Welcome back – after our long summer break. It's the beginning of the festival season now with the new year, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, just around the corner – and more to follow. Who can keep up?
With guests, broadcaster and Guardian columnist Mark Lawson, himself a committed Catholic, and violinist and composer Sophie Solomon, Jason Solomons looks at the themes of the high holy days: sin, remorse, redemption – light stuff like that.
One man with plenty to atone for is Bernard Madoff, now beginning a prison sentence of 150 years. We ask why the mastermind behind the biggest fraud case in history deliberately set out to embezzle his fellow Jews. Sounds Jewish speaks to journalist Adam LeBor about his new book, The Believers: How America Fell For Bernard Madoff's $65 Billion Investment Scam, due out next month.
As Yom Kippur approaches, we look at the power of confession: what do you feel you should say sorry for this year? And when it comes to genuine repentance, is an online apology quite good enough?
Plus, with the latest leg of his world tour taking him to Tel Aviv, we ask: is Leonard Cohen the most Jewish musician in the world?
