Jewish History Nerds
Whoever said history was boring clearly never heard these stories… Welcome to Jewish History Nerds! Join hosts Yael and Schwab each week as they take a dive into some deep cuts of Jewish history. From the Jewish Da Vinci Code to mass suicide pacts, explore true stories that feel larger than life.
Episodes
"Bronx Man Leads Russian Revolution": Trotsky Revisited
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Leon Trotsky was one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century, and one of history’s most reluctant Jews. Born Lev Bronstein in Ukraine, he rejected his Je
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Before Jews Danced With the Torah: The Lost Simchat Torah Tradition
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More than 400 years ago, Rivka Tiktiner wrote the earliest known full-length published work by a Jewish woman. She also created a Simchat Torah poem that reveals how women helped prepare Torah scrolls for the holiday
The Jewish History Hiding in Japan and Korea
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How did Jews escaping the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions end up in Japan? Dr. Henry Abramson joins Yael and Schwab for a special bonus episode to uncover the surprising story o
How America Changed the Jewish People
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Historian Dr. Henry Abramson usually works behind the scenes, but this week he joins Yael and Schwab to explore what makes the American Jewish experience unique. Together, they refle
Why Did Sammy Davis Jr. Become Jewish?
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Sammy Davis Jr. was already one of America's biggest entertainers when he made a choice few expected. He converted to Judaism. His journey began with a car crash that nearly killed h
Al Jolson and The Jazz Singer: The Jewish Story Behind Hollywood’s First Talkie
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Al Jolson was the biggest star in America, a Jewish immigrant who left the synagogue behind to conquer Broadway and Hollywood. Jonathan Schwab guides Yael Steiner through his journey
She Spoke from the Pulpit Before Women Could. Revisiting Ray Fank
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As we look back at Jews in the Americas for the 250th, we’re revisiting the story of Ray Frank. Long before women were ordained as rabbis, Ray Frank was already doing something almos
How a Plate of Shrimp Changed American Judaism
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The infamous 1883 Trafa Banquet was meant to celebrate America's first ordained rabbis. But a menu of shrimp, clams, oysters, and frog's legs in cream ignited a firestorm that change
Anarchism, Feminism...and Judaism? Revisiting Emma Goldman
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As we continue our series exploring Jews in American history, we're revisiting our episode on Emma Goldman, the revolutionary Jewish anarchist who helped shape feminism, free speech,
The Statue of Liberty Was Never Meant to Welcome Immigrants
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In part 2, Schwab and Yael explore how Emma Lazarus transformed the Statue of Liberty into a symbol of immigration. As Russian Jewish refugees arrived in New York, the privileged Sep
How One Jewish Poet Changed the Meaning of America
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Emma Lazarus gave the Statue of Liberty its most famous words, but her own life defied the immigrant story she helped define. Born into a wealthy, deeply rooted Jewish American famil
The Jewish Fight Hidden Inside The Constitution
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In Part 2, Yael guides Schwab through what happened after the Revolution, as America's 2,500 Jews became citizens of a brand new nation.
America promised religious freedom, but for Jews in
The Forgotten Jews of the American Revolution
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In Part 1, Yael and Schwab explore the surprising role Jews played in America’s Revolutionary War. From Chaim Solomon’s critical financial support to Gershom Mendes Seixas bringing his con
Why The First Jews in Colonial America Nearly Vanished
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Before New York became the center of American Jewish life, a small group of Jewish refugees arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654. Fleeing Recife after the Portuguese retook Brazil, they
Jewish Pirates and the Caribbean
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Were there really Jewish pirates in the Caribbean? The answer is far more complicated (and fascinating) than the legend. From Samuel Pallache, the so-called Pirate Rabbi, to the thri
The First Jews in the Americas: Fleeing the Inquisition to Brazil
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Fleeing the Inquisition, Crypto-Jews who had been forced to hide their faith for generations found refuge in Recife, Brazil — and for the first time, rebuilt Jewish life in the open.
