of Yeshiva University, Dr. Sarah Abramson of OneTable, and Ana Bonheim of the Jewish Learning Collaborative.

Naomi: The new Hayom x Joann Sfar challah cover.

Upcoming events:

November 18, 2026 — New York City: Join GOLDA for a night of Hanukkah shopping at The Harmonie Club. Tickets: https://luma.com/peef8wxx. 

December 1, 2026 — New York City: GOLDA x Red Tent Fund panel about women’s health from a Jewish perspective, moderated by Stephanie Butnick and featuring recent GOLDA Girls guest Alli Tombros Korman and Millennial Menopause author Lauren Tetenbaum at Congregation Rodeph Sholom. Register: secure.qgiv.com/for/202ny/event/rtf/.

December 10, 2026 — New York City: GOLDA’s Hanukkah Mahjong Night at the Jewish Museum. Tickets: thejewishmuseum.org/program/121026-mahjong-night-at-the-jewish-museum-with-golda/.

Check out all of our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/events. Get in touch to bring the GOLDA Girls to your community: [email protected].

Get more GOLDA at goldaguide.com. Follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.

More from the GOLDA Girls:

Diana Fersko’s book, We Need to Talk About Antisemitism: rabbidianafersko.com/books.  

Esther Chehebar’s novel, Sisters of Fortune: bookshop.org/a/110357/9780593734544

Esther’s children’s book, I Share My Name: bookshop.org/a/110357/9781532432187. 

Stephanie’s book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia:  bookshop.org/a/110357/9781579658939.

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU.

Subscribe to GOLDA Girls on:
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq

Pocket Casts: pocketcasts.com/podcast/golda-girls/ed7285a0-2487-013f-2ec2-0e872f6a2b21

Leave us a review and we’ll send you a GOLDA sticker! Email a screenshot of your review to [email protected]. 

Sponsors:

GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads, a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda. Visit NuReads.org to get started today.

GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelist Esther Chehebar, and Rabbi Diana Fersko are joined by Red Tent Fund founder Alli Tombros Korman to discuss how the midterm election results impact reproductive rights across the country. Plus babka tales, Brooklyn’s hottest concert, and more. 

Send in your GOLDA Grams: record a voice note or voice memo and email it to [email protected] to be included in an upcoming episode. Tell us who you are, where you’re calling from, and what you’re thinking about.

Links from today’s episode:

Red Tent Fund: theredtentfund.org/  

Red Tent Fund NYC events: secure.qgiv.com/for/202ny/event/rtf/  

Good for the Jews: 

Stephanie: Jewish Book Month

Esther: Sephardic + Mizrahi Heritage Month

Diana: Omer Adam’s Barclays Center concert

Alli: Missouri, Nevada, and Missouri voting to protect reproductive rights. 

Upcoming events:

November 18, 2026 — New York City: Join GOLDA for a night of shopping, schmoozing, and mahjong at The Harmonie Club. Tickets: https://luma.com/peef8wxx 

December 1, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie moderates the “Defying No” panel on women’s health, featuring The Red Tent Fund founder Alli Tombros Korman and Millennial Menopause author Lauren Tetenbaum at Rodeph Sholom. Register: secure.qgiv.com/for/202ny/event/rtf/ 

December 10, 2026 — New York City: GOLDA's Hanukkah Mahjong Night at the Jewish Museum. Tickets: thejewishmuseum.org/program/121026-mahjong-night-at-the-jewish-museum-with-golda/

Get more GOLDA at goldaguide.com. Follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.

heck out our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/p/events

Follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide. Subscribe to GOLDA at 

More from the GOLDA Girls:

• Diana Fersko’s book, We Need to Talk About Antisemitism:rabbidianafersko.com/books.  
• Esther Chehebar’s novel, Sisters of Fortune: bookshop.org/a/110357/9780593734544
• Esther’s children’s book I Share My Name: bookshop.org/a/110357/9781532432187. 
• Stephanie’s book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia:  bookshop.org/a/110357/9781579658939.

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU. 

Subscribe to GOLDA Girls on:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq
• Pocket Casts: https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/golda-girls/ed7285a0-2487-013f-2ec2-0e872f6a2b21

Leave us a review and we’ll send you a GOLDA sticker! Email a screenshot of your review to [email protected]. 

Stay GOLDA. 

Sponsors:

GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads, a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda. Visit NuReads.org to get started today.

GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelist Esther Chehebar, Rabbi Diana Fersko, and special guest Sophia Rivka Rossi talk about seeking spirituality in our hyper-connected era and the new season of Nobody Wants This. 

Send in your GOLDA Grams: record a voice note or voice memo and email it to [email protected] to be included in an upcoming episode. Tell us who you are, where you’re calling from, and what you’re thinking about.

Recommendations:

• Sophia’s Substack, Between Friends
• Human & Holy podcast (Sophia)
• Babyletto Yuzu Crib (Stephanie and Esther)
• Ben Cohen (Stephanie)

Good for the Jews: 

• Stephanie: Edith’s Sandwich Counter opening on the Upper West Side. 
• Esther: Phone calls with people you don’t get to see enough. 
• Diana: Shabbat Dog at the Halloween dog parade. 
• Sophia: Everyone being obsessed with the moon. 

Check out our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/p/events

Follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.

More from the GOLDA Girls:

• Diana Fersko’s book, We Need to Talk About Antisemitism: rabbidianafersko.com/books.  
• Esther Chehebar’s novel, Sisters of Fortune: bookshop.org/a/110357/9780593734544
• Esther’s children’s book I Share My Name: bookshop.org/a/110357/9781532432187. 
• Stephanie’s book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia:  bookshop.org/a/110357/9781579658939.

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU. 

Sponsors:

GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads, a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda. Visit NuReads.org to get started today.

GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelist Esther Chehebar, and Rabbi Diana Fersko talk about Stephanie’s recent trip to Metro Detroit to interview Dara Horn at an event for the local Jewish community. Plus the state of Jewish humor, Nathan Fielder’s new movie You Can See Everything, and a “Type A challah baking” listener update.  

Recommendations:

• Dara Horn’s new book: bookshop.org/a/110357/9781668090169 
• The Talmud Daily from Dovid Bashevkin: talmuddaily.org/

Good for the Jews: 

• Stephanie: Grandpa Al’s 95th birthday!
• Esther: Bertha Sabbagh making studio quality prints of Esther’s children’s art 
• Diana: Getting an aliyah

Check out our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/p/events

Follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.

More from the GOLDA Girls:

• Diana's book, We Need to Talk About Antisemitism: rabbidianafersko.com/books.  
• Esther's novel Sisters of Fortune: bookshop.org/a/110357/9780593734544.
• Esther's children’s book I Share My Name: bookshop.org/a/110357/9781532432187. 
• Stephanie’s book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar's and Everything in Between: bookshop.org/a/110357/9781579658939.

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU. 

Sponsors:

GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads, a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda. Visit NuReads.org to get started today.

GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelist Esther Chehebar, and Rabbi Diana Fersko talk Jews and Halloween. This week’s guest is writer and comedian Jamie Denbo of The Beverly Podcast. 

Good for the Jews picks: 

Stephanie: Lin Manuel Miranda performing “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” at the 30 Rock 20th anniversary celebration. 

Esther: Jerry Seinfeld telling hecklers he’s donating their ticket sales to Israel.

Diana: Hearing a subway saxophonist play Jewish music. 

Jamie Denbo/Beverly: Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder bringing a plunger on a plane in a nod to the plumber who helped avert the FlyDubai hijacking. 

Upcoming events:

October 19, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie interviews Rabbi Rachel Ain for the launch of her book Watch How You Go: Jewish Wisdom for Your Journey Ahead. 7 p.m., Sutton Place Synagogue; spsnyc.shulcloud.com/form/rrabooklaunch.

October 20, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie interviews Dr. Katie Davis about her new book Actually, You’re Fine. 6:30 p.m., WTHN Upper East Side; register at https://luma.com/rwzedeza.  

October 23, 2026 — New York City: Join GOLDA for a special Mini Mahj Shabbat for you and your mini at ColorPop Workshop. 5 - 7 p.m., 1289 Madison Avenue; get your ticket at https://luma.com/cgn6d0u1. 

October 26, 2026 — New York City: Join Jill Kargman and GOLDA for a frighteningly fun night of mahjong featuring Jill’s signature Halloween tile sets from Center & Spring, which will be available for purchase. Breads Bakery, 1294 Third Avenue, 6 p.m.; get your ticket at https://luma.com/xtfeb4df. 

Find out about all of our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/p/events. 

Send in your GOLDA Grams: record a voice note or voice memo and email it to [email protected] to be included in an upcoming episode. Tell us who you are, where you’re calling from, and what you’re thinking about.

