The Avrum Rosensweig Show

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of THE AVRUM ROSENSWEIG SHOW, Avrum sits down with his dear friend HARVEY BROWNSTONE — Canada’s first openly gay judge, celebrated interviewer, proud Jew, and author of the extraordinary memoir Without Prejudice: My Life as a Gay Judge. Harvey’s story is one of remarkable courage. From a bullied child and rejected young man to a pioneering lawyer, distinguished judge, national bestselling author, and beloved media personality, his life is a testament to resilience, truth, ambition, forgiveness, and the refusal to disappear. In this conversation, Harvey speaks with humour, honesty, and moving vulnerability about the pain of parental rejection, the drive that came from being underestimated, the mentors who saved him, the barriers he faced as an openly gay man in the legal world, and the extraordinary second act that made him one of the most respected interviewers on the internet. This is not only an interview about law, celebrity, identity, or success. It is a conversation about becoming fully oneself after years of being told to hide. It is about turning rejection into fuel, pain into purpose, and personal truth into public courage. Six poignant moments in the interview: 00:03:25 — Avrum introduces Harvey’s life as a story of courage, truth, resilience, and what becomes possible when a human being refuses to hide who they are. 00:12:45 — Harvey explains how writing his memoir forced him to relive painful memories, and why telling the story required taking the reader back into the most difficult moments of his life. 00:14:00 — Harvey describes recording the audiobook as a cleansing, cathartic, and redemptive experience — saying his story out loud allowed him to feel a new level of healing. 00:15:43 — Harvey reflects on “success as the best revenge,” explaining that the people who bullied, rejected, and underestimated him were never going to apologize — so he chose to validate himself through achievement. 00:18:40 — Harvey speaks powerfully about the two gifts his parents gave him: self-esteem and rejection. One gave him strength; the other gave him drive. 00:32:40 — Harvey remembers Mrs. Jarrett, the teacher who protected him from bullies, believed in him, and helped change the direction of his life. In the fall, a feature film about Harvey will be released called "Without Prejudice", a Hollywood biographical drama adapted from his memoir, 'Without Prejudice: My Life as a Gay Judge'. The film chronicles his turbulent, tempestuous, and often triumphant journey from being a severely bullied child and a rejected outcast to becoming Canada's first openly gay judge, a landmark civil rights champion, and a celebrated celebrity interviewer. David Arquette stars as Harvey in his later adult life, while David Mazouz plays the young adult. Through it all, Harvey Brownstone emerges as a person of extraordinary wit, toughness, sensitivity, and heart. His story reminds us that a life can be wounded and still become magnificent, that rejection does not have to define us, and that sometimes the very thing meant to break us becomes the force that carries us forward. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #HarveyBrownstone #WithoutPrejudice #DavidArquette #ShaneStanley #LGBTQRights #GayJudge #CivilRights #HollywoodMovie #JewishVoices #CelebrityInterviews #MemoirToMovie #CanadianHistory #InspirationalStories #Resilience #OvercomingBullying #HumanRights #TrueStory #PodcastInterview #AvrumRosensweigShow #BeYourself

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of THE AVRUM ROSENSWEIG SHOW, Avrum sits down with his dear friend HARVEY BROWNSTONE — Canada’s first openly gay judge, celebrated interviewer, proud Jew, and author of the extraordinary memoir Without Prejudice: My Life as a Gay Judge. Harvey’s story is one of remarkable courage. From a bullied child and rejected young man to a pioneering lawyer, distinguished judge, national bestselling author, and beloved media personality, his life is a testament to resilience, truth, ambition, forgiveness, and the refusal to disappear. In this conversation, Harvey speaks with humour, honesty, and moving vulnerability about the pain of parental rejection, the drive that came from being underestimated, the mentors who saved him, the barriers he faced as an openly gay man in the legal world, and the extraordinary second act that made him one of the most respected interviewers on the internet. This is not only an interview about law, celebrity, identity, or success. It is a