Shake it Off: Ep. 245

This week on Unorthodox, we're shaking that lulav and etrog for Sukkot. To help us understand the various Jewish holidays that arrive in quick succession after the High Holidays—Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Shemini Atzeret—we talk to Roberta Kwall, author of Remix Judaism: Preserving Tradition in a Diverse World. She tells us about the traditional “smashing of the willows” and other lesser known Jewish practices that can add meaning to our modern Jewish identity. Then we're joined by Peter Sagal, host of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me. He tells what he's learned from hosting the very entertaining news quiz show for more than 20 years, and why it's important to find humor even when the headlines are bad. Finally Mark chats with David French, senior editor at the Dispatch and author of Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. He explains the rift between Conservatives who, like him, don't support Trump and those who do, and warns against the danger of today's hyperpartisan era. Help us get to 1,000 donors in our fundraising drive! Everyone who gives will be entered into a raffle to spend some virtual time with the hosts. Donate at bit.ly/unorthodox2020fundraiser. Let us know what you think of the show, and share your 5781 resolutions at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave us a voicemail at (914) 570-4869. You can also record a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Get a behind-the-scenes look at our recording sessions on our YouTube channel! Join our Facebook group, and follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram. Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, mugs, and baby onesies at bit.ly/unorthoshirt. Sponsors: PJ Library sends free storybooks to children (newborn to 12 years old), making it easy to start sharing Jewish traditions. Sign up at pjlibrary.org/unorthodox. American Jewish World Service is the leading Jewish organization working to fight poverty and pursue justice in the developing world. AJWS is currently triple-matching all donations; go to AJWS.org/unorthodox to find out more about the organization and to make your matched donation. Harry's is a great shave at a great price. Get a free Harry's trial shave set at harrys.com/unorthodox.