Orange Socks Podcast Exploring Jewish Art and Creativity with Yitzchok Moully

Zalmen Glauber is a Hasidic sculptor who followed an unexpected path from real estate and psychology studies into a life of art. In this episode, he shares how childhood fascination with miniature worlds grew into a deep love for sculpture, and how encouragement at a young age gave him permission to create. Zalmen reflects on his journey through dyslexia, discovery of Tanakh, and the importance of validation from mentors and family in shaping his artistic voice.

We also explore the founding of the first Hasidic art gallery in Williamsburg, which gave new visibility to Jewish artists and sparked conversations about creativity in the community. Zalmen talks about navigating halachic questions in sculpture, the impact of communal support, and the growing Jewish art scene he helped pioneer. His message to young creatives: don’t wait for permission—just start, even if your first attempts are ugly, because each step forward is part of the journey.

About Zalmen:

Zalmen Glauber, raised in a Hasidic community in Brooklyn where art was often discouraged, discovered sculpture later in life after careers in psychology studies and real estate. With his rabbi’s blessing, he trained under renowned artists and now creates figurative works rooted in biblical and Judaic themes. His sculptures aim to open eyes within his community and beyond, offering a visual bridge to Jewish tradition.

https://zalmenglauber.com

/https://www.instagram.com/zglauber/?hl=en

https://www.shtetlartgallery.com/

Artists Zalmen thinks you should know:

https://www.instagram.com/art_phinny

https://www.instagram.com/hweiserart/

https://www.instagram.com/ushergoldhirsch

https://www.instagram.com/jaywald_art

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Mendy Portnoy shares his journey from a musical London household to becoming a producer, performer, and creative force behind projects like Thank You Hashem. Growing up surrounded by siblings who sang and played instruments, Mendy discovered his gift for music by ear long before formal lessons. He reflects on learning piano out of curiosity and sibling rivalry, the soulful influences that shaped his sound, and the deep sense of connection music brings—whether through late-night jam sessions or synagogue melodies that unite communities.

In this conversation, we explore how Mendy’s creative path took him from family harmonies to international performances and into the world of music production. He opens up about finding authenticity in art, balancing soul with technique, and building a life around creativity while staying grounded in family. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at his work with Thank You Hashem, where he helps shape a modern Jewish creative “lighthouse” that blends music, media, and inspiration. Mendy’s advice for young creatives: trust your gut, ignore the noise, and make the art that feels true to you

About Mendy:https://www.instagram.com/mendyportnoy

https://www.youtube.com/user/pianobyear1/videos

Artists Mendy thinks you should know:Omri Mor

https://www.instagram.com/omrimormusic - https://www.jamd.ac.il/en/node/7478

Israel Portnoy - https://www.instagram.com/israelportnoymusic/?hl=en

Tsivia Abraham - https://www.instagram.com/tsiviaabraham_art

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Menachem Silverstein is Known for wearing many hats, he reflects on how each role—from writing commercials to directing and producing—opened doors to the next stage of his career - stand up comedy. He talks about the unique challenges of balancing his Orthodox Jewish identity with life in Hollywood, and how authenticity became the key to connecting with audiences.

In this conversation, we explore what it means to “make it” as a comedian, the role of pivoting in creative careers, and how humor can break down stereotypes and spark deeper dialogue. Menachem offers an honest look at the joys and struggles of performing in Jewish and non-Jewish spaces, his aspirations for the future, and his advice for young creatives: know your goal, but be willing to pivot—and most importantly, just do it. 

About Menachem:

Menachem is an Orthodox Jewish writer, comedian, and ordained Rabbi. Born in Brooklyn (where Jews are made) into a family of seven, forced Menachem to come up with ways to stand out in a crowd. And thus, he became the funny one, and later the disappointment for not becoming a lawyer and making his Jewish parents proud. He’s written for TBS Digital, IFC Digital has been on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and is currently a regular at the Hollywood Laugh Factory. He currently works closely with his writing partner, Tehran Von Ghasri.

Artists Menachem thinks you should know:

Tehran Von Ghasri- ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Von_Ghasri⁠

Jeff Wilbusch - ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Wilbusch⁠

Jeff Lieber - ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Lieber

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Moshe Shamah, fresh from his U.S. art tour, brings the perspective of an Israeli artist who bridges worlds—diaspora and homeland, religious and secular, analog and digital. We sat together in front of my mural HaMelech Basadeh and explored how his art became a response to the upheaval after October 7th, and how collage, for him, is not just cutting and pasting but transforming chaos into new meaning. Moshe shared how his Judaica, and mixed-media work speak across communities, and why he insists on staying rooted in human imperfection in an age of AI.

