Tablet Studios

This week, Unorthodox is publishing daily dispatches from Israel. Today, we head to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the communities most brutally attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7. Liel, Josh, and Tablet’s Armin Rosen meet up with Chen Kotler, a lifelong Kfar Aza resident, who shows them the devastation firsthand. For information about all the individuals and organizations featured this week and ways to support them, head to tabletmag.com/unorthodoxinisrael.For more eyewitness accounts from Israel, listen to the Testimonies Archive, a partnership between Tablet Studios and the USC Shoah Foundation. Unorthodox’s reporting from Israel was made possible thanks to support from the Natan Foundation, the Maimonides Fund, and Tablet.Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

This week on Unorthodox, we’re sharing nine stories of Jewish light during a time when it’s never felt more necessary. Liel brings us a reminder of the true spirit of Hanukkah. We share reflections from attendees and vendors at Tablet’s first Hanukkah Bazaar on how this year’s Hanukkah feels more important than ever. Producer Elie Bleier brings us a story from a makeshift army base near the Gaza Border, where Israeli civilians from across the country traveled to make IDF soldiers a surprising pick-me-up. Sunflowers founder Hadar Kess tells us about her work to help orphaned Israeli children. We bring you a story from our Testimonies Archive, about the 30 day memorial, or shloshim, of Nova music festival victim Oriya Ricardo, and the surprising musical guest who was there. We learn about the heroism of Awad Darawshe, a paramedic murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7th. Brett and Diana Abrams tell us about creating Pizza 4 Moms, which allows Americans to donate meals to be delivered to Israeli families. Danielle Butin tells us about the work that her foundation, Afya, is doing to donate surplus US medical supplies to Israel. And finally, Producer Josh Kross takes to the streets of Tel Aviv to investigate the latest in the quest to make the perfect sufganiyah. Listen to the Testimonies Archive, a partnership between Tablet Studios and the USC Shoah Foundation, for more eyewitness audio accounts from Israel.Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: . Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.SPONSORS: Simplify your giving with the Jewish Communal Fund, the nation's largest Jewish donor-advised fund. In good times or during times of crisis, JCF enables you to respond quickly. Open a fund with as little as $5,000 and let JCF streamline your charitable giving. Act by December 29th to lock in the maximum charitable deduction for 2023. Get started at JCFNY.org.The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards honor up to 15 Jewish teens from across the United States with an award of $36,000 to recognize their impact and leadership to repair the world. Learn more at DillerTeenAwards.org.Don’t miss Harmony, the acclaimed new musical from Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman that audiences are raving about. It’s “powerful, moving and more resonant than ever” says Entertainment Weekly and what we need in a world full of discord. Get tickets today at HarmonyANewMusical.com.

Live show from Baltimore discussing conservative/masorti Judaism, a humorous bar mitzvah experience, Mark Cuban selling the Dallas Mavericks, anti-Semitism on college campuses, the history and significance of Hanukkah, crafting Judaeka and expressing Jewish identity, feeling connected to origins and process, hand spinning and charitable giving, and celebrations and congratulations.

Guest Bernard-Henri Lévy, philosopher and filmmaker, discusses his new film trilogy about Ukrainian heroes. ALS patient Brooke Eby shares her experience with a terminal illness and raising awareness. The hosts cover Israel-Palestine conflicts, Ukraine war, film premiere, upcoming events, and charitable giving. Eby talks about finding humor despite ALS and embracing unexpected circumstances in life. They also discuss band names, celebrity representations of Jewish culture, and the lack of ALS mainstream representation.

The podcast explores the significance of folding chairs in Jewish culture and their connection to Thanksgiving. It also discusses a craft along for Israel, reflections on setting a place at the Shabbat table, and the act of donating knitted hats to soldiers in Israel.

