Best Jewish Women S Archive Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 115: Dr. Ruth's Radical Legacy 22:04

3d ago22:04

22:04

The iconic Dr. Ruth Westheimer died earlier this year at the age of 96. Dr. Ruth was a trailblazer for her candid and joyful talk about sex, regularly using words like "masturbate" and "vibrator" on the air, and talking about sexual pleasure— including women's sexual pleasure—at a time when few others did. In this episode of Can We Talk?, we rememb…

1
Bonus Episode: A Visit to Pine Ridge Reservation 20:22

1M ago20:22

20:22

In this bonus episode, Nahanni Rous shares stories from a trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Nahanni visits a solar energy training center, a skateboarding competition, and the annual Oglala Nation powwow, and meets people who are trying to build a better future, both by innovating and by reclaiming tradition. You can find C…

1
(22) Modern Women’s Midrashim in the Wake of October 7 (Part 2) 39:36

3M ago39:36

39:36

In this episode we continue to study modern midrashim written by women in the wake of October 7 with Tamar Biala, editor of the "Dirshuni" series. Tamar Biala has been collecting and editing modern women’s midrashim for over 20 years and published them as part of the “Dirshuni” series, with two volumes in Hebrew and one in English. The first Hebrew…

1
Episode 114: Can We Talk? 2023-24 Season Wrap 27:17

3M ago27:17

27:17

In this episode of Can We Talk?, Jen, Nahanni, and Judith recap the past two seasons of the podcast, in which we entered the uncharted territory of a post-October 7 world. We discuss our approach to creating episodes about Jewish women’s responses to the attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza, while still making space to tell stories about ot…

1
(21) Modern Women’s Midrashim in the Wake of October 7 (Part 1) 28:10

3M ago28:10

28:10

Tamar Biala has been collecting and editing modern women’s midrashim for over 20 years and published them as part of the “Dirshuni” series, with two volumes in Hebrew and one in English. The first Hebrew volume was co-edited with Nehama Weingarten-Mintz. Since October 7, Biala has received many texts relating to the Hamas attack and its aftermath. …

1
Episode 113: Getting Out Of Gaza 29:32

3M ago29:32

29:32

Since Hamas’s brutal attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, Can We Talk? has focused on Israeli women’s responses to the war. In this episode, we turn our attention to Gaza, where Israel’s sustained bombardment has taken a terrible toll—tens of thousands of people have been killed, nearly two million people have been displaced, and the medical s…

1
(20) Lone soldiers in the IDF 28:34

4M ago28:34

28:34

Thousands of Lone Soldiers come from all over the world to serve in the Israeli army. What caused these brave youngsters to leave everything and come to Israel? Where do they live? Who does their laundry when they get out for weekends? How do they pay rent? Arlene Abrams is a mother of a lone soldier, Efraim. She talks about her son’s experience in…

1
Episode 112: Oral History Showcase: Mollie's Fight for Gay Rights 16:57

4M ago16:57

16:57

Dr. Mollie Wallick didn't set out to be a gay rights activist; she stumbled into the role in 1983, when she was a guidance counselor at Louisiana State University’s medical school in New Orleans. In this episode of Can We Talk?, you’ll hear excerpts from Mollie’s 2005 interview for the “Women Who Dared” oral history project. As we kick off Pride Mo…

1
Episode 111: Ladino Makes a Comeback 22:29

4M ago22:29

22:29

Segun el tiempo, se abolta la vela. That’s a Ladino saying that means, “According to the weather, shift your sail.” And it's an apt way of describing Ladino's recent comeback. Ladino—or Judeo-Spanish—the language spoken by Sephardic Jews in Turkey, Greece and North Africa, saw a major decline after the Holocaust destroyed communities of native spea…

1
Episode 110: Oral History Showcase: Leni's Ladino Legacy 20:26

5M ago20:26

20:26

Lenora LaMarche, better known as Leni, was born in 1921 in the Sephardic Jewish community in Seattle, Washington, after her parents moved there from Rhodes, looking for better economic opportunities. She grew up speaking Ladino, and for over 30 years, she wrote a Ladino column in her synagogue newspaper called "Bavajadas de Ben Adam"—people’s fooli…

