Tablet Studios

This week on Unorthodox, Mark says goodbye to a staple of his childhood as Friendly’s files for bankruptcy. To cheer him up, we’ve got two great Jewish guests.

First we talk to comedian Gilbert Gottfried, whose voice you may have recognized on our 2019 episode celebrating the publication of our book, “The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia.” He explains why comedy in dark times is essential and cathartic, tells us about his own podcast, "Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast," where he schmoozes with and celebrates show business legends, and regales us with the story of his family’s infamous Zoom bat mitzvah incident.

Our next guest is Gavriel Savit, who started his Unorthodox journey as an angry letter-writer, became Mark’s neighbor in New Haven, welcomed us into his home to record an episode, and finally joins us as a proper guest to tell us about his magical and deeply Jewish young adult novel, “The Way Back.” He makes the case that the fantasy genre is in fact quite Jewish—is Hogwarts basically a yeshiva?—and explains why a book like his, which is proudly filled with Jewish imagery and takes place in an Eastern European shtetl, can still hold universal appeal.

Let us know what you think of the show! Send us comments and questions at [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at (914) 570-4869. You can also record a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel! Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram.

Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, mugs, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

Sponsors:

Wisdom Studio is offering two new four-week programs focused on Jewish Women. “When Bubbe Met Amy” explores the work of funny Jewish women like Amy Schumer, Tiffany Haddish, Rachel Bloom, Abbi Jacobson, and Ilana Glazer, and “Not a Nice Jewish Girl” explores the role and history of women in Israeli cinema. Learn more at gordoncenter.com/wisdom-studio.

The Great Courses Plus offers thousands of online classes on hundreds of topics, all taught by professors and experts in their fields. We’re currently streaming the course on “Jewish Intellectual History: 16th to 20th Century.” Start your free trial at thegreatcoursesplus.com/unorthodox.

American Jewish World Service is fighting poverty and pursuing justice in the developing world. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, AJWS is currently twice-matching all donations; find out more about the organization and make your donation at AJWS.org/unorthodox.

ORT America combines Jewish values with an education that prepares students for careers and lives of meaning. Thousands of ORT students in 30 countries are learning to address today’s most urgent challenges: climate change, cybersecurity, medical advancements and more. Change the world with them at ortamerica.org.

PJ Library sends free storybooks to children (newborn to 12 years old), making it easy to start sharing Jewish traditions. Sign up at pjlibrary.org/unorthodox.

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This week on Unorthodox, we remember Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who died this week at 72. He first visited the show in December 2018, and he returned in September 2020 to discuss his most recent book, “Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times.” May his memory be a blessing.

Our Gentile of the Week is Tom Colicchio, head judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef” and founder of Crafted Hospitality. He shared his love of whitefish in Tablet’s “100 Most Jewish Foods” book, and he joins us to talk about his first Passover Seder with his now-wife’s family, proposing to her over pastrami at New York’s 2nd Ave Deli, and his heightened awareness of anti-Semitism as he raises Jewish children.

Our Jewish guest is Temple University professor Lila Corwin Berman, who spoke with us about her new book, “The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex: The History of a Multibillion-Dollar Institution.”

Let us know what you think of the show! Send us comments and questions at [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at (914) 570-4869. You can also record a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel! Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram.

Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, mugs, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

Sponsors:

The Great Courses Plus offers thousands of online classes on hundreds of topics, all taught by professors and experts in their fields. We’re currently streaming the course on “Jewish Intellectual History: 16th to 20th Century.” Start your free trial at thegreatcoursesplus.com/unorthodox.

Kol Foods Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Order your delicious, ethically raised Glatt Kosher turkey at kolfoods.com and use the code UNORTHODOX1120 to save 10% off your order.

Harry’s is a great shave at a great price. Get a free Harry's trial shave set at harrys.com/unorthodox.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re dropping an early episode to keep you company while you vote.

Our first Jewish guest is Eve Barlow, a Scottish music journalist in LA who has lately started calling out anti-Semitism in America and abroad, including in her recent Tablet essay, “Wake Up America, and Smell the Anti-Semitism,”

Next we talk to Gentile of the Week Vineet Chander, the Hindu chaplain at Princeton University and the first full-time Hindu chaplain at a U.S. university. 

And for a final treat, we’re joined by Adam Weiner, frontman of the band Low Cut Connie, who shares a song with us.  