Our conversation went deeper into the role of Jewish creativity today—how artists must give voice where words fall short, how culture becomes a form of resilience, and why this moment demands a new Jewish renaissance. We spoke openly about the struggles of measuring worth in likes and algorithms, the necessity of creating for its own sake, and the responsibility to share our light as “October 8th Jews.” Moshe’s message to young creatives was simple yet urgent: don’t wait, just make.
About Moshe:

Moshe Shamah is a Jerusalem-based artist, Jewish educator and founder of Studio Shamah. His work aims to capture the convergence of old and new, of antiquity and futurism, as it relates to Jewish tradition, peoplehood and history. Bridging the gap between mixed-media collage and calligraphy, and more broadly, the art of words, Shamah aims to stimulate dialogue across the breadth of cultures and thought traditions - and play a small role in the emerging New Jewish Renaissance. Shamah holds a degree in Jewish Studies and Art History from Rutgers University, which he gained while sharing an art studio on the campus of arts at the same time. His solo exhibitions have been featured both in Israel, Serbia and the United States, with upcoming exhibits planned in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Johannesburg, Warsaw, Kyiv, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. 

Website: https://studioshamah.com/

Instagram (Judaica): @judaica_of_shamah https://www.instagram.com/judaica_of_shamah

Instagram (Mixed-Media): @art_of_shamah https://www.instagram.com/art_of_shamah

Email: [email protected] 

Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple Exhibition & Lecture on Antisemitism & Anti-Zionism in the Art World

https://www.aemt.net/events/the-art-of-p-moshe-shamah/ 

UJA-Federation Kickoff Exhibit "For Those Who Fight For Life" https://www.ujafedny.org/event/view/fsu-kickoff-where-art-meets-identity?utm_campaign=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=ET_email&utm_source=26_FSU_E_1961900_s1_250807_IP2&utm_content=cta 

Artists Moshe thinks you should know:

Lenore Mizrachi-Cohen - Conceptual Artist https://www.lenorecohen.com/

Israeli Musicians such as

A-WA https://www.a-wamusic.com/

Tuna https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuna_(rapper)

Riff Cohen https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV7t6K2C5pPi6nK4bZ2T19A

Yonah Ben Abraham Israeli-American poet and creative collaborator, who co-created the book Ohelibah with moshe. https://www.instagram.com/yonahbenavraham/

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Alter Deitsch is a creative force behind the Sababa Music Festival and Torah VR.

In this engaging conversation, Alter shares his journey from a traditional upbringing in Crown Heights to exploring various creative outlets. Discover the story behind Sababa Fest, a unique Jewish music festival that unites diverse Jewish communities in celebration. Alter also delves into the innovative Torah VR project, which aims to transform Torah learning into an immersive, interactive experience.

Join us as we explore Alter's dynamic world, where music, technology, and spirituality intersect. 

More about Alter:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/alterdeitsch⁠

⁠https://sababafest.com/⁠

⁠https://www.torahvr.com/⁠

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at

[email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628⁠

On Spotify

⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd⁠

______

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

⁠https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/⁠

⁠https://www.moullyart.com/⁠

Seth (Shmuel) Robbins is a Milwaukee-based photographer whose lens captures the quiet tensions and transcendent beauty of Jewish life. His debut book A Trustworthy Home explores Jewish weddings as portals into the sacred, weaving images of ritual, intimacy, and spiritual depth. 

In this conversation, Seth shares how photography helps him hold space for the unseen—between people, traditions, and communities. We explore his creative process, the vulnerability of documenting moments of holiness, and the way art can preserve memory while pushing toward new expressions of Jewish identity. Through his eyes, we glimpse how images become vessels of both personal and collective truth.

About Seth (Shmuel):

Seth (Shmuel) Robbins is an emerging artist from Milwaukee, WI. His photography has hung in venues of the Midwest that range from bars to museums.  His award winning work has also been featured in national and local shows. In January of 2025, his first book, "A Trustworthy Home" was published, and is focused on Jewish weddings as transcendental experiences.  Much of his artistic interest drives towards exploring cultural themes and dynamics in his community with a focus on tensions between individuals and groups; other fields of his work focus on Milwaukee's Urban Fishermen and their secret fishing holes. 

• Website: https://sr-fineart.square.site/

• Book: https://bit.ly/4fR5yXt

  
  

Artists and creatives Seth thinks you should know:

Sam Abell's B&H talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYf9klvk8vQ

Anshie Kagen - https://www.anshie.com/

Henri Cartier Bresson's coronation photographs; https://www.magnumphotos.com/events/exhibitions/king-coronation-london-crowds-hcb/

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

About Moshe:

Moshe Sobol is a professional musician, drummer, percussionist, Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), and Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in the state of New York. Moshe’s musical pedigree runs in the family. His father was a master clarinetist, concert producer, and educator and his mother is a concert pianist and teacher who continues to make contributions to the field of music education for special learners.

Yocheved Sidof is a writer, educator, and creative thinker whose work has long explored the intersection of spirituality and self-expression. In this episode, she reflects on her creative journey—from her early years in photography and filmmaking to launching a progressive Hasidic Montessori school, and now building Ohmek, a spiritual community rooted in deep listening and authentic presence. Yocheved talks about the challenges of staying connected to creativity while leading, parenting, and building something new. She and Moully discuss the importance of process over perfection, making space for slowness, and the ways creativity can become a tool for personal and collective transformation. This episode offers an honest, down-to-earth look at what it means to live a creative life with purpose.