1
Episode 109: Oral History Showcase: Ronya's Liberation Story 21:27

5M ago21:27

21:27

When Ronya Schwaab was a young girl, the highlight of her year was preparing for Pesach—the snow was melting, and she got to help bake matzos. Ronya was born in 1909 in Belarus. She grew up amidst the violence and antisemitism of World War I and the Russian Revolution, and immigrated to America as a teenager. As an adult, Ronya devoted her life to …

1
(19) The Challenge of Human Rights after October 7th 31:37

5M ago31:37

31:37

Anne Rethmann, a PhD fellow from Berlin studying at Hebrew University, explains how the notion of “dignity” entered into the discourse on human rights, and describes the gap between individual human rights and collective human rights. Anne also tells us about her personal experience on October 7, and how various countries, particularly Germany, res…

1
(18) The Community of Nigun Halev: Israeli Judaism in Emek Jezreel 26:55

6M ago26:55

26:55

Nigun Halev is a center for Jewish life, ritual, social action, and culture. Rabbi Liora Ezrachi-Vered, Rabbi of Nigun Halev and board member of Tag Meir, talks about their work with Jewish and Arab evacuees of the Galil. https://www.facebook.com/nigunhalev Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now…

1
Episode 108: Queer Klezmer with Isle of Klezbos 20:38

6M ago20:38

20:38

A lot of people love klezmer music and know that it made a big comeback a few decades ago. But not a lot of people know that the klezmer revival of the '70s and '80s was connected to queer Jewish liberation. In this episode of Can We Talk?, we’ll hear about how queer activism fits into the klezmer revival story from Eve Sicular, the drummer and lea…

1
Bonus Episode: The Nightingale of Iran 33:55

6M ago33:55

33:55

Last time on Can We Talk?, we spoke with Danielle and Galeet Dardashti about their new podcast, The Nightingale of Iran, which tells the story of their Persian family's musical legacy. Now, we're sharing the whole first episode with you. Enjoy!By Jewish Women's Archive

1
(17) Resilience After the Unspeakable 34:51

6M ago34:51

34:51

Esther Markus, a social worker and therapist, manager of clinic resilience center of Sdot Negev, and member of Kibbutz Alumim talks to us about her experience on Oct. 7th and the work she has been doing since. The personal tragic story of her husband’s death is part of the bigger story of the horrific attack of Hamas. Support and amplify women's vo…

1
Episode 107: A Persian Family's Musical Legacy 29:12

6M ago29:12

29:12

Danielle and Galeet Dardashti grew up in a very musical family—they had a family band, their father was a cantor, their mother was a folk singer, and their grandfather was a famous singer in “the golden age” of Iran in the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s, with his own show on Iranian national radio. But growing up, they didn’t know much about the Persian sid…

1
(16) Bearing Witness: The National Library’s Archive of October 7 26:01

7M ago26:01

26:01

Hana Cooper, a digital selections collector for the National Library of Israel, collects online materials related to October 7 and the ensuing war for the massive ”Bearing Witness” project. While the library has always collected material on historical events, this is the first time it became actively involved from the start. We learn from Hana the …

1
Episode 106: A Pocket of Hope: Israeli Women Building a Shared Future 28:10

6M ago28:10

28:10

“From the deepest crises come the clearest visions…We're fighting for our lives. We're fighting for our future,” says Sally Abed of Standing Together, a grassroots political movement in Israel. In this episode of Can We Talk?, we hear from Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel who are working on shared society initiatives, even in the midst of …

1
(15) The Gaza War, Women, and Jewish Law 26:20

7M ago26:20

26:20

Dr. Susan Weiss, founder and director of the Center for Women’s Justice, interviews podcast host and to'enet rabbanit Rivkah Lubitch about how Jewish law might affect women in the aftermath of the Gaza war. Susan and Rivkah talk about women who might not be able to get divorced (agunot); women who might need their brother-in-law’s permission to rem…

