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  • Memory as Resistance - Eliaz Reuben-Dandeker

    Memory as Resistance - Eliaz Reuben-Dandeker
    2025/10/17
    Eliaz Reuben-Dandeker shares his personal and ancestral journey as a modern-day Bene Israel man living in Israel. From synagogue melodies to family recipes, and his travels in India and around the world to document a history before it disappears - Eliaz reflects on what it means to honour multiple identities in a world that often demands we choose just one. His story spans continents and generations, challenging assumptions about Jewishness, ethnicity, and belonging.Our GuestEliaz Reuben-Dandeker is a historian, writer, and artist based in Israel. His work explores heritage, identity, and cultural memory. He has authored several books and continues to document the stories of the Bene Israel community through writing, teaching, and public speaking.Key TopicsRace & Recognition: The tensions and questions Eliaz has faced around his appearance and background in different spacesTradition & Resistance: Why Eliaz insists on preserving accents, melodies, and rituals that others might dismiss or forgetCulture Through Food: From Passover samosas to homemade chai, Eliaz shares what's on his pl99ate.Pluralism & Belonging: A powerful story about being told to “just be Jewish” and how Eliaz responds by embracing his whole identityYour GuideShort definitions of terms and traditions mentioned in this episode:Bene Israel: one of the largest and oldest Jewish groups originating from India. Bene Israel translates to ‘children of Israel’ in Hebrew.Matza: Unleavened bread eaten during PassoverMelida: A Bene Israel ceremonial gathering often held to honour milestones or life events (Recipe here)Eliyahu Hanavi / Hanabi: Elijah the Prophet, a central figure in Jewish tradition and to the Melida ceremonyWant to learn more? Listen to previous episodes where we discuss identity.S2E1: Discussing diverse Jewish national identities with Yaacov Yadgar S2E7: “Being Seen Matters” with Yaffa Judah - another Bene Israel experienceReferences & ResourcesA video with Eliaz explaining more about Bene Israel heritage on his Youtube channelFind us elsewhere, here!Show creditsHost / Producer: Eylan EzekielPost-production: Communicating for ImpactArtwork: Emily TheodoreMusic: Aleksafor utransndr KarabanovSound effects: Serge Quadrado Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    36 分
  • Dream and still rise - Michael Lemotey

    Dream and still rise - Michael Lemotey
    2025/10/03
    Michael Lomotey shares the story of growing up between Black, Ghanaian, British, and Jewish worlds, and how memories of Shabbat silence, Hebrew books, and family traditions shaped his sense of belonging.Our GuestAs a young adult Michael Lomotey worked as a kosher larder chef in London, and moved on to be a farm mechanic in Ghana. Michael is of Ghanaian and English heritage and was raised on the sink estates of East and West Hull, learning resistance, class solidarity and activism there. He’s currently a doctoral researcher in the final stages of his PhD research at the University of Southampton, looking at how climate change impacts upon Black and marginalised communities. Impact is key to Michael, finding solutions that are emancipatory.Key TopicsBelonging without Tokenism: Finding a synagogue community that embraces diversity and dialogueShabbat as Wellbeing: Why switching off is “the greatest environmental move”Your GuideShort definitions and terms referenced in this episode:Ahulԑ Tᴐlᴐ / nkantenkwan: Ghanaian Peanut Stew. Recipe here (thanks to Michael)Devar Torah: A short commentary or teaching based on the weekly Torah portionPluralism: The act of embracing multiple perspectives and truths within a communityWant to learn more?Explore past episodes that also reflect on language, memory, and identity:S2E6 – Endangered, Not Erased with Samantha EllisS1E10 – British Black Jews - a conversation with Kenneth Awele OkaforReferences & ResourcesMichael Lomotey’s Dvar Torah For Parashat Tazria-MetzoraDr Louis Gordon – Scholar of philosophy and Jewish studies; writes on anti-Blackness and pluralismDr Dina Lupin - Associate professor whose interests include environmental and human rights law, silencing, and epistemic injustice.Rabbi John D. Rayner – Liberal rabbi whose writings shaped Michael’s reflections on Judaism as “an attitude to reality”Lomotey (2024), Antiblackness in Flood Risk in Hull: The Afterlife of Colonialism, in Confronting Climate Coloniality, 2024, ed., Prof. Farhana Sultana.https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003465973-14/antiblackness-flood-risk-hull-michael-lomoteyFind us elsewhere, here!Show creditsHost / Producer: Eylan EzekielPost-production: Communicating for ImpactArtwork: Emily TheodoreMusic: Aleksafor utransndr KarabanovSound effects: Serge Quadrado Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    46 分
  • Endangered, Not Erased - Samantha Ellis

    Endangered, Not Erased - Samantha Ellis
    2025/09/19
    Samantha Ellis shares the story of growing up in London as the daughter of Iraqi Jewish refugees and how language, food, and memory helped shape a strong sense of identity in a world that often didn’t understand it. From rediscovering her heritage through writing, to reflecting on what gets passed down (and what doesn’t), Samantha invites us into an honest and powerful conversation about exile, legacy, and the things that hold us together.Our GuestSamantha Ellis is a writer and playwright based in London. Born to Iraqi Jewish parents, Samantha explores themes of identity, loss, and cultural preservation in her work — most recently through her powerful memoir, Chopping Onions on My Heart.Key TopicsLanguage as Identity: How Judeo-Iraqi Arabic shaped Samantha’s worldview and what it means when a language is no longer passed onExile & Silence: Why some family stories are left untold and what it means to speak anywayGenerational Trauma & Healing: How memory, ritual, and storytelling can carry both pain and repairFood & Inheritance: From black eggs to aubergine sandwiches, how food brings connection across generations — and why recipes may outlast languagesYour GuideShort definitions and terms referenced in this episode:Judeo-Iraqi Arabic: A historically spoken dialect of Arabic used by Jews in Iraq; now highly endangeredBlack eggs (brown eggs): Eggs slow-cooked overnight with onion skins, often served for ShabbatRosh Hashanah Seder: A New Year ritual practised in some Mizrahi communities, involving symbolic foods and blessingsSofér: A Jewish scribe who writes and repairs Torah scrollsWant to learn more?Explore past episodes that also reflect on language, memory, and identity:S1E6 - Other within the Other with Carol Isaacs S1E7 – Identity is Overrated with Ophira GamlielReferences & ResourcesSamantha Ellis, Chopping Onions on My Heart: On Losing and Preserving Culture (2025), Chatto & WindusOxford School of Rare Jewish Languages – Offers online courses in Judeo-Arabic and other endangered Jewish languagesSarah Sassoon, Shoham's Bangle (2022). Kar-Ben Publishing – A children’s picture book about an Iraqi Jewish family’s migrationKeith Kahn-Harris, Everyday Jews: Why The Jewish People Are Not Who You Think They Are (2025). Icon BooksFind us elsewhere, here!Show creditsHost / Producer: Eylan EzekielPost-production: Communicating for ImpactArtwork: Emily TheodoreMusic: Aleksafor utransndr KarabanovSound effects: Serge Quadrado Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    49 分
  • “Unity through diversity” - Dr Isaac Amon

