IN Jewish History

In this episode of "In Jewish History", Benjamin Franz discusses Jewish Sephardic culture in Indiana, his family's role in the Jewish and kosher cuisine of the area, Hebrew National, and the people and events of Etz Chaim Sephardic Congregation of Indianapolis.

In this episode, Daniel Schulman discusses his book, The Money Kings: The Epic Story of Jewish Immigrants Who Transformed Wall Street and Shaped Modern America . Focusing on the financial dynasties of Joseph Seligman, Solomon Loeb, and Marcus Goldman, Schulman talks about the journey of Kuhn & Loeb from Jewish immigrant peddler to shopkeeper to establishing the largest and most well-known inve...

In this podcast episode, Dr. Shari Rabin, a scholar of modern Judaism and American religions and an Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies and Religion at Oberlin College in Ohio discusses Jewish culture and gender roles in Judaism during westward expansion in the United States, which in turn, also expanded American Jewish life in Indiana.

In this episode, Dr. Alanna Cooper, a cultural anthropologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Case Western University in Ohio, discusses her research on Bukharan Jews, Jewish life in Evansville, Indiana, and her interactive mapping project on Jewish Evansville, titled, "Moving Bits and Pieces", which can be viewed here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/st...

In this episode, Sean Lutes talks about his valiant and undaunted efforts to preserve Jewish buildings in the city of Lafayette, Indiana. Tune in to learn about the problems facing historic buildings in Lafayette today, why Sean is passionate about his work, and what can be done in the future to preserve Jewish Lafayette.

In this episode, Brian Shapiro, the owner of Shapiro's Deli in Indianapolis, recounts tales of his family's journey from Czarist Russia to Indiana, their dedication to providing delicious food for the Indianapolis community and beyond, and their relentless endeavors to keep Jewish traditions alive through food. Shapiros Deli is the last remnant of the once flourishing Jewish Immigrant Encl...

Sidney Dunn. Executive VP Emeritus at Alpha Epsilon Pi discusses his time at the helm of the AEPI Jewish Fraternity and its story of rebounding after a period of decline and what this story can tell other Jewish Non-Profits about how understanding historical shifts and trends can help them recover in the Post-Pandemic landscape; Sidney also discusses his work with the Indianapolis Jewish Community...

We join long-time Jewish community member and community organizer Robin Rich who discusses how she discovered a resilient, forward-thinking Jewish community in Gary, Indiana, while working in the Steel industry in Gary, Indiana. Robin also discusses different Jewish individuals who participated in various Labor Movements in Northwest Indiana. We also discuss the struggles that Gary, Indiana, has f...

Jews, since the time of Jacob from the Biblical text, have been described as those who wrestle with the divine its in that vein that Scott Romer shares his story of covering boxing and wrestling matches and working as a photographer for both the local Indianapolis Jewish Community but also for significant figures around the world and discusses his time entering the ring himself for an unexpected b...

Over 20 years ago, Dr. David Silverstein was part of a groundbreaking documentary, "Trembling Before G-d," A film that describes itself as "about gay and lesbian Orthodox Jews trying to reconcile their sexuality with their faith." On the Podcast, Dr. David Silverstein discusses his childhood in the 1960s and 1970s growing up in a tradition-oriented Jewish family in Gary, Indian...

Rabbi Jonathan Stein, a former Rabbi at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, shares his memories of the Free Soviet Jewry Movement and what he brought with him on his trips to meet Soviet Jewish Refuseniks trapped inside the Iron Curtain. 

Small-town Jewish life is essential to understanding the Hoosier States Jewish Past. We meet Lee Shai Weissbach z”l, the foremost expert on small-town Jewish life and History in the Midwest and South, and discuss the pull factors that encouraged Jews to move to small American Towns. 

Few people make contributions that transcend generations and change the landscape of a Community Kurt Simon was one such person. We sit down to talk to Kurt Simon's Biographer, Dr. Gabrielle Robinson, who elegantly writes about A legendary philanthropist who is little known outside of South Bend; Kurt Simon's acts of kindness and instrumental giving helped to make his adopted community of...

Judith Endelman joins us on the Podcast to discuss historical research processes and memories of her seminal 1984 work on the History of the Jewish Community of Indianapolis.  

Rabbi David Gerber joins us to discuss his time in Kokomo, Indiana, writing a History of the Jewish Community of Kokomo going back to its founding in 1942 as a student Rabbi working with Temple B'nai Israel and the local Prison population.

Listen to Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize winner in Economics, discuss growing up in Gary, Indiana, and his family's Jewish life. Joseph discusses what inspired his passion for Civil Rights and his thoughts about the economic futures of Rust Belt Cities like Gary, Indiana.  Pictured: Temple Beth El in Gary, where Joseph Stiglitz attended Synagogue as a child.

Noted author Eric Kimmel shares his passion and inspiration as a Jewish writer, his experiences in Indiana, and exploring his Ukrainian Jewish Heritage. Eric wrote such beloved books as "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins."

In this episode of IN Jewish History, we have a guest whose service to the United States is incredible. Rear Adm Rabbi Harold Robinson was Rabbi of Temple Israel of Gary, Indiana, 1974-1977. A true innovator and trailblazer, Rabbi Robinson was the first Rabbi and non-Protestant to serve as chair of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces. And as Director of JWB Jewish Chaplains Cou...

We are joined by Rabbi Dr. Gary Zola, Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives, as we discuss how some of Indiana's early Rabbis were trailblazers who shaped the future of American Judaism.  Pictured Rabbi Bernhard Felsenthal 

Warren Rosenberg, Professor Emeritus from Wabash College, discusses what it was like being one of the few Jews in a small Indiana Town and how being a Professor at an All-Male College with few Jews informed many of his ideas about Jewish Masculinity and the role of the Jew in American pop culture.  

Michael speaks with William Lasser, author of "Benjamin V. Cohen: Architect of the New Deal" We learn how a shy genius from Muncie, Indiana, shaped World History and Legal Policy with legislation that still shapes our lives. 

Caitlin and Alex from The Shapell Roster Project discuss discoveries about Indiana's Jewish Service Members in the US Civil War. 

Professor Carl Zimring, an Environmental Historian from the Pratt Institute and the author of Cash for Your Trash: Scrap Recycling in America (Rutgers University Press, 2005), discusses how Scrap Metal is an integral part of the American Jewish Experience. And why Scrape Metal was so important to Jews in Indiana. 

Historian Dr. Rabbi Lance Sussman was a three-year Rabbinic student who served the Jewish Community of Richmond Indiana almost 40 years ago. Rabbi Sussman published a History of the community with the Indiana Jewish Historical Society in 1981 called "The Emergence of a Jewish Community in Richmond, Indiana." We talk about the uniqueness of Of Temple Beth Boruk in Richmond Indiana where Rabbi Sussm...

Dr. Jack Glazier discusses his book "Dispersing the Ghetto" About how a Group of Wealthy German Jewish American Philanthropists sent Eastern. European Jewish Immigrants westward to destinations such as Indiana, including small towns without Jewish communities in an attempt to assimilate them into American society and to find the Jewish Immigrants work from the 1910s to the early 1920s, please list...