Join us with Anthony Julius, author of the new biographyĀ Abraham: The First Jew,Ā as we explore the origins of a fundamental struggle within Judaism between skepticism and faith, critique and affirmation, thinking for oneself and thinking under the direction of another.
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18:18
LOUIS B. MAYER AND IRVING THALBERG
Louis B. Mayer (1884ā1957) and Irving Thalberg (1899ā1936) were unlikely partners in one of the most significant collaborations in movie history.Join us with film critic Kenneth Turan, author of the new biographyĀ Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation, as we explore their extraordinary partnership and role in creating the film industry as we know it.
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19:08
ANNE FRANK
In this episode, acclaimed author Ruth Franklin explores the transformation of Anne Frank (1929ā1945) from ordinary teenager to icon, shedding new light on the young woman whose diary of her years in hiding is the most widely read work of literature to arise from the Holocaust.With antisemitism once again on the rise, FranklināsĀ The Many Lives of Anne FrankĀ takes a fresh and timely look at the debates around Anne Frankās life and work, including the controversial adaptations of the diary, Anneās evolution as a fictional character, and the ways her story and image have been politically exploited. Franklin reveals how Anne has been understood and misunderstood, both as a person and as an idea, and opens up new avenues for interpreting her life and writing in todayās hyperpolarized world.
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28:42
MENASSEH BEN ISRAEL
Menasseh ben Israel (1604ā1657) was among the most accomplished and cosmopolitan rabbis of his time, and a pivotal intellectual figure in early modern Jewish history.Join us with Professor Steven Nadler, author of Menasseh ben Israel: Rabbi of Amsterdam, as we explore Menasseh ben Israelās role leading one of the most vital Jewish communities of early modern Europe.
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22:53
JACOB
A powerful hero of the Bible, Jacob is also one of its most complex figures.Join us with Israel Prize winner Professor Yair Zakovitch, author ofĀ Jacob: Unexpected Patriarch,Ā as we explore the many layers of the life of the patriarchāJacobās wanderings, revelations, disgraces, disappointments, and ultimate success.
The Jewish Lives Podcast is a monthly show that explores the lives of influential Jewish figures. Hosted by Alessandra Wollner, each episode includes an interview with an acclaimed Jewish Lives author. Jewish Lives is a prizewinning series of biography published by Yale University Press and the Leon D. Black Foundation. Join us as we explore the Jewish experience together.