Skip to Main Content Header and Footer Templates

The Graphic Novel and the Jewish Experience

This seminar will examine the graphic novel in the context of global Jewish culture of the last half century.

Is Diss A System?

Milt Gross (1895-1953), a Bronx-born cartoonist and animator, first found fame in the late 1920s, writing comic strips and newspaper columns in the unmistakable accent of Jewish immigrants.

Audio Slideshow  - (scroll down)

" De Night in de Front from Chreesmas" 

A.D. New Orleans ...

Neufeld is joined by Leo McGovern, whose story is among those featured in the novel. NPR, Tell Me More, Podcast, Sept. 3, 2009, 11:54 min.

Slide show

Related Podcasts

An appreciation of Will Eisner, creator of The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Historian, Stephen Bronner, is interviewed. NPR, Talk of the Nation. May 23, 2005



In response to a story about comfort food around the globe, we heard from many listeners about their favorites. One of the best was the tale of a Jewish girl's first encounter with condensed milk in World War II-era Hungary. Marian Katin, NPR, All Things Considered, Dec. 20, 2008

Author Interviews or Lectures

  •  Michael Chabon  - Story Hour in the Library - Michael Chabon September 18, 2008 in 101 DOE LIBRARY U.C. Berkeley
  • Ben Katchor -  In this captivating talk from the TED archive,  reads from his comics. These perceptive, surreal stories find the profound hopes and foibles of history (and modern New York) preserved in objects like light switches and signs. (Recorded at TED2002, February 2002, in Monterey, California. Duration: 11:17.)
  • Miriam Katin - interviewed By Sara Ivry  for NextBook| 11:38 PM Jul 10, 2006
  • Stan Mack  - The Story of the Jews: A 4,000 Year Adventure
  • Art Spiegelman -  The Holocaust Through the Eyes of a Maus, UWTV 27 minutes
  • James Sturm - James Sturm's America: God, Gold, and Golems - newsarama print interview. Feb. 15, 2007
  • J.T. Waldman - Print interview on the making of Megillat Esther - couldn't find a podcast
  • Michael Wex - webcast (Book 1 of 6 Books) about  The Adventures of Micah Mushmelon, Boy Talmudist. Tacit Media, Nov. 20th 2007.
  • Joann Sfar - NPR "All Things Considered", Aug. 18th 2005. 9 minutes
  • Josh Neufeld - NPR "Tell Me More " Sept. 9, 2003, 12 minutes.
  • Steve Sheinkin - The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey - print interview
  • Will Eisner - The Contract with God Trilogy. Keynote address at the "Will Eisner Symposium:' The 2002 University of Florida Conference on Comics and Graphic Novels."  - text not podcast. N. Y. Times Obituary "Will Eisner, A Pioneer of Comic Books Dies at 87"  by Sarah Boxer, Jan. 5, 2005.
  • David Gantz - Jews in America: A Cartoon History - a Q & A with David Gantz. jewishpub.org