"The Shmooze" visits with Sebastian Schulman for a chat about Yiddish culture in America as we celebrate American Jewish Heritage Month. In conversation he shares some of what he’s found on the Yiddish Book Center’s website related to the Jewish American experience—Yiddish writers in America, Jewish food, Yiddish film, immigration, activism, and mo…

Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman is a Rosh Yeshiva at YU. He also serves as the Executive Editor of the RIETS initiative of YU Press. Rabbi Feldman is the author of “The Right and The Good: Halakhah and Human Relations”; “Divine Footsteps: Chesed and the Jewish Soul”; “False Facts and True Rumors: Lashon Hara in Contemporary Culture”; as well as five volume…

Sara Rivka Yekutiel was easily winning national karate championships and was a lock for the Olympics. Then, despite not being an observant Jew, she gave it all up for Rosh Hashana. Listen to hear about her fascinating journey. Also, you can check out her new book: Raizi and the Passover Plans. Available on Amazon and at other book stores: https://w…

After growing up in America, learning Arabic, and studying for 6 months as a Jew in Jordan, Noam Ivri Adanani made aliya. In Israel he served in the army and assisted with international diplomatic work before becoming a senior consultant at APCO Worldwide. As a resident of Sderot, his family was evacuated after October 7th and Noam was called back …

For more than 15 years, Elie Klein has worked tirelessly to promote the work of ADI. Known for its individualized care, cutting-edge therapies, residency programs and innovative disability inclusion programming, ADI has become one of Israel’s most impactful organizations for people with disabilities.Hear about his journey, what ADI is all about and…

Alex Weiser visits with "The Shmooze" to talk about his latest work, "in a dark blue night," consisting of two connected song cycles. The first, “in a dark blue night,” sets to music modernist Yiddish poetry about New York City at night, all written by Jewish immigrant poets at the turn of the 20th century. The second, “Coney Island Days,” transfor…

Sonia Bloom and Judith Liskin-Gasparro speak to "The Shmooze" about Yiddish-language learning, their work in the field, and their participation at the Yiddish Book Center’s upcoming Bossie Dubowick YiddishSchool. Episode 367March 11, 2024Amherst, MAPor Yiddish Book Center

Ross Perlin, the co-director of the Endangered Language Alliance, visits with "The Shmooze" to talk about his new book, "Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York." The book provides a portrait of contemporary New York City through six speakers of little-known and overlooked languages, diving into the incredible his…

Author Ruth Behar speaks with "The Shmooze" about "Across So Many Seas." Her latest book was inspired by Behar’s paternal grandmother’s side of the family of Sephardic Jews living in Spain up until the Spanish Inquisition of 1492. Behar used her background as an anthropology professor to make a thoroughly researched and powerful novel about religio…

Marvin Zuckerman and Ruby Elliot Zuckerman join "The Shmooze" to talk about their family’s story, which is featured in the Yiddish Book Center’s new core exhibition, "Yiddish: A Global Culture." As Marvin shares, “In our one-bedroom apartment in the Bronx we had world literature—Georg Brandes, Maupassant, Marx, Darwin, Jack London, Tolstoy—all in Y…

David Mazower, chief curator of the Yiddish Book Center’s core exhibition, "Yiddish: A Global Culture," and Caraid O’Brien, co-curator of the exhibition’s theater section, chat with "The Shmooze" about all things Yiddish theater. You’ll hear how they gathered rare artifacts and stories about the actors, the audiences, and the contemporary Yiddish t…

B"H. To reach me via email in regards to the episode, you can email me at: Nochumzajacjhistoryshmooze@gmail.com Follow this link to join my WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GJz0G2N0a3THoJMYtAxC8rPor Nochum Zajac

Mikhl Yashinsky is on "The Shmooze" to talk about his new drama "The Gospel According to Chaim," the strange tale of a Jewish writer’s quixotic attempt to publish a controversial book. The New Yiddish Rep, who is producing the play, says this is the first entirely original, full-length American Yiddish drama to be produced for a general audience in…

Yermiyahu Ahron Taub joins "The Shmooze" to talk about his latest translation, a collection of short stories by Yiddish writer Frume Halpern. These psychologically insightful stories present the lives of protagonists who are working-class poor, social outcasts, and experiencing illness, disability, and racism. Halpern worked as a massage therapist …

Ronald Robboy and Alex Weiser visit with "The Shmooze" to talk about their collaboration on the performance of the music of "Shir Hashirim (The Song of Songs)," a 1911 operetta by Joseph Rumshinsky and Anshel Shor. "Shir Hashirim" is a musical comedy that features several interlocking love triangles, including an aging composer along with his child…

"The Shmooze" visits with Anna Elena Torres, Kenyon Zimmer, and Ayelet Brinn, editors and contributors to an expansive new volume of essays exploring suppressed histories of Jewish anarchism. "With Freedom in Our Ears: Histories of Jewish Anarchism" is a rich collection of essays across radical politics, immigrant history, the Yiddish press, and is…

