Miriam Anzovin is a massive Jewish nerd, a storyteller and artist putting ancient discourse in direct communication with modern internet culture, pop culture, and current events.
Some of her popular short-form video series include #DafReactions, #JewishLoreReactions, #JewishHolidayReactions, #JewishBookReactions, #AVeryJewishMakeupTutorial, the “Elder Millennials of Zion” skits, and more content on Jewish themes and ideas.
In The Daf Reactions Project, she shares her practice of daily study of the Babylonian Talmud in the Daf Yomi cycle from the viewpoint of a formerly Orthodox, now secular, Millennial feminist. The videos are her authentic reactions, with commentary both heartfelt and comedic.
Her role in her work is not as a teacher, nor as a rabbi, but rather as a fellow learner, a fellow traveler, on the path of Jewish discovery. Through her videos, writing, and art, she invites others to walk beside her on this journey and connect with Jewish teachings in ways that are relatable and personally meaningful to them.
Miriam was the first Artist in Residence at Moishe House, and was previously the host of The Vibe of the Tribe podcast. She is currently represented for speaking engagements by Jewish Speakers Bureau. The Daf Reactions Project is a grateful grantee partner of Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah, and Miriam is delighted to be part of the Digital Storytellers Lab’s 2024 cohort for Jewish Lore Reactions.
Miriam exists at the intersection of Sefaria and Sephora. And, also in some people’s minds, where she lives rent free.
Connect with Miriam on Instagram, TikTok, X, BlueSky, Mastodon, Threads, and Youtube.
Miriam in the News
Read Miriam’s r/reddit AMA here!
“American Jewish Humor”
(By Jennifer Caplan/Religion Compass)
“Jewish Women in Comedy”
(By Jennifer Caplan/Jewish Women’s Archive)
“Ten Jewish TikTokers”
(By Tricia Crimmins/Moment Magazine)
“Miriam Anzovin, TikTok Daf Yomi star, to join Moishe House” (By Esther D. Kustanowitz/eJewish Philanthropy)
“Q&A With Miriam Anzovin: Talmud and TikTok” (Hilary Danailova/Hadassah Magazine)
“On TikTok, She Offers A Spicy Daily Take on Talmud” (By Louis Keene/Forward)
"Meet the TikTok Star Making Daf Yomi Relatable for Millennials, Gen Z" (By Aaron Reich/Jerusalem Post)
“TikTok Talmud: How Miriam Anzovin Brought Daf Yomi to Young People” (By Hannah Wacholder Katsman /Jerusalem Post)
"A Woman Went Viral on TikTok for Talking About Talmud. Then Came the Critics." (By Abby Seitz/ Hey Alma)
“She Became a Star Talking Talmud on TikTok. Now She Has a Message to Share.” (By Allison Kaplan Sommer/Ha’aretz)
“Interview With Talmudic TikToker Miriam Anzovin” (By Dina Adelsky/JWA)
“Millennial brings Talmud to TikTok” (Shelley A. Sackett/JewishJournal)
“Lessons from the Talmud on Tik-Tok - Miriam Anzovin” (ILTV)
“Raunchy, sarcastic TikTok Talmud commentary isn’t profane. It’s Torah.” (By David Avi Kalman/JTA)
Podcast and Video Appearances
In conversation with Frieda Vizel: “Miriam Anzovin is a Jewish content creator who does videos about the Talmud, Jewish lore reactions and even holiday themed makeup tutorials. She is a warm, funny and witty Jewish woman and I find a friend in her in the content creation journey. Join me for a discussion with the wonderful Miriam about her background, about her relationship to her orthodox mother, about her creative process, about trolls and the Talmud and so much more.”
Join The Esoterica Channel & @MiriamAnzovin for a conversation about studying the Talmud for 1 page a day for over 7 years, the hilarious demons that haunt its pages - including the bathroom demon Panda - and how we can appreciate our holy texts with as much humor as erudition!
“Data Over Dogma” podcast
“This week we say shalom to TikToker and self-proclaimed "massive Jewish nerd" Miriam Anzovin. Miriam has delighted many and enraged others in the Jewish world with her unorthodox (in all the ways) take on important Jewish texts. In her TikTok series "Daf Reactions" Miriam goes through the Daf Yomi, a page-a-day cycle of Talmudic study, tying the Talmud in to her daily life as a milennial in modern society. Her videos take a critical look at the writings of the ancient sages, and connect the stories to what's happening in modern pop culture, politics, and society. Sometimes a lightning rod for controversy, and sometimes just the breath of fresh air that those studying the Talmud need, her work has gotten attention from around the world.”
Her now-famous TikTok videos reacting to the Talmud's 'Daf Yomi' have made Miriam Anzovin an unlikely Jewish star. With thousands of viewers each day, is social media the new frontier for Jewish learning?
Shalom Friends
😊
Shalom Friends 😊