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Wandering Jews: A Travel Podcast That Entertains & Informs
Travel far enough and you meet yourself
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 To
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26. Do You Want To Know A Secret? Belmonte, Portugal And The Legacy Of Its ‘Secret’ Jews
23:41||Season 1, Ep. 26High 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 ReadingPortugal, Echoes of a Jewish PastBelmonte: A Reporter Revisits An Anusim CommunityThe Converso History
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25. The Start-Up Laundry: The Ayalon Institute and the Kibbutz Laundry Room that Created the State of Israel
22:44||Season 1, Ep. 25Israel 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 ReadingThe Ayalon Institute: The Secret Facility Hidden Under a Kibbutz LaundryWhy Did American Jews Smuggle Guns Into Palestine?Israel’s Defense Industries: From Clandestine Workshops to Global Giants24. From Noach’s First Vine to Israel’s Finest Wines: A Sip Through Jewish History
30:49||Season 1, Ep. 24Wine 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-winehttps://www.sefaria.org.il/sheets/601017?lang=bihttps://www.timeout.com/israel/things-to-do/the-israeli-wine-listhttps://www.ice.edu/blog/wines-of-israel23. For All Those In Need: Agriculture, Innovation, and Working for Food Justice
27:24||Season 1, Ep. 23The 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 IsraelLeket Israel - Rescuing nutritious surplus food for those in needPantry Packers - Providing nutritional support to Israel's neediest families22. Tel Aviv: Not Just Another City
30:54||Season 1, Ep. 22Tel 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 its celebration of the Zionist new normal.Links for Additional Reading:How Did Tel Aviv Become a Beacon For Stunning Bauhaus Architecture? Elizabeth Warkentin, Architecture + Design, 25 September 2019,The Mythography of Tel Aviv, Maoz Azaryahu and Jonathan Silver. Mosaic, 17 November 20222Tel Aviv: Israel's Cultural and Financial Capital, History of Israel Explained, Unpacked21. The Divine Peak: Hermon’s Sacred Snowy Secrets
29:35||Season 1, Ep. 21Mount 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 ReadingMount Hermon – A General OverviewMount Hermon – Jewish Virtual LibraryDruze Lives Matter | Real Talk Marissa Streit sits with Rania Dean and Omar Nasser20. Mahane Yehuda Market: With All Five Senses
22:44||Season 1, Ep. 20Much 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 ReadingThe Complete Guide to the Machane Yehuda Market100 Years Of Photographs At Machane Yehuda Market, Israel21C, Naama Barak, 23 July 2023Zooming In On The History Of Jerusalem's Iconic Machane Yehuda Market, i24NewsEnglish