1
(14) The Impact of the War on Sexual Harassment 30:51

7M ago30:51

30:51

Shana Aaronson is the director of Magen, an organization that services and advocates for victims of sexual abuse in the Orthodox and ultra Orthodox Jewish communities. She speaks about the impact of the Gaza War on her work. She explains how the war has had a triggering affect on women who have experienced sexual abuse in the past; and she describe…

1
(13) The Feminist Act of Archiving Women’s Testimony 27:18

8M ago27:18

27:18

How do we preserve women’s stories, especially those of sexual violence? Dr. Sarai Aharoni delves into the historical, ethical and feminist questions she navigates while archiving women’s testimonies. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women’s Justice.…

1
(12) Arab Women in Israel after October 7th 26:35

8M ago26:35

26:35

Celia Jawabreh, a feminist social activist and educator in the Arab-Israeli community, has a very painful and candid conversation with us. She tells what it is like to grow up as a woman in a patriarchal religious society, and especially how Arab women (and men) are faring since the 7th of October. We learn what it is like to be identified in publi…

1
(11) How Community Rescued and Revived a Kibbutz 27:37

8M ago27:37

27:37

Leader of the Religious Kibbutz Movement Sarah Evron describes the miraculous story of how Kibbutz Sa’ad was spared on October 7th, the challenges of evacuation, and how the community has rallied together in inspiring ways. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women’s Justice…

1
(10) How Do We Help Kids Cope with Wartime Trauma? 45:30

8M ago45:30

45:30

Embedded trauma specialist Lisa Fliegel recounts working with children survivors of October 7th. Drawing on her experiences in three disparate high conflict zones—Israel, Northern Ireland and inner city Boston—Lisa shares insightful and effective ways of responding to children processing trauma. Read about Lisa’s experiences with children survivors…

1
(9) War is No Laughing Matter. Or Is It? 16:24

9M ago16:24

16:24

Why is humor the quintessential Jewish coping mechanism—even during war? Bazy Rubin talks about making funny videos of her struggles as a reservist wife and mom on the home front, and why they resonate with so many right now. Check out Bazy’s funny videos on Facebook and Instagram. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of…

1
(8) Who Pays the Price of Looser Gun Laws? 28:35

9M ago28:35

28:35

Since the start of the war, Israel has drastically loosened and expedited the process for citizens to obtain gun permits. But at what cost? Social worker Tamar Schwartz of Women’s Spirit shares how war affects women victims of domestic violence and warns of the deadly consequences of guns falling into the wrong hands. Support and amplify women's vo…

1
Episode 105: Hear Their Voices: Sexual Violence on October 7 32:27

9M ago32:27

32:27

When Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, they raped, tortured, and mutilated women’s bodies in unimaginable ways. News about the sexual violence emerged within days, but few women’s organizations spoke up to condemn it. Some even questioned whether the claims were true. In this episode of Can We Talk?, we discuss the sexual violence of O…

1
(7) A Volunteer Forensic Pathologist is Called to Action 19:44

9M ago19:44

19:44

What compels a volunteer forensic pathologist to travel all the way from New Zealand to Israel? Dr. Judy Melinek speaks about the crucial role of science in bearing witness to the Hamas attacks on October 7th. Read Dr. Melinek’s firsthand account here. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to t…

1
(6) Does Feminism have an Antisemitism Problem? 33:26

10M ago33:26

33:26

Why do international feminists, who champion human rights and social justice for minorities, seem to have a blind spot when it comes to antisemitism? Feminist icon Dr. Phyllis Chesler shares her experiences confronting antisemitism over decades in feminist activism and academia. Read Dr. Chesler’s article on the silence of feminists regarding Hamas…