What If Rabin Wasn't a Peacenik?
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Yitzhak Rabin remains one of the most consequential and contested figures in Israeli history. In this special crossover between Jewish History Nerds and Unpacking Israeli History, No
The Real Reason Anne Frank Became a Global Symbol
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Anne Frank is one of the most famous Jewish voices in history, but the story behind her diary is far more complex than many realize. June 12 marks Anne Frank’s birthday, and it was o
Was King David a Hero or a Villain?
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Most people know King David as the shepherd who defeated Goliath. But that story is only the beginning. In this special bonus episode of Jewish History Nerds, Yael Steiner and Jonath
New Episodes, Coming Next Week
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Yael and Schwab are back — and this season, they're diving into the history of Jews in the Americas, just in time for the US's 250th birthday. But first: special episodes sponsored by The Jewish Lives Series.
Catch up
Voices of the Warsaw Ghetto: A Yom HaShoah Re-Release
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Yael and Schwab revisit the remarkable story of the Oneg Shabbos archive from the Warsaw Ghetto in honor of Yom HaShoah.
The tins held the second of three caches of the Oneg Shabb
The Haggadah: The Book of the People of the Book
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The Passover Haggadah is one of the most widely used Jewish texts, yet it isn’t a straightforward story. Built from fragments of debates, rituals, and traditions, it evolved over cen
Was Albert Einstein a Zionist?
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In part 2, Schwab and Yael explore Einstein's fight with Nazism, his views on Zionism, and his complicated connection to Israel reveal a side of Einstein most people never hear about. Einstein wasn’t just a scientific
Albert Einstein: Rebel. Reject. Genius.
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In part 1, Schwab and Yael explore the lesser-known Einstein, from failure and fame to Jewish identity, assimilation, and the world that pushed him to see himself differently. Albert
She Spoke from the Pulpit Before Women Could
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Long before women were ordained as rabbis, Ray Frank was already doing something almost unthinkable: speaking from the Jewish pulpit, drawing huge crowds, and changing the future of American Jewish life. In this episod
He Wrote Against Gambling… Then Became Addicted
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Rabbi Leone de Modena was one of the most fascinating figures of Renaissance Jewish history: a prodigy, prolific writer, celebrity preacher in the Venetian ghetto, and a lifelong gambling addict. In this episode of Jew
The Other Hasidim: The Lost Jewish Movement That Rejected Joy
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What happens when a Jewish community lives through mass trauma and turns inward in search of meaning? The Hasidei Ashkenaz were a radical medieval movement known for extreme piety, fasting, penance, and mystical teachi
The Rosenbergs Were Executed, but the Evidence was Thin
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Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were executed in 1953 after being convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage, but the charge was not treason. In this episode of Jewish History Nerds, Yae
The First Jewish Woman to Publish a Book
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Jewish History Nerds heads to early modern Prague to meet Rivka Tiktiner, author of Meneket Rivkah, the earliest full-length published work we have by a Jewish woman. Published posthumously in 1609, it’s a Yiddish ethi
Leon Trotsky: The Reluctant Jew Behind the Russian Revolution
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From his Jewish upbringing in the Russian Empire to Yiddish New York, socialist exile, and revolutionary power, Leon Trotsky’s life raises uncomfortable questions about ideology, identity, and moral certainty. In this
Secret Jews: Samuel Schwarz’s Discovery of Portugal’s Crypto-Jews
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In 1925, mining engineer Samuel Schwarz stumbled onto a secret Jewish community in rural Portugal—families who preserved Jewish identity for centuries under the Portuguese Inquisitio
The Hero Who Chose Children Over His Own Life
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Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner read history in children, tracing the life of Janusz Korczak—a Polish-Jewish pediatrician, writer, and educator who ran orphanages in Warsaw, letting kids write newspapers, hold courts, and live as full human beings. When deportation came, he walked 200 children in two straight lines to t
Jewish History Nerds is BACK!