Subscribe to GOLDA at goldaguide.com and follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.

Where you can find the GOLDA Girls:

Sign up for Diana Fersko’s print newsletter, Modern Jewess, at modern-jewess.com, and buy her book, We Need to Talk About Antisemitism, at rabbidianafersko.com/books.  

Get Esther Chehebar’s novel Sisters of Fortune at bookshop.org/a/110357/9780593734544, and her children’s book I Share My Name, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781532432187. 

Buy Stephanie Butnick’s book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781579658939.

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU. 

Sponsors:

GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads, a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda. Visit NuReads.org to get started today.

GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelist Esther Chehebar, and Rabbi Diana Fersko discuss the grand finale of the High Holiday season—Simchat Torah—plus a new survey that says Americans aren’t inviting each other over for dinner anymore. They also commemorate the third anniversary of Oct. 7 and explore how to talk to kids honestly and age-appropriately about it. 

This week's guest is Israeli writer Iddo Gefen, author of Jerusalem Beach, Mrs. Lilienblum’s Cloud Factory, and the Substack Neuron Stories. 

Send in your GOLDA Grams: record a voice note or voice memo and email it to [email protected] to be included in an upcoming episode. Tell us who you are, where you’re calling from, and what you’re thinking about. 

Good for the Jews: 

Stephanie: The Exodus Mentorship Alliance (she’s part of the founding fellow cohort!) 

Esther: Etrog jelly

Diana: This pomegranate napkin holder 

Upcoming events: 

October 14, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie in conversation with Matti Friedman about Jewish identity beyond the West. 8 p.m. at 92NY; https://www.92ny.org/event/matti-friedman-with-stephanie-butnick.

October 19, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie interviews Rabbi Rachel Ain for the launch of her book Watch How You Go: Jewish Wisdom for Your Journey Ahead. 7 p.m., Sutton Place Synagogue; spsnyc.shulcloud.com/form/rrabooklaunch.

October 20, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie interviews Dr. Katie Davis about her new book Actually, You’re Fine. 6:30 p.m., WTHN Upper East Side; register at https://luma.com/rwzedeza.  

October 23, 2026 — New York City: Join GOLDA a special Mini Mahj Shabbat for you and your mini at ColorPop Workshop. ​Pizza will be served, along with challah and grape juice. There will be goodies and giveaways from our favorite kids' brands. Please note: everyone should already know how to play; there will be no instruction. 5 - 7 p.m., 1289 Madison Avenue; get your ticket at https://luma.com/cgn6d0u1. 

October 26, 2026 — New York City: Join Jill Kargman and GOLDA for a frighteningly fun night of mahjong featuring Jill’s signature Halloween tile sets from Center & Spring, which will be available for purchase. Breads Bakery, 1294 Third Avenue, 6 p.m.; get your ticket at https://luma.com/xtfeb4df . 

Find out about all of our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/p/events. 

Subscribe to GOLDA at goldaguide.com and follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.

Where you can find the GOLDA Girls:

Sign up for Diana Fersko’s print newsletter, Modern Jewess, at modern-jewess.com, and buy her book, We Need to Talk About Antisemitism, at rabbidianafersko.com/books.  

Get Esther Chehebar’s novel Sisters of Fortune at bookshop.org/a/110357/9780593734544, and her children’s book I Share My Name, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781532432187. 

Buy Stephanie Butnick’s book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781579658939.

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU. 

Sponsors:

GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads, a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda. Visit NuReads.org to get started today.

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU. 

You can listen to GOLDA Girls on:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq
• Pocket Casts: https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/golda-girls/ed7285a0-2487-013f-2ec2-0e872f6a2b21

Leave us a review and we’ll send you a GOLDA sticker! Email a screenshot of your review to [email protected]. 

Stay GOLDA. 

GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelist Esther Chehebar, and Rabbi Diana Fersko discuss the Sunkist Fruit Gem drama and the new Hanukkah sweater Barbie doll, and answer a listener’s “Type A challah question.” This week’s guest is Jessica Siskin, author of the new novel Looks Perfect. 

Recommendations:

The Balloon Museum 

Looks Perfect, by Jessica Siskin

Good for the Jews: 

Stephanie: Challah Back Girls 

Esther: Shul bonnets

Diana: The sukkah

Jessica: The Chabad guys outside Zara in Soho. 

