Can Jew Believe?

Brad Pomerance

“Can Jew Believe?” is the podcast that dives head-first into the questions, controversies, and cultural puzzles the Jewish world is talking about—and the ones it’s not. Each episode tackles topics you’d never expect, with insights you’d never believe, delivered by leading historians, cultural critics, and political thinkers who aren’t afraid to go where other Jewish podcasts don’t. Bold, surprising, and unfiltered, “Can Jew Believe?” pulls back the curtain on the issues shaping Jewish life today and reveals the stories and perspectives that will leave you thinking long after the episode ends.

  1. 5d ago

    How Cincinnati Became the Forgotten Birthplace of Modern Judaism in America!!

    "Without Cincinnati, the Jewish community as it stands today throughout the United States would not be what it has become. It's simply undeniable." When you think about the major epicenters of Jewish America, your mind probably jumps to New York, Miami, or Los Angeles. But in the early 19th century, the true gateway to the West—and the birthplace of modern American Judaism—was actually that bustling river city on the Ohio/Kentucky border: Cincinnati. Host Brad Pomerance welcomes Rabbi Richard Sarason of Hebrew Union College to reveal the fascinating frontier history of the Cincinnati Jewish community and how this Ohio River town birthed the largest movement in modern Judaism in North America and built a world-class archive that historians and genealogists rely on to this day. -- Key Topics: - The early Jewish community in Cincinnati and its origins - The influence of European reformist rabbis like Isaac Meyer Wise - The development of the Reform movement in America - The role of Hebrew Union College and the American Jewish Archives - Cincinnati's unique cultural and historical resources for Jewish studies -- Follow Hebrew Union College: https://www.facebook.com/HebrewUnionCollege https://ww.instagram.com/huc1875 https://twitter.com/hucpress -- Follow JLTV: https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok -- Follow Brad: https://facebook.com/bradpomerance https://twitter.com/bradpomerance https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial

    32 min

  2. Jun 19

    The War Over Words: How Language About Israel and Zionism Became Weaponized!

    Words have power. But since October 7th, words like Zionist and Genocide are being used as slurs and to shut down conversations, rather than start them.In this episode of "Can Jew Believe?", Brad Pomerance and Hebrew Union College President Dr. Andrew Rehfeld challenge us to step back from the emotional brink. They dive into why calling someone a "Zionist" has become a popular pejorative, how critiquing the Israeli government can be done with without delegitimizing it, and how protests about Israel and Zionism on college campuses can be navigated appropriately. -- Key Topics: - The Shibboleth Effect: How modern political terms are being used as codes to identify "friends vs. foes" rather than conveying real meaning. - Reclaiming Zionism: Why Zionism is fundamentally an idea of liberation, separate from supporting any specific Israeli government. - The Rare Right to Sovereignty: A political science perspective on why the Jewish people have a justified claim to state power, and the three moral conditions that come with it (Defense, Flourishing, and Human Rights). - Decoupling the Data: Unpacking the massive gap between American Jews who support Israel and those who claim the Zionist label. - Navigating Campus Outrage: How to move away from public shaming and "virtue signaling" toward constructive, cross-generational dialogue at the family dinner table. -- Follow Andrew Rehfeld: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.rehfeld/ https://www.instagram.com/rehfeldandrew/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-rehfeld-34b281b/ -- Follow Hebrew Union College: https://www.facebook.com/HebrewUnionCollege/ https://www.instagram.com/huc1875/ -- Follow JLTV: https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok -- Follow Brad: https://facebook.com/bradpomerance https://twitter.com/bradpomerance https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial

    37 min

  3. Jun 12

    A Living Hell for Ukrainian Jews: Holocaust Survivors & Students Under Fire

    "Last night there was an unbelievable missile attack in Kyiv. I spent six hours in the parking lot. 90 missiles." - Yet, the very next day, over 100 Jewish youths gathered for a culture festival. - In this deeply moving and urgent episode of "Can Jew Believe? with Brad Pomerance," we pull back the headlines of the war in Ukraine to expose the harrowing reality facing Ukrainian Jewry. While the world tracks troop movements, Hillel Director Iosif "Osik" Akselrud reports from Kyiv on how a generation of young Ukrainian Jews have transformed themselves from ordinary college students into front-line humanitarian heroes. From funding shortages to bombed-out centers, discover why their resolve is unbreakable—and learn exactly how the global community can step up to keep their light shining. -- Key Topics: - Impact of the Ukraine invasion on Jewish communities - The role of Hillel in supporting Jewish life during war - Stories of Holocaust survivors in Ukraine - Efforts to rebuild and sustain Jewish culture amidst conflict -- Follow Hillel & Osik: hillel.org https://www.instagram.com/Hillel.CASE/ https://www.facebook.com/HillelFJCL https://www.facebook.com/hillel.case https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillel/ https://twitter.com/HillelIntl -- Follow JLTV: https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok -- Follow Brad: https://facebook.com/bradpomerance https://twitter.com/bradpomerance https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial

    31 min

  4. Jun 5

    The Forgotten Black-Jewish Alliance That Built the Music Industry!

    In this fascinating episode of "Can You Believe?" host Brad Pomerance sits down with acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, and scholar Joe Alterman to uncover the deep, complex, and beautiful history between Black and Jewish communities that help build the American music industry.From the surprising reality behind Harold Arlen’s iconic song "Over the Rainbow" to the profound impact a Lithuanian Jewish family had on a young Louis Armstrong, Joe breaks down how two marginalized communities came together to shape the sound of American culture. They dive into the raw, soulful roots of jazz, the rise of legendary labels like Chess Records and Blue Note, and the incredible, unsung Jewish history behind Billie Holiday’s famous protest song, "Strange Fruit." -- Takeaways: - The "Shmata" Connection: How Russian immigration laws and sewing machines accidentally created Hollywood and the sheet music industry. - Louis Armstrong’s Secret: How Jewish cantoral prayers inspired the invention of scat singing. - What is "Jewish Music"? Why a legendary festival founder claimed that non-Jewish composer Cole Porter wrote the most "Jewish" music on Broadway. - The Radical Truth of Jazz: Why jazz and gospel aren't about precision—they’re about a profound, shared cry for truth. - The Unsung Story of "Strange Fruit": The three Jewish men who risked everything to help Billie Holiday release the number one song of the century. -- Follow Joe: https://www.joealtermanmusic.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joealterman/ https://www.facebook.com/joealtermanmusic/ https://www.youtube.com/@UChq5mhnUt3EePioDpWuYalg -- Follow JLTV: https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok https://x.com/joealterman -- Follow Brad: https://facebook.com/bradpomerance https://twitter.com/bradpomerance https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial

    35 min

  5. May 29

    His Best Friend Died Shielding His Girlfriend on Oct 7. Here’s What He Did Next.

    While the IDF was still actively clearing terrorists from the Gaza envelope on Oct 7th — a single WhatsApp group of 20-somethings bypassed the entire military bureaucracy to fly 12 tons of tactical gear directly to the frontlines on a private El Al flight? In this unforgettable episode of Can Jew Believe?, host Brad Pomerance sits down with Bucky Apisdorf, the CEO and president of Let’s Do Something. What started as an impulsive chat group created out of grief and a desire to help has exploded into a highly influential international organization operating on three massive pillars: Defense, Healing, and Telling the Story. Bucky opens up about the tragic catalyst behind the movement: his close friend David Newman, who was murdered at the Nova Music Festival while shielding his girlfriend. He then shares how his organization is leading the fight in treating trauma for the thousands of survivors, how they approach the conversation of antisemitism, and why Americans are so divided about Israel. -- Key Topics: - Grassroots activism and rapid mobilization - Trauma recovery and mental health support in Israel - Social media's role in shaping perceptions and viral videos - Challenges and opportunities in engaging young Americans with Israel - The importance of nuanced conversations and common ground in advocacy -- Follow Bucky: https://www.facebook.com/baruch.apisdorf https://www.instagram.com/bucky.apisdorf/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/baruch-apisdorf-4a0688165/-- -- Follow Let's Do Something: https://www.letsdosomething.com/ https://www.instagram.com/letsdsomething/ https://www.facebook.com/letsdsomething/ https://www.tiktok.com/@letsdosomething_ -- Follow JLTV: https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok -- Follow Brad: https://facebook.com/bradpomerance https://twitter.com/bradpomerance https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial

    31 min

  6. May 22

    Now Found: Hungary's Hidden Jews

    In this captivating continuation of Can Jew Believe?, host Brad Pomerance sits down for Part 2 of his conversation with Marcell Kenesei, Executive Director of the JCC Budapest. After exploring 1,000 years of history in their first episode, Brad and Marcell dive into the raw, complex reality of post-WWII Hungary—from the trauma-induced silence of the Communