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Tablet Studios

The Superstition Episode: Ep. 160

Tablet Studios

Tablet Magazine

Religion & Spirituality, Judaism, Society & Culture

4.61.5K Ratings

🗓️ 6 December 2018

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

From warding off the evil eye to rules about whistling, Jews are serious about their superstitions. This week on Unorthodox, we hear from listeners about their family customs, talk to Tablet's editor-in-chief Alana Newhouse about the enduring nature of shtetl superstitions, and take a visit to a very lucky spot in Northern Israel. Ptui ptui! We love to hear from you: Send comments and questions for Unorthodox to [email protected] or leave a message at our listener line: 914-570-4869. This episode is sponsored by: Belvedere Vodka, certified kosher by the Orthodox Union, and produced in accordance with the legal requirements of Polish Vodka. Learn more here. Jewish National Fund, making an impact on Israel with a vision that encompasses planting trees, building water reservoirs, helping those with special needs, preserving heritage sites, and transforming the North and South with new housing, job creation, and infrastructure development. As you plan your year-end giving, go to JNF.org/tablet to take part in fulfilling that vision. JChef, the new kosher meal kit. Go to Jchef.com/unorthodox and use coupon code Unorthodox30 to get 30 percent off your first order. Harry's Razors, for a great shave at a great price. Get $5 dollars off a shave set, including the limited-edition holiday sets, when you go to Harrys.com/UNORTHODOX.

Transcript

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0:00.0

What better way to be proudly Jewish right now than with our book, the newest Jewish

0:06.2

Encyclopedia?

0:07.2

It's the perfect coffee table book for your proud Jewish home, and it covers everything

0:11.3

from Jewish history, pop culture, holidays, and of course food,

0:14.9

all with our trademark, irreverence, and love.

0:17.5

Our publisher is offering a special 20% discount on newest Jewish and their entire Hanukkah shop.

0:22.4

So head to Artisan Books.com

0:24.0

and use the code unorthodox at check out.

0:26.5

That's Artisan Books.

0:28.2

Discount code, unorthodox, all caps.

0:32.3

Welcome to Unorthodox's long-awaited superstitions episode.

0:36.0

There might be cursing, and there will definitely be curses,

0:39.0

so proceed with caution.

0:40.0

This has been your obscenity warning.

0:42.0

If you step over someone, you will break their life in half.

0:47.0

Do not sit at the corner of a table because no one will marry you?

0:55.0

I'm sure you got plenty of calls about parents who said not to leave an umbrella

1:01.0

open indoors because it would rain on your wedding day.

1:05.0

Do not wear your clothes inside out because you'll get beaten up.

1:09.0

I had an Israeli boyfriend and he thought it was bad luck to walk around just one shoe on.

1:18.0

Do not wear only one shoe or a parent will die.

1:23.0

Whenever my mother would show something on me,

...

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