Welcome to Wandering Jews, our J2 adventures. podcast!
Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Jewish experiential travel as we traverse the globe.
Whether it’s the ancient streets of Jerusalem or the historic charm of Toledo, each episode offers a fresh perspective and a deeper connection to the Jewish story.
See more at j2adventures.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Wandering Jews, our J2 adventures. podcast!
Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Jewish experiential travel as we traverse the globe.
Whether it’s the ancient streets of Jerusalem or the historic charm of Toledo, each episode offers a fresh perspective and a deeper connection to the Jewish story.
See more at j2adventures.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The story of Qumran – on the Dead Sea Shore – reveals a still unraveled historic riddle about the meanings of one of most important archaeological treasures discovered in the 20th century. In a unforgiving landscape, Qumran reveals the story of the Dead Sea Sect and their expansive hidden library. Join us to venture into the caves and between the dry riverbeds to explore the world of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the community who collected and wrote them. The first Reform Jews? The first kibbutznikim? Join us to find out.
Links for Additional Reading
Why Are the Dead Sea Scrolls Important With Dr. Jodi Magnes
Led Astray By a Dead Sea Latrine, The Forward, 16 February 2007
The Shrine of the Book, The Digital Dead Sea Scrolls
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Find more at j2adventures.com
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The beautiful city of Toledo – perched on the hills above the Tagus River – was once home to a thriving Jewish community. However for the past 532 years – since 1492 – Jewish children do not run home to the Jewish Quarter, and shabbat hymns do not ring through the streets on Friday evenings. When we visit Toledo, we need conjure through our stories the lives that once were. In this episode, we will visit the synagogues of Toledo – no longer in the hands of a Jewish community – recall the glory that was… as well as the meanings of ownership and remembering.
Links for Additional Reading
Toledo: The Cultural Guide to Europe, JGuideEurope
The Many Lives of the Synagogue El Transito, National Library of Israel
Córdoba and Toledo: The Last Synagogues of Sepharad, SLICE
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Seafaring and piracy are not the first associations that come to mind when we think of the Jews. In this episode, we will travel the Great Sea – the Mediterranean – in search of Jews who had salt water in their blood. We will sail from ancient Israel to the Middle Ages – and even revisit the question often asked – Columbus? Funny, he does not look Jewish!
Links for Additional Reading
The Great Sea, David Abulafia – a Book Review (The Guardian, May 1, 2012)
Jewish Pirates of the Mediterranean, Yaakov Landman (Kankan, April 3, 2020)
Columbus and the Jews, Jonathan Sarna (Commentary, November 1992)
Fado with Lior Hochberg – A Spotify Playlist mentioned in Something for the Road
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Who doesn’t love an Indiana Jones flick? The excitement of the search for treasure, the trepidation before the unknown, and encounter with long-buried stories. At Tel Maresha and Beit Guvrin – UNESCO World Heritage Sites – we will uncover the underground city and its caves, tunnels, and chambers – and share the stories of the archeological excavations and the Dig for a Day program. Join us for an adventure above and below ground… and bring your fedora. And this time – we will host a special guest – Dr. Ian Stern of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Haifa University – the archeologist responsible for the excavation and one of the founders of the Dig for a Day program.
Links for Additional Reading
A Dig Full of Holes, Sara Jo Ben Zvi (Segula – The Jewish History Magazine, September 2023)
Beit Guvrin National Park Israel Nature and Parks Authority
Israel Museum Receives Stone 'Letter,’ Etgar Lefkovits (The Jerusalem Post, May 7, 2007)
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High in the Portuguese mountains lies the small, inconspicuous village of Belmonte. At first glance, Belmonte possesses the local charm of many of the villages of the Senhora da Esperança range. However, the village possesses a secret dating back nearly half a millennia – a Jewish community that went underground during the Spanish and Portuguese expulsions and inquisitions – and held onto their Jewish core for centuries. Discover Belmonte and this little-known story of steadfast Jewish resistance.
Links for Additional Reading
Portugal, Echoes of a Jewish Past
Belmonte: A Reporter Revisits An Anusim Community
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Israel has become known internationally as the ‘start-up nation’ – one of the most successful international hi-tech hubs. The Ayalon Institute – just outside of Rehovot – may have possessed the world’s only start-up laundry – an underground factory designed to produce the crucial bullets needed by the pre-state and early Israel to fight the 1948 War of Independence. How do you keep such an operation a secret? How did the Ayalon Institute reflect something about the ethos of pre-state Israel? And does some of that same ethos survive today?
Links for Additional Reading
The Ayalon Institute: The Secret Facility Hidden Under a Kibbutz Laundry
Why Did American Jews Smuggle Guns Into Palestine?
Israel’s Defense Industries: From Clandestine Workshops to Global Giants
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Wine in Judaism isn’t just a drink—it’s a ritual, a symbol, and a story poured into every glass. From the vineyards of ancient Israel to today’s award-winning boutique wineries, wine has played a sacred and celebratory role in Jewish life for millennia. But how did Israel go from kiddush wine to world-class vintages? And what makes Israeli wine so special? Grab a glass as we explore the past, present, and future of Jewish wine culture. L'Chaim.
Additional reading:
https://www.jpost.com/jewish-world/judaism/the-value-of-wine
https://www.sefaria.org.il/sheets/601017?lang=bi
https://www.timeout.com/israel/things-to-do/the-israeli-wine-list
https://www.ice.edu/blog/wines-of-israel
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The planet Earth may not be able to support the billions who call it home. Even in the wealthiest countries, too many people are hungry. We zoom in on the Jewish experience of issues connected with food justice – from the days of the Bible and before, to modern Israeli food innovation, and including the non-profits striving to provide those in need with that most basic of rights – the right to go to sleep and wake up without hunger. Our special guest today is Joseph Gitler, the founder of Leket – a leading NGO aspiring to implement Jewish values around food access towards a healthier society in body and soul.
Links for Additional Reading (And Ways For You To Help…)
Latet - Combating poverty and food insecurity in Israel
Leket Israel - Rescuing nutritious surplus food for those in need
Pantry Packers - Providing nutritional support to Israel's neediest families
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Tel Aviv is sometimes described as just another city with no story to call its own. Today we will pull back the curtain to share the many stories and the foundational narratives that Tel Aviv told about itself through the years and the connections between story and symbol and urban planning, architecture, and design. Whether you want to call it ‘The White City’ or ‘The Big Orange’ or ‘The City That Never Stops’ – join us for a behind the scenes look at Tel Aviv and it’s celebration of the Zionist new normal.
Links for Additional Reading:
The Mythography of Tel Aviv, Maoz Azaryahu and Jonathan Silver. Mosaic, 17 November 20222
Tel Aviv: Israel's Cultural and Financial Capital, History of Israel Explained, Unpacked
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Mount Hermon – the eyes of Israel – has been witness to thousands of generations telling their stories throughout the ages. This single, towering peak bears the weight of countless narratives — stories of history, culture, faith from ancient times until today. Hermon is not just a place to go skiing; it’s a place where the sacred intersects with the strategic, where ancient traditions meet the present day, and where diverse communities—Jewish, Druze, Christian, and Muslim—leave their imprints on its slopes.
Links for Additional Reading
Mount Hermon – A General Overview
Mount Hermon – Jewish Virtual Library
Druze Lives Matter | Real Talk Marissa Streit sits with Rania Dean and Omar Nasser
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Much of our consumer experience in the 21st century is antiseptic and impersonal. Visiting Jerusalem’s open air market at Mahane Yehuda is a chance to engage all of our senses, to get out and about, and see a slice of Jerusalem as it lives and breathes in all of its colors, flavors, and tastes. In this episode, we will visit the streets and alleys of Mahane Yehuda – a bit of history, a bit of culinary, and a bit of the human mosaic that makes Mahane Yehuda an exciting classroom for understanding Israeli society.
Links For Additional Reading
The Complete Guide to the Machane Yehuda Market
100 Years Of Photographs At Machane Yehuda Market, Israel21C, Naama Barak, 23 July 2023
Zooming In On The History Of Jerusalem's Iconic Machane Yehuda Market, i24NewsEnglish
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High in the mountains in a land shrouded in mystery for most of us live the indigenous peoples of North Africa – the Berbers. And alongside these proud tribespeople who call themselves – ‘the free men’ – lived the Jews of the Atlas Mountains, of the North African Berbers. Wandering Jews shares the history and stories of this unique episode in the Jewish experience and invite you to consider the borders between history and legend, and the place where these stories become part of our own Jewish memory.
Links for Additional Reading:
The Muslim And The Lost Jews Of Morocco, YNET News
Habrera Hativit, World Music Central
The Caliph’s House, Tahir Shah
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We define our symbols and our symbols define us. When considering the Star of David as a Jewish symbol, one has to head out on a journey through the centuries and across the globe to understand how a widespread geometric configuration became such a powerful defining image of the Jewish people – to our enemies and to ourselves. Join us from Jerusalem to Rome to Morocco to Prague to Basle, Switzerland as we explore the Star of David and our Jewish journeys.
Links for Additional Reading
Star Of David, Erin Parfet, Shalom Learning Center, 4 April 2024
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Considered by Jewish tradition as one of the holy cities of the Land of Israel, Tsfat’s alleys and hills welcome visitors to explore the Jewish mystical tradition as it was formulated and taught by a unique circle of 16th-century teachers, philosophers, and visionaries, including ‘The Lion’ Rabbi Isaac Luria. The “Wandering Jews” will walk with you through Tsfat and together we will uncover the secrets of a religious approach that continues to be meaningful 500 years after Tsfat’s heyday. What is mysticism? And how did a concept drawn from Jewish texts and mystical tomes become a major calling card for Judaism in the late 20th and 21st centuries?
Links for Additional Reading:
An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism, Michael Howald, Sefaria
Kabbalah: An Overview, Joseph Telushkin, Jewish Virtual Library
The Mystics of Safed, Dan Cohn-Sherbok, My Jewish Learning
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The Dead Sea is one of the great natural wonders of the world. And the surrounding Judaean Desert has been the backdrop for some of the most exciting chapters in the history of the Land of Israel – from King David’s Ein Gedi to Qumran’s Dead Sea Scrolls, to the heights of Masada, and the pioneers of modern times. The Dead Sea is disappearing at an alarming rate – and the question is whether or not our grandchildren will vaguely remember the ‘Salt Sea’ as they stand at the edge of a salt-encrusted crater. Our episode will explore the story of the Dead Sea and the environmental challenges facing the sea and all of us.
Links for Additional Reading:
Pollution in the Promised Land, Alon Tal, California University Press, 2002
What Can We Do To Stop The Dead Sea From Dying? With UnPacked on YouTube
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Join us as we step into the dazzling world of Sephardic Jewry during the Golden Age; an era of tolerance and thriving creativity. Meet legendary figures like Shmuel HaNagid, Moses de Leon, and Maimonides, whose groundbreaking works - along with the rich cultural exchange between Jews and Muslims - sparked the remarkable flourishing of Sephardic Jewish civilization. Who were these Sephardic Jewish superheroes? How did the Golden Age inspire Jews centuries after the collapse of Jewish life in Iberia? And how “Golden” was the Golden Age?
Links for Additional Reading:
Under Crescent and Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages, Mark R. Cohen
Hebrew Poets in Old Spain, Hillel Halkin, Commentary, July/August 2007
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In this episode, we’re heading to Tzippori, an ancient city in the Galilee that became a symbol of Jewish resilience. After the destruction of the Temple and the fall of Jerusalem, Tzippori emerged as the heart of Jewish life in the land of Israel. At the helm of this transformation was Judah the Prince, a community leader, diplomat, and confidant to the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. He is most famous, however, for codifying Judaism’s oral traditions into the Mishnah, a monumental work of five volumes, that laid the foundation for Jewish law and life for centuries to come. Join us as we explore Tzippori and uncover how this unlikely northern hilltop city helped codify a vision for the future of the Jewish people.
Links for Additional Reading:
As a Driven Leaf - A novel by Milton Steinberg, Josh Lambert
Israel's Archaeological Site Zippori Calls to Jews and Christians, i24 News
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Tel Aviv’s ANU Museum of the Jewish People shares the unparalleled story of the Jewish Experience – yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The Museum refuses to relegate the Jewish experience to a tale of tears and fears. Instead, ANU traces the diversity and plurality of Jewish life in every corner of the world where the Jewish people lived throughout the ages. ANU strives to keep it contemporary – with exhibitions dedicated to women in Jewish history, comedy as Jewish and Israeli expression, and even Jews in popular music. Visiting ANU is not only about the past; it is mainly about how we encounter and understand our own story – and share that with others – as we use the past to fuel our future.
In this episode, we host a special guest – Dan Tadmor – the CEO of ANU. Dan shares his take on how the museum has grown and developed, and how he and his team have turned their vision into an internationally recognised museum milestone.
Links for Additional Reading:
ANU – The Museum of the Jewish People
A Short History of the Jews - Michael Brenner, Princeton University Press, 2012
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In this episode, we journey off the beaten path to Moisésville, a small town in Argentina’s vast pampas that became a beacon of hope for Eastern European Jews fleeing persecution in the late 19th century. Founded with the support of Baron Maurice de Hirsch’s Jewish Colonization Association, Moisésville was an ambitious attempt to build a new life on foreign soil, where Jewish traditions could thrive far from the pogroms of Europe. We’ll explore how this "Jerusalem of Argentina" became a hub of resilience, culture, and adaptation, reflecting the universal Jewish quest for belonging. Join us as we uncover this forgotten chapter of history and reflect on what it means to find a home in an unexpected place.
Links for Additional Reading:
The Search for an Alternative Homeland, Jewish Chronicle
How the Orient Express’s Baron Maurice de Hirsch Changed the Track of Jewish Migration, Times of Israel
The Zionist Vision, Excerpt from Theodor Herzl’s Book, “The Jewish State.”
The (Railroad) Baron, Jewish Review of Books
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Imagine the shores of the Galilee Sea – the Kinneret – at the turn of the 20th century – a parched, blistering landscape. And the early Zionist pioneers – young people who had left Europe and their families to build the dream of a Jewish national home - had no air conditioning. We will explore the place, period, and phenomenon of pioneering. What were the hardships? And what was the dream? And where are we at today?
Links for Additional Reading:
Go Cemetery Hopping — It’s Not All That Grave - Jessica Steinberg, Times of Israel
Rachel Bluwstein - Dana Olmert, The Jewish Women’s Archive
The Second Aliyah - The Israel National Library
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