By Debra Rich Gettleman

Shayna Maydele opens up about Jewish life, love, and standing up to hate.

“Wait, you don’t want to talk to me?” Heidi Silverstone asks at the onset of our interview.

“Well, it’s not that.” I gently explain. “I appreciate your translating. But I really need to talk to her; to look into her eyes and see how she feels and what she’s experiencing in order to best tell her story. Plus, I can only tell if she’s being honest by direct eye-to-eye connection.” 

With a bit of disappointment, Heidi fades into the background and allows Shayna Maydele to step into the camera lens.”

DRG

Hello Shayna Maydele. You are really so beautiful.

Shayna Maydele looks away with a coy sense of knowing and humility.

DRG

Shayna, let’s start with the question on everyone’s mind. Are you in a relationship right now?

SM

Maydele

DRG

Pardon?

SM

My name. It’s Shayna Maydele. That’s what I prefer. A lot of people call me Shayna. So, it’s fine. But I like to go by my full name, Debbie.

I cringe at the diminutive version of “Debra”, the name I insist people use when addressing me.

DRG

Touché, my insightful friend. Touché. But back to the question of romance.

SM

Well, there is one dog in particular. C-H-A-R-L-I-E.

DRG

I’m curiuos why you are spelling his name, Shayna Maydele. Although it is impressive that you can spell that well.

Translator/Heidi

Sorry. That’s on me. I spelled his name because if I say it out loud, she’ll go crazy.

DRG

Understood. 

SM

I love him. When I go to the dog park, I will stare at the gate until he gets there.

DRG

How sweet. 

SM 

I’m also a very…amorous dog. I do what a lot of us do at the dog park, which I probably shouldn’t. I do that a lot.

DRG

I so appreciate your honesty. I’m only seeking the truth, what readers really want to know.

SM

I enjoy physical intimacy. I’m not going to lie.

DRG

Is it hard though, being a star like yourself? Is it hard when you go to the dog park, and everyone wants to get close to you and be with you? Do you like “common folk?”

SM

Absolutely. I love dogs. But I really love people. It’s so cute. A lot of people stand around the edge of the park, just inside the fence. People who don’t even have dogs. They watch me. Sometimes, I’ll run right over and let them pick me up. Heidi will ask them if they’d like to pet me. I’ve never had anyone say no.

DRG

I love knowing that, Shayna. I mean Shayna Maydele. Because some of the stars that I talk to, they just…they don’t like people gawking at them. It makes them feel disconnected.

SM

When I first got to Heidi’s home in NY, we would walk down the street, and you know, there are people everywhere. I can just tell when I’ve caught someone’s eye, I see the desire to touch me. And I always encourage it. I just love attention from people. It takes us forever to walk even one block. It’s especially fun to walk by restaurants and see people look up lovingly.

DRG

That brings me to the question of food. What is your favorite food?

SM

Well, I’m an extremely picky eater. But I love anything with feathers in it. Fowl is my fave; chicken, turkey, you name it. I just adore Thanksgiving. 

DRG 

Speaking of holidays. What is your favorite Jewish holiday?

SM

Definitely Passover. I mean it’s so food intense and Heidi always makes turkey on Passover because it feeds a lot of people. She also cooks a fabulous brisket which I love. And gefilte fish is another winner in my book.

DRG

Red or White horseradish?

SM

I’ve tried both. Not a fan. I’m more of a purist.

DRG

This is all fascinating. But what I really want to know is what does being Jewish really mean to you?

SM

Debra, that’s an excellent question. I came out of my Jewish shell the first time I put on a kippah (yarmulke). It was overwhelming. I was glowing. The cameras began to flash and suddenly I was wishing people all across the world a Shabbat Shalom on Instagram. The reaction was palpable. So, I continued to do that for Shabbat and other Jewish holidays.

DRG

I understand you enjoy photo shoots.

SM

Full disclosure, I love when all of the attention is focused on me. I have a great staff with Heidi who is a fabulous stylist and very accomplished amateur photographer. She works with her husband Rob. They think he’s the “dog wrangler,” so I play along and let him think he’s in charge.

DRG 

I’ve heard though that you tease a lot during those shoots, looking away when they want you to smile at the camera.

SM

Between you and me, I do that to make things a little more fun. When Rob and Heidi have to work a little to get the shot, it’s like a game to me. And the photos are so much more engaging and real. But the bottom line is that I love sharing my Judaism through photos. It really allows me to connect to Jews all around the globe. And it’s all about building community with us Jews, don’t you think?

DRG

I do. For sure. But I do have a delicate issue to raise. Have you ever experienced anti-semitism in response to your posts?

SM

I’m sorry to say that, yes, I have. As you know, I’m a very proud Jewish doggy.  Sadly, my cuteness and explanations of Jewish customs are not immune to antisemitic comments.  Luckily, those comments are rare, but each time I receive one, it hurts.  I want my postings to be lighthearted, fun and a safe place to share my Jewishness. So, when I see an antisemitic comment, I delete it and block the account that posted it.  There is no room for hate on my Instagram account.

DRG

What about future plans. Are you considering plans for a tv pilot or a film?

SM

Not at the moment. But I wouldn’t be against it. If there’s an agent out there who’s interested, feel free to reach out.

DRG

Well, I think that’s the next natural step in your progression. I mean, Benji was just some dog when he started.

Shayna Maydele looks at me blankly.

SM

Benji?

Another one of those “I’m old” moments washes over me.

DRG

Never mind. He was a big star back in the day.

SM

What I really love, Debra, is the way I’ve been able to meet so many wonderful people through Instagram. I just got a private message from a person in England who saw my picture in the newspaper and reached out. We had such a charming conversation. I love how this allows me to create Jewish community connection. And it’s not only Jews who follow me. A lot of people associate Jews with Orthodox Jews. But I’m conservative. And I so enjoy explaining things about conservative and reform Judaism. For example, yes, I’m a female. But I wear a kippah. And that’s okay. 

DRG

You’re like a cultural ambassador. You break down old stereotypes and show a really cool Jewish canine doing really cool stuff. That’s what we do at Jewish Life Now, only with humans…mostly.

And you’ve formed some lifelong friendships through Instagram, haven’t you?

SM

I have. There’s a non-Jewish woman in Greece who is so fascinated by our religion that she sends me things she comes across that are Jewish and shares things with me about her religion. This one woman noticed on Instagram that I was in Baltimore and she had two cousins of mine (both Coton deTulears). We met up and have become dear friends. I met another family from Costa Rica who now live in Florida and we’ve stayed close.

DRG

I have to ask you. Do you know how many followers you have?

Again Shayna Maydele humbly smiles and gazes down.

SM

It’s hard to say. But I’d guestimate a bit over 18,000.

DRG

18? That’s meaningful

Shayna Maydele laughs.

DRG

And what about merch?

SM

No plans at the moment. But I’m considering a line of sweaters. Maybe other clothing.

DRG

Tiaras?

SM

Too pretentious. But, maybe a kippah collection.

DRG

Speaking of pretentious, I understand you have the same breeder as Barbra Streisand.

SM

Yes, I do. But Babs’ dogs are just ordinary folk like me. Frankly, it’s the owners who get giddy about stuff like that.

To see more of Shayna Maydele, she can be followed on Instagram at:  @shayna.maydele.the.coton