Ask a Jew

Sarah Hurwitz served as a White House speechwriter from 2009 to 2017, first as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. She’s with us to discuss her new brilliant book: As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story From Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us, which is a must-read for every Jew who often has mixed feelings about their faith (not that there is anyone like that), as well as non-Jews who want to understand us weirdos better. Honestly everyone should read it, or at the very least buy it. Don’t take our word for it, read what beloved guest Yossi Klein Halevi has to say: “Beautifully written and brilliantly argued, As a Jew is that rare book that defines an historical moment. The American Jewish awakening is upon us, and Sarah Hurwitz is its prophet.” We discuss Jewish peoplehood, how our story is shaped by the outside gaze, and how to have productive conversations. Also, what did Sarah steal from the White House? And what did Chaya Leah steal from Auschwitz??Want to help us grow? Review and rate us five starts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Also:* White House tea* Meditation, spirituality and being a hospital chaplain* Every non-Zionist Jew should read this book and learn about their internalized antisemitism.* Zionism is not an entry point* Sarah’s campus tour that started on… October 10th, 2023.* Nobody hates the university’s Russian club* There’s a Torah for that* The revolution will not happen in old buildings* Your gateway Mitzvah* A day of Jewish difference* It’s ok if you don’t feel anything at Shul* Why Sarah couldn’t sell her book in Israel* Whose antisemites are worst, the left or the right? No need to argue, plenty of hate to go around.* Where are the politicians with a spine?* Can you yell at people until they agree with you?* Well, it’s been a great 80 years! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

We are happy to welcome author, cultural critic, and social media explainer Leigh Stein to Ask A Jew today! We discuss her new novel, If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant for You — a modern-day gothic page-turner set in a Los Angeles social media influencer hype house (if you don’t know what a hype house is, even more of a reason to tune in!)We discuss whether or not the internet is real life, what Leigh learned from being a student of TikTok, and the new controverial best-seller “Let Them”, as well as Chaya Leah’s follow up smash hit, “Stop It”. Also:* Covid weddings* The world of Bookfluencers* Are hype houses influencer sweatshops?* Leigh had to hire a consultant to help her learn TikTok (check out the fruits of her labor!)* Girl, edit out your millennial pause* Will Gen alpha save us?* The way you take selfies is OLD!* An Internet friend saved Leighs life* Let Them? Stop it!* Selling a book means selling your brand* Tea on some of your favorite authors…* Grieving the loss of a relationship and the loss of a life* Philip Roth revivalAnd more!In New York tonight? Friend of the pod (and the guest) Meghan Daum is hosting a talk with author Lionel Shriver (We Need to Talk About Kevin) and you can still get a ticket! 2/3rds of the people on this pod will be there! Here is Meghan interview with Leigh. Go buy the book immediately! And while you’re at it, pick up a copy of the Torah. And Let Them. They’re both supposed to be good. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

A long overdue solo awaits for those who dare! First of all we apologize for the lack of Taylor/Travis content here, we recorded this a few days ago before the breaking news. We hope you can still enjoy this discussion that covers:* ICE and immigration (in the first, like, 30 seconds)* Our nonexistent beef with The Commentary podcast* Unpopular opinions (Matcha and musicals?)* The entirety of the episode from around minute 11 is about hard boiled eggs* Oh wait now there’s a rocket attack on Tel Aviv* What do American and Israeli Jews not understand about each other?* Why are we fighting for this land? We disagree.* Update to my tshirt story! Happy ending (unless your’e an antisemite). Get your shirts here, all proceeds go to support communities affected October 7 and the war.* Cultural recommendations.Also, ICYMI:Hostage Ilana Gritzewsky testified at the UN about the horrific mental, physical and sexual abuse she suffered in Gaza. She did it to save her boyfriend Matan, and 49 others still held in hell. She is a true hero, and everyone in the world should know her name. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Shabbos Kestenbaum is probably the most famous Jewish Harvard grad since Natalie Portman. You may know him as a former Bernie Bro and divinity student who went on to sue Harvard for discrimination, speak at the Republican National Convention, and accompany President Trump to the gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. We talk about what to do with all this sweet, sweet Jewish money, where Israel goes wrong on messaging, what Shabbos saw at the Gaza humanitarian aid crossing, and much more.Also:* Whats’s the deal with his name? (ask his siblings “Independence” and “India”)* From the Harvard Divinity School to yelling on Piers Morgan* Shabbos’s mom unfollowed him on X* "In a place where there are no people, strive to be a person"* History didn’t start on October 7…Shabbos on Harvard antisemitism in 2022 in Aish.com* Lots of students agree with Shabbos….quietly* The watermelon Yamulke crowd* How to combat antisemitism (hint: not more Holocaust studies)* Why the ADL stopped inviting him to meetings, but he still respects Jonathan Greenblatt (so do we by the way, in case you want to invite us to speak)* GIVE THE MONEY TO STUDENTS* Big Tent, Little Tent, Chabad and Hillel* Ladies, he’s single - a sharpt turn toward dating and the Marvel Universe* Why does Israel suck at messaging? Unclear, but here’s what to do* A very interesting meeting at the Gaza aid crossing This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