Upcoming events: 

October 8, 2026 — New York City: Esther Chehebar interviews artist and food writer Linda Dangoor, author of From the Tigris to the Thames at the Moise Safra Center; https://tinyurl.com/ASFMSCDangoor

October 14, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie in conversation with Matti Friedman about Jewish identity beyond the West. 8 p.m. at 92NY; https://www.92ny.org/event/matti-friedman-with-stephanie-butnick.

October 19, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie interviews Rabbi Rachel Ain for the launch of her book Watch How You Go: Jewish Wisdom for Your Journey Ahead. 7 p.m., Sutton Place Synagogue; spsnyc.shulcloud.com/form/rrabooklaunch.

October 20, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie interviews Dr. Katie Davis about her new book Actually, You’re Fine at the Upper East Side WTHN studio. https://luma.com/rwzedeza 

Find out about all of our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/p/events. 

Subscribe to GOLDA at goldaguide.com and follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.

Where you can find the GOLDA Girls:

Sign up for Diana Fersko’s print newsletter, Modern Jewess, at modern-jewess.com, and buy her book, We Need to Talk About Antisemitism, at rabbidianafersko.com/books.  

Get Esther Chehebar’s novel Sisters of Fortune at bookshop.org/a/110357/9780593734544, and her children’s book I Share My Name, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781532432187. 

Buy Stephanie Butnick’s book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781579658939.

Sponsors:

GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads, a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda. Visit NuReads.org to get started today.

 This episode is also sponsored by the Simchat Torah Challenge’s Shema Initiative, created in collaboration with NJOP. The Shema Initiative invites us to reconnect with Judaism’s most foundational prayer through beautiful videos, art, inspiration, and even a free Hebrew Reading Crash Course. Join The Shema Initiative and you can enter to win a beautiful gold-plated Shema bracelet handmade by Oriya—a piece of jewelry designed to remind you to keep this foundational prayer top of mind and close to your heart. Learn more and sign up at SimchatTorahChallenge.org/Golda. 

–

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU. 

You can listen to GOLDA Girls on:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq
• Pocket Casts: https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/golda-girls/ed7285a0-2487-013f-2ec2-0e872f6a2b21

Leave us a review and we’ll send you a GOLDA sticker! Email a screenshot of your review to [email protected]. 

Stay GOLDA. 

GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick talks to Ron Segal, the Israeli-born, Berlin-based author of Delicate, the latest pick from our presenting sponsor Nu Reads, the Jewish subscription series that brings remarkable literature straight to your door.

Delicate is a brilliant and haunting novel about memory, and the Holocaust, and the stories we leave behind. The book is officially out in English next year, but Nu Reads subscribers have early access to it, along with exclusive experiences with authors, and a community built on a shared passion for Jewish storytelling. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda—visit www.NuReads.org to get started today.

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. Subscribe to GOLDA at goldaguide.com and follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.

You can listen to GOLDA Girls on:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golda-girls/id1895644983
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1eLma0Exh3LDv2Ay8fx8Cq
• Pocket Casts: https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/golda-girls/ed7285a0-2487-013f-2ec2-0e872f6a2b21

Stay GOLDA

GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelist Esther Chehebar, and Rabbi Diana Fersko break through their post-break-fast delirium to discuss fasting for Yom Kippur while parenting, the tri-state-area run on rainbow bagels for break-fast, and Sotheby’s upcoming Magnificent Judaica sale (aka the new Met Gala). 

Chef and recipe developer Arielle Nir joins the GOLDA Girls to share how she updates the Persian, Moroccan, and Israeli recipes she grew up with for a new generation—and offers two Sukkot-ready recipes that Esther swears by. Subscribe to GOLDA to get the recipes delivered to your inbox: goldaguide.com/subscribe

Tell us about your magnificent Judaica—email us at [email protected] and we'll share it on air.

This week’s recommendations:

Under the Persimmon Tree, by Suzanne Fisher Staples 

DIY Graham Cracker Sukkah, Our Happy Tribe 

Audrey Levy Women’s Siddur, Sephardic Heritage Foundation

Siddur bedazzling

Good for the Jews: 

Stephanie: Susan Alexandra’s new sticker book

Esther: The film Legend of Destruction, voiced by Oscar Isaac and Evangeline Lily

Diana: Yom Kippur afternoon programming at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

Upcoming events: 

October 14, 2026 — New York City + virtual: Stephanie in conversation with Matti Friedman about Jewish identity beyond the West. 8 p.m. at 92NY (in-person and streaming); https://www.92ny.org/event/matti-friedman-with-stephanie-butnick.

