The Shpiel: A Conversation Between Two "Kindred Spirits"

The Shpiel is a podcast hosted by Wendy Schneider, the editor of a small Canadian Jewish newspaper, The Hamilton Jewish News. I grew up in what is affectionately called The Hammer in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. One summer evening in July, I ran into Wendy Schneider at Parallel Brothers, a Toronto restaurant that channels Tel Aviv. I had not seen Wendy in a long time, except for running in to her on a visit to the city’s Jewish Film Festival with my mother.

“I know you. You are Lesley Simpson,” she said, sitting at the table next to me. Wendy must have recognized me from my previous life, when I worked as a staff reporter and columnist for The Hamilton Spectator, a Canadian daily newspaper.

Photo of Wendy Schneider (2022), taken at JHamilton. Donna Waxman Photography.

“I know you too. You are Wendy Schneider!” I replied, laughing. We both had sprouted plenty of grey hair. You can see a photo of Wendy above, where she was honoured for being the editor of the Hamilton Jewish News for three decades. The photo was taken at JHamilton, a hub for the Jewish community.

Wendy asked me what I had been up to, and I told her about L’chaim: The Jewish Letters Project. She invited me to be a podcast guest on The Shpiel. The invitation came at an auspicious time since Rosh Hashanah is around the corner. You will find a link to the recording of the conversation we had this past summer at the top and bottom of this page.

Wendy was intrigued with the questions I had highlighted from Rabbi Steve Leder’s book, Twelve Essential Questions To Tell a Life Story. The book is a selection of savvy prompts to help people write an ethical will. I love swimming, Jewish text study, and a good question. In this regard, Wendy and I are, as she put it, “kindred spirits.”

Wendy was so intrigued by the questions that she took them to her backyard one day and, with a glass of wine in hand, used them to create a conversation with her husband, who works as an executive coach. The questions led to a meaningful conversation between Wendy and her husband one night in July.

She thought it would make for a powerful new-year tradition to share these questions at a Rosh Hashanah lunch or dinner. Thus, without further ado, here is our conversation.

(I too love the idea of L’chaim: The Jewish Letters Dinner Party. Or, L’chaim: The Jewish Letters Rosh Hashanah Conversation Starter. Should I design a deck of cards for this idea?)

Wendy Schneider, editor of the Hamilton Jewish News, is the podcast host of The Shpiel. She interviewed Lesley Simpson in July 2026.

If there are readers who take this idea and turn it into a reality as a conversation starter for a Rosh Hashanah lunch or dinner or other gathering I would love to hear about it. Please drop me a note!