Send us questions and comments at [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at (914) 570-4869. You can also record a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us. 

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel! Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram. 

Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, mugs, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

Sponsors:

American Jewish World Service is fighting poverty and pursuing justice in the developing world. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, AJWS is currently matching all donations tenfold; find out more about the organization and to make your matched donation at AJWS.org/unorthodox.

Kol Foods Thanksgiving is coming! Order your delicious, ethically raised Glatt Kosher turkey at kolfoods.com and use the code UNORTHODOX1120 to save 10% off your order. 

Harry’s is a great shave at a great price. Get a free Harry's trial shave set at harrys.com/unorthodox. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Judy Gold on her new book, “Yes I Can Say That,” and California Representative Katie Porter on the key to pandemic economic recovery

This week on Unorthodox, we’re spoiling the new Borat movie for you. But we have two all-star returning guests that more than make up for it.

Jewish guest Judy Gold was on our January 2018 live show with Father Jim Martin, and she joins us again to tell us about her new book. “Yes, ICan Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All in Trouble.” She explains the value of comedy in dark times, why Jews rely so deeply on humor for healing, and why she always talks about the Holocaust in her sets.

Our Gentile of the Week is Congresswoman Katie Porter, who represents California’s 45th Congressional District and who was our guest at our January 2019 live show in Washington, D.C. Representative Porter joins us with her trademark whiteboard to explain why she decided to run for Congress in 2018, what she’s learned since then, and why childcare is key to our economic recovery. Her question for us: Why do Jews donate money in increments of $18?

Send us questions and comments at [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at (914) 570-4869. You can also record a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel! Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram.

Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, mugs, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

Sponsors:

Hebrew College trains aspiring rabbis, cantors, and educational leaders. Join us for an online open house on November 16, to experience the vibrant pluralistic communities of Hebrew College. Learn more and register at hebrewcollege.edu/virtualvisit.

Harry’s is a great shave at a great price. Get a free Harry's trial shave set at harrys.com/unorthodox.

Kol Foods Thanksgiving is coming! Order your delicious, ethically raised Glatt Kosher turkey at kolfoods.com and use the code UNORTHODOX1120 to save 10% off your order

American Jewish World Service is the leading Jewish organization working to fight poverty and pursue justice in the developing world. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, AJWS is currently matching all donations tenfold; find out more about the organization and make your matched donation at AJWS.org/unorthodox.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unorthodox, we’re recovering from our potentially poisonous etrog-tinis.

Our first Jewish guest is actor and comedian Michael Ian Black, best known for "Wet Hot American Summer" and VH1’s “I Love The …” series, whose latest book is "A Better Man," a meditation on masculinity written in the form of a letter to his college-aged son. He tells us about the book, which is far more earnest than you might expect from the comic actor, and why he wants to offer boys and young men a better path than “toxic masculinity.” He also explains the Jewish influences on his thinking and parenting, and tells us about changing his name from Schwartz to Black when he got into showbiz (there was another Michael Schwartz in the Guild already).

Our second Jewish guest is Kylie Unell, a Ph.D. student in Jewish thought at New York University and the author of an essay in JTA titled, “My mom is white and my dad is black. Don’t call me a ‘Jew of Color.’” She tells us how growing up in Kansas and then Israel and attending college in New York City shaped her Jewish identity and pushed her to reject other labels—like “Modern Orthodox”—which she felt didn’t fully capture her identity. She also tells us about drawing on Jewish history (like hosting a Moses Mendelssohn-themed Shabbat dinner) to create a new spiritual community for young Jews.

Join us for our upcoming virtual events!

Thursday 10/22, 6:30 p.m. EDT: Mark will be part of the panel event “What Have We Learned from the Pittsburgh Synogogue Attack?” Register here.

Thursday 10/22, 7 p.m. EDT: Stephanie will be interviewing (a different) Ben Cohen as part of Generally Speaking, her interview series with children of Holocaust Survivors, presented by the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Register here.

Saturday, 10/24, 7:30 p.m. PT: An Evening with Unorthodox, brought to you by the Stroum JCC Virtual BookFest. Register here.

Send us questions and comments at [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at (914) 570-4869. You can also record a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel! Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram.

Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, mugs, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

Sponsors:

American Jewish World Service is the leading Jewish organization working to fight poverty and pursue justice in the developing world. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, AJWS is currently matching all donations tenfold; find out more about the organization and to make your matched donation at AJWS.org/unorthodox.

