
How to Be a Jew
Hosted by Courtney Hazlett, Rabbi Diana Fersko, and Josh Kross, each episode of How to Be a Jew takes a look at a current, cultural topic and what it means for us as Jews, and how we react to it because we are Jews. We interview actors, artists, and other creators about their work, Jewish thinkers about the most pressing problems facing us today, and once in a while, the Jewish-adjacent icons who occupy an interesting space in our world.
Latest episodes

Jan 8, 2025 • 42min
How to Be a Jew ... like Jesse Eisenberg
Movies about remembrance are incredibly complicated and difficult to pull off. In his latest film, A Real Pain, actor, writer, and director Jesse Eisenberg tackles grief, family, and memory with echoes of the Holocaust as a haunting background. The film, which was inspired by a piece Jesse wrote for Tablet in 2017, was nominated for four Golden Globe awards.Hosted by Courtney Hazlett, Rabbi Diana Fersko, and Josh Kross, each episode of How to Be a Jew takes a look at a current, cultural topic and what it means for us as Jews, and how we react to it because we are Jews.Want to send us an email? Send it off to podcasts@tabletmag.comFor more podcasts, visit tabletmag.com/podcasts

Jan 1, 2025 • 27min
How to Be a Jew ... on New Year's
This show takes no weeks off for holidays, whether they are on the Jewish or Gregorian calendars. What are the differences and similarities between Rosh Hashanah and the “secular” new year’s and more importantly how are we marking them? Tablet’s executive editor Wayne Hoffman joins us to discuss the true meaning of starting a new year.Hosted by Courtney Hazlett, Rabbi Diana Fersko, and Josh Kross, each episode of How to Be a Jew takes a look at a current, cultural topic and what it means for us as Jews, and how we react to it because we are Jews.Want to send us an email? Send it off to podcasts@tabletmag.comFor more podcasts, visit tabletmag.com/podcasts

Dec 25, 2024 • 43min
How to Be a Jew ... At Christmas
Hosted by Courtney Hazlett, Rabbi Diana Fersko, and Josh Kross, each episode takes a look at a current, cultural topic and what it means for us as Jews, and how we react to it because we are Jews.This year, the first night of Hannukah falls on Christmas, so we are talking about how each of us, and Jews in general, relate to the most famous Christian holiday, and how some customs might find their way into our own lives. We are joined by musician Peter Himmelman to discuss his view on the relationship between music, holidays, and spiritual practice.Want to send us an email? Send it off to podcasts@tabletmag.comFor more podcasts, visit tabletmag.com/podcasts

Dec 13, 2024 • 2min
Coming Soon - How to Be a Jew
Hosted by Courtney Hazlett, Rabbi Diana Fersko, and Josh Kross, each episode we'll take a look at a current, cultural topic and talk about what it means for us as Jews, and how we react to it because we are Jews.