Dark times call for bright lights, and we’re excited to announce Tablet’s Hanukkah Bazaar, taking place Sunday, Dec. 3 in New York City, featuring 40+ amazing vendors. Find out more at hanukkahbazaar.com. Today we head Across the Jew.S.A to Washington D.C., for a special dispatch from this week’s March for Israel. We also talk with Israeli writer Etgar Keret. Known for his short story collections, he’s pivoted in the weeks since the Oct. 7 attacks and is channeling his energy and talents toward helping his fellow Israelis who are looking for hope, and a bit of entertainment. And finally, Stephanie catches up with her Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sister, LeElle Slifer, who has several relatives who were abducted or murdered by Hamas on Oct. 7. LeElle tells us why it’s been so important to share her family’s story widely here in the U.S. Join our Beautifully Jewish Craft-Along. We’re meeting virtually every Monday in November to craft in support of children being treated in Israel’s hospitals and the brave men and women of the Israeli Defense Forces. Find out more at tabletmag.com/craftalong.Listen to the Testimonies Archive for more eyewitness audio accounts from Israel, and read Tablet’s coverage here. Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Find out about our upcoming events at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. To book us for a live show or event, email Tanya Singer at tsinger@tabletmag.com.Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.SPONSORS: Visit the Contemporary Jewish Museum on December 9 for Shabbat at Jewseum to celebrate Hanukkah with a day of art, stories, and community. Book tickets at thecjm.org. Visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust to see their new exhibit, Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark. Plan your visit at www.mjhnyc.org. The National Yiddish Theater is presenting Amid Falling Walls, a tribute to the indomitable Jewish spirit during the Holocaust. You can see the show November 14 to December 10 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Get tickets at nytf.org. The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards honor up to 15 Jewish teens from across the United States with an award of $36,000 to recognize their impact and leadership to repair the world. Learn more at DillerTeenAwards.org.Be proudly Jewish with our book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia, covering everything from Jewish history and pop culture to holidays and food. Get a 20% discount on Newish Jewish and the entire Artisan Books Hanukkah shop with code UNORTHODOX.

Dan Senor, writer and political advisor, discusses his book "The Genius of Israel" and its surprising insights on Israel's resilience. Gila Sacks, daughter of the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, shares what her father might have said about the current moment. The podcast also covers news consumption, open letters, renaming of the Anne Frank Daycare Center, romcoms, Israeli resilience, faith and rituals in Israeli culture, and acts of kindness.

In this episode, the hosts discuss controversial opinions and anti-Semitism on college campuses, the fight for equal treatment, and contemplate motivations. They delve into the Jewish Priorities project and difficult conversations, explore living in a Jewish community in Chevron, visit the Weizmann National Museum of American Jewish History, and highlight the impact of a program called La Casa on Latin Jewish teens in Miami. They also celebrate a recent marriage and the rescue of an Israeli soldier.

This week on Unorthodox, a mixup with a third (reich) party vendor. We speak with Israeli actress Swell Ariel Or, who you may remember from the show Beauty Queen of Jerusalem. She moved to the United States just weeks ago, and gives us her perspective on the war as an Israeli living abroad. You can donate to the Israel Reservist Fund that Or started at: www.israelreservistfund.com. Ani Wilcenski, Tablet’s audience editor, helps us make sense of the social media landscape since the war in Israel began and sheds light on what our role is amidst it. We’re also joined by artist Jeanette Kuvin Oren, who you may remember from last year’s Hanukkah episode. She tells us about the art classes she’s been teaching to displaced children in Israel. Join our Beautifully Jewish Craft-Along. Over the next 6 weeks, we’re going to meet virtually to craft in support of children being treated in Israel’s hospitals and to support the brave men and women of the Israeli Defense Forces. Find out more at tabletmag.com/craftalong.     The croched star in this week's episode art is by Adi Assas who you can find on Instagram: @adidiloopsListen to the Testimonies Archive for more eyewitness audio accounts from Israel, and read Tablet’s coverage here. Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail at our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.SPONSORS: Visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust to see their new exhibit, Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark, opening October 15th. Plan your visit at www.mjhnyc.org. The National Yiddish Theater is presenting Amid Falling Walls, a tribute to the indomitable Jewish spirit during the Holocaust. You can see the show November 14 to December 10 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Get tickets at nytf.org. 

This week on Unorthodox, we’re processing our emotions about the war on Israel alongside our listeners. We talk with Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm, host of the podcast Good Faith Effort, about turning to Jewish law and ethics for insight on how to deal with a dark and violent moment. Our second guest this week is the actress Lisa Edelstein. She joins us to discuss her newest project, the PBS series Little Bird, as well as her experience as a Jewish actress in Hollywood. Listen to the Testimonies Archive for more eyewitness audio accounts from Israel, and read Tablet’s coverage here.Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail at our listener line: (914) 570-4869.Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.SPONSORS: Hadassah is hosting “Inspire Zionism: Tech, Trailblazers and Tattoos,” a two-day online event featuring panels with inspiring Zionists, hosted by our own Stephanie Butnick. To join the conversation October 25 and 26, register at go.hadassah.org/inspire. The Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust’s newest exhibit is ‘Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark.’ Plan your visit at www.mjhnyc.org. The National Yiddish Theater presents Amid Falling Walls, a tribute to the indomitable Jewish spirit during the Holocaust, running Nov. 14 to Dec. 10 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Get tickets at nytf.org.