Politics and Prose: Ep. 242

Our Jewish guest is Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. and a former member of the Knesset. He talks to Liel about his new collection of short stories, The Night Archer, plus how writing fiction has long been an escape from his day job in politics.

Our Gentile of the Week is political satirist and journalist P.J. O'Rourke. He talks to Mark about his latest book, A Cry from the Far Middle: Dispatches from a Divided Land, plus whether conservatives can be as funny as liberals, and whether gentiles can be as funny as Jews. His question for us: Does the god of the Hebrew Bible have a sense of humor?

We're doing our annual fundraiser a little differently this year. We're not looking to hit a specific dollar amount. Instead, we're looking to get as many participants as we can, giving whatever amount they're able. Everyone who gives will be entered into a raffle to spend some virtual time with the hosts. Head to bit.ly/unorthodox2020fundraiser to donate.

Tablet Magazine's Fall 2020 journalism program is a paid three-month remote fellowship for 10 aspiring journalists, run by our very own Mark Oppenheimer. More information here; apply by Sept. 11 to [email protected].

What are your 5781 resolutions? Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (914) 570-4869. You can also record a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us.

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Sponsors:

Kol Foods is getting you ready for the High Holidays with kosher and ethically raised meat. Go to KOLFOODS.com and use the code UNORTHODOX0920 to get 10% on your order.

Soom Foods is the preferred tahini of restaurants like Michael Solomonov’s Zahav, and their silan date syrup is the perfect addition to your High Holiday table. All Soom products are dairy-free, gluten-free, and certified kosher. Go to soomfoods.com and use code UNORTHODOX to get 15% off your first order.

Unorthodox Wines are perfect for Rosh Hashanah—try their Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc or Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux blend. Unorthodox Wines are all vegan and certified kosher by the OU. Go to bit.ly/unorthodoxwine and get their wines delivered to you for free, for a limited time. You can also find Unorthodox Wines at a wine store near you.