Who Jew Think You Are

Our Guest Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca is a poet, teacher and the daughter of Nissim Ezekiel , widely regarded as the father of modern Indian poetry in English. Kavita means ‘Poem’ in Sanskrit. Born in Bombay into a Bene Israel family, Kavita grew up in multilingual family, encouraged to respect the many faiths in her community, and where her father made a deliberate choice not to follow the wave of Be...

Recorded live at Jewish Book Week in March 2026, this conversation brings together two writers whose books map Jewish histories that rarely make it onto the festival circuit. With a sold-out crowd at Kings Place in London, Samantha Ellis and Jordan Salama talk about language, loss, food, family archives, and what it means to carry more than one Jewish story at once. Our Guests Samantha Ellis is a...

Our Guest Linda Dangoor is a designer, painter and ceramicist, and the author of two cookbooks. Flavours of Babylon (first published 2011) celebrates the recipes of her Baghdadi Jewish heritage. Her second book, From the Tigris to the Thames ( Green Bean Books , 2025), is part memoir, part cookbook, tracing her journey from Baghdad through Beirut, London, Ibiza and Paris. Praised by Yotam Ottoleng...

About This Episode Daniel Jonas (guest from S2) got in touch having listened to every episode of "Who Jew Think You Are?" He had questions - 4 of them - just in time for Passover.  Questions about the assumptions and biases Eylan has, and what he’s learned from two seasons of conversations. This is the result: an episode where the host becomes the guest, and is held to account for views on fa...

Spring is in the air and Eylan has news about Season 3. Thank you for subscribing, and for your support of the podcast! You'll get the new episodes arrive as they arrive from April, lucky you. If you know someone who is Jewish, Jew'ish, or Jew-Curious why not share this podcast feed with them, so they can join us in the Jewniverse! There are articles, extras and a community space on Substack - so...

In the Season 2 finale, host Eylan Ezekiel pauses to reflect on the journey of Who Jew Think You Are? - from its origins as a personal quest for connection, to a broader exploration of Jewish futures.   Reviewing the contributions of guests across the season, Eylan discusses how the events of October 7th shifted the conversation from recovery to reckoning, the generational divides around...

Claudia Mendoza shares the story of growing up in northwest London with a Jewish identity shaped by both Ashkenazi and Adeni (Mizrahi/Sephardi) roots. From Shabbat tables filled with tamarind, fenugreek, and Arabic-inflected Hebrew, to vivid family memories of escape from Aden, Claudia reflects on what it means to carry multiple Jewish histories at once. Our Guest Claudia Mendoza is Chief Executiv...

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 generatio...

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 Guest As 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...

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, le...

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 Guest Dr. Isaac Amon is an attorney and counselor at law, Adjunct Professor at Washington University School of Law in St...

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 o...

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.

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 ed...

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 challeng...

With Professor Yakov Yadgar as our guide, we explore how nation-states, particularly Israel, shape and sometimes constrain Jewish identities while emphasising the importance of celebrating diverse histories and practices, especially those of Mizrahi heritage. Our guest Yaacov Yadgar is a Professor of Israel Studies at Oxford School of Global & Area Studies and Oxford Department of Politics &am...

In this special Passover bonus episode, Penny Rabiger and Eylan Ezekiel share their Pesach traditions and the meaning of this festival, often referred to as 'Jewish Christmas'. If you are Jew-curious, you'll learn a little more about why this festival means so much to Jews, of all flavours - and ... if you are Jewish, it's a chance to reflect on the way we make meaning from the Exodus story. Thank...

In this final episode of Season 1, Penny Rabiger and Eylan Ezekiel review the guests and the learning from their travels through the Jewniverse (so far!). They also consider the impact of October 7th on the question this podcast poses - and how it has informed the guests and plans for Season 2. We'd love to hear from you if you think your have a Jewish identity that struggles to be heard - whether...

British Black Jews - Kenneth Awele Okafor Our travels in the Jewniverse takes us to meet Kenneth Awele Okafor, a British Black Jew, and architect. Kenneth and Eylan talk about discovering faith, lost Jewish histories and hope for the future.  You can read more about Kenneth in an article for The Voice: https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/features-news/2022/06/03/black-jews/ Black Hebrew Israe...

In this episode of Who Jew Think You Are? , Philip Arditti - actor and writer - was in conversation with Penny Rabiger and Eylan Ezekiel. They explored Philip's Turkish Jewish heritage and how that translates into his Artivism. Find out more about Philip Arditti: https://philiparditti.com/ Philip’s creative projects: https://www.menaarts.uk/ https://www.arcolatheatre.com/ History of (Jews in) Turk...

Dr Ophira Gamliel talks to Eylan Ezekiel about her Yememi heritage, the role of Jewish identities in culture, and the historical and modern place of Asian Jews. A transcript of the conversation is here Dr Ophira Gamliel at the University of Glasgow https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/critical/staff/ophiragamliel/ Ophira on Twitter https://twitter.com/OphiraGamliel Food: Jachnun https://en.wikipedia.org/...

“Other within the Other” - with Carol Isaacs The Surreal McCoy - AKA Carol Isaacs https://www.thesurrealmccoy.com/ The Wolf of Baghdad - Book/Graphic Novel https://myriadeditions.com/books/the-wolf-of-baghdad/ Educator Guide for Wolf of Baghdad https://www.mattreingold.ca/_files/ugd/b5e5dd_008584d7a470469a840e17c8c961137d.pdf Growing up Mizrahi - Short Documentary https://ukjewishfilm.org/film/gro...

Dr Yohai Hakak talked to Eylan Ezekiel about growing up Mizrahi and secular in Israel. This episode was recorded in May 23. Yohai Hakak Brunel profile   “How Does the Social Work?”podcast Iraqi Jewish histories Mizrahi Jews in Israel Sabich recipe  Hamin   - more food! Cholent  - even more food!! Orientalism   More about Eylan Ezekiel here and More about Penny Rabiger here...

Penny Rabiger and Eylan Ezekiel explore the definitions, histories, and experiences of Jews of Mizrahi heritage. A transcript is available here . Wikipedia article about Mizrahi Jews Orientalism - Edward Said The Wandering Jew Dhimmi Malawach  Israeli Black Panthers Does Israel still discriminate against Mizrahi Jews? - Jerusalam Post article Hen Mazzig - activist and author of  The Wron...

An interview with Nina, about her Tunisian Jewish heritage.  A full transcript of this episode is available here Some of the things we talked about: French movie mentioned at the start - “La vérité si je mens” / “Would I lie to you?”  Mizz Raqi - club night View of the Mizz Raqi night Pkeïla (beef stew)  Brik / or “brick à l’oeuf” (egg brick)   Labour camps in Tunisia &nbs...