The city that launched a thousand memes

Shoshana Gottlieb-Beker is the creator of JewishMemesOnly, with over 50,000 followers across Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Shoshana Gottlieb-Beker is a Jewish educator and writer based in Sydney, Australia—she is also very funny. She is the creator of JewishMemesOnly, with over 50,000 followers across Instagram, Facebook, and X. Gottlieb-Beker was co-host of season four of the podcast Ashamed to Admit, described as being for “anyone who’s ever nodded along in a conversation about Jewish history, culture, or current events while internally panicking.” 

Jewish Chicago spoke with Gottlieb-Beker about her warm connection to the Windy City and what she is up to now down under. 

Q: I’ve read that your popular red carpet reviews have a Chicago origin story. What happened? 

A: In 2022, I was completing a [month-long] student teaching placement at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School, as part of the Pardes Educators Program. It was the first time I had ever been in America at the same time as the Oscars. In Australia, they air in the middle of the day, which isn’t as fun or as glamorous. 

I watched the Oscars from go to whoa, started commenting on the red carpet looks, realized that Nicole Kidman looked like those silver foil Shabbos candle wax catchers, and the rest is history.  

Why do you think your reviews took off the way that they have?  

I think, at the heart of it, people just like comparing things. Like those spot the difference games when you’re a kid. But, also, I think it’s a safe way for people to laugh about Jewish culture—because it’s all just harmless fun. 

What were your impressions of Chicago when you lived here? 

I LOVE Chicago. It is such an incredible city. I would walk around the neighborhood every afternoon, walked by Wrigley a bunch, saw the Bean. Oh my G-d, the miniature room displays at the Art Institute? I talk about that maybe once a week. 

I was [also] there around St. Patrick’s‘ Day and so got to see the green river. Now let me tell you, that changes you as a person. Once you see a huge body of water just green like that, you fear what humans are capable of.  

Anyway, I talk about my time in Chicago constantly. The food is delicious, the people I met there were brilliant. The community was so warm and welcoming; I felt so at home!  

What are you excited to be working on these days?  

I’ve been doing my master’s degree in teaching for the last six years, [first] alongside full-time study at Pardes, and then full-time work as a teacher—and now Head of Department—at Masada College in Sydney. I am so excited to Be’Ezrat Hashem (G-d willing) finish my degree at the end of the year.  

Other than that, I’ve been trying to compile and publish a book of Jewish poetry that I’ve been working on. It’s a collection that is essentially midrash, giving voice to characters and events in a way that centers the human relationship between Torah characters.  

You are also recently married—mazal tov! Anything you want to share about sharing this big moment with your audience? 

My wife and I have been quite conscious of what we choose to share and not share. It’s hard because we both hate the concept of turning our relationship into content. On the other hand, I do take the responsibility of being an openly lesbian and also somewhat recognizable Jewish personality very seriously.  

I’ve been told by so many people that me sharing my life as a person who loves Torah, and Jewish study, and who is also a lesbian has helped them in their own life. So, I’m happy we shared some stuff with the world.  

I’d also like to formally apologize to all brides whom I had previously judged for continuously posting their wedding pictures. Because once it happened to me, I finally understood the hype.