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On "The Shmooze," Kristen Morgenstern, a senior studying history and theater at Middlebury College, tells the story behind her zine "Irena Klepfisz: The Life of the Fighter." The zine was selected for inclusion in the Yiddish Book Center’s core exhibition, "Yiddish: A Global Culture."Episode 358November 21, 2023Amherst, MA…

Avram Mlotek visits with "The Shmooze" to talk about the upcoming performance of Amid Falling Walls, for which Avram created the libretto. "Amid Falling Walls" (Tsvishn falnkike vent) is a groundbreaking musical that pays homage to the perseverance of the human spirit during one of the most devastating moments of history. The performance, presented…

This week "The Shmooze" visits with translator Faith Jones to talk about her recently released "Meant to Be and Other Stories," by Shira Gorshman (White Goat Press). Shira Gorshman is most notable for her unflinching examination of women’s lives and her willingness to dwell on uncomfortable emotions. Faith shares how Gorshman’s stories follow the t…

"The Shmooze" sat down with chief curator and writer David Mazower for the first in a series of conversations about the Yiddish Book Center’s landmark permanent exhibition, which opens on October 15, 2023. In describing what visitors will encounter when they view this massive exhibition, David notes, “We’ve created a bright, colorful space full of …

Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, representing New York's 48th Assembly District, joins to discuss his start in politics, what effects his decisions, why it matters that he has spent his whole life in the district he represents, why it's so important to have an office that can help the community, and so much more! With a background in legislative aff…

Nissim Black is a household name in Jewish homes with 4 albums, 39 singles, and nearly 30 million YouTube views. Nissim shares his extraordinary journey, from growing up in Seattle with parents who pioneered the rap scene to facing challenges like drugs and violence.He opens up about pivotal moments that led him away from that life and toward chang…

Hear Lauren Danneman share her unique insights and experiences. We delve into her journey as an Orthodox woman in the Federation, her impactful trips to places like Ethiopia, and her inspiring work with Ukrainian refugees. We also touch upon her personal experiences as a parent of two disabled children and explore her thoughts on the challenges fac…

Since 1982, Jeff Seidel has done kiruv in Israel and helped tens of thousands of Jews find shabbos meals there, he’s offered free tours and classes through his Jewish Student Centers at Hebrew U in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, and IDC in Herzliya. He has also authored “The Jewish Traveler’s Resource Guide,” wh…

Doron Sheffer played Division one basketball for the UConn Huskies and won Big East Conference Rookie of the Year. With an impressive career, he won the Big East Championship three years in a row and was named to the school's all 20th century team. After being drafted by the LA Clippers, he went to play in Israel and won four straight Israeli Leagu…

Shuey Jacoby has an impressive background in the sports world, having worked with several professional sports teams and tech companies. In the podcast, he shares insights on his journey and experiences, including his involvement with the David Right Foundation and his recent investment in the Rhode Island Football Club. He also provides valuable ad…

This week on "The Shmooze," editors Amanda (Miryem-Khaye) Seigel and Alyssa Quint talk about "Women on the Yiddish Stage," a series of publications that amplifies the voices of women who served as creative leaders in the historical Yiddish theater.Episode 354June 15, 2023Amherst, MAPor Yiddish Book Center

Aliza Pilichowksi is the Mayor of Mitzpe Yericho, a community with hundreds of families that is 20 minutes away from Yerushaliam. Hear about how she became the mayor, what it is like, how Mitzpe Yericho decides where to allocate their resources, and more!Keep in touch with the podcast on Twitter @Jews_Shmooze and to sponsor an episode reach out to …

On a visit with "The Shmooze," photographer Marisa Scheinfeld talks about her work on The Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project. The resulting work will create a series of markers to commemorate the Borscht Belt era. Episode 353June 8, 2023Amherst, MAPor Yiddish Book Center

Aviad Amitai is the president and owner of Nachshon VIP tours, a company that provides VIP tour services in Israel. He’s a biblical scholar, entrepreneur, and also a managing partner and co-founder at Lucent investments. Additionally, he is involved with many interesting investments and projects. Hear about his special menorah, how he is trying to …

Rabbi Yaniv Meirov is the founder and head of CHAZAQ, an organization which has inspired and revitalized communities across the world through lectures, magazines and newsletters in many languages, an online radio program, chavrusa programs, a shidduch service, and so much more. CHAZAQ has a YouTube channel with over 1,000 videos, a Torah Anytime pa…

Sara shares her journey of starting Soupergirl during a recession with no prior knowledge of the industry. She talks about her experience appearing on Shark Tank, her company's expansion into grocery stores, and working alongside her mother to build the brand. Sara also discusses the importance of maintaining Kosher standards in her business and ho…