Jewish History Nerds is back! Hosts Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner return with a new slate of smart, engaging stories from Jewish history—blending deep research with curiosity, humor, and lively conversation. Each week, they take turns exploring a fascinating figure or moment, asking big questions, learning together, and inviting listeners into the journey. This season spans famous and forgotten
Revisiting Hebrew Hammer: The True Story of Hannukah
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Ah, Chanukah. That festive time of year where we light candles, indulge in fried foods, and celebrate… a brutal civil war? Join Yael and Schwab as they complicate the story we all thought we knew. What did the Maccabee
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The JNF Blue Box: How Loose Change Helped Build Israel
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Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner trace how a simple blue tzedakah box became a conduit for diaspora longing and real-world nation building, turning pocket change into forests, land p
The Judensau: The Antisemitic Carving Still on German Churches
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Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner confront the Judensau, a grotesque medieval motif that fuses Jews with pigs in obscene, degrading scenes carved straight into churches and cathedrals. They trace how this single vile im
When Jews Thrived in India: The Cochin Copper Plates
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Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner follow the Cochin copper plates from royal charter to communal touchstone—three hammered sheets of metal inscribed in Tamil and Vattezhuthu that gran
How Rome Used Coins to Humiliate the Jews
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What can a coin tell us about history, power, and identity? Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner read history in metal, tracing the Roman Judaea Capta coins—tiny discs of imperial propaganda stamped with victory goddesses,
The Secret History of Judaism’s Oldest Symbol
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Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner follow the menorah from its molten birth in a single ingot of gold to its afterlife as national emblem, tracing how one luminous object migrated from desert tabernacle to Roman triumph,
How One Kid Accidentally Changed Biblical History
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Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner unroll the Ketef Hinnom amulets—two miniature silver scrolls uncovered when a teenager’s stray hammer strike collapsed a burial chamber on Jerusalem’s ancient fringe. Etched with text s
Unearthing Dura-Europos: The Synagogue Lost in Time
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Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner uncover a synagogue frozen in time—Dura-Europos, buried in desert sand for 1,700 years and revealed with its vivid biblical murals and multilingual inscriptions nearly intact.
From Mose
Buried Secrets: Jewish Magic, Demons, and the Babylonian Incantation Bowls
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Yael and Schwab dig into one of the most fascinating artifacts of Jewish antiquity: the Babylonian incantation bowls. These 5th–6th century earthenware bowls, found primarily in mode
The First Mention of Israel: A Passover Special on the Merneptah Stele
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Yael and Schwab dive into one of the most fascinating—and oldest—archaeological artifacts ever discovered: the Merneptah Stele. We travel back to 1209 BCE to explore this 3,200-year-
Why the Jewish Star Is the Most Loaded Symbol in History
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Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner trace the six-pointed star from elegant geometry to existential symbol—an emblem worn proudly on necklaces, weaponized on yellow badges, and planted at the heart of a modern nation.
Fr
Season 4, Coming Next Week
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Jewish History Nerds is back! Hosts Jonathan Schwab and Yael Steiner are here with a preview of season 4. Get ready to nerd out in a season devoted to the fascinating stories behind objects and symbols from Jewish his
The Secret Jewish Kingdom of...Yemen?