conversation about becoming fully oneself after years of being told to hide. It is about turning rejection into fuel, pain into purpose, and personal truth into public courage. Six poignant moments in the interview: 00:03:25 — Avrum introduces Harvey’s life as a story of courage, truth, resilience, and what becomes possible when a human being refuses to hide who they are. 00:12:45 — Harvey explains how writing his memoir forced him to relive painful memories, and why telling the story required taking the reader back into the most difficult moments of his life. 00:14:00 — Harvey describes recording the audiobook as a cleansing, cathartic, and redemptive experience — saying his story out loud allowed him to feel a new level of healing. 00:15:43 — Harvey reflects on “success as the best revenge,” explaining that the people who bullied, rejected, and underestimated him were never going to apologize — so he chose to validate himself through achievement. 00:18:40 — Harvey speaks powerfully about the two gifts his parents gave him: self-esteem and rejection. One gave him strength; the other gave him drive. 00:32:40 — Harvey remembers Mrs. Jarrett, the teacher who protected him from bullies, believed in him, and helped change the direction of his life. In the fall, a feature film about Harvey will be released called "Without Prejudice", a Hollywood biographical drama adapted from his memoir, 'Without Prejudice: My Life as a Gay Judge'. The film chronicles his turbulent, tempestuous, and often triumphant journey from being a severely bullied child and a rejected outcast to becoming Canada's first openly gay judge, a landmark civil rights champion, and a celebrated celebrity interviewer. David Arquette stars as Harvey in his later adult life, while David Mazouz plays the young adult. Through it all, Harvey Brownstone emerges as a person of extraordinary wit, toughness, sensitivity, and heart. His story reminds us that a life can be wounded and still become magnificent, that rejection does not have to define us, and that sometimes the very thing meant to break us becomes the force that carries us forward. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #HarveyBrownstone #WithoutPrejudice #DavidArquette #ShaneStanley #LGBTQRights #GayJudge #CivilRights #HollywoodMovie #JewishVoices #CelebrityInterviews #MemoirToMovie #CanadianHistory #InspirationalStories #Resilience #OvercomingBullying #HumanRights #TrueStory #PodcastInterview #AvrumRosensweigShow #BeYourself

There are some interviews that inform. And then there are interviews that leave a permanent imprint on the soul. In this profoundly emotional episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, I sit down with acclaimed journalist, author, and cultural commentator Danielle Crittenden for one of the most intimate and moving conversations I have ever had. Danielle speaks with breathtaking honesty about the sudden death of her beloved 32-year-old daughter, Miranda, and the unbearable journey through grief that followed. Drawing from her extraordinary memoir Dispatches from Grief: A Mother’s Journey Through the Unthinkable, Danielle opens the deepest chambers of motherhood, loss, memory, marriage, Jewish ritual, and the enduring power of love. This is not simply an interview about death. It is an exploration of what it means to remain human after devastation. Together, we discuss the surreal reality of losing a child, the sacred wisdom within Jewish mourning rituals, the transformation of marriage under grief, and the mysterious ways love continues even after death. Danielle’s courage, vulnerability, and wisdom make this one of the most powerful conversations ever featured on this channel. ⸻ MAJOR MOMENTS IN THIS INTERVIEW: 00:01:16 — Danielle speaks about the sudden death of her daughter Miranda and how life permanently split into “before” and “after.” 00:07:13 — Danielle explains why she began writing Dispatches from Grief as a reporter documenting her own unimaginable pain from inside what she calls an “alternative universe.” 00:14:53 — Danielle recounts the devastating moment she saw Miranda after her passing and recognized her instantly by the crown of her head — the place she kissed throughout her life. 00:23:24 — Danielle shares the powerful advice her husband David Frum gave her: “We cannot disappear into different silos of grief.” 