    “Unity through diversity” - Dr Isaac Amon
    2025/06/06
    Dr Isaac Amon shares how his diverse Sephardi, Mizrachi, and Ashkenazi heritage have shaped his sense of identity. From Istanbul to the American Midwest, Isaac reflects on how his family's stories, languages, food, and community influence his connection to Jewish life. Our GuestDr. Isaac Amon is an attorney and counselor at law, Adjunct Professor at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, and Director of Academic Research at Jewish Heritage Alliance, an educational platform dedicated to promoting the legacy of Sefarad, or Iberian Jewry. Isaac is also Director of Academic Research at the Jewish Heritage Alliance, which aims to preserve and share the history of Sephardi and Mizrachi Jews. Key TopicsNavigating Identity: How Isaac’s family history blends diverse Jewish roots, creating a rich but often challenging sense of belonging.Language and Culture: The role of multilingualism within Isaac’s family and how language shapes identityChallenging Normativity: The experience of living as a Sephardi Jew in predominantly Ashkenazi spaces and the ongoing struggle for inclusionYour guideShort definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:Ladino: A Judeo-Spanish language spoken by Sephardi Jews.Kaddish: A prayer recited in memory of the dead, with variations between communities.Burekas: Savory pastries filled with cheese, spinach, or potatoes, common in Sephardi and Mizrachi Jewish cuisines.Shakshuka: A dish of poached eggs in a spicy tomato and pepper sauce, popular in Sephardi and Mizrachi cultures.Passover Brown Eggs: Eggs boiled in onion skins, a Sephardi Passover tradition.Want to learn more? Listen to previous episodes where we discuss identity.S2E1: Discussing diverse Jewish national identities with Yaacov Yadgar S1E7: Languages and Identities challenged by Ophira GamlielReferences & ResourcesJewish Heritage Alliance - An organisation preserving and promoting Sephardi and Mizrachi Jewish historyARTICLE “Five-Hundred Years in the Life of the Amon Family: From the surrender of Spain to the court of Suleiman the Magnificent and beyond, they were there” – Published, National Library of Israel Blog, December 2020VIDEO: “Crossroads of Sefarad: In the Footsteps of the Crypto-Jews,” created jointly by Jewish Heritage Alliance and ANU Museum of the Jewish PeopleFind us elsewhere, here!Show creditsHost / Producer: Eylan EzekielPost-production: Communicating for ImpactArtwork: Emily TheodoreMusic: Aleksafor utransndr KarabanovSound effects: Serge Quadrado Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    44 分
  • "Everything needs to change" - Daniel Jonas

    "Everything needs to change" - Daniel Jonas
    2025/05/23

    With Daniel Jonas as our guide, we explore how Sephardi traditions merge with philosophy, language, and music to form a personal and uniquely ‘alive’ sense of Jewish identity.


    Our guest

    Meet Daniel Jonas, a corporate innovation expert, leader of interfaith dialogue, and prominent figure in London's Sephardic community—a path that has led him to explore his Iraqi-Indian heritage and the influence of Judeo-Arabic culture.


    Key topics

    • Language and Identity: How language, particularly Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic, has shaped Daniel's Jewish expression.
    • The Need for Change: Daniel advocates for systemic changes within communities and institutions to include the diversity of what it means to be Jewish.


    Your guide

    Short definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:

    • Kippah / Yarmulke - a brimless Jewish skullcap with variations in design and placement. Similar to a Kufi or Taquiya in Islam
    • Amba - a delectable tangy mango pickle condiment of Baghdadi Jewish origin
    • Reform Judaism - Jewish denomination that emphasises autonomy, and adapting to modern life.


    Want to learn more? Listen to previous episodes where we discuss identity.

    • S1E1 The Big Three Origin Stories


    References & Resources


    • Los Desterrados - A London band with a rootsy take on the ancient folk music of the Sephardic Jews.
    • Nahamu - an organisation dedicated to combating religious extremism within the Jewish community
    • 3yin - a London-based ground-breaking band that performs the music of the Jewish communities of the Middle East and North Africa


    Dive deeper into the Jewniverse

    Subscribe to our Substack


    Who Jew you think you are?

    Share your story

    Find us elsewhere, here!


    Show credits

    Host / Producer: Eylan Ezekiel

    Post-production: Communicating for Impact

    Artwork: Emily Theodore

    Music: Aleksafor utransndr Karabanov

    Sound effects: Serge Quadrado

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    40 分
  • Season 2 Trailer

    Season 2 Trailer
    2025/05/14

    Season 2 is here! This trailer explains why the conversations in the podcast are so important. Now, more than ever.

    Find us elsewhere, here!


    Show credits

    Host / Producer: Eylan Ezekiel

    Post-production: Communicating for Impact

    Artwork: Emily Theodore

    Music: Aleksafor utransndr Karabanov

    Sound effects: Serge Quadrado

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 分
  • “Being Seen Matters” - Yaffa Judah

    “Being Seen Matters” - Yaffa Judah
    2025/05/09

    Yaffa Judah reflects on growing up between worlds—navigating her Indian and English heritage, attending Ashkenazi schools while rooted in Bene Israel culture, and marrying into a Moroccan Jewish family. Yaffa shares how music, memory, and food have shaped her identity and how she’s working to create inclusive Jewish spaces for others.


