On Wandering

Clarissa talks to Rokhl Kafrissen, a Yiddish cultural critic and playwright. You may know her from her column in Tablet Magazine, Rokhl’s Golden City, or her blog, Yiddish Praxis. Rokhl and Clarissa talk about her venture into the world of Yiddish, and what it's like to fill the gap in her knowledge of our own history. They also talk about Rokhl’s new play that explores the ethical dilemmas that can show up when collecting Yiddish folklore. This conversation was recorded in the summer of 2020.

SHOW NOTES

Follow Rokhl on Twitter at @RokhlK

The Klezmatics

Klezmer Conservatory Band

YIVO Awakening Lives

LABA: A Laboratory for Jewish Culture - 14th Street Y

Shin is for Shtumer Shabes (or Behind the Scenes with Shtumer Shabes (Silent Sabbath))

You can follow Clarissa on Twitter and Instagram @ClarissaRMarks

Find the transcript for this show at onwandering.co

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On Wandering is produced and presented by Clarissa Marks, with intro music by Ketsa and outgoing music by Gillicuddy.

The show is recorded on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past, present and emerging. As a land-based people in diaspora, we recognize first nations and indigenous people as the stewards of this land from time immemorial. We honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

Show Description

Clarissa talks with Molly Tolsky, the longtime editor of Kveller and the founding editor of the Jewish culture site, Alma. Alma describes itself as feminist, and full of chutzpah. They cover a wide range of topics and something about them makes you feel like you're just hanging out with a really cool friend. This interview was recorded in January 2020. Molly talks about her creative journey, the story of how Alma came to be, and how her personal Jewish identity has been influenced by her work in the Jewish media world.

TV Shows Mentioned

Frasier

The Nanny

Broad City

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Websites & Magazines Mentioned

Kveller

Jezebel

Bust

Bustle

The Cut

Bitch

Alma Pieces Mentioned

“Paul Rudd Just Gave Jews the Rallying Cry We Didn’t Know We Needed” by Molly Tolsky

“All the Details (and Photos!) from Tiffany Haddish’s Bat Mitzvah” by Emily Burack

“Fran Drescher and Rachel Bloom Are Bringing ‘The Nanny’ to Broadway” by Emily Burack

“King Princess Is the Jewish Queer Pop Icon We’ve Been Waiting For” by Arielle Kaplan

Organizations Mentioned

70 Faces Media

UJA Federation of New York

Connect with Us

Visit heyalma.com

Follow Molly Tolsky

Twitter: @mollytolsky

Instagram:@mollytolsky

Website: MollyTolsky.com

Follow Clarissa Marks

Twitter: @clarissarmarks

Instagram: @clarissarmarks

Visit Onwandering.co for show notes and transcripts

Like the show? Rate On Wandering 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts 

Suggest a topic or a guest by sending an email to [email protected]

Land Acknowledgement

On Wandering is recorded on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present, and honors with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

Description

Clarissa talks with artist and calligrapher, Gabriel Wolff. They talked about his journey to finding his niche as a Hebrew calligrapher, specifically for tattoo art, and the ways that Jews are using tattoos to wrestle with and communicate their individual and group identity. Gabriel also shared how he sees his art as part of our collective struggle as Jews to find a way past a "post-traumatic experience of life.”

People, Places & Things Mentioned

Art Nouveau

The Beit Din (Rabbinic Court)

Example of one of Gabriel’s tattoo designs with a phoenix

Shatnez

The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon

Connect with Us

Follow Gabriel Wolff

Instagram:@hebrew_tattoos

Website: GabrielWolff.com

Gabriel’s Tattoo Art Website: Hebrew-Tattoos.com

Follow Clarissa Marks

Twitter: @clarissarmarks

Instagram: @clarissarmarks

Visit Onwandering.co for show notes and transcripts

Like the show? Rate On Wandering 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts 

Suggest a topic or a guest by sending an email to [email protected]

Land Acknowledgement

On Wandering is recorded on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present, and honors with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

Clarissa talks to Genie Milgrom. Genie was raised Catholic, but always had an inkling her family was actually Jewish. After years of investigation, she was able to trace her family tree back to 16th century Jews on the Iberian Peninsula. Along the way, Genie became a historian and advocate for Crypto and Converso Jews; Jews whose ancestors were forced to convert to Catholicism during the inquisitions. She’s authored several books about her work, including a cookbook documenting a treasure trove of family recipes found in her mother’s house with a rather unique recipe for so-called “pork chops.”

