Shylock, Uncle David and Me

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Robert Philipson traces the intertwined threads of family, faith, and identity, beginning with his great-uncle, Reform Judaism leader Rabbi David Philipson, and winding through his own complex upbringing in mid-century America. From the unlikely honor of portraying Shylock in a high school English class to confronting assimilation, antisemitism, and inherited legacies, Philipson reflects on what it means to be Jewish in a world that often demands forgetting. At once humorous, poignant, and historically rich, this episode explores the weight of ancestry, the power of literature, and the unfinished work of defining oneself.Host InfoHosted by Dr. Robert PhilipsonRobert is a former professor of African-American studies with a passion for jazz and art. A published author and Harlem Renaissance historian, he has produced multiple films about the intersectionality of race, music, and sexuality.RESOURCESLiterature:The Jewish Encyclopedia (Vol. X, 1905) Philipson, David. My Life as an American Jew Philipson, David. The Reform Movement in Judaism Philipson, David. The Jew in English Fiction Philipson, David. Max Lilienthal, American RabbiEncyclopedia JudaicaThe Pittsburgh Platform (1885) Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of VeniceDr. Seuss. Horton Hears a Who! Music: A Gesang Fun’m Berditchever Rebbe - Mordechay HersmanOboe Concerto In D Minor: 1. Andante e Spiccato - Marcel Ponseele & Il GardellinoLa Rosa Enflorece - The Jewish Starlight OrchestraMisirlou & The Flatbush Waltz - Budapest Cafe OrchestraDue Tramonti - Ludovico EinaudiFollow Shoga Speaks shogafilms.org/podcastsSign up for our newsletter at our website shogafilms.comInstagram: @shogafilmsFacebook: facebook.com/shogafilmsTwitter: twitter.com/shogafilmsWebsite: www.shogafilms.com;Instagram: shogafilms;Facebook: facebook.com/shogafilms;Twitter: twitter.com/shogafilms