GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, journalist Gabby Deutch, novelist Esther Chehebar and Rabbi Diana Fersko break down their High Holiday hosting prep, continue the “bageling” discussion with a moving listener letter, and sound off about John Galliano bowing out of his Met Costume Institute honor. We also get our heads in the game for the Jewish New Year with some inspiration from the Simchat Torah Challenge.
Good for the Jews picks:
Stephanie: Gal Gadot’s appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast
Gabby: Adon Olam to the tune of the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way”
Diana: Rabbis giving it their all on the High Holidays
Esther: The Jewish history of the teddy bear (as told in the book Playmakers )
This week’s recs:
GOLDA’s High Holiday shopping guide
Grandma’s Cheese in Long Branch, N.J.
The Concise Book of Mitzvot by Chofetz Chaim
The Shabbat Effect by Alan Morinis
Looks Perfect by Jessica Siskin
Gabby’s Jewish Reading List
Feldi Studios kiddush cup (discount code GOLDAxFELDI)
Peace Love Light Shop (discount code GOLDA)
Upcoming events:
Tuesday, September 15—New York City: Stephanie interviews curator Dr. Smadar Sheffi at the opening reception of A Taste of Belonging, an exhibit about the intersection of art, culture, and cuisine. 6 p.m. at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan; register here.
Thursday, September 17 — New York City: Stephanie in conversations with Dr. Beth Ricanati at the launch event for her book The Braided Prescription: Seven Practices for Living Well from the Ancient Ritual of Making Challah. 7 p.m. at The Strand Columbus; register here.
Find out about all of our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/p/events.
Send us your Ask GOLDA questions at [email protected]. You can also send us a voice note; be sure to tell us who you are and where you’re calling from.
Subscribe to GOLDA at goldaguide.com and follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.
Where you can find the GOLDA Girls:
Subscribe to Gabby’s Substack at gsdeutch.substack.com.
Sign up for Diana Fersko’s print newsletter, Modern Jewess, at modern-jewess.com, and get 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 week’s episode is also brought to you by the Simchat Torah Challenge, your weekly reminder that ancient Jewish texts are surprisingly good at modern life. If you haven't yet joined the world’s oldest book club and the community of tens of thousands, sign up at simchattorahchallenge.org/golda.