Decision Points is a podcast that examines the key moments and figures that impacted the relationship between Israel and the U.S. The show, which just launched its second season, is hosted by David Makovsky, director of the Project on Arab-Israel Relations at the Washington Institute for Near East policy and a member of the peace team during the Obama Administration.

The Bronfman Center at NYU congratulates Rabbi Yehuda Sarna for his 18 years of service to the Bronfman Center and the global Jewish community. Find out more at bit.ly/sarna18.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unorthodox, it’s Nobel Prize season! We're celebrating by airing a special virtual live show, presented by ORT America, featuring actress and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik, who shares our hobby of Googling Nobel Prize winners to see if they’re Jewish. Stars—they’re just like us!

Listen as we chat with the Blossom and The Big Bang Theory actress about discovering observant Judaism in college, singing Jewish music with her quartet, and getting stopped by star-struck fans in synagogue. She also gives us a preview of her new mental health podcast, Mayim Bialik's Breakdown.

We're almost at 1,000 donors in our fundraising drive! Help us get over the finish line by donating at bit.ly/unorthodox2020fundraiser. Everyone who gives will be entered into a raffle to spend some virtual time with the hosts.

Let us know what you think of the show, and share your 5781 resolutions at [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at (914) 570-4869. You can also record a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel! Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram.

Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, mugs, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

Sponsors:

American Jewish World Service is the leading Jewish organization working to fight poverty and pursue justice in the developing world. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, AJWS is currently matching all donations tenfold; find out more about the organization at AJWS.org/unorthodox.

Hebrew College trains aspiring rabbis, cantors, and educational leaders. Join us for Ta Sh'ma, an online open house on November 16, to experience the vibrant pluralistic communities of Hebrew College. Learn more and register at hebrewcollege.edu/virtualvisit.

A Better Man is the latest book by comedian and actor Michael Ian Black. Part memoir, part advice book, it’s a heartfelt look at boyhood and a radical plea for rethinking masculinity, in the form of a letter from the comedian to his son. On sale now; Michael Ian Black will be the guest on next week’s Unorthodox episode.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unorthodox, we're shaking that lulav and etrog for Sukkot.

To help us understand the various Jewish holidays that arrive in quick succession after the High Holidays—Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Shemini Atzeret—we talk to Roberta Kwall, author of Remix Judaism: Preserving Tradition in a Diverse World. She tells us about the traditional “smashing of the willows” and other lesser known Jewish practices that can add meaning to our modern Jewish identity.

Then we're joined by Peter Sagal, host of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me. He tells what he's learned from hosting the very entertaining news quiz show for more than 20 years, and why it's important to find humor even when the headlines are bad.

Finally Mark chats with David French, senior editor at the Dispatch and author of Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. He explains the rift between Conservatives who, like him, don't support Trump and those who do, and warns against the danger of today's hyperpartisan era.

Help us get to 1,000 donors in our fundraising drive! Everyone who gives will be entered into a raffle to spend some virtual time with the hosts. Donate at bit.ly/unorthodox2020fundraiser.

Let us know what you think of the show, and share your 5781 resolutions at [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at (914) 570-4869. You can also record a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel! Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram.

Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, mugs, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt.

Sponsors:

PJ Library sends free storybooks to children (newborn to 12 years old), making it easy to start sharing Jewish traditions. Sign up at pjlibrary.org/unorthodox.

American Jewish World Service is the leading Jewish organization working to fight poverty and pursue justice in the developing world. AJWS is currently triple-matching all donations; go to AJWS.org/unorthodox to find out more about the organization and to make your matched donation.

Harry's is a great shave at a great price. Get a free Harry's trial shave set at harrys.com/unorthodox.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just a few updates while we take the week off to celebrate 5781.

Please join us for a virtual live show presented by ORT America with special guest — actor, author, and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik. Details at bit.ly/unorthodoxliveevents

Please consider donating to Unorthodox! Our annual fundraiser is underway, and we're trying to get to 1,000 donors. Everyone who gives will be entered into a raffle to spend some virtual time with the hosts. Donate at bit.ly/unorthodox2020fundraiser. 

Join Mark for a storytelling class as part of the Wisdom Studio. Visit here for more details.

Finally, send us your stories about Jews and the Boy Scouts of America. Call us at ‪(914) 570-4869‬ and tell us your story!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each year for Yom Kippur, we bring you a special episode all about apology and atonement. (Listen to our previous episodes: from 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015.) This year, we’re focusing on the theme of reconciliation—across the political divide and the religious spectrum, and beyond.