00:31:23 — A profound discussion about Jewish mourning rituals, Shiva, parental grief, and the Torah’s timeless understanding of loss. ⸻ CONCLUSION: This conversation is ultimately about love — the kind of love that survives even death itself. Danielle Crittenden does not offer easy answers, clichés, or simple healing. What she offers instead is something far rarer: truth. Raw, painful, beautiful truth. In speaking openly about grief, motherhood, memory, marriage, Judaism, and the unbearable ache of losing a child, she gives voice to countless people suffering silently around the world. There are moments in this interview that will break your heart. There are moments that may leave you in tears. But there are also moments of extraordinary humanity, tenderness, courage, and spiritual depth. If you have ever loved deeply… if you have ever lost… if you have ever wondered how human beings continue after tragedy… this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. Thank you for watching The Avrum Rosensweig Show. Please subscribe, share this interview, and leave a comment below. Your support helps bring meaningful human conversations into the world. #DanielleCrittenden #DispatchesFromGrief #AvrumRosensweig #Grief #Motherhood #JewishLife #Loss #DavidFrum #MirandaFrum #Shiva #Judaism #Healing #Podcast #TheAvrumRosensweigShow #DanielleCrittenden #DispatchesFromGrief #AvrumRosensweig #TheAvrumRosensweigShow #Grief #Motherhood #LossOfAChild #JewishLife #Shiva #DavidFrum #MirandaFrum #Healing #Podcast #JewishPodcast #MentalHealth #LoveTranscendsDeath #Parenting #TraumaAndHealing #Humanity #PowerfulConversations ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow

There are some interviews that inform. And then there are interviews that leave a permanent imprint on the soul. In this profoundly emotional episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, I sit down with acclaimed journalist, author, and cultural commentator Danielle Crittenden for one of the most intimate and moving conversations I have ever had. Danielle speaks with breathtaking honesty about the sudden death of her beloved 32-year-old daughter, Miranda, and the unbearable journey through grief that followed. Drawing from her extraordinary memoir Dispatches from Grief: A Mother’s Journey Through the Unthinkable, Danielle opens the deepest chambers of motherhood, loss, memory, marriage, Jewish ritual, and the enduring power of love. This is not simply an interview about death. It is an exploration of what it means to remain human after devastation. Together, we discuss the surreal reality of losing a child, the sacred wisdom within Jewish mourning rituals, the transformation of marriage under grief, and the mysterious ways love continues even after death. Danielle’s courage, vulnerability, and wisdom make this one of the most powerful conversations ever featured on this channel. ⸻ MAJOR MOMENTS IN THIS INTERVIEW: 00:01:16 — Danielle speaks about the sudden death of her daughter Miranda and how life permanently split into “before” and “after.” 00:07:13 — Danielle explains why she began writing Dispatches from Grief as a reporter documenting her own unimaginable pain from inside what she calls an “alternative universe.” 00:14:53 — Danielle recounts the devastating moment she saw Miranda after her passing and recognized her instantly by the crown of her head — the place she kissed throughout her life. 00:23:24 — Danielle shares the powerful advice her husband David Frum gave her: “We cannot disappear into different silos of grief.” 00:31:23 — A profound discussion about Jewish mourning rituals, Shiva, parental grief, and the Torah’s timeless understanding of loss. ⸻ CONCLUSION: This conversation is ultimately about love — the kind of love that survives even death itself. Danielle Crittenden does not offer easy answers, clichés, or simple healing. What she offers instead is something far rarer: truth. Raw, painful, beautiful truth. In speaking openly about grief, motherhood, memory, marriage, Judaism, and the unbearable ache of losing a child, she gives voice to countless people suffering silently around the world. There are moments in this interview that will break your heart. There are moments that may leave you in tears. But there are also moments of extraordinary humanity, tenderness, courage, and spiritual depth. If you have ever loved deeply… if you have ever lost… if you have ever wondered how human beings continue after tragedy… this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. Thank you for watching The Avrum Rosensweig Show. Please subscribe, share this interview, and leave a comment below. Your support helps bring meaningful human conversations into the world. #DanielleCrittenden #DispatchesFromGrief #AvrumRosensweig #Grief #Motherhood #JewishLife #Loss #DavidFrum #MirandaFrum #Shiva #Judaism #Healing #Podcast #TheAvrumRosensweigShow #DanielleCrittenden #DispatchesFromGrief #AvrumRosensweig #TheAvrumRosensweigShow #Grief #Motherhood #LossOfAChild #JewishLife #Shiva #DavidFrum #MirandaFrum #Healing #Podcast #JewishPodcast #MentalHealth #LoveTranscendsDeath #Parenting #TraumaAndHealing #Humanity #PowerfulConversations ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow

here are musicians. And then there are musicians who carry an entire civilization in their voice. On this episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, Avrum sits down with the extraordinary Mark Rubin — bassist, folk singer, storyteller, defender of Jewish dignity, and the self-described “Jew of Oklahoma.” This is not simply a conversation about music. It is a journey through Jewish identity in the American South, generational memory, anti-Semitism, bluegrass culture, Native American solidarity, Yiddish resistance songs, and the moral courage required to stand openly as a Jew in a changing world. Mark speaks candidly about growing up Jewish in Oklahoma, swastikas painted on his family home, his father’s warnings about history repeating itself, and the shocking anti-Semitism he encountered inside the bluegrass world that ultimately redirected his life toward Yiddish music and Jewish cultural activism. Woven throughout the interview is music itself — as resistance, memory, survival, humor, and defiance. A deeply soulful, provocative, funny, painful, and inspiring conversation. Major Moments in the Interview 03:17 — Mark explains his identity as a Southern American Jew and the unique fusion of Oklahoma roots culture and Jewish consciousness. 13:42 — A powerful discussion about Oklahoma, Native American history, genocide, and how Mark’s father connected Holocaust consciousness to Indigenous suffering in America. 21:19 — Mark shares the haunting lesson his father taught him: “Every hundred years or so, the world turns its back on the Jews.” 34:01 — Mark recounts the devastating anti-Semitic moment inside the bluegrass world that changed the course of his musical life forever. 42:08 — Mark explains why he created “The Jew of Oklahoma” and why he refuses to surrender either his Jewish identity or his Southern roots. 44:32 — A moving conversation about Yiddish poet Mordechai Gebirtig, Holocaust memory, and the role of Jewish music as prophecy, warning, and resistance. Watch this fascinating interview with a very special Jew from Oklahoma, who stands courageously with our people. Am Yisrael Chai. The Nation of Israeli Lives!!! ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #MarkRubin #JewOfOklahoma #JewishPride #FightAntisemitism #JewishIdentity #JewishMusic #YiddishCulture #KlezmerMusic #BluegrassMusic #AmericanaMusic #JewishResistance #SouthernJew #JewishVoices #MusicAsResistance #MordechaiGebirtig #YiddishSongs #JewishHistory #October7 #StandWithJews #NeverAgain #JewishDignity #FolkMusic #JewishPodcast #JewishStorytelling #JewishArtists #AntisemitismAwareness #RootsMusic #JewishSoul #VoicesOfCourage

 

On this episode of The Avrum Rosensweig Show, Avrum sits down with the extraordinary Mark Rubin — bassist, folk singer, storyteller, defender of Jewish dignity, and the self-described “Jew of Oklahoma.” This is not simply a conversation about music. It is a journey through Jewish identity in the American South, generational memory, anti-Semitism, bluegrass culture, Native American solidarity, Yiddish resistance songs, and the moral courage required to stand openly as a Jew in a changing world. Mark speaks candidly about growing up Jewish in Oklahoma, swastikas painted on his family home, his father’s warnings about history repeating itself, and the shocking anti-Semitism he encountered inside the bluegrass world that ultimately redirected his life toward Yiddish music and Jewish cultural activism. Woven throughout the interview is music itself — as resistance, memory, survival, humor, and defiance. A deeply soulful, provocative, funny, painful, and inspiring conversation. Major Moments in the Interview 03:17 — Mark explains his identity as a Southern American Jew and the unique fusion of Oklahoma roots culture and Jewish consciousness. 13:42 — A powerful discussion about Oklahoma, Native American history, genocide, and how Mark’s father connected Holocaust consciousness to Indigenous suffering in America. 