About Yocheved:

Yocheved Sidof is a Brooklyn-based mystic, writer, and social entrepreneur whose work bridges art, activism, and spiritual leadership. She began her career as a photographer and filmmaker, drawn to the power of image and story to reveal what often goes unseen. In 2010, she founded Lamplighters Yeshivah—a progressive Hasidic Montessori school—where she served as founding director for a decade, blending tradition and innovation to reimagine Jewish education from the inside out. Today, Yocheved is the founder and spiritual leader of Ohmek, a contemplative community devoted to deeper ways of being. Through Ohmek, she holds space for spiritual mentorship, ritual, embodied mystical teaching, and the slow, sacred work of collective healing. Her work integrates Jewish mysticism, somatic presence, and creative inquiry, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Transpersonal Research, exploring healing, embodiment, and the restoration of soul. She lives in Crown Heights with her husband, five children, two dogs, and a house full of life—where spiritual seekers often gather for Ohmek gatherings around their table.

You can find her weekly teachings on embodied mysticism and the unseen at Underneath the Underneath, available on Spotify and other listening platforms. To learn more about Ohmek and Yocheved’s work, offerings and retreats, visit ohmekliving.com

https://www.instagram.com/yochevedsidof/

https://www.instagram.com/ohmek.living/

Artists and creatives Yocheved thinks you should know:

Sam Griffin - https://www.samgriffinart.com/

Chaya Toron - https://www.chayatoronstudio.com/

Mushka Eidelman- https://www.instagram.com/mushkaeidelman

Roy Kornblum - https://www.instagram.com/roy_kornblum

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Rabbi Menachem Schmidt is a longtime Chabad Rabbi at the University of Pennsylvania and the founder of multiple initiatives like Jewish Heritage Programs, the Jewish Relief Agency, and the Old City Jewish Art Center—an innovative gallery in the heart of Philadelphia that brings Jewish art and expression into public conversation. In this episode he shares how he founded the gallery as a way to reach Jews who might not walk into a synagogue, creating a space where creativity becomes a bridge to Jewish identity.

But in this episode, we explore a more intimate layer of his mission: the spiritual power of music. As the lead guitarist of the Baal Shem Tov Band, Rabbi Schmidt shares his vision of music—and creativity more broadly—as a gateway to connection, joy, and a return to Judaism. He speaks about the spontaneous, soul-stirring nature of niggun, and how music breaks through barriers that words alone cannot.

About Rabbi Menachem Schmidt:

https://www.lubavitchhouse.com/

https://collive.com/too-cool-for-shul/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp-WKJsIRiI

Artists and creatives Rabbi Menachem thinks you should know:

Avi Piamenta - https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/4579840/jewish/Band-of-Brothers.htm

Mel Alexenberg - https://www.melalexenberg.com/

Baruch Nachshon - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baruch_Nachshon

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/

Elke Reva Sudin is a Brooklyn-based visual artist, entrepreneur, and cultural bridge-builder whose work spans fine art, live illustration, and fashion. In this dynamic conversation, Elke sits down with Yitzchok Moully to share the story behind her boundary-pushing projects—from her iconic Hipsters and Hassids series to launching the innovative Drawing Booth, and most recently, her fashion brand ELKE NYC, which debuted at New York Fashion Week.

Together, they explore how Elke’s creative vision is rooted in Jewish identity, cultural dialogue, and bold reinvention. She also opens up about the real-life balancing act of raising a growing family while continuing to pursue ambitious creative goals. Whether working with oil paint or modular textiles, Elke brings depth, intention, and style to every medium she touches. This episode is a journey through the mind of a multidisciplinary artist who continues to reimagine what Jewish creativity can look like today.

About Elke: Elke Reva Sudin is a Brooklyn-based visual artist and entrepreneur. She has gained recognition in international media for her prolific work including painting series Hipsters and Hassids, her international event drawing company, Drawing Booth and was named a 2024 Industry Innovator by Bizbash. Recently, Elke launched a fashion company ELKE NYC with her Crown Collection and modular apparel to acclaim at New York Fashion Week.

 www.elkerevasudin.com

www.elke.nyc

www.drawingbooth.com

IG @elkerevasudin

@elke.nyc

@drawingbooth

Artists and creatives Elke thinks you should know:

Steve Marcus https://www.smarcus.com/

Ken Goshen https://www.kengoshen.com/

Albert Sultan https://www.albertsultan.com/

More about Orange Socks:

Contact us at [email protected]

Now on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-socks-podcast/id1749369628

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ec3LbPdujZG531xKLPssh?si=381bf3bb2b624ffd

On Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@OrangeSocksPodcast

Connect with Yitzchok Moully

https://www.instagram.com/moullyart/

https://www.moullyart.com/