This week we welcome one of our favorite journaists of the moment, Olivia Reingold of The Free Press!We discuss her Jewish roots, atheism, how she went from an NPR fangirl to working for (gasp!) Bari Weiss, what’s wrong with Gen Z, accidental antisemitism, reading each and every one of Zohran Mamdani’s tweets, Mahmoud Khalil, and at the end we get into a very heated argument about…podiatrists. That said, the most controversial thing Olivia says is that she watches gaming playthrough youtubes.You can find Olivia on X (but be nice), Instagram, and of course read and watch everything she’s done at The Free Press. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

We are so excited to have the one and only Babka King, Chris Cares None with us!If you haven’t seen Chris’s videos on Instagram and TikTok where he reviews foods from different ethnicities, with some special love to Babka and Rugelach, why are you even still here? MORE VIDEOS https://askajew.substack.com/Chris rose to fame after his Jewish food reviews attracted both love and hate, and let us tell you - do not throw hate at this guy unless you’re ready to be showered with LOVE. We talk about social anxiety, how Chris felt as a black man visitng Israel for the first time, why Golden Retrievers changed his attitude towards white people, compassion for both Israelis and Palestinians, and more! Chris is like a ballistic missile of positivity and energy, so hope you will enjoy this explosion of love.Make sure to follow Chris on Instagram and TikTok - just don’t come hungry. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Sunday and a blessed week to everyone, except Mandy Patinkin. In this catch-up we talk about the unfolding situation in Gaza (spoiler: some healthy disagreement!), the meaning of being able to criticize someone you love, toothaches and heartaches.Also:You don’t hate the UN enoughSome Astronomer talk…sorry if no one cares anymore. But have you seen this great response they put out?? .Lena Dunham is an awful, awful geniusJonah and the Whale and BuddhismA spotify recommendationAn evergreen reminder: If you only rediscover your Judaism when it's time to criticize Istael, we don't care what you think. And finally - you can find Chaya Leah’s birthday gift on our Substack!!! This kind of reminds me of the time Homer Simpson got Marge a bowling ball with his initials on it. I must have watched it 300 times!! But she loves it too. Don’t forget please that there are 50 hostages, in Gaza, many alive. They need to come home, now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Helen Lewis is a big deal y’all, and yes we’d be saying that even if she didn’t have a British accent. She’s a staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the new book The Genius Myth: A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea , as well as Difficult Women: An Imperfect History of Feminism. She has written and presented several BBC (ooh!) Radio shows including "The New Gurus"and our personal favorite, "Helen Lewis Has Left the Chat. You can also find her right here on Substack, at Helen Lewis. Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.We talk overrated geniuses, AI and the class divide, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and other very serious topics that Helen manages to make really fun.Also:* London survived The Blitz, so we’ll all be ok* Jewish Rumspringa* Helen Lewish isn’t Jewish, but the Manosphere thinks she is* Chess.com is the new 4Chan* The Genius Myth* Was Shakespeare a black trans woman?* 1600s LinkedIn* Einstein was Mid, but he had great branding* AI and the class divide* The Ayatollah has a suprise for us* Gout and IQ* Helen Lewis has left the chat* WhatsApp drama is life* Greta Thunberg created Zionists * What people don’t understand about Israelis is….* Helen admits that America is beating the UK!* Oh wait, now she’s talking about inequality* Babies need to start pulling their weight and giving more to charity* 2025 feminismThanks for reading Good for the Jews! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a cognitive scientist, podcaster, mentalist and author of 11 (!!) books. We had him on to talk about his latest “Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential, and were diagnosed with Vulnerable Narcissm (Yael) and being a Neurotic Jew (CL). We also mocked our negative self-talk, evaluated the usefuleness of self-deprecating humor, and learned about Dr. Scott’s attempt to bring peace to the Columbia campus where he teaches. Read his book, and sign up for his newsletter right here on Substack! Thanks for reading Good for the Jews! This post is public so feel free to share it.Also covered:* Rabbi feel-good* Who’s going to read a book that says your’re the problem? (the answer: Jews)* Negative self talk is for losers* You are not your thoughts* Women love mind-reading* Opera sucks* Collective anxiety and pain* Making sense of teaching at ColumbiaDid we tell you to buy the book? Buy the book!Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

Bethany Mandel is the co-author of the bestseller “Stolen Youth” (with former guest Karol Markowicz!) and blogger/podcaster at The Mom Wars. We recorded this one a little while ago (there’s been an entire war in between) so excuse our tardiness. We talk conversion, birthing 6 kids at home (well, one in a car), homeschooling and much more. Enjoy!Also:* How Bethany chose Judaism at the ripe age of seven. Matza ball, books and no Jesus? I’m in.* The bad, bad Rabbi that converted Bethany.* Bethany’s oldest daughter is a settler-in-training.* Give me your most modest swimsuit, please.* John Podhoretz has strong feelings about epidurals* Having a baby, much like flying a plane, doesn’t make any sense.Check out “The Mom Wars” right here on SubstackIf we don’t see you, happy 4th of July! Go America! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe