The Cat’s Meow: Ep. 97

Hey J-Crew: Before you do literally anything else today, buy a ticket to our next live show in NYC on July 25! This week we talk Birthright, Hobby Lobby, and Jay-Z—oh my. Our Jewish guest is historian Jenna Weissman Joselit, whose latest book is Set in Stone: America's Embrace of the Ten Commandments. She tells us how the Ten Commandments, which have become so politicized, were actually once a unifying force in America, and dishes on the 19th century drama over a Lower East Side synagogue’s stained glass depiction of the decalogue. Plus she tests us to see if we can list all ten commandments from memory. Our gentile of the week is cat therapist Carole Wilbourn, who co-founded the first veterinary hospital exclusively for cats, and who has treated behavioral problems in more than 13,000 felines. She brings motorized cats that coo at us while she explains the Wilbourn Way, which incorporates feline Reiki, and is designed to treat both the animals and their guardians. She also helps Stephanie with her problem cat, Cat Stevens. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes photos, and more! Email us at [email protected]—we may read your note on air. Follow us on Twitter: @tabletmag, @markopp1, @liel, @stuffism. This week’s sponsors are: Harry’s: Go to Harrys.com and enter code UNORTHODOX at checkout to get a free post shave balm. Hello Fresh: For $30 off your first week of HelloFresh, visit hellofresh.com and enter code UNORTHODOX30.