Explore the Jewish influences on the life and work of Tom Lehrer—Cambridge’s own legendary songwriter, mathematician, and satirist—who passed away in July 2025 at the age of 97. Known for his razor-sharp wit and pitch-perfect parodies, Lehrer rose to fame in the 1950s and 60s with songs that skewered everything from politics to religion to nuclear war. His work left an indelible mark on generations of musicians and comedians.

Though he famously downplayed his religious upbringing—once quipping that it had “more to do with the delicatessen than the synagogue”—Jewish culture and sensibility are unmistakably present in his lyrics and worldview. Join Abby Schiff for a conversation about the Jewish humor, irony, and cultural critique embedded in Lehrer’s songs, and how his background shaped his singular voice.

No prior knowledge of Judaism or Lehrer is required—just a curiosity about the intersections of comedy, culture, and identity.

Abby Schiff is a physician and rheumatology fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital and a member of Temple Beth Shalom/TBS. When not coming up with obscure conditions to check for in the hospital, she enjoys singing, playing clarinet, organizing, hiking, and resisting the temptation to poison pigeons in the park.