1
Episode 104: Crying and Doing: Iris Bahr and her Aging Mother 22:48

10M ago22:48

22:48

Iris Bahr was halfway around the world when she saw her mother having a stroke over video chat. Within days, she was on an airplane, uprooting her life to become her mother’s primary caregiver. The stroke led to vascular dementia– an irreversible condition. Iris is a writer and actor and chronicles the story in a poignant—and funny— one-woman show …

1
(5) Who Supports the Home Front? 33:05

10M ago33:05

33:05

While the home front supports the military, who supports the home front? Yael Yechieli shares how an innovative volunteer database facilitates critical support for the women and families back home. Learn more about the volunteer database, Anchor for the Reserve Families, and the 50-50 Partnership for Equity. Support and amplify women's voices by co…

1
Episode 103: Kugels and Collards: The Southern Jewish Table 26:02

10M ago26:02

26:02

Food can be a vehicle for telling stories, connecting with people, and understanding our history—including the uncomfortable parts. In this episode of Can We Talk?, Jen Richler heads to Charleston, South Carolina to learn about Southern Jewish history through the lens of food. Over a home-cooked meal, Jen talks with Rachel Gordin Barnett and Lyssa …

1
(4) Terrorists at the Door: 20 Hours in Hiding with my Children 17:31

10M ago17:31

17:31

Atar Maor recounts a harrowing 20 hours spent hiding in the closet with her two young children as terrorists hunted them down in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7th. As she answers their innocent questions and makes split-second decisions to save their lives, she wonders: can she preserve their faith in humanity? Support and amplify women's voices by con…

1
(3) When Home is Not Safe: Evacuating My Family 29:17

10M ago29:17

29:17

As a girl growing up in Northern Israel in the 80s, Rina Levanon evacuated her home many times. Now, she must contend with wartime evacuation yet again—but this time, as a mother of three. Rina shares her experiences navigating memories of personal trauma, unexpected parenting challenges and anchoring herself in routine while her life has turned up…

1
(2) Women's Bodies, Violence and the U.N.'s Silence 28:58

10M ago28:58

28:58

Sexual violence in wartime has a specific history, intent and effect. Understanding what is so different about gender-based war crimes is important, especially as we push for the international community to recognize and do something about it. We are joined by Dr. Cochav Elkayam Levy, an Israeli expert in international law, human rights and gender, …

1
Episode 102: One Month Later 6:02

10M ago6:02

6:02

Today, November 7, 2023, marks one month since the Hamas attacks on Israel, when 1,400 people in Israel were killed. A month has passed, which feels both like a lifetime and like one long, terrible day. This tragedy is present, and raw and still unfolding. Close to 250 Israelis and foreign citizens are still being held captive in Gaza. At least 30 …

1
(1) When Massacre is Personal: A Mother's Loss on October 7th 26:36

11M ago26:36

26:36

Our lives changed on October 7th in unimaginable ways. Hannah Wacholder Katsman joins us to grapple with a mother’s worst nightmare: learning of the murder of her son, Hayim Katsman, by Hamas terrorists at his home in Kibbutz Holit. Hannah’s colorful recounting of Hayim’s full and spirited life contrasts starkly with the brutal way in which it was …

1
(000) Introducing Voices of Women at Wartime 4:50

11M ago4:50

4:50

From battlefield to bomb shelter, from home front to hospital, from volunteer rosters to victims’ lists - women experience war in distinctive, gendered ways. These are their stories. These are their voices. Voices of Women at Wartime is an Israeli podcast that examines how women affect war and how war affects women. These are the unique perspective…

1
Episode 101: The Women's War Room 17:20

11M ago17:20

17:20

Israel has been at war with Hamas for nearly a month. Israeli and Palestinian casualties are devastating–and mounting. In Israel, women are on the front lines of a major grassroots mobilization: providing emergency relief to a country in crisis. An army of volunteers of all ages and genders has stepped in to organize clothing, food, and housing for…