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Ever wonder about the Jewish kings beyond David and Solomon? Join Yael and Schwab as they uncover the intriguing story of a lesser-known monarch from 5th century Yemen. Delve into th
Bertha Pappenheim: Life Beyond a Diagnosis
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Have you ever felt the need to reinvent yourself? To break free from the constraints of expectations and redefine your own path? Join Yael and Schwab as they explore the legacy of Bertha Pappenheim, aka Sigmund Freud's
Rav Saadia Gaon: In Our Gaonic Era
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You may have heard of some of the greats of rabbinic history. But even if you've heard of Rav Sa'adia Gaon, you probably don't know his wild story. Join Yael and Schwab as they dive
The Diary of Glikl: Discovering the Exceptional within the Everyday
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Forget philosophers and historians, welcome to the world of Glikl, an ordinary yet extraordinary Jewish woman from 18th-century Germany. Join Yael and Schwab to explore the diary of Glikl, as she candidly shares her pe
Revisionist Zionism: Jabotinsky's Journey From Vladimir to Ze'ev
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Lately it seems all anyone can talk about is... Zionism. But what even is Zionism? Jump into the world of Revisionist Zionist leader, Vladimir Jabotinsky, exploring his unique, and somewhat paradoxical, vision of zioni
Mystical Hasidism: Hillel Ba'al Shem's Enchanted Journey
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Join Yael and Schwab as they delve into the world of 18th-century Jewish mysticism through the life of Hillel Ba'al Shem and his manuscript "Sefer HaCheshek." Exploring failed miracles and comedic exorcisms with humor
Chronicles of A Talmud Girl Boss
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Embark on a captivating journey through the extraordinary life of Devorah Romm, a pioneering businesswoman in 19th-century Lithuania, who reshaped the literary landscape of Eastern European Jewish communities. Whether
The First Female Rabbi?: Maiden of Ludmir
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Welcome to Ludmir, Ukraine. The year is 1806, and the revolutionary Hannah Rachel Vermermacher, also known as the Maiden of Ludmir, is shaking up the traditional Jewish world. Born into affluence, Hannah Rachel's life
Innovation or Assimilation? The Moses Mendelssohn Story
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Moses Mendelssohn faced the intricate challenges of being a Jew in an enlightened European setting. Despite impactful contributions, his legacy includes challenges faced by his family and questions about the long-term
Graetz's Balancing Act: Modernity and Judaism
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Meet Heinrich Graetz, the trailblazing historian who transformed Jewish history. Born into 19th-century Germany, Graetz challenged norms and bridged the gap between Orthodox and academic worlds. Join us as we unravel G
Season 3, Coming Next Week
We’re back for Season 3. We’ll still be unpacking awesome stories, dialing up the nerdiness, and leaning in to Jewish history. Get ready, and brush up on past episodes.
Are you ready?
Sarah Schenirer: A Revolutionary Traditionalist
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100 years ago, in Krakow, Poland, Sarah Schenirer changed female Jewish education forever. Explore the extraordinary life of Sarah Schenirer, the pioneering force who fearlessly merged tradition and women's rights in O
The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara
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Join Yael and Schwab as we unravel the gripping story of a young Jewish boy forcibly taken from his family by the Catholic Church, sparking international outcry and shaping the course of religious tensions. Discover th
Golden Age of Spanish Jewry: A Tapestry of Coexistence
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Schwab and Yael unravel the vibrant tapestry of the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry, an era of remarkable cultural exchange and collaboration between Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Explore the rich history, intellectual ac
Hannah Szenes: Defiance Amidst Darkness
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In this gripping episode, join Schwab and Yael as they delve into the extraordinary life of Hannah Szenes, a talented Hungarian poet who defied the Holocaust. From her escape to pre-
Wuhsha the Broker: Excavations from the Cairo Geniza
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Discovered in the Cairo Geniza, the story of the remarkable exploits of this 11th century trader push the boundaries of what we may have thought was typical of Jewish women in medieval Egypt. But before we even get the
"Resurrecting" Judaism?: Donato Manduzio's Journey
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Donato Manduzio was just a simple man in an Italian village - until he read the Bible, and began his quest to bring back what he thought was a dead, ancient faith. Not only did Donato embrace Judaism, he convinced seve
Johannes Eisenmenger: Deception, Faith, and Antisemitism
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Learn about the bonkers life of Johannes Eisenmenger, a man who spent 19 years under false pretenses within the Jewish community. Over those 19 years, he meticulously studied the Talmud, and eventually wrote a wild 200
Sarra Coppia Sullam: A 17th Century Queen Esther?
