Adventures in Jewish Studies Podcast

Tradition! Jewish Matchmaking, Past & Present

Think you know everything about Jewish matchmaking from Fiddler on the Roof? Think again! While the beloved musical frames arranged marriage as "tradition" and romantic l

Jews and the American Revolution

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, this episode explores the roles that Jews played in the American Revolution and the new world of opportunity that opened

The Lost History of Yiddish Popular Fiction

In this episode, scholars and translators discuss Yiddish popular fiction known as "shund," serialized in Yiddish newspapers around the turn of the 20th century, and cons

Anti-Zionism with James Loeffler

Guest scholar James Loeffler looks at the different forms of anti-Zionism and its overlapping relationship with antisemitism, and considers how the past can remind us tha

American Antisemitism with Pamela Nadell

Guest scholar Pamela Nadell talks about antisemitism in America. She looks at how the definition of antisemitism has changed over time, how antisemitism has been always t

Medieval Antisemitism with Sara Lipton

Guest scholar Sara Lipton discusses antisemitism in medieval Europe. From the Nazis in the 20th century to current alt-right movements, many of history's and modernity's

Structural Antisemitism with Magda Teter

Guest scholar Magda Teter discusses structural antisemitism, or the laws, policies, institutional practices and entrenched norms which single out Jews and discriminate ag

The World of Sephardic Food

Jewish food is no longer confined to what you'd find on a deli menu. Bourekas, shakshuka, adafina, jachnun, and harira have claimed their place on the Jewish dining table

When Life's a Drag: A Look into the History of Jews & Cross-Dressing

Every year on Purim, Jews around the world stage shpiels, or plays, that not only feature people in costumes, but cross-dressing as well. These Purim events have allowed

Death & Community: Jewish Burial Societies

The Jewish life cycle includes rituals and customs to mark major rites of passage – birth, coming of age, marriage and parenthood. Likewise, there are traditions of how t

Around the World with Jewish Newspapers

In this episode, host Erin Phillips and guest scholars Zachary Baker, Philip Keisman, and Devin E. Naar discuss four Jewish newspapers from across the 19th and 20th centu

Alternative Zions: The Jewish Territorialist Movement

The quest for a homeland, to journey from bondage and persecution, has been inherent to Jewish history for as long as it's been told. In this episode, join scholars Laura

What Makes Someone Jewish?

In this episode, host Avishay Artsy and guest scholars Noah Feldman, Susannah Heschel, and Shaul Magid consider what makes someone Jewish by asking three questions: What

Jewish Head Coverings: A Blessing On Your Head

The yarmulke has become an almost universal symbol of Judaism; however, Jews around the world cover their heads and hair in many different ways, including hats, wigs, and

Introducing the AJS Critical Sources Podcast

As a listener of Adventures in Jewish Studies, we hope you'll also listen to the new AJS podcast, Critical Sources. Critical Sources features Jewish studies scholars di

Yiddish Socialists and the Garment Industry

A century ago, Jews were at the center of the American garment industry and at the forefront in the battle for those workers' rights. In this episode, host Avishay Artsy

Rethinking Holocaust Education

A sharp rise in antisemitic incidents has led to increased calls for mandatory Holocaust education. In this episode, host Avishay Artsy speaks with educators Sarah Ellen

Jews in Colonial America

This episode of Adventures in Jewish Studies explores the lives of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews who settled in what are now the states of Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania,

Jewish Pilgrimages

Throughout the world, Jewish diaspora communities set out on pilgrimages to visit holy sites in search of wisdom, healing, and blessings. But these pilgrimage journeys, n

The Many Lives of Kabbalah

Kabbalah, one of Judaism's most sacred schools of thought, has served as a wellspring of Jewish faith, a portal to mystical knowledge, and a bridge for intercultural and