Unorthodox

This week, we’re putting the pieces together.  Our Jewish guest is A.J. Jacobs, whose new book [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622520/the-puzzler-by-aj-jacobs/] is The Puzzler: One Man’s Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, From Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life. He explains why puzzles are such a useful way to see the world, tries to stump us with some Jewish riddles, and tells us what it’s like to appear as a New York Times Crossword clue. Listen to A.J.’s previous appearances on Unorthodox—on our very first episode in 2015, in 2017, and in 2018. We mark Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, with two special segments. First Liel talks to director Barry Levinson, whose latest film, The Survivor [​​https://www.hbo.com/movies/the-survivor], tells the true story of Harry Haft, a boxer who was forced to fight fellow inmates in Auschwitz. Then we hear a recording of a Yiddish song performed by Avi Wisnia and his late grandfather, Cantor David Wisnia. For more check out mypolis