October 19, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie interviews Rabbi Rachel Ain for the launch of her book Watch How You Go: Jewish Wisdom for Your Journey Ahead. 7 p.m., Sutton Place Synagogue; spsnyc.shulcloud.com/form/rrabooklaunch.

Find out about all of our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/p/events. 

Subscribe to GOLDA at goldaguide.com and follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.

Where you can find the GOLDA Girls:

Sign up for Diana Fersko’s print newsletter, Modern Jewess, at modern-jewess.com, and buy her book, We Need to Talk About Antisemitism, at rabbidianafersko.com/books.  

Get Esther Chehebar’s novel Sisters of Fortune at bookshop.org/a/110357/9780593734544, and her children’s book I Share My Name, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781532432187. 

Buy Stephanie Butnick’s book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781579658939.

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU. 

Sponsors:

GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads, a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda. Visit NuReads.org to get started today.

This episode is also sponsored by the Simchat Torah Challenge’s Shema Initiative, created in collaboration with NJOP. The Shema Initiative invites us to reconnect with Judaism’s most foundational prayer through beautiful videos, art, inspiration, and even a free Hebrew Reading Crash Course. Join The Shema Initiative and you can enter to win a beautiful gold-plated Shema bracelet handmade by Oriya—a piece of jewelry designed to remind you to keep this foundational prayer top of mind and close to your heart. Learn more and sign up at SimchatTorahChallenge.org/Golda. 

GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelist Esther Chehebar, and Rabbi Diana Fersko are joined by Mamaleh Jewelry founder Dara Katz to kick off 5787. The Girls talk about the behind-the-scenes stress of the High Holidays, the Macklemore drama, and more. 

They also go back to basics and dig into the Shema prayer, with some help from the Simchat Torah Challenge’s Shema Initiative. And of course, there’s jewelry involved: join the Shema Initiative and enter to win a Shema bracelet by Oriya Jewels. Sign up at SimchatTorahChallenge.org/Golda. 

This week’s recommendations:

Mamaleh’s Yente nameplate necklace, mahjong tile charm, and challah charm.   

Good for the Jews: 

Stephanie: Sydney Sweeney spotted at synagogue on Rosh Hashanah.

Dara: Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts’ daughter Kai Schreiber walking the Thom Browne runway at New York Fashion Week. 

Esther: Dara Horn’s new book, The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Letter to the Living. 

Diana: Miznon’s Bag of Green Beans. 

Upcoming events: 

September 22, 2026 — New York City: Diana interviews Zibby Owens about her new book Between Chapters at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan;  https://www.mmjccm.org/event/between-chapters-zibby-owens-in-conversation-with-rabbi-diana-fersko

October 14, 2026 — New York City + virtual: Stephanie in conversation with Matti Friedman at 92NY (in-person and streaming); https://www.92ny.org/event/matti-friedman-with-stephanie-butnick.

October 15, 2026 — New York City: Save the date for the next event in our Harmonie Club residency, all about redefining Jewish jewelry and Judaica and featuring some of our favorite designers and artists. 

October 19, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie interviews Rabbi Rachel Ain for the launch of her book, Watch How You Go: Jewish Wisdom for Your Journey Ahead, at Sutton Place Synagogue; spsnyc.shulcloud.com/form/rrabooklaunch.

Find out about all of our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/p/events. 

Subscribe to GOLDA at goldaguide.com and follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.

Where you can find the GOLDA Girls:

Sign up for Diana Fersko’s print newsletter, Modern Jewess, at modern-jewess.com, and buy her book, We Need to Talk About Antisemitism, at rabbidianafersko.com/books.  

Get Esther Chehebar’s novel Sisters of Fortune at bookshop.org/a/110357/9780593734544, and her children’s book I Share My Name, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781532432187. 

Buy Stephanie Butnick’s book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781579658939.

GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU. 

Sponsors:

GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads, a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda. Visit NuReads.org to get started today.

This episode is also sponsored by the Simchat Torah Challenge’s Shema Initiative, created in collaboration with NJOP. The Shema Initiative invites us to reconnect with Judaism’s most foundational prayer through beautiful videos, art, inspiration, and even a free Hebrew Reading Crash Course. Join The Shema Initiative and you can enter to win a beautiful gold-plated Shema bracelet handmade by Oriya—a piece of jewelry designed to remind you to keep this foundational prayer top of mind and close to your heart. Learn more and sign up at SimchatTorahChallenge.org/Golda.