Genie’s Books Mentioned

“My 15 Grandmothers” by Genie Milgrom

“How I Found My 15 Grandmothers: Como Encontre a Mis 15 abuelas” by Genie Milgrom

“Pyre to Fire” by Genie Milgrom

“Recipes of My 15 Grandmothers: Unique Recipes and Stories from the Times of the Crypto-Jews during the Spanish Inquisition” by Genie Milgrom

Other People, Places & Things Mentioned

Fermoselle, Spain

The Beit Din (Rabbinic Court)

Boyos/Boyikos

Dr. Sergio Della Pergola

Chuletas (“Pork Chops”)

Kulanu

Connect with Us

Follow Genie Milgrom:

Website: Geniemilgrom.info

Facebook: @my15grandmothers

Check out Genie’s resource website for researching Sephardic Jewish lineages at Sephardicancestry.com

Follow Clarissa Marks

Twitter: @clarissarmarks

Instagram: @clarissarmarks

Visit Onwandering.co for show notes and transcripts

Like the show? Rate On Wandering 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts 

Suggest a topic or a guest by sending an email to [email protected]

Land Acknowledgement

On Wandering is recorded on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People, and honors with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

Clarissa talks with writer Abraham Riesman. This conversation was recorded in December 2019 when Abe was writing a biography of the Jewish Marvel Comics Icon Stan Lee. The book is titled “True Believer, the Rise and Fall of Stan Lee,” and is slated for release February of 2021. Abe talks about his journey as a writer, reclaiming Jewish history and culture that has been left behind or erased, and finding his way to becoming what he calls “a born-again Jew.”

Media Mentioned

Call Me by Your Name

“The Yiddish Policemen's Union” by Michael Chabon

“Radical Then, Radical Now: Exploring the Legacy of the World’s Oldest Religion” by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Organizations Mentioned

The Workers Circle

Jewish Currents

Base Hillel

Abraham Riesman’s Articles Mentioned

“A Jew's Christmas Confession”

“David Berman Struggled to Feel the Joy He Brought Us”

“It’s Stan Lee’s Universe”

Connect with Us

Follow Abraham Riesman

Website: Abrahamriesman.com

Newsletter: Type Slowly

Twitter: @abrahamjoseph

Instagram: @abrahamjoseph

Follow Clarissa Marks

Twitter: @clarissarmarks

Instagram: @clarissarmarks

Visit Onwandering.co for show notes and transcripts

Like the show? Rate On Wandering 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts 

Suggest a topic or a guest by sending an email to [email protected]

Land Acknowledgement

On Wandering is recorded on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People, and honors with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

Clarissa talks to Dr. Elliot Ratzman, a professor in Jewish studies, race, and social justice in religion. They discuss the contemporary intersection of white Jews and race, including the questions you weren’t sure how to ask, like “What race are white Jews?”, “How should they partner with other minorities for civil rights?”, and “How does modern antisemitism come into play?” Dr. Ratzman shares the history behind these questions, the importance of self-identification, and his thoughts on Jewish ethics in regards to racial justice.

Organizations Mentioned

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice

Bend the Ark

If Not Now

Never Again is Now

Be’Chol Lashon

Jews in ALL Hues

Jewish Voice for Peace

Resources Mentioned

Understanding Antisemitism: An Offering to our Movement A Resource from Jews For Racial & Economic Justice

“The Past Didn't Go Anywhere” by April Rosenblum

“Strange Hate: Antisemitism, Racism, and the Limits of Diversity” by Keith Kahn-Harris

“Antisemitism: Here and Now” by Deborah E. Lipstadt

“The Crisis of Zionism” by Peter Beinart

“On Antisemitism: Solidarity and the Struggle for Justice” by Jewish Voice for Peace.

Contact Info

Email Dr. Elliot Ratzman at [email protected]

You can suggest a topic or a guest for an upcoming show by sending an email to [email protected]

You can follow Clarissa at ClarissaRMarks on Instagram and Twitter.

Visit Onwandering.co for more show notes and transcripts.

Land acknowledgement

On Wandering is recorded on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

Clarissa shares the very first conversation she recorded for the podcast and it’s all about American Jewish Fiction. She talks to rabbinical student (and book lover) Heather Paul about how Jewish novels inspired her to become a professional Jew, and we try to answer the question, “what IS Jewish fiction?” Stay tuned to hear high praise for some amazing books.

EPISODE NOTES

Books referenced:

“Everything is Illuminated” by Jonathan Safran Foer

"All of A Kind Family" by Sydney Taylor

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer

“The Corrections” by Jonathan Franzen

“History of Love” by Nicole Krauss

"The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" by Michael Chabon

“The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant

“Mazel” by Rebecca Goldstein

"Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?" by Roz Chast

“A Guide for the Perplexed” by Dara Horn

“The Weight of Ink” by Rachel Kadish

“Little Failure” by Gary Shteyngart

Connect with us!

You can find out more about Heather Paul at scatteredleaves.net

Follow Clarissa Marks

Twitter: @clarissarmarks

Instagram: @clarissarmarks

Visit Onwandering.co for show notes and transcripts

Like the show? Rate On Wandering 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts 

You can suggest a topic or a guest for an upcoming show by sending an email to [email protected]

Land Acknowledgement

On Wandering is recorded on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present, and honors with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

Introducing On Wandering and what you can expect from the upcoming season! See show notes, transcripts and episodes at Onwandering.co.