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Artwork for The Five Books: Jewish Authors on the Books That Shaped Them

The Five Books: Jewish Authors on the Books That Shaped Them

Tali Rosenblatt Cohen
Jewish Identity
Cancer
Loss
Humor
The Safekeep
Community Support
Marjorie Morningstar
Holocaust
Cultural Understanding
Literature
The Little Prince
Viktor Frankl
Jackpot Summer
Antisemitism
Anti-Semitism
Empathy
Jewish Romance
Magical Meet Cute
Zionism
Ely Wiesel's Night

The Five Books celebrates the role of books in our lives. Each week we’ll talk with a Jewish author about five books in five categories. We’ll hear about: two Jewish books that have impacted the author’s Jewish identity; one book (not necessarily Jewish) that they think everyone should read - a book that changed their worldview. We’ll get a peek into what book they're reading now, and we’ll hear t... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes41Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
JudaismArtsBooksReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for The Five Books: Jewish Authors on the Books That Shaped Them

Latest Episodes

Sam Sussman’s autobiographical novel Boy From North Country begins with the quest to determine whether Bob Dylan is in fact his father, but gives way to the deeper story of his love for his mother in her final days. In many ways it’s a testament to h... more

Angela Buchdahl was born in Seoul, the daughter of a Korean Buddhist mother and Jewish American father. One of America’s most prominent rabbis, Rabbi Angela discusses her memoir Heart of a Stranger and the importance of finding yourself in a story. S... more

At Vassar College, Kitty Zeldis confronted what she calls a “WASP tsunami,” sparking lifelong questions about what it means to be Jewish in a wider, often unwelcoming world. In our conversation, she reflects on how that tension shaped her new novel O... more

As we approach Simchat Torah, when we roll the scroll back to the beginning and start reading again, Ilana Kurshan’s Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together reminds us of another sacred cycle: the books we read to our children again and ag... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Angela Buchdahl
Rabbi and author of Heart of a Stranger
Central Synagogue
Episode: Rabbi Angela Buchdahl on Finding Yourself in the Story
Kitty Zeldis
Author known for her exploration of Jewish identity in her works and her latest book, One of Them.
Episode: Kitty Zeldis On Passing and the Relief of Being “Kitty”
Ilana Kurshan
Author and translator, known for her works on Jewish literature and identity.
Author of "Children of the Book" and "If All the Seas Were Ink"
Episode: Ilana Kurshan on Books as Blueprints for Life
Sarah Hurwitz
Author and former senior speechwriter for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton
Episode: Sarah Hurwitz on Reclaiming Our Jewish Story
Toby Lloyd
An author known for his novel Fervor, which deals with themes of horror and Jewish identity.
Episode: Toby Lloyd on Biblical Horror and being a Jewish Atheist
Sharon Kurtzman
A Jewish author discussing her debut novel, The Lost Baker of Vienna, inspired by her family's Holocaust experiences.
Episode: Sharon Kurtzman on the Danger that Lingered Post Holocaust
Rachel Cockerell
A writer and historian, exploring her family's Jewish heritage
Episode: Rachel Cockerell on The Zionist Dream That Sailed to Galveston
Esther Chehebar
Author and contributor at Tablet Magazine, exploring Syrian Jewish culture and identity.
Tablet Magazine
Episode: Esther Levy Chehebar on Marriage, Sisterhood, and the Weight of Tradition
Elizabeth Graver
Author of several novels including 'Kantika' and a professor at Boston College
Episode: Elizabeth Graver On Lost Worlds and New Doorways

Host

Tali Rosenblatt Cohen
Host of the show, facilitating discussions with authors about their works and Jewish identity.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 61 ratings
  • Kin

    I’m a practicing Episcopalian deeply interested the history and theology of my faith. I am in a single digit %age of Christians. Every worship service ion the Episcopal liturgy includes a reading from the Old Testament, the psalms and The New Testament. The “cultural Christians” are not well read. The Protestant style of religion is not well informed. We share history and styles

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NBerault
    United States2 months ago
  • Wonderful conversations and book recommendations!

    I’ve added so many books to my to-read list because of this podcast… And I hope one day to be a guest myself and join the ranks of these incredible Jewish writers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ohthewhomanity
    United States4 months ago
  • SheReaders Book Club

    This is so informative! The authors always feel so comfortable that they really open up and share. I love this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Allbymyselfalone
    United States5 months ago
  • Thoughtful and approachable

    Love this podcast. It’s intellectual and thoughtful without being wonky or unnecessarily highfalutin.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DeisCane
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Fascinating Podcast!

    I’m so happy I found this podcast. From its unique approach to talking about books to the interviewing skills of host Tali Rosenblatt Cohen, the show is a delight. The podcast has introduced me to many more Jewish themed books than I could have found noodling around the internet. The mix of cozy and intellect is flawlessly done.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Valleestein
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the enlightening discussions, often gaining new perspectives on Jewish literature and identity.
Many express a continued interest in the guest authors and their recommendations, enriching their personal reading lists.
The show is often praised for its thoughtful approach, balancing intellectual dialogue with accessibility for all audiences.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#73
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#194
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#188
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#71
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#141
France/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#184
Australia/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kitty Zeldis On Passing and the Relief of Being “Kitty”
Q: Did you personally experience any anti-Semitism?
Kitty recalls encountering some casual anti-Semitism at Vassar, including comments about Jews and an experience with a Nazi lecturer, which illustrated the challenges she faced regarding her identity.
Kitty Zeldis On Passing and the Relief of Being “Kitty”
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about this new book, One of Them, and what compelled you to tell this story?
Kitty describes the book as starting at Vassar College in 1974, where she was exposed to a predominantly non-Jewish environment, prompting her to consider her Jewish identity and belonging in such settings.
Rachel Cockerell on The Zionist Dream That Sailed to Galveston
Q: Can you tell us a little more about Israel Zangwill?
Yeah, he was hugely famous. He was sort of one of the first celebrities of the 20th century...
Rachel Cockerell on The Zionist Dream That Sailed to Galveston
Q: What do you make of that difference between public and private?
I think that I believe the private version of what he said.
Rachel Cockerell on The Zionist Dream That Sailed to Galveston
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your original vision, and then how that evolves and came to be this project in three sections?
I really just wanted to write quite a straightforward, normal, a sort of narrowly focused book about my dad's upbringing...

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?

This podcast engages listeners by featuring in-depth conversations with Jewish authors about the five books that have significantly influenced their lives and identities. Each episode combines discussions of Jewish literature with broader themes, exploring how these books shaped the author's worldview, particularly within the context of Jewish identity and experience. A notable feature is the way it highlights both classic and contemporary works, providing listeners with a diverse range of perspectives while fostering a deeper understanding of what it means to navigate life as a Jewish American today. By intertwining personal narratives with literary insights, it creates a welcoming space for reflection and exploration of Jewish culture and... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Identity/Crisis
2. For Heaven's Sake
3. Chutzpod!
4. The Promised Podcast
5. Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

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this podcast launched a year ago and published 41 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. Angela Buchdahl
2. Kitty Zeldis
3. Ilana Kurshan
4. Sarah Hurwitz
5. Toby Lloyd
6. Sharon Kurtzman
7. Rachel Cockerell
8. Esther Chehebar

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