Our first story comes from Chris Haugh and Jordan Blashek, two friends who decided to drive across the country together in 2016. Chris, a Berkeley born, Obama-loving liberal, and Jordan, a former marine and proud conservative, were forced to confront their vast political differences as the presidential campaign unfolded around them across the United States. You can read the full story of this and their subsequent cross-country drives in their new book, Union: A Democrat, A Republican, and a Search for Common Ground.

Next we talk to Tablet columnist Marjorie Ingall, whose website (and soon to be book) SorryWatch.com chronicles the good, the bad, and the ugly of public apologies. She reminds us how to apologize (there are six steps!), helps us interpret corporate apologies in a year full of them, and reminds us that forgiveness isn’t mandatory.

Then we hear from Jericho Vincent, author of the 2014 memoir Cut Me Loose: Sin and Salvation After My Ultra-Orthodox Girlhood, which tells the painful and traumatic story of leaving Orthodox Judaism as a teen. Since then, Jericho has been on a long and winding spiritual journey, exploring Buddhism, Sufi Islam, scientific atheism, and ultimately creating an entirely new conception of Judaism—and starting in a rabbinical program. This summer, Jericho struck up a correspondence with Orthodox writer and educator Dovid Bashevkin, whose book Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought covers many of the areas that have long fascinated Jericho. Jericho and Dovid tell us what their ongoing conversations—about everything from Jewish texts to the ongoing social and political unrest in America—can teach us about reconciliation and rebuilding in today’s stratified world.

Finally, our associate editor Robert Scaramuccia tells the story of an offhand joke he made as a teenager at the Boys State summer camp, and how it has haunted (and helped) him ever since. Robert brings us along on his quest to apologize for what he said—once he figures out what exactly that was. 

Please consider donating to Unorthodox to help us keep making shows like this. Our annual fundraiser is underway, and everyone who gives will be entered into a raffle to spend some virtual time with the hosts. Donate at bit.ly/unorthodox2020fundraiser. 

Let us know what you think of the show, and share your 5781 resolutions at [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at (914) 570-4869. You can also record a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us. 

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more.

Sponsors

American Jewish World Service is the leading Jewish organization working to fight poverty and pursue justice in the developing world. AJWS will triple match any donation made before midnight Sept. 27; go to AJWS.org/unorthodox to find out more about the organization and to make your donation. 

Soom Foods is the preferred tahini of restaurants like Michael Solomonov’s Zahav. Soom Foods also makes a chocolate tahini spread and silan date syrup. All products are dairy-free, gluten-free, and certified kosher. Go to soomfoods.com and use code UNORTHODOX to get 15% off your first order.

PJ Library sends free storybooks to children (newborn to 12 years old), making it easy to start sharing Jewish traditions. Sign up at pjlibrary.org/unorthodox,

The Great Courses Plus offers online classes on everything from film to wine, personal finance, and public speaking, from professors and experts in their fields. Start your free trial at thegreatcoursesplus.com/unorthodox. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the sun set for Rosh Hashanah this past Friday night, Jews in America and across the world learned of the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It was like a gut punch, resounding across social media. The 87-year-old trailblazing Supreme Court Justice-- the second female Justice-- spent her entire career, her entire life really, fighting for equal rights for women and minorities, fighting so that everyone could have an equal shot. Her death, which plunges the country into a fight over exactly when, and by whom, she will be succeeded, is keenly felt by the Jewish community, who mourns her as a tzaddik, or righteous person. 

Today you’re going to hear from Abigail Pogrebin, writer, friend of the show, and host of Tablet’s Parsha in Progress podcast. In 2005 she published a book called Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish. She has kindly agreed to read the chapter on Ruth Bader Ginsberg. 

You can find Stars of David, and more of Abby’s work, including her latest book -- My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays; One Wondering Jew -- at https://abigailpogrebin.com/

For more RBG on Unorthodox, listen to episode 19, Leading Ladies, in which we interview Irin Carmon about her book, Notorious RBG, which details the Justice’s most recent turn as feminist pop culture icon. https://www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/unorthodox/leading-ladies

We’re at work on our annual apology episode, which airs this Thursday, and which focuses on the notion of reconciliation, which, frankly, has never seemed so important. 

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