1
Episode 100: Missing Vivian Silver 19:59

11M ago19:59

19:59

Vivian Silver has been missing since October 7, the day Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,400 people in Israel and took more than 200 hostages to Gaza. Since then, more than 3,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed by Israel's air strikes in Gaza. Vivian is 74 years old, from Kibbutz Be’eri, on the Gaza border. In this episode, we speak wit…

1
Episode 99: A Wish in Dark Days 5:10

11M ago5:10

5:10

It's been a terrifying week of violence in Israel. Instead of our planned episode of Can We Talk?, this week we offer a poem called “Mishalot”—requests, or wishes—by Esther Raab, one of modern Hebrew’s first female poets, born in Israel in 1894. She wrote “Mishalot” in 1967, around the time of the Six-Day War. The poem is a reminder that even in da…

1
Episode 98: By Disabled Jews, For Disabled Jews 22:14

12M ago22:14

22:14

What did JOIN for Justice, the Jewish Organizing Institute and Network, do when the pandemic made its in-person community organizing fellowship impossible? It turned the obstacle into an opportunity, shifting to a virtual fellowship specifically for people with disabilities. Over seven months in 2021, a cohort of Jewish young adults with a wide ran…

1
Episode 97: Golda Reconsidered 22:45

1y ago22:45

22:45

Golda Meir is known as Israel's "Iron Lady": gruff, chain-smoking, and fiercely ambitious. In the eyes of many, she was also responsible for the Yom Kippur War, which cost thousands of lives. But Golda's story is far more complex. In this episode of Can We Talk?, as we approach 50 years since the Yom Kippur War, we go beyond the caricatures and tal…

1
Bonus Episode: Granfran in the Uber 14:01

1y ago14:01

14:01

While we’re hard at work on our fall season, which launches Sept 12, enjoy this bonus episode from Joia Putnoi. Joia recorded this conversation with her grandmother Fran Putnoi, or “Granfran,” for a college class. It's about passing recipes and stories from one generation of Jewish women to the next. We think you’ll love it.…

1
Episode 96: Can We Talk? 2022-23 Season Wrap 16:39

1y ago16:39

16:39

That's a wrap! In this episode of Can We Talk?, Nahanni Rous, Jen Richler, and Judith Rosenbaum recap the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 seasons—from a celebration at a queer Jewish chicken farm to the fight for Israel's "chained women" to reproductive rights after Roe, and much more.By Jewish Women's Archive

1
Episode 95: Word of the Week: Shiksa 14:36

1y ago14:36

14:36

From Portnoy’s Complaint to Seinfeld, the word shiksa is firmly embedded in popular culture. Where does the word come from, and how has its meaning changed over time? In this episode, we’re bringing you another installment of our “Word of the Week” series, where we dig into one word and explore how it relates to Jewish women. Gitl Schaechter-Viswan…

1
Episode 94: Rebbetzins in America 27:50

1+ y ago27:50

27:50

What did talented, dedicated Jewish women do before they could become rabbis? Some became rebbetzins. In this episode of Can We Talk?, we’re looking at the changing role of the rebbetzin—the rabbi’s wife. Women have been rabbis in America for just over half a century, but for as long as there have been rabbis, there have been rabbis' wives—and they…

1
Episode 93: Alice Shalvi: Israeli Feminist Pioneer 19:44

1+ y ago19:44

19:44

Alice Shalvi has been an Israeli feminist pioneer for decades. Born in Germany and raised in England, she moved to Israel in 1949, a young woman excited to help build a new state. She’s spent her life there, working for gender equality and a more just society. In this episode of Can We Talk?, Judith Rosenbaum joins us to tell Alice’s story, and to …

1
Episode 92: Beyond the Binary: Making Hebrew More Gender-Inclusive 27:42

1+ y ago27:42

27:42

Hebrew is a very gendered language; every noun in Hebrew is either feminine or masculine. So are pronouns, including “I” and “you.” This makes it nearly impossible to utter a sentence in Hebrew without using gender. So as a Hebrew speaker, how do you refer to a mixed-gender group? What about nonbinary people? In this episode of Can We Talk?, we spe…

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