Puzzling Through: Ep. 315

Tablet Studios

Tablet Magazine

Judaism, Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2022

⏱️ 69 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, we’re putting the pieces together. Our Jewish guest is A.J. Jacobs, whose new book [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622520/the-puzzler-by-aj-jacobs/] is The Puzzler: One Man’s Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, From Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life. He explains why puzzles are such a useful way to see the world, tries to stump us with some Jewish riddles, and tells us what it’s like to appear as a New York Times Crossword clue. Listen to A.J.’s previous appearances on Unorthodox—on our very first episode in 2015, in 2017, and in 2018. We mark Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, with two special segments. First Liel talks to director Barry Levinson, whose latest film, The Survivor [https://www.hbo.com/movies/the-survivor], tells the true story of Harry Haft, a boxer who was forced to fight fellow inmates in Auschwitz. Then we hear a recording of a Yiddish song performed by Avi Wisnia and his late grandfather, Cantor David Wisnia. For more check out mypolishwisnia.com. [https://mypolishwiznia.com] We love to hear from you! Send us your emails and voice memos at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail at our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Remember to tell us who you are and where you’re calling from. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram. Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel. Upcoming events: May 15, 2022 - Mark Oppenheimer will be discussing his book, Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood at Temple Beth Israel in Skokie Illinois. 10 a.m. Central; tickets here. May 22. 2022 (virtual) — Stephanie Butnick will be in conversation with authors Gary Shteyngart and Claire Stanford as part of the Jewish Book Council and the Jewish Museum’s Unpacking the Book series. 7 p.m. Eastern; register here. Get all our events info at tabletmag.com/unorthodoxlive. Check out The Tab, Tablet magazine's new printable weekly digest. Laid out in an attractive PDF for reading on a tablet or desktop, or to be printed, The Tab takes you into Shabbat and through the weekend, for free. Get your copy at tabletm.ag/tab. Want to book us for a live show or event in your area, or partner with us in some other way? Email tabletstudios@tabletmag.com. Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts. Sponsors: HIAS: Make a gift to support HIAS’ emergency response in Ukraine at hias.org/unorthodox.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, Jacob, we are finalists for two podcast awards, but we need your vote.
0:10.6	It's the signal awards, which are listeners' choice, which means we need you to choose
0:14.3	our across the USA episode from Louisville, Kentucky.
0:17.3	You can vote for that at tabletm.ag slash vote on Orthodox, and for our sports podcast,
0:23.2	the franchise.
0:24.2	You can vote for that at tabletm.ag slash vote on the franchise.
0:28.6	We can close this October 5th, so don't wait, please get us to the gold.
0:33.0	You can find both of those links in the show notes, and thank you so much.
0:43.0	First of all, leggings can't actually go viral.
0:45.2	Maybe the picture of them went viral, but leggings themselves can be worn on legs.
0:49.2	God, no target spared today.
0:53.3	Leggings, shindlers lists, we're coming for all of you.
0:58.3	This is on Orthodox.
0:59.3	The universe is leading Jewish podcast.
1:01.2	I'm your host, Mark Oppenheimer, joined as ever by my co-hosts, Tablet, Deputy Editor
1:06.1	Stephanie Buttnick.
1:07.1	Hello.
1:08.1	And Tablet, Editor at Large, Leah Liebowitz, 10 days of the Omer down 39 to go.
1:14.5	Another year, another missed opportunity for me to Omerize my household.
1:19.8	Today on the show, we're bringing you a conversation with four time on Orthodox guest journalist
1:24.9	AJ Jacobs, who's joining us to talk about his new book, The Puzzler.
1:28.5	One man's quest to solve the most baffling puzzles ever, from crosswords to Jake Sawas
	...

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