The Avrum Rosensweig Show

PARSHA & PROSE WITH RABBI SHLOMO GEMARA & AVRUM ROSENSWEIG: TOLEDOTH & 'EAST OF EDEN' (Audio)

The Torah portion of Toledoth (Genesis 25:19–28:9) chronicles the generations of Isaac, focusing on the birth and lives of his sons, Esau and Jacob, and their complex relationship. It explores themes of sibling rivalry, birthright, deception, and divine election, with Jacob receiving the blessing meant for Esau, despite being the younger son. Similarly, John Steinbeck’s East of Eden mirrors these themes in a modern context, drawing clear parallels between the biblical story and the lives of two sets of brothers: Charles and Adam Trask, and later, Adam's sons, Aron and Cal. Both narratives explore the dynamics of favoritism, jealousy, and the struggle for identity, inheritance, and approval. In Toledoth, God’s will overcomes human scheming, as Jacob becomes the chosen one despite his deceptive methods, just as in East of Eden, the characters wrestle with inherited sin and the quest for redemption. Both stories highlight the tension between personal agency and divine destiny, examining how individuals navigate the moral complexities of their circumstances.

PARSHA & PROSE WITH RABBI SHLOMO GEMARA & AVRUM ROSENSWEIG: TOLEDOTH & 'EAST OF EDEN' (Audio/Visual)

The Torah portion of Toledoth (Genesis 25:19–28:9) chronicles the generations of Isaac, focusing on the birth and lives of his sons, Esau and Jacob, and their complex relationship. It explores themes of sibling rivalry, birthright, deception, and divine election, with Jacob receiving the blessing meant for Esau, despite being the younger son. Similarly, John Steinbeck’s East of Eden mirrors these themes in a modern context, drawing clear parallels between the biblical story and the lives of two sets of brothers: Charles and Adam Trask, and later, Adam's sons, Aron and Cal. Both narratives explore the dynamics of favoritism, jealousy, and the struggle for identity, inheritance, and approval. In Toledoth, God’s will overcomes human scheming, as Jacob becomes the chosen one despite his deceptive methods, just as in East of Eden, the characters wrestle with inherited sin and the quest for redemption. Both stories highlight the tension between personal agency and divine destiny, examining how individuals navigate the moral complexities of their circumstances.

Tom Lisanti, Award Winning Author:Carol Lynley, Ryan's Hope, Drive-In Movies (Audio/Visual)

Tom Lisanti (New York, NY) is an award-winning author of 11 books about film and television. His books include Carol Lynley: Her Film & TV Career in Thrillers, Fantasy & Suspense (BearManor Media, 2020); Talking Sixties Drive-In Movies (BearManor Media, 2017), and Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959-1969 (McFarland and Company, 2005). In 2010, he co-wrote, with Gail Gerber, her memoir Trippin' with Terry Southern: What I Think I Remember (McFarland and Company), which won the Independent Publishers Book Awards 2010 Silver Medal for Best Memoir/ Autobiography. He appeared on Turner Classic Movies co-hosting with Ben Mankiewicz a week of 1960s spring break/beach movies and he is featured in the documentary The Green Girl about actress Susan Oliver and an upcoming documentary about novelist/screenwriter Terry Southern. His bylines have appeared in Cinema of the ‘70s, Films of the Golden Age, Scary Monsters, and Cinema Retro magazines.

Tom Lisanti, Award Winning Author:Ryan's Hope, Drive-In Movies, Hollywood Beach Movies (Audio)

Tom Lisanti (New York, NY) is an award-winning author of 11 books about film and television. His books include Carol Lynley: Her Film & TV Career in Thrillers, Fantasy & Suspense (BearManor Media, 2020); Talking Sixties Drive-In Movies (BearManor Media, 2017), and Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959-1969 (McFarland and Company, 2005). In 2010, he co-wrote, with Gail Gerber, her memoir Trippin' with Terry Southern: What I Think I Remember (McFarland and Company), which won the Independent Publishers Book Awards 2010 Silver Medal for Best Memoir/ Autobiography. He appeared on Turner Classic Movies co-hosting with Ben Mankiewicz a week of 1960s spring break/beach movies and he is featured in the documentary The Green Girl about actress Susan Oliver and an upcoming documentary about novelist/screenwriter Terry Southern. His bylines have appeared in Cinema of the ‘70s, Films of the Golden Age, Scary Monsters, and Cinema Retro magazines.

Fox Butterfield: Pulitzer Prize Winner, New York Times; Opened NY Times Bureau, China (Audio/Visual)

Fox Butterfield is a renowned journalist whose distinguished career includes winning a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting. He earned the prestigious award as a team member, uncovering the Pentagon Papers. His experiences as a correspondent in Vietnam during the war further solidified his reputation, as he reported firsthand on the complexities of the conflict. Butterfield's journalistic journey saw him open The New York Times' bureau in China, where he played a pivotal role in covering the rapidly changing political landscape of the country. His remarkable career exemplifies a commitment to telling powerful stories from some of the most significant historical events of the 20th century. Fox is a humble person, with incredible accomplishments and highly inspirational.

