GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelistEsther Chehebar, and Rabbi Diana Fersko discuss the grand finale of the High Holiday season—Simchat Torah—plus a new survey that says Americans aren’t inviting each other over for dinner anymore. They also commemorate the third anniversary of Oct. 7 and explore how to talk to kids honestly and age-appropriately about it.
This week's guest is Israeli writer Iddo Gefen, author of Jerusalem Beach, Mrs. Lilienblum’s Cloud Factory, and the Substack Neuron Stories.
Send in your GOLDA Grams: record a voice note or voice memo and email it to hi@goldaguide.com to be included in an upcoming episode. Tell us who you are, where you’re calling from, and what you’re thinking about.
Good for the Jews:
Stephanie: The Exodus Mentorship Alliance (she’s part of the founding fellow cohort!)
Esther: Etrog jelly
Diana: This pomegranate napkin holder
Upcoming events:
October 14, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie in conversation with Matti Friedman about Jewish identity beyond the West. 8 p.m. at 92NY; https://www.92ny.org/event/matti-friedman-with-stephanie-butnick.
October 19, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie interviews Rabbi Rachel Ain for the launch of her book Watch How You Go: Jewish Wisdom for Your Journey Ahead. 7 p.m., Sutton Place Synagogue; spsnyc.shulcloud.com/form/rrabooklaunch.
October 20, 2026 — New York City: Stephanie interviews Dr. Katie Davis about her new book Actually, You’re Fine. 6:30 p.m., WTHN Upper East Side; register at https://luma.com/rwzedeza.
October 23, 2026 — New York City: Join GOLDA a special Mini Mahj Shabbat for you and your mini at ColorPop Workshop. Pizza will be served, along with challah and grape juice. There will be goodies and giveaways from our favorite kids' brands. Please note: everyone should already know how to play; there will be no instruction. 5 - 7 p.m., 1289 Madison Avenue; get your ticketat https://luma.com/cgn6d0u1.
October 26, 2026 — New York City: Join Jill Kargman and GOLDA for a frighteningly fun night of mahjong featuring Jill’s signature Halloween tile sets from Center & Spring, which will be available for purchase. Breads Bakery, 1294 Third Avenue, 6 p.m.; get your ticket at https://luma.com/xtfeb4df .
Find out about all of our upcoming events at goldaguide.com/p/events.
Subscribe to GOLDA at goldaguide.com and follow us on Instagram at @goldaguide.
Where you can find the GOLDA Girls:
Sign up for Diana Fersko’s print newsletter, Modern Jewess, at modern-jewess.com, and buy her book, We Need to Talk About Antisemitism, at rabbidianafersko.com/books.
Get Esther Chehebar’s novel Sisters of Fortune at bookshop.org/a/110357/9780593734544, and her children’s book I Share My Name, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781532432187.
Buy Stephanie Butnick’s book, The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia, at bookshop.org/a/110357/9781579658939.
GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU.
Sponsors:
GOLDA Girls is presented by Nu Reads, a new Jewish book subscription series curated by the Jewish Book Council that brings remarkable literature straight to your door. Get 15% off your subscription with code NuGolda. Visit NuReads.org to get started today.
GOLDA Girls is a production of GOLDA Media. The show is executive produced by Ariel Shapiro and edited by POLDHU.
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