Everything is Material: The Influence of Love, Loss and Humor in Fiction and Memoir with Susan Coll, Delia Ephron and Amy E. Schwartz—in celebration of the Moment-Karma Fiction Contest

Susan Coll, author of the novel Bookish People and Delia Ephron, screenwriter for movies like You’ve Got Mail and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and author of the memoir Left on Tenth: A Second Chance on Life, discuss the influence of love, loss and humor in the creative writing process. In conversation with Moment book & opinion editor Amy E. Schwartz. A special literary event celebrating the Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest celebration.

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A Wide-Open Conversation about Antisemitism with Jonathan Greenblatt and Robert Siegel

In 2021, the United States saw a 34% increase of antisemitic incidents―a record high. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, author of It Could Happen Here: Why America Is Tipping from Hate to the Unthinkable―And How We Can Stop It, will join us to talk about the current landscape and how individuals can join the fight against hate. In conversation with Robert Siegel, Moment special literary contributor and former senior host of NPR’s All Things Considered. 

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

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What Would God Say? A Comedy Date with David Javerbaum and Michael Krasny

How would God spin 21st-century problems? Emmy award-winning comedy writer David  Javerbaum, former head writer and executive producer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, has a few ideas! Javerbaum serves as “God’s ghost writer” in his new book, The Book of Pslams: 97 Divine Diatribes on Humanity’s Total Failure and is a veteran of other “God collaborations”—the Broadway show An Act of God and the popular twitter account @TheTweetofGod. He is in conversation with Michael Krasny, an award-winning journalist and retired public radio host of KQED Forum and the author of Let There Be Laughter: A Treasury of Great Jewish Humor and What It All Means. Come prepared to laugh your heart out!

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The Politics of Being Gay with Congressman Barney Frank, Eric Orner and Ann F. Lewis

Barney Frank was the first member of Congress to voluntarily acknowledge being gay in 1987. Frank will join his former congressional aide, Eric Orner, author of the new graphic novel Smahtguy: The Life and Times of Barney Frank, in conversation about his lifelong crusade for civil rights and his 30+ years in the U.S. House of Representatives. With Ann F. Lewis, a champion for women’s rights, a former White House Director of Communications, and the congressman’s sister.

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How Social Media has Spread and Normalized Conspiracy Theories with Ambassador Karen Kornbluh, Sarah Posner and Jessica Reaves

Who can forget the white supremacists who marched through the streets of Charlottesville, VA chanting “Jews will not replace us!”? Or the Buffalo supermarket shooting suspect, who cited the “great replacement” conspiracy theory in his manifesto, among other antisemitic and racist memes. Ambassador Karen Kornbluh, senior fellow and director of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative at the German Marshall Fund and Jessica Reaves, director of Content and Editorial Strategy for the ADL Center on Extremism, will be in conversation with journalist Sarah Posner, author of UNHOLY: Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump, to discuss how social media has spread and normalized this dangerous theory. This program is part of a Moment series on antisemitism supported by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation.

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Nadine Epstein, Clarence Page, and Eric K. Ward to discuss Black and Jewish issues

The Black Jewish Relationship: Triumphs and Tensions with Eric K. Ward, Nadine Epstein and Clarence Page

Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page is a longtime observer of the Black and Jewish relationship in America. Nadine Epstein, Moment editor-in-chief and Eric K. Ward, executive director of Western States Center, host him for a wide-ranging conversation covering pivotal moments of that relationship, exploring the shared history, and triumphs and tensions. Topics include the civil rights partnership, Black Panthers, Norman Podhoretz’s 1963 essay “My Negro Problem-And Ours” essay, the rise of Louis Farrakhan and much more. *Please note special day.

This program is part of The Wide River Project, a joint initiative of Western States Center and Moment that takes a deep dive—and fresh look—into the art, history and issues that both unite and divide the Black and Jewish communities.