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You might not be quite as big of a fan of epistolary romances as Yael, but you'll still love the story of Sarra Coppia Sullam. Sullam, a Jewish Venetian woman of 17th century, was mo
Emma Goldman: Anarchism, Feminism...and Judaism?
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This week, Schwab and Yael dive into the life and legacy of Emma Goldman, the influential Jewish anarchist activist who made waves in early 20th-century America. Learn about her contributions to the development of femi
Herod the Great: Madness & Majesty
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Delve into the enigmatic life of King Herod the Great, the infamous Judean ruler whose legacy intertwines madness and monumental achievements. Explore his transformative public works projects and unravel the dark side
Season 2 Coming!
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
We’re back!
By popular demand, Jewish History Nerds is back for another season. Wait - what? Jewish History NERDS? That's right. This new name reflects exactly who we - and all of you - are - proud Jewish History nerd
Introducing: Unpacking Israeli History, Season 4!
Jewish History Unpacked introduces another podcast from Unpacked: Unpacking Israeli History. Season 4 just launched, and we're running the first episode here, entitled Ma'alot: 30 Seconds That Devastated A Nation.
It was supposed to be a fun field trip. A little celebration in honor of Israel’s 26th birthday. Over a hundred religious high school students, exploring northern Israel and sleeping un
Babatha: The Jewish Mom of Ancient Times
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
We've talked this season about some biggggg characters. Josephus, Napoleon, Shabbetai Zvi. And this week, meet...Babatha. A wholly unremarkable woman, except for the world she opened up for us through the documents fou
Eternal Outsider: The Uriel D'Acosta Story
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
Every community has its weirdos. And in 17th century Amsterdam, the Jewish community’s resident weirdo was Uriel D’Acosta: converso, refugee, passionate Jew, and… dangerous heretic?
Join Yael and Schwab as they explor
Saul/Paul of Tarsus: Nice Jewish Boy?
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
How did a nice Jewish boy wind up a Christian apostle? Meet Saul/Paul of Tarsus, the man responsible for, well, Christianity.
Like Jesus, Saul was a Jew. But unlike Jesus, Saul preached a completely modified version
Holy Fire: Voices of the Warsaw Ghetto
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
In December of 1950, a construction worker happened upon a cache of old milk tins buried in the Warsaw Ghetto, the contents of which upended our understanding of the Holocaust.
The tins held the second of three caches
Hebrew Hammer: The True Story of Hanukkah
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
Ah, Chanukah. That festive time of year where we light candles, indulge in fried foods, and celebrate… a brutal civil war? Join Yael and Schwab as they complicate the story we all thought we knew. What did the Maccabee
Of Ports, Popes, and Pocketbooks
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition… to have given rise to two of the most powerful Jewish women in history.
You may not have heard of Dona Gracia Mendes or Benvenida Abrabanel. You may not have learned about the v
Khazaria...A Jewish Empire In Europe?
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
Jews don’t seek converts. There are no Jewish missionaries, no street preachers, no televangelists.And yet, Jewish legend tells of an 8th century pagan king who converted his entire empire to Judaism.
Schwab and Yael
Shabbetai Tzvi: A (Bonkers) False Messiah Story
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct. You have to sign up/log in to vote. https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
You've probably never met a character as colorful as Shabbetai Tzvi. The 16th century Jewish mystic and rabbi led thousands of Jews to leave their homes and possessions to follow him
Does 'Liberte, Fraternite, Egalite' Include Jews?
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
When we think about the French Revolution, our mind jumps to Marie Antoinette, Les Miserable, “America’s favorite fighting Frenchman.” We don’t generally think “hey, are Jews even people?” But that was the question on
Josephus: The Man Who "Invented" Jewish History
Jewish History Nerds is a Signal Awards finalist. Vote for us in Listener's Choice by Thu 15 Oct. You have to sign up/log in to vote. https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/history
Josephus Flavius is maybe one of the wildest characters in Jewish history, and that's saying something. That's largely because unlike most historians, he didn't just chronicle the st
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