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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
Literature
Cultural Understanding
Viktor Frankl
The Little Prince
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 monthlyEpisodes51Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksReligion & SpiritualityJudaismArts

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

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Zeeva Bukai discusses her two novels, Anatomy of Exile and The World Between, both published in the past year and woven with threads of her family history. She traces a legacy of dislocation: her grandmother’s reunion with her husban... more

Rob Kutner is an Emmy, Peabody, Grammy, and TCA-winning writer for late-night TV including The Daily Show and TBS’ Conan. He is the author of the humor books including Apocalypse How (Running Press, 2008) and the kids’ comedy-horror graphic novel Sno... more

Allegra Goodman tells us how This Is Not About Us grew like a family tree from her New Yorker short story “Apple Cake,” as she continued writing about the Rubinstein family for over a decade. We discuss how her perspective - and the world - has chang... more

In this conversation, Jason Diamond unpacks what it means to be an American, Jewish, or Jewish-American author. We also discuss family secrets, Jewish gangsters, the humor and alienation of Franz Kafka, and how Art Spiegelman’s Maus taught Jason to a... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Rob Kutner
Comedy writer and author
Author of The Jews, 5000 Years and Counting
Episode: A Purim Episode with Rob Kutner On Where Comedy and Judaism Overlap [REBROADCAST]
Sasha Vasilyuk
Journalist and author of the debut novel Your Presence Is Mandatory
Episode: Sasha Vasilyuk on the Silences of the Soviet-Jewish Past
Judith Viorst
Author of several children's books and memoirs
Episode: Judith Viorst on Happiness, Agency, and the Art of Aging
Rabbi Yitz Greenberg
Rabbi, author, and influential thinker on Jewish theology and ethics
Episode: Rabbi Yitz Greenberg on Re-envisioning the Jewish Future
Jake Cohen
New York Times best-selling author and chef
Episode: Jake Cohen on the Magic of Gathering Around the Table
Sam Sussman
Author of the autobiographical novel Boy From the North Country
Episode: Sam Sussman on Bob Dylan and Being his Mother’s Son
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

Host

Tali Rosenblatt Cohen
Host who engages deeply with authors about the role of books in shaping Jewish identity and cultural narratives.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 75 ratings
  • Love this!

    Very educational and informative about my Judaism!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yaircohen123
    United States5 months ago
  • 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 States6 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 States8 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 States10 months ago
  • Thoughtful and approachable

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DeisCane
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the curated book recommendations, often becoming must-reads.
Educational and informative, particularly about Jewish identity.
Thought-provoking and engaging conversations that resonate across faiths.
Reviews highlight a well-balanced mix of intellect and warmth in discussions.
Hosts and guests exhibit a strong sense of cultural understanding.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#106
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#240
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#119
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#154
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#198
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#162
Australia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Allegra Goodman on “This is Not About Us” (Or So We Tell Ourselves)
Q: Do you have a sense of when you are writing to a Jewish audience versus a broader secular audience, depending on the book? How does that influence your writing?
Goodman says she writes primarily for a broad audience and doesn't worry if Jewish readers pick up nuances, noting that her earliest work was also aimed at many readers, not just a Jewish audience.
A Purim Episode with Rob Kutner On Where Comedy and Judaism Overlap [REBROADCAST]
Q: What was the biggest challenge in balancing humor with serious history?
Finding a tone that can be irreverent without punching down, while also honoring the gravity of topics like the Holocaust and social justice issues.
Jason Diamond on being a (Jewish-)American Author
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about what your household was like Jewishly when you were a kid?
Jason recounts a mixed background with a Jewish upbringing that included both Reformed and Yiddish influences, highlighting a sense of duality in his family's connection to Jewish culture.
Samantha Ellis on Becoming a Keeper of Her Ancestral Language
Q: You write that language needs keepers, not just speakers. Can you tell us a little about what that means to you?
There are lots of speakers, but many aren't passing the language on to the next generation. Keepers are those who love the language, study it, and tell its stories, preserving it in ways beyond fluency.
Samantha Ellis on Becoming a Keeper of Her Ancestral Language
Q: Can you start a little bit with just how you would describe your book and how you came to write it?
It's a memoir really, about language and the culture of the Jews of Iraq, which is going extinct and my journey of preserving that.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

The content focuses on exploring literature's impact on Jewish identity, as each episode features a conversation with an author who discusses five significant books that have shaped their perspectives and experiences. This exploration typically includes two Jewish titles that connect to the author's identity, a book outside the Jewish context that broadens their worldview, and insights into their current reading and new publications. The discussions reveal a diverse and rich tapestry of themes, including the significance of cultural heritage, community, personal growth, and the role of literature in reflecting societal challenges, thereby appealing to listeners interested in the intersection of Jewish experiences and literature.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Identity/Crisis
2. For Heaven's Sake
3. Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
4. Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
5. Chutzpod!

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched a year ago and published 51 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. Rob Kutner
2. Sasha Vasilyuk
3. Judith Viorst
4. Rabbi Yitz Greenberg
5. Jake Cohen
6. Sam Sussman
7. Angela Buchdahl
8. Kitty Zeldis

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