    Our Guest

    Yaffa Judah is a community organiser, creative and educator passionate about celebrating Jewish diversity and creating spaces where all Jews feel they belong.


    Key Topics

    • Mixed Heritage: How growing up with Indian and English Jewish heritage shaped Yaffa’s understanding of what it means to be Jewish.
    • Jew-ish in Ashkenazi Spaces: Yaffa reflects on being “an ethnic minority within an ethnic minority” and the experience of feeling othered.
    • Celebrating Difference: From leading inclusive student events at university to sharing Bene Israel traditions today, Yaffa is actively widening the circle.
    • Beyond the Norm: Yaffa explores how labels like “Sephardi” are sometimes used as a catch-all that doesn’t reflect the whole picture.


    Your Guide

    Short definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:

    • Bene Israel - One of the oldest Jewish communities in India
    • Selichot - Prayers recited during holidays with variations between communities
    • Minhag “Everyone should feel welcome—even if they’re just Jew-ish”- A custom or tradition in Jewish practice
    • Adani - community originally from Aden, Yemen, known for their unique pronunciation and liturgical style


    Want to learn more?

    Explore earlier episodes on Jewish identity and inclusion:

    S2E1: Diverse Jewish Stories with Yaacov Yadgar

    S2E4: Classical Sephardi Culture with Daniel Jonas - to follow soon


    References & Resources

    • Gate of Mercy Synagogue – the oldest synagogue in Mumbai, built in 1796
    • JDC Entwine – A global service organisation where Yaffa led intercultural events

    Illustrated Guide to a Jew in India by Solomon Devika – A fun visual storytelling project about Indian Jewish history

    Find us elsewhere, here!


    Show credits

    Host / Producer: Eylan Ezekiel

    Post-production: Communicating for Impact

    Artwork: Emily Theodore

    Music: Aleksafor utransndr Karabanov

    Sound effects: Serge Quadrado

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    45 分
  • "I tick a lot of boxes" - Shelley Silas

    "I tick a lot of boxes" - Shelley Silas
    2025/04/25

    In this deeply personal episode, Shelley Silas guides us through her intricate journey of Jewish identity, shaped by her unique heritage, family dynamics, and the profound impact of loss.


    Our Guest

    Shelley Silas is a playwright and storyteller whose work delves into the nuances of identity and cultural belonging. Her plays, including "Calcutta Kosher," reflect her diverse heritage and the challenges of navigating multiple identities.


    Key Topics

    • Multifaceted Identity: Exploring the intersection of Baghdadi Jewish heritage, Indian roots, and LGBTQ+ identity.
    • Family and Loss: How significant life events, especially the loss of family members, reshape one's understanding of Jewish identity and cultural practices.


    Your guide

    Short definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:

    • Sephardi - Jews descended from Iberia and the Spanish diaspora
    • Ashkenazi: Jewish people descended from Germany and Northern France
    • Mizrahi: Jews from the Middle East and North Africa
    • Shul: Yiddish word for synagogue
    • Kippah: A small skull cap worn by Jewish men


    Want to learn more? Listen to previous episodes where we discuss identity.

    • S1E1 The Big Three Origin Stories
    • S1E7 “Identity is overrated” with Dr Orphira Gamliel

    References & Resources


    • The Royal Literary Fund - Shelley Silas's profile and works, including "Calcutta Kosher"
    • Jewish Museum London - blog entitled Understanding the Indian Baghdadi Jews


    Dive deeper into the Jewniverse

    Subscribe to our Substack


    Who Jew Think You Are? Your turn!

    Share your story



    Find us elsewhere, here!


    Show credits

    Host / Producer: Eylan Ezekiel

    Post-production: Communicating for Impact

    Artwork: Emily Theodore

    Music: Aleksafor utransndr Karabanov

    Sound effects: Serge Quadrado

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    34 分