21:19 — Mark shares the haunting lesson his father taught him: “Every hundred years or so, the world turns its back on the Jews.” 34:01 — Mark recounts the devastating anti-Semitic moment inside the bluegrass world that changed the course of his musical life forever. 42:08 — Mark explains why he created “The Jew of Oklahoma” and why he refuses to surrender either his Jewish identity or his Southern roots. 44:32 — A moving conversation about Yiddish poet Mordechai Gebirtig, Holocaust memory, and the role of Jewish music as prophecy, warning, and resistance. Watch this fascinating interview with a very special Jew from Oklahoma, who stands courageously with our people. Am Yisrael Chai. The Nation of Israeli Lives!!! ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and innermost thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers, to crossing guards, stars, public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #MarkRubin #JewOfOklahoma #JewishPride #FightAntisemitism #JewishIdentity #JewishMusic #YiddishCulture #KlezmerMusic #BluegrassMusic #AmericanaMusic #JewishResistance #SouthernJew #JewishVoices #MusicAsResistance #MordechaiGebirtig #YiddishSongs #JewishHistory #October7 #StandWithJews #NeverAgain #JewishDignity #FolkMusic #JewishPodcast #JewishStorytelling #JewishArtists #AntisemitismAwareness #RootsMusic #JewishSoul #VoicesOfCourage

There are few works in the history of theatre that have entered the emotional bloodstream of humanity quite like Fiddler on the Roof. More than a beloved Broadway musical, it is a profound meditation on family, faith, exile, resilience, identity, love, and the fragile balancing act between tradition and change. Since its debut in 1964, the story of Tevye the milkman, his wife Golde, and their daughters in the tiny shtetl of Anatevka has transcended culture, religion, language, and geography — because beneath its deeply Jewish story lies something universally human: the longing to hold onto one another while the world shifts beneath our feet. Now, in a remarkable and internationally celebrated production presented by the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, Fiddler on the Roof returns to the language and cultural heartbeat from which it was born — Yiddish. Performed entirely in Yiddish with English subtitles, this historic production arrives at Toronto’s legendary Elgin Theatre from May 25 to June 7 under the direction of Tony and Academy Award winner Joel Grey. What began in New York as a six-week theatrical experiment became an 18-month sensation, earning major awards, standing ovations, and more than 500 performances. Critics called it revelatory. Audiences described it as hauntingly beautiful, deeply human, and emotionally transformative. At the center of this extraordinary artistic achievement stands Zalmen Mlotek — one of the world’s foremost authorities on Yiddish theatre and song, Artistic Director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, and one of the great guardians of Jewish cultural continuity. Born into one of the most important Yiddish cultural families in North America, Mlotek grew up immersed in the language, music, and memory of Ashkenazi Jewish civilization. His father, Joseph Mlotek, edited the legendary Forverts (Yiddish Forward), while his mother, Eleanor Chana Mlotek, became one of the great archivists of Yiddish folk music. Zalmen himself studied at Juilliard and worked under the legendary Leonard Bernstein before dedicating his life to preserving and revitalizing Yiddish culture through theatre and song. Under his artistic leadership, the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene — founded in 1915 and the world’s longest continuously operating Yiddish theatre company — has become internationally celebrated for reviving classic Yiddish works and bringing Jewish theatrical history into the modern cultural imagination. Tonight, on The Avrum Rosensweig Show, we explore the enduring power of Fiddler on the Roof, the emotional resonance of hearing it performed in Yiddish, and why this language still carries what Joel Grey calls “history, humour, sorrow and resilience all at once.” For centuries, Yiddish became the emotional heartbeat of Jewish life — the language of storytelling, humour, commerce, lullabies, argument, heartbreak, and survival. Together, we also explore the great Yiddish literary and theatrical tradition shaped by figures such as Sholem Aleichem, I.L. Peretz, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Theo Bikel, Sheldon Harnick, and Itzhak Perlman — and how Yiddish theatre helped shape Broadway itself. But perhaps most importantly, this conversation asks why Fiddler on the Roof continues to unite audiences across generations, faiths, and backgrounds. Why a story rooted in one tiny Jewish village somehow speaks to all humanity. This is not merely an interview about theatre. It is a conversation about memory. About identity. About exile and belonging. About resilience. About family. And about the extraordinary power of language, music, and storytelling to keep a civilization alive. Ladies and gentlemen — Zalmen Mlotek. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #FiddlerOnTheRoof #FiddlerInYiddish #ZalmenMlotek #YiddishTheatre #YiddishCulture #JewishTheatre #NationalYiddishTheatreFolksbiene #JoelGrey #Tevye #Anatevka #Broadway #JewishCulture #YiddishRevival #HaroldGreenJewishTheatre #ElginTheatre #JewishResilience #SholemAleichem #IsaacBashevisSinger #TheoBikel #ItzhakPerlman #LeonardBernstein #YiddishLanguage #JewishMusic #TheatreLovers #JewishStorytelling #JewishCivilization #YiddishSongs #JewishArts #ShtetlLife

There are few works in the history of theatre that have entered the emotional bloodstream of humanity quite like Fiddler on the Roof. More than a beloved Broadway musical, it is a profound meditation on family, faith, exile, resilience, identity, love, and the fragile balancing act between tradition and change. Since its debut in 1964, the story of Tevye the milkman, his wife Golde, and their daughters in the tiny shtetl of Anatevka has transcended culture, religion, language, and geography — because beneath its deeply Jewish story lies something universally human: the longing to hold onto one another while the world shifts beneath our feet. Now, in a remarkable and internationally celebrated production presented by the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, Fiddler on the Roof returns to the language and cultural heartbeat from which it was born — Yiddish. Performed entirely in Yiddish with English subtitles, this historic production arrives at Toronto’s legendary Elgin Theatre from May 25 to June 7 under the direction of Tony and Academy Award winner Joel Grey. What began in New York as a six-week theatrical experiment became an 18-month sensation, earning major awards, standing ovations, and more than 500 performances. Critics called it revelatory. Audiences described it as hauntingly beautiful, deeply human, and emotionally transformative. At the center of this extraordinary artistic achievement stands Zalmen Mlotek — one of the world’s foremost authorities on Yiddish theatre and song, Artistic Director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, and one of the great guardians of Jewish cultural continuity. Born into one of the most important Yiddish cultural families in North America, Mlotek grew up immersed in the language, music, and memory of Ashkenazi Jewish civilization. His father, Joseph Mlotek, edited the legendary Forverts (Yiddish Forward), while his mother, Eleanor Chana Mlotek, became one of the great archivists of Yiddish folk music. Zalmen himself studied at Juilliard and worked under the legendary Leonard Bernstein before dedicating his life to preserving and revitalizing Yiddish culture through theatre and song. Under his artistic leadership, the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene — founded in 1915 and the world’s longest continuously operating Yiddish theatre company — has become internationally celebrated for reviving classic Yiddish works and bringing Jewish theatrical history into the modern cultural imagination. Tonight, on The Avrum Rosensweig Show, we explore the enduring power of Fiddler on the Roof, the emotional resonance of hearing it performed in Yiddish, and why this language still carries what Joel Grey calls “history, humour, sorrow and resilience all at once.” For centuries, Yiddish became the emotional heartbeat of Jewish life — the language of storytelling, humour, commerce, lullabies, argument, heartbreak, and survival. Together, we also explore the great Yiddish literary and theatrical tradition shaped by figures such as Sholem Aleichem, I.L. Peretz, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Theo Bikel, Sheldon Harnick, and Itzhak Perlman — and how Yiddish theatre helped shape Broadway itself. But perhaps most importantly, this conversation asks why Fiddler on the Roof continues to unite audiences across generations, faiths, and backgrounds. Why a story rooted in one tiny Jewish village somehow speaks to all humanity. This is not merely an interview about theatre. It is a conversation about memory. About identity. About exile and belonging. About resilience. About family. And about the extraordinary power of language, music, and storytelling to keep a civilization alive. Ladies and gentlemen — Zalmen Mlotek. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #FiddlerOnTheRoof #FiddlerInYiddish #ZalmenMlotek #YiddishTheatre #YiddishCulture #JewishTheatre #NationalYiddishTheatreFolksbiene #JoelGrey #Tevye #Anatevka #Broadway #JewishCulture #YiddishRevival #HaroldGreenJewishTheatre #ElginTheatre #JewishResilience #SholemAleichem #IsaacBashevisSinger #TheoBikel #ItzhakPerlman #LeonardBernstein #YiddishLanguage #JewishMusic #TheatreLovers #JewishStorytelling #JewishCivilization #YiddishSongs #JewishArts #ShtetlLife

