Jewish culture

Writer Samuel Freedman. He’s just written a book about the state of the American Jewish Community called “Jew vs. Jew: The Struggle for the soul of American Jewry." (Simon & Schuster) Freedman believes that three fundamental questions are rending the American Jewish community today: "What is the definition of Jewish identity? Who decides what is authentic and legitimate Judaism? And what is the Jewish compact with America?" We talk with Freedman following the recent nomination of the first Jewish vice presidential candidate, Democrat Joe Lieberman.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg takes a look at the trouble the media had trying to find the words to describe vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman.

Writer Philip Roth. His new book “Human Stain” (Houghton Mifflin) is the third of his trilogy which includes “American Pastoral” and “I Married a Communist”. The book takes on issues of ethnic identity, and political correctness. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW).

Terry's interview with Allegra Goodman, the author of the novel, "Kaaterskill Falls" (Dial Press) about an orthodox Jewish family in upstate New York. This is Goodman's first novel. Her previous work, a collection of stories, "The Family Markowitz," was hailed by critics. One critic for the New York Times writes, "Goodman is brillant at capturing the clutter of both interior and exterior life. . .These stories sound like no one else's as she sharply appraises the shifts and quandaries of one variety of American Jewish life."

The television cook discusses her book and her new PBS series. "Jewish Cooking in America." The book and show are a patchwork of reminiscences and recipes from around the country. The 26-part series premieres this month.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Miriam's Kitchen: A Memoir" (Viking) by Elizabeth Ehrlich.

Author Cheryl Pearl Sucher is the daughter of holocaust survivors. Her debut novel, The Rescue of Memory (Scribner), draws on her own experiences. It is about a young woman who must come to terms with the impact of the holocaust on her parents and her aunt, who were victims of the camps. (Interview by Barbara Bogaev)

Esterita "Cissie" Blumberg writes a monthly column for the Catskill/Hudson Jewish Star. She grew up in a hotel in the Catskills, and later owned and operated it with her husband. Her new book is "Remember the Catskills: Tales by a Recovering Hotelkeeper" (Purple Mountain Press)

Roden is the winner of Italy's most prestigious food prizes and the winner of five Glenfiddich prizes. Her new book is "The Book of Jewish Food: An Odyssey From Samarkand to New York with More than 800 Ashkenazi and Sephardi Recipes."

Photojournalist Edward Serotta has documented the community of Bosnian Jews in Sarajevo, and their efforts to rescue their Muslim, Serb, and Croat friends and neighbors during the siege. His book is "Survival in Sarajevo: How a Jewish Community Came to the Aid of its City." (Central Europe Center for Research & Documentation). Terry will also talk with him about his recent trip to Sarajevo to look for the the legendary Sarajevo Haggadah -- a 700 year old Spanish masterpiece that's valued at 10 million dollars. During the Holocaust, Muslims hid it from the Nazis.