Transcript

Fox Butterfield: Pulitzer Prize Winner, New York Times; Opened NY Times Bureau, China (Audio)

Fox Butterfield is a renowned journalist whose distinguished career includes winning a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting. He earned the prestigious award as a team member, uncovering the Pentagon Papers. His experiences as a correspondent in Vietnam during the war further solidified his reputation, as he reported firsthand on the complexities of the conflict. Butterfield's journalistic journey saw him open The New York Times' bureau in China, where he played a pivotal role in covering the rapidly changing political landscape of the country. His remarkable career exemplifies a commitment to telling powerful stories from some of the most significant historical events of the 20th century. Fox is a humble person, with incredible accomplishments and highly inspirational.

PARSHA & PROSE: CHAYA SARAH & 'PRIDE & PREJUDICE' WITH RABBI GEMARA (Audio)

In both the Torah portion Chayei Sarah and the novel Pride and Prejudice, themes of family, marriage, and the role of women in society are explored. In Chayei Sarah, the narrative focuses on the final years of Sarah’s life and the subsequent efforts of Abraham to secure a suitable marriage for his son Isaac. This story highlights the importance of family legacy and the divine guidance in choosing a spouse, as evidenced by the servant’s journey to find Rebecca. Similarly, in Pride and Prejudice, marriage is central to the plot, with Elizabeth Bennet’s relationship with Mr. Darcy being shaped by social expectations, personal values, and family pressures. Both works also reflect societal norms that dictate the roles of women, where Sarah’s legacy is carried through her son, and Elizabeth navigates societal expectations to make her own choices about love and marriage. In each story, the marriages that unfold are not just personal unions but are deeply connected to the wider social and familial structures of their time.

PARSHA & PROSE: CHAYA SARAH & 'PRIDE & PREJUDICE' WITH RABBI GEMARA (Audio/Visual)

In both the Torah portion Chayei Sarah and the novel Pride and Prejudice, themes of family, marriage, and the role of women in society are explored. In Chayei Sarah, the narrative focuses on the final years of Sarah’s life and the subsequent efforts of Abraham to secure a suitable marriage for his son Isaac. This story highlights the importance of family legacy and the divine guidance in choosing a spouse, as evidenced by the servant’s journey to find Rebecca. Similarly, in Pride and Prejudice, marriage is central to the plot, with Elizabeth Bennet’s relationship with Mr. Darcy being shaped by social expectations, personal values, and family pressures. Both works also reflect societal norms that dictate the roles of women, where Sarah’s legacy is carried through her son, and Elizabeth navigates societal expectations to make her own choices about love and marriage. In each story, the marriages that unfold are not just personal unions but are deeply connected to the wider social and familial structures of their time.

The Hilarious, Steve Stoliar: Author of 'Raised Eyebrows'. My Years Inside Groucho's House (Audio/Visual)

Steve Stoliar is an author and writer best known for his memoir 'Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House', in which he recounts his fascinating experience living with the legendary comedian Groucho Marx. Stoliar worked as Groucho's personal secretary during the final years of the icon's life, spending three years at the Marx family home. His book offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the aging Groucho, blending humor, affection, and poignancy as Stoliar reflects on the quirks and complexities of living with one of comedy’s greatest minds. Through his stories, Stoliar captures Groucho's sharp wit, his eccentricities, and the bittersweet reality of watching a cultural giant fade away. Raised Eyebrows provides fans with an intimate and very funny glimpse into the private world of a man whose public persona was as brash and irreverent as it was endearing.

 

IDF Givati Brigade Association Chair, Itzhak Levit & Rafael Malyshef, Killed in Gaza & Lived to Tell (Audio)

oin me for this interview with The Givati Brigade Association Chairman, Itzhak Levit and soldier Rafael Malyshev, a sniper in the Brigade. Levit, who has been instrumental in maintaining the legacy and camaraderie within the brigade, shared his thoughts on the importance of preserving the unit's values and supporting its veterans. He highlighted the Association's efforts to foster connections between past and present members, ensuring that the sacrifices made by those who served are never forgotten. Rafael Malyshev, a current sniper in the brigade, provided a firsthand account of life in the elite unit, discussing the intense training, the mental resilience required in combat situations, the moment he was shot, and the brotherhood formed among the soldiers. His perspective offered a glimpse into the realities faced by modern-day Givati soldiers, shedding light on both the challenges and the pride that come with being part of such a storied military division. Together, their discussion highlighted the enduring spirit of the Givati Brigade and the strong bonds that continue to unite its members across generations.