Watch/listen to this fascinating interview with Phyllis Karas, New York Times bestseller, who speaks about her latest book, 'THE CURSE OF THE BLUMENTHALS', a book about tragedy and violence that struck this Jewish family, and how love was able to stop the curse. 1. Jewish Families Often Buried Painful Secrets Timeline: 04:35 – 06:45 Karas discusses how Jewish immigrant families frequently concealed shameful or painful truths. Divorce, alcoholism, crime, prison, and violence were hidden from children and outsiders. She describes uncovering long-buried family secrets through research and writing. Major revelations: She discovered her mother had been previously divorced Family never discussed who caused the fatal crash Relatives whispered about crime and prison in secrecy 2. Writing the Book Became an Act of Truth-Telling and Healing Timeline: 08:07 – 10:00 and 32:35 – 36:30 Karas explains that writing Curse of the Blumenthals required courage. She feared hurting relatives or exposing painful family wounds. Yet the book ultimately became an attempt to preserve memory, honor the dead, and confront truths honestly. Important themes: Librarians and archives helped reconstruct hidden history Cousins encouraged her to publish the story She rejected family shame and secrecy 3. Generational Trauma Defined the Family Story Timeline: 13:55 – 23:40 One of the central themes is the catastrophic 1935 drunk-driving crash that killed six members of the Blumenthal family, including children. Karas explains her family history was psychologically divided into “before the accident” and “after the accident.” The trauma shaped generations afterward. Key moments: Six family members killed instantly in 1935 Drunk driver served less than a year Family members never emotionally recovered 4. Ronnie Blumenthal’s Murder Case Haunted Everyone Timeline: 25:05 – 32:15 The interview’s darkest section centers on Ronnie Blumenthal, who at age 18 murdered a seamstress connected romantically to his father. Karas explains how the family minimized the crime for years, calling it “the incident” rather than a murder. Critical points: Ronnie strangled and brutally killed the woman Family continued loving and supporting him No one directly asked Ronnie if he committed the murder Ronnie later claimed he “took the wrap” for his father” This section explores guilt, ambiguity, denial, and moral complexity. See www.pylliskaras.com The book is available at Amazon.com and all major book outlets ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show — a one-of-a-kind, soul-filled schmooze-fest where curiosity meets humanity, and every conversation crackles with heart, humor, and surprise. Hosted by veteran radio and television personality Avrum Rosensweig, this is more than a podcast. It’s a journey into the minds, memories, struggles, dreams, and hidden wisdom of extraordinary people from every walk of life. From IDF warriors, Jewish scholars, bestselling authors and actors to humanitarians, rebels, public thinkers, cultural icons, and voices shaping the Jewish and Israeli world. . This is where laughter meets heartbreak. Where truth meets soul, to help the world recognize the beauty, dignity, and light that lives inside every person. This isn’t just an interview show. It’s The Show That Schmoozes.    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweig Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #PhyllisKaras #TheAvrumRosensweigShow #CurseOfTheBlumenthals #JewishStories #GenerationalTrauma #FamilySecrets #TrueCrimeStory #JewishHistory #HealingThroughStorytelling #RonnieBlumenthal #HiddenTruths #JewishPodcast #TraumaAndHealing #Memoir #StorytellingMatters #CrimeAndCompassion #BreakingTheSilence #JewishIdentity #AuthorInterview #PowerfulConversations #TheOnasisWomen #Brutal #HuntedDown #TheOnassisWoman #TheAdulteryClub #The100YearSecret #MobStories #WhiteyBulgerStory #JewishFamilySaga #TrueCrimeMemoir #BostonMob #CrimeAndSecrets #HiddenFamilyHistory #InvestigativeMemoir #AmericanFamilySecrets #WomenWhoWriteCrime #LiteraryTrueCrime #GenerationalCurse #CrimeAndCompassion #FamilyTraumaSaga

