The Big Schmear Podcast

Thanks for looking in on The Big Schmear. Our episode this month is with award-winning author, Elizabeth Graver. We will be talking about her most recent book, entitled Kantika. And, although we do spend some time talking about the story of Kantika – which I found incredibly engaging for a number of reasons: I loved the time and place of the story, I fell in love with the main character and along the way I learned about the life of a Jewish family from Turkey and her life’s journey that brought her to the US. It was not a simple travel story.

If I were to characterize the focus of our conversation, I would say we talked a great deal about the story behind the book; the story of how Elizabeth came to write this book, a novel, based on her grandmother’s life. I hope you’ll dip into the conversation so you can get a better sense of the author behind this beautiful book. And if you haven’t read it yet – it’s a great time to find a copy at your library or favorite local book shop. And if you have read this book, look up a few of Elizabeth Gravers’ past works. She’s a wonderful writer.

Happy Listening, Everyone.

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I’m so glad to have you along for this episode of The Big Schmear. My guest today, Jeanne Golan, is not only a special friend but also a wonderful pianist. And it’s because of her playing that I have invited her to be my guest. This episode is in commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and I knew that Jeanne’s project, Recovered Voices, would be exactly the right focus. We talk quite a bit about her project; how it came to be, where it’s taken her musically, and how she has been able to bring these compositions to life for all of us to hear when most certainly if not for her work these composers and their work would have been lost. We will focus on 3 specific composers from Recovered Voices, a bit about their personal story and their music. I decided to change the format a bit so you would have the opportunity to listen to three short works by each of the composers without interruption. I hope you enjoy the story of Recovered Voices, Jeanne’s wonderful playing and of course, the music!

Happy Listening, Everyone.

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Happy Chanukah, Everyone! I’m happy to have you join me for this December’s episode. You’ll be meeting my guest, recent cookbook author, Silvia Nacamulli. Silvia begins our conversation by providing us with a window into the Jewish Culinary history of Italy. She also shares a good deal about her own family history while pointing out some of her favorite Italian Jewish foods, complete with mouthwatering descriptions. And if you write to me at [email protected] I’ll send you a copy of her Chanukah recipe called Precipizi-Struffoli that she talks about during our conversation.

Happy Listening, Everyone.

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It’s still fall! New England is in that in-between time; beautiful sunny days with temps going back and forth between unseasonably warm and yikes, it really will be winter soon.
It’s on the ‘gonna get colder’ days that I think about my recent times at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and how this is the perfect time to share with you my conversation with their curator, Simona Di Nepi. She will be talking about her unique position at the MFA and the new Judaica gallery.
As you’ll soon find out, she is an extraordinary guide. Along with her expertise and passion about her work she manages to share a contagious enthusiasm for each and every piece in their collection. Before you know it, you’ll be adding Boston and the MFA to the top of your ‘where to visit next’ list.
BTW, you are also able to experience some of what the MFA has to offer right from your very own electronic devise. Be sure to catch the end of the podcast when Simona will share this information with you.

Happy Listening, Everyone.

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Happy New Year!

I hope your New Year celebration was meaningful and joyous.

I’m looking forward to all the audio adventures we will be on together in 5785. I already have great guests on-board with stories to share that I know you’ll enjoy. This brings me to our first episode of this New Year. We’ll be talking about the road to the rabbinate for my guest, Rabbi Vanessa M. Harper, who found that her love of baking challah and studying Torah could bring new insight into her own Jewish experiences as a student and then as a rabbi. In our conversation she’ll give you a taste of what you can find in her book, entitled, ‘Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year Through Challah’ and what you can experience for yourself while baking that most celebrated of all breads.

What better way to start the New Year. Happy Listening, Everyone.

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The Big Schmear is back and I’m happy to have you all here!

I’ve had some time to think about the relevance of The Big Schmear while on a break and it’s pretty clear to me that Jewish food continues to be a great connector for us all. And I plan to continue conversations about Jewish food, but, at the same time I couldn’t help but wonder, why limit how we define Jewish culture? Why not expand our experience and explore additional topics like Jewish music, Jewish literature, Jewish dance, and everything in between?

So with that in mind, I invite you to list to our first Big Schmear 2.0 episode. I’m in conversation with good friend and colleague Cindy Stern, the Executive Director of the Chicago Israeli Film Festival. I will be talking with her about her festival, specifically touching on Israeli film & TV. Cindy will give us a taste of what goes into festival planning and how she finds those amazing films! Who’s ready for some popcorn?

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I’m on the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Through my conversation with Lisa Newman and Seth Rogovoy you’ll learn about the Yiddish Book Center and Yidstock, The Festival of New Yiddish Music. I hope you enjoy this taste of Yiddish culture and contemplate a trip to The Book Center. It’s a beauitiful spot anytime of year but it’s spectacular in the fall!

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Need to spice up  your meals? Here’s an easy fix that can be used as your new basic ‘everything spice’ to change up, well everything: fish, chicken, french toast…it’s limitless and so easy. And we have some recipes to share too.

Let’s close out 2020 in the best way possible by continuing to share meals and the experience of cooking together in as many ways that we can – in person and via the internet. What matters is staying close.

Thank you for listening. Happy Eating and Best Wishes for a healthy and fun filled 2021

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If you are in the mood for fun this Hanukkah then you have to give this episode a listen. Helpful note: you may want to have your own cocktail at the ready. I’ve invited back mixologist Cheryl Rich Heisler to talk about cocktail ideas for Hanukkah and she did not disappoint! We’ve got lots of ideas for you from the ‘so simple’  to getting out your shaker for a bit of chocolate and whipped cream to touch off that special drink.

I wish  you all a very Happy Hanukkah and may you have all the fried foods  you desire.

Happy Eating!

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I decided to push the envelope a bit on this Thanksgiving holiday episode. I knew everyone would be stressed with holiday plans, menus and figuring out ways to celebrate the holiday despite all the compromises to put in place to be safe. I assumed the last thing you needed were more recipes to think about so…why not think about how Jewish America is connected to this holiday. I invited Professor Beth S. Wenger, an expert in the field of Jewish American history to talk with me about just that. I hope  you find our conversation interesting.

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Eating!

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