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Panel image of speakers for the George Soros seminar

George Soros Is a Holocaust Survivor, not a Nazi with Nadine Epstein, Leon Botstein and Humphrey Tonkin

How did George Soros become targeted by the right— blamed for the world’s ills and even accused of being a Nazi? Moment editor-in-chief Nadine Epstein in conversation with Bard College president Leon Botstein, a contributor to the new book George Soros: A Life in Full and former University of Hartford president Humphrey Tonkin, translator of Soros’ father’s memoir, Masquerade: The Incredible True Story of How George Soros’ Father Outsmarted the Gestapo, discuss the false claims and antisemitism surrounding Soros as well as efforts to support democracy throughout the world.

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

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The indomitable Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop with Mallory Lewis, Nat Segaloff and Sarah Breger

Famed ventriloquist and creator of the iconic puppet Lamb Chop, Shari Lewis was one of the few women to run her own television production company at a time when most women were shut out of the industry. Lewis and Lamb Chop entertained generations of children with their many television shows, including specials about Hanukkah and Passover. Mallory Lewis, Emmy Award-winning performer and daughter of Shari, and TV writer-producer Nat Segaloff, join Moment editor Sarah Breger for a conversation about Lewis’ stage and TV career, how Judaism influenced her work, the challenges of being a businesswoman in a male dominated field and how she and her puppet became iconic stars loved by millions. Mallory Lewis and Segaloff are the authors of the forthcoming book Shari Lewis & Lamb Chop: The Team That Changed Children’s Television.

This program is in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month.

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Jan Karski: Witness to the Holocaust with David Strathairn, Derek Goldman and Amy E. Schwartz

Actor David Strathairn, nominated for an Academy Award for his role as journalist Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck, has dedicated himself to portraying great men. He’s currently performing as Jan Karski, the World War II hero who risked his life to carry his harrowing eye-witness report about the Holocaust from war-torn Poland to the Allied Nations and, ultimately, the White House, only to be ignored and disbelieved. Strathairn is in conversation with playwright Derek Goldman and Moment’s books and opinion editor Amy E. Schwartz about the play, Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski and why this courageous man’s story may be more relevant than ever.

This program is part of the Moment Theater Festival and part of a Moment series on antisemitism supported by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation.

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The Intersection of Music and Prayer with David Broza and Amy E. Schwartz

To internationally renowned Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza, music is a platform for dialogue and tolerance. Themes of social justice and peace are embedded in his music and are integral to his humanitarian work. Now Broza, known for his dynamic guitar performances, has put his prodigious talents to work creating new music for the Shabbat service. He is in conversation with Moment books and opinion editor Amy E. Schwartz about his new album, Tefila—prayer in Hebrew—which reimagines the service with genres such as pop, jazz, gospel, folk and classical for a fresh and engaging Shabbat experience.

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The Story of Art Rupe and Specialty Records with Nadine Epstein and Billy Vera

Art Rupe, who died in April at the age of 104, was an independent record producer known for launching the musical careers of Lloyd Price, Little Richard, Sam Cooke and others, paving the way for Black music to crossover to White audiences and the new genre of rock n’ roll. Moment editor-in-chief and Billy Vera, a singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, Grammy Award winning music historian and author of Rip It Up: The Specialty Records Story is in conversation about Rupe’s impoverished childhood in a Pennsylvania town, his early affinity for gospel music, and how he turned down a scholarship to become a rabbi and instead headed to Hollywood, his legendary career, life philosophy and more.

This program is in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month.

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The Thrilling World of Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer is a New York Times bestselling author known for his legal thrillers, including the recently released The Lightning Rod. His non-fiction work includes a biography series for children with such titles as I am Anne Frank as well as the upcoming The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill. He is also the host of the tv shows Lost History and Decoded. Meltzer is in conversation with former CBS News correspondent and Moment contributor Dan Raviv about how his law school experience has helped him develop his stories, the extensive research that goes into each book, his commitment to educating children through his “I Am” series and how his concern about antisemitism has influenced some of his work.

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