What follows the family to America at the end of Fiddler on the Roof? In this discussion of tradition, precariousness, and the mystical concept of the pintele yid, we consult such sacred texts as The Jazz Singer, Abie’s Irish Rose, and the work of the Marx Brothers.

For episode notes and resources, and a comments thread where you can express your opinion about this episode, please visit noahdiamond.com/pintele.

The Pintele Haggadah is now available at noahdiamond.com/pintele. I hope you’ll consider buying a copy and incorporating it into your Passover tradition, or using it to start one.

Music heard in this episode includes “Dos Pintele Yid” by Jacob Fuchs and the Jewish Theatre choir, “Blue Skies” by Sam Lanin’s Orchestra, “Mir fohren kein America” by Hymie Jacobson and Fanny Lubritsky, “Dos Pintele Yid” by Pepi Litman, “On the Road to Calais” by Al Jolson, “My Mother’s Eyes” by George Jessel, “Manhattan” by Harry Reser and the Night Club Orchestra and by Ruth Tester and Allan Gould, “My New York” by Dave Kaplan and His Happiness Orchestra, and “The Monkey Doodle Doo” by Busse’s Buzzards. Also: “Jewish Comedians” by Alon Marcus, “Sholom Aleichem Rhapsodies” by David-Ezra Okonsar, “Brookline Chair Lift” and “Hava Nagila” by Steve Rice, and other selections licensed from the Pond5 media collection.

noahdiamond.com/pintele/part4-you-aint-heard-nothin-yet