Watch/listen to this fascinating interview with Phyllis Karas, New York Times bestseller, who speaks about her latest book, 'THE CURSE OF THE BLUMENTHALS', a book about tragedy and violence that struck this Jewish family, and how love was able to stop the curse. 1. Jewish Families Often Buried Painful Secrets Timeline: 04:35 – 06:45 Karas discusses how Jewish immigrant families frequently concealed shameful or painful truths. Divorce, alcoholism, crime, prison, and violence were hidden from children and outsiders. She describes uncovering long-buried family secrets through research and writing. Major revelations: She discovered her mother had been previously divorced Family never discussed who caused the fatal crash Relatives whispered about crime and prison in secrecy 2. Writing the Book Became an Act of Truth-Telling and Healing Timeline: 08:07 – 10:00 and 32:35 – 36:30 Karas explains that writing Curse of the Blumenthals required courage. She feared hurting relatives or exposing painful family wounds. Yet the book ultimately became an attempt to preserve memory, honor the dead, and confront truths honestly. Important themes: Librarians and archives helped reconstruct hidden history Cousins encouraged her to publish the story She rejected family shame and secrecy 3. Generational Trauma Defined the Family Story Timeline: 13:55 – 23:40 One of the central themes is the catastrophic 1935 drunk-driving crash that killed six members of the Blumenthal family, including children. Karas explains her family history was psychologically divided into “before the accident” and “after the accident.” The trauma shaped generations afterward. Key moments: Six family members killed instantly in 1935 Drunk driver served less than a year Family members never emotionally recovered 4. Ronnie Blumenthal’s Murder Case Haunted Everyone Timeline: 25:05 – 32:15 The interview’s darkest section centers on Ronnie Blumenthal, who at age 18 murdered a seamstress connected romantically to his father. Karas explains how the family minimized the crime for years, calling it “the incident” rather than a murder. Critical points: Ronnie strangled and brutally killed the woman Family continued loving and supporting him No one directly asked Ronnie if he committed the murder Ronnie later claimed he “took the wrap” for his father” This section explores guilt, ambiguity, denial, and moral complexity. See www.pylliskaras.com The book is available at Amazon.com and all major book outlets ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— Welcome to The Avrum Rosensweig Show — a one-of-a-kind, soul-filled schmooze-fest where curiosity meets humanity, and every conversation crackles with heart, humor, and surprise. Hosted by veteran radio and television personality Avrum Rosensweig, this is more than a podcast. It’s a journey into the minds, memories, struggles, dreams, and hidden wisdom of extraordinary people from every walk of life. From IDF warriors, Jewish scholars, bestselling authors and actors to humanitarians, rebels, public thinkers, cultural icons, and voices shaping the Jewish and Israeli world. . This is where laughter meets heartbreak. Where truth meets soul, to help the world recognize the beauty, dignity, and light that lives inside every person. This isn’t just an interview show. It’s The Show That Schmoozes.    / @avrumrosensweigshow   Listen to The Avrum Rosensweig Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram:   / avrumrosensweigshow   TikTok:   / avrumrosensweig   #podcastcanada #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishcommunity #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow #PhyllisKaras #TheAvrumRosensweigShow #CurseOfTheBlumenthals #JewishStories #GenerationalTrauma #FamilySecrets #TrueCrimeStory #JewishHistory #HealingThroughStorytelling #RonnieBlumenthal #HiddenTruths #JewishPodcast #TraumaAndHealing #Memoir #StorytellingMatters #CrimeAndCompassion #BreakingTheSilence #JewishIdentity #AuthorInterview #PowerfulConversations #TheOnasisWomen #Brutal #HuntedDown #TheOnassisWoman #TheAdulteryClub #The100YearSecret #MobStories #WhiteyBulgerStory #JewishFamilySaga #TrueCrimeMemoir #BostonMob #CrimeAndSecrets #HiddenFamilyHistory #InvestigativeMemoir #AmericanFamilySecrets #WomenWhoWriteCrime #LiteraryTrueCrime #GenerationalCurse #CrimeAndCompassion #FamilyTraumaSaga