The State of Democracy 2021: A Conversation with David Brooks and Robert Siegel

Now that we are almost halfway through the Biden Administration’s first 100 days, what is the current state of our democracy? Will Democrats and Republicans be able to put their differences aside and work together? What is the fallout from January 6th? Can Americans come back together again? New York Times columnist David Brooks is in conversation with Robert Siegel, Moment special literary contributor and former senior host of NPR’s All Things Considered. The State of Democracy is a Moment series hosted by Robert Siegel.

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Hitler’s Tasters: Play Reading and Talkback with Michelle Kholos Brooks and Gavriel D. Rosenfeld

The cast, director, and playwright of Hitler’s Tasters share excerpts from their award-winning play, a dark comedy about a group of young women who have the opportunity to die for their country every day as Adolf Hitler’s food tasters. Playwright Michelle Kholos Brooks is also in conversation with Holocaust historian and author Gavriel D. Rosenfeld about the journey of Hitler’s Tasters, which is inspired by true events, as well the broader resonance of the play in our current culture. This program is part of the 2021 Moment Theater Festival.

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Blood Libel: An Investigation Into The Origins of a Virulent and Enduring Antisemitic Conspiracy Theory with Historian E.M. Rose

Historian E.M. Rose discusses her award-winning book The Murder of William of Norwich: The Origins of the Blood Libel in Medieval Europe, a fascinating micro-history of a mysterious 12th century murder and the ensuing court case. Rose’s groundbreaking work provides clear answers as to why the blood libel emerged when it did and how it was able to gain such widespread acceptance, laying the foundations for enduring anti-Semitic myths that continue to the present.

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Television historians Walter J. Podrazik and Harry Castleman.

Jewish Pioneers in Television

From the early beginnings of TV in the 1940s, Jews have been at the forefront of shaping the television landscape. Join television historians Walter J. Podrazik and Harry Castleman for a walk down memory lane and learn about the fascinating characters who started CBS, NBC and ABC as well as the creators and actors of some of the most iconic programs such as Your Show of Shows, The Goldbergs [the original series], All in the Family and many more.

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Things Calvin Trillin Forgot To Say

In 1975, journalist and humorist Calvin Trillin wrote about Jacob Schiff and his uncle Ben Daynovsky in the first issue of Moment, trying to figure out why his family entered the United States through Texas and not Ellis Island. Join Calvin, in conversation with Moment’s opinion and book editor Amy E. Schwartz to hear an update on his Jacob Schiff adventures all these years later and what he’s thinking about and working on today.

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North Africa’s Forgotten Holocaust with Sarah Abrevaya Stein and Aomar Boum

Under the Nazi, Vichy, and Italian fascist regimes, Jews as well as some Muslims, were subject to race law and internments. In commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, join Moment Deputy Editor Sarah Breger in conversation with UCLA professors Sarah Abrevaya Stein and Aomar Boum, co-editors of The Holocaust and North Africa. They discuss the experiences of North African Jews during World War II, why their histories have been marginalized and the relationship between Jews and Muslims during that period and how it reverberates today.

This program is cosponsored by the American Sephardi Federation

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What to Do About Antisemitism & Racism with Eric K. Ward

Eric K. Ward, an internationally known expert on the intersection of white nationalism with anti-Semitism, is in conversation with Moment editor-in-chief Nadine Epstein about how anti-Semitism is at the core of white nationalism—and how combatting anti-Semitism is the most efficient way of fighting white nationalism. They discuss the anti-Semitism evident in the recent attack on the U.S. Capitol, the relationship between authoritarianism and white nationalism, racism, Black Lives Matter and more.

This event is a tribute to the memory of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose work inspired Ward in his lifelong pursuit of Civil Rights, hosted by Moment Magazine with the support of the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation.

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