GOLDA founder Stephanie Butnick, novelist Esther Chehebar, and Rabbi Diana Fersko talk Jews and Halloween. This week’s guest is writer and comedian Jamie Denbo of The Beverly Podcast.

Good for the Jews picks:

Stephanie: Lin Manuel Miranda performing “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” at the 30 Rock 20th anniversary celebration.

Esther: Jerry Seinfeld telling hecklers he’s donating their ticket sales to Israel.

Diana: Hearing a subway saxophonist play Jewish music.

Jamie Denbo/Beverly: Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder bringing a plunger on a plane in a nod to the plumber who helped avert the FlyDubai hijacking.

Upcoming events:

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 for a special Mini Mahj Shabbat for you and your mini at ColorPop Workshop. 5 - 7 p.m., 1289 Madison Avenue; get your ticket at 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.

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.

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.