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Artwork for Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in Cinema

Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in Cinema

Daniel Zana & Harry Ottensoser
Judaism
Hester Street
Spaceballs
When Harry Met Sally
Barton Fink
Jewish Sensibility
After Hours
The Princess Bride
Mel Brooks
Floaters
Jewish Humor
Assimilation
An American Tail
Pee-Wee Herman
An American Tale
Peewee's Big Adventure
New York, United States
Charlie Kaufman
Adaptation (film)
Tim Blake Nelson

Daniel Zana & Harry Ottensoser discuss films of all types to investigate what truly makes a film Jewish. Covering everything from Fiddler on the Roof to Uncut Gems, they finish each episode by ranking the film’s production, content, and themes on a scale of 1 to 5 Jewish stars. Listen each week to find out!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes112Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Film ReviewsFilm HistoryTV & Film

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in Cinema

Latest Episodes

Returning guest and comedian Eli Leibowicz joins Harry and Daniel to discuss Bob Fosse's Lenny (1974), starring Dustin Hoffman as the groundbreaking—and deeply controversial—comedian Lenny Bruce. Together, they explore why Bruce remains one of the mo... more

Daniel and Harry are (almost) back for Season 7 of the podcast!

In anticipation for the premiere in August, have a listen to an interview with Jackie Tohn, star of the new film "The Floaters", out now in limited release in theaters across the countr... more

Just in time for Passover, hosts Harry and Daniel are joined by Stephanie Butnick—creator of Golda, the Jewish culture guide—for a spirited conversation about The Prince of Egypt (1998), DreamWorks’ dazzling and dramatic take on the Exodus story.

Th... more

Harry and Daniel welcome back Pamela Lavitt, director of the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, to discuss Among Neighbors, the powerful documentary by Yoav Potash that uses animation to explore a haunting Holocaust story about survivors confronting the r... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Eli Leibowicz
Comedian, returning guest
Comedian/JSketch collective
Episode: Lenny w/ Eli Leibowicz
Jackie Tohn
Actress and musician
Glow; Nobody Wants This; Floaters
Episode: Special Episode: "The Floaters" Interview w/ Jackie Tohn
Stephanie Butnick
Writer, podcaster, Jewish culture critic; guest on the episode
Golda newsletter founder; former Unorthodox co-host
Episode: The Prince of Egypt w/ Stephanie Butnick (Re-Release)
Pamela Lavitt
Director of Arts and Ideas and Festivals at the Stroum Jewish Community Center, Seattle
Stroum Jewish Community Center
Episode: Among Neighbors w/ Pamela Lavitt
Yuli Masinovsky
Proprietor of Silver Lake Entertainment
Silver Lake Entertainment
Episode: 100th Episode Special: "Mel Brooks The 99 Year Old Man!" w/Yuli Masinovsky
Leigh Stein
Best-selling author and guest discussing Marty Supreme
Author, New York Times contributor
Episode: Marty Supreme w/ Leigh Stein
Michael Lukk Litwak
Brooklyn-based filmmaker, writer and director of Molli and Max in the Future; cartoonist for The New Yorker
Filmmaker
Episode: The Princess Bride w/ Michael Lukk Litwak
Nabil Ayers
American music industry entrepreneur, author and musician; president of Beggars Group US
Beggars Group US; Sonic Boom Records
Episode: After Hours w/ Nabil Ayers (Re-Release)
Temim Fruchter
Writer and author of City of Laughter
Author, City of Laughter
Episode: When Harry Met Sally with Temim Fruchter (Re-Release)

Hosts

Harry Ottensoser
Host of the show, introduces topics and guides discussion
Daniel Zana
Co-host, filmmaker, researcher; editor

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 40 ratings
  • Love it

    This podcast is a smart, engaging deep dive into movies, with sharp breakdowns that make each film feel worth revisiting. I especially love the ongoing conversations about how Jewish a movie really is. The debates about identity, culture, and subtext are thoughtful and genuinely entertaining. It’s the perfect mix of analysis and personality (with engaging guests) and I look forward to every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LukeRidnour23
    United States6 months ago
  • Mamesh Gut

    Love the concept of this show and really enjoying the conversations. Loved the Nora Ephron book chat, went and picked it up from that interview.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lobot3po
    United States2 years ago
  • A gentile review

    I appreciate the reflections on the human condition from the themes derived from the movie selection! 5 out of 5!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TOMALAPALA
    United States3 years ago
  • There’s a lot of Jews in Hollywood…

    Cuz we know what we’re doing

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    idcsc2123
    United States4 years ago
  • Interesting concept and conversations

    If you’re interested in film and Judaism this is the podcast for you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AdamLeadership
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, deep dive into how Jewish identity shows up in film.
Feels like a field guide to Jewish storytelling in film, with strong production insights.
Engaging guests and smart discussions, with a good balance of analysis and humor.
Shows how Jewish culture informs mainstream cinema without being inaccessible.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lenny w/ Eli Leibowicz
Q: How does the film frame language and obscenity in the context of Bruce's career?
They explore the power and danger of words, noting how the film ties linguistic choices to political and social contexts.
Spaceballs w/ Gil Ozeri
Q: How does the film balance parody with genuine affection for the source material?
The hosts agree that Spaceballs is self-aware and inclusive of multiple references, while using humor to critique consumerism and genre tropes, rather than merely copying them.
Spaceballs w/ Gil Ozeri
Q: What was your most Jewish scene of the film?
The group highlights the Yogurt and Schwartz sequences as the most distinctly Jewish moments, with the Jewish grandmother archetype in Dot Matrix and the Jewish princess gag tying into broader Jewish humor tropes.
100th Episode Special: "Mel Brooks The 99 Year Old Man!" w/Yuli Masinovsky
Q: What was the most Jewish scene or moment in the documentary?
The most Jewish moment was the sequence where multiple Jewish comedians like Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller, and Adam Sandler discuss how seeing something Jewish on screen resonated with them, which felt authentic and heartfelt rather than a setup for jokes.
Hester Street w/ Jason Diamond
Q: What is the most interesting scene of this film?
Jason and Daniel discuss a scene where the lawyer negotiates with Gittel, noting how the dialogue and bargaining reveal power dynamics and wit, while also illustrating the film's sharp observation of Jewish female agency in a male-dominated negotiation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, film-focused discussion that dissects Jewish identity, culture, and humor as they appear across a spectrum of cinema. Hosts analyze how films reflect Jewish storytelling, history, and representation, often weaving in behind-the-scenes context, casting memories, and personal anecdotes. A distinctive feature is the post-episode ritual of ranking a film's Jewishness across production, content, and themes, offering listeners a practical sense of what makes a film resonate within Jewish cinema. The show often features guests who are filmmakers, writers, actors, or culture critics, providing expert angles on universal themes tied to specific Jewish experiences. This combination of rigorous analysis, cultural insight, and accessible story... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The One Pasuk Podcast
2. The Five Books: Jewish Authors on the Books That Shaped Them
3. For Heaven's Sake
4. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
5. Critical Darlings

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 112 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Eli Leibowicz
2. Jackie Tohn
3. Stephanie Butnick
4. Pamela Lavitt
5. Yuli Masinovsky
6. Leigh Stein
7. Michael Lukk Litwak
8. Nabil Ayers

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