The Holocaust in Latin America: A Conversation with Ilan Stavans and Andrés Spokoiny

The Holocaust and Antisemitism in Latin America: A Conversation with Ilan Stavans and Andrés Spokoiny

Much attention is focused on anti-Semitism in Europe and the United States, but many Latin American countries also have a troubled history with their Jewish communities. Learn about the continent’s checkered past when it comes to the Holocaust and Nazis as well as recent manifestations of anti-Semitism with Mexican American writer and scholar Ilan Stavans, author of The Seventh Heaven: Travels Through Jewish Latin America and Andrés Spokoiny, president and CEO of the Jewish Funders Network, who grew up in Argentina.

This program is part of a Moment series on anti-Semitism supported by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation.

Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

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

Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

Yiddish storytelling

Yiddish Storytelling for a New Generation

Yiddish has a rich legacy of storytelling for children, including both global classics and works that originated in the mother tongue of Ashkenazi Jewry. Join Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone translator Arun Viswanath and Miriam Udel, editor and translator of Honey on the Page: A Treasury of Yiddish Children’s Literature for a wide-ranging conversation with Moment Deputy Editor Sarah Breger about how they are helping to bring the legacy of Yiddish into the twentieth century, their work in relation to broad developments in Jewish history and how it intersects with their own family narratives.

Continue reading

Robert Siegel

Robert Siegel on U.S. Capitol Riots: ‘It’s Like Nothing I’ve Seen Before’

Robert Siegel, former host of NPR’s All Things Considered and Moment’s special literary contributor shares his thoughts about the mob events at the U.S. Capitol and how these past few years remind him of the turmoil of 1968. He also reflects on the history of American rebellions and the challenges that lie ahead for the Biden administration. Siegel is in conversation with Moment’s opinion and book editor Amy E. Schwartz.

Continue reading

What’s So Funny About Jewish Humor with William Novak

Jewish jokes are a precious commodity and a special part of our heritage. Some of the best ones are worth looking at as succinct and entertaining expressions of our values. William Novak, co-editor of The Big Book of Jewish Humor, in print since 1981, explores some of the values behind the jokes and how they can be treated as secular Jewish texts. From well-known classics to relatively obscure examples, there is some history, commentary and plenty of laughs.

Continue reading

A Wide Open Conversation with Esther Wojcicki and Nadine Epstein

Esther Wojcicki, educator, journalist and author of How to Raise Successful People, in conversation with Moment’s editor-in-chief Nadine Epstein about her life, creativity and the T.R.I.C.K method, a set of five values – trust, respect, independence, collaboration and kindness – she used to raise her three accomplished daughters Susan (CEO of YouTube), Anne (Founder and CEO of 23andMe) and Janet (professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco) and teach thousands of high school students. She also discusses how these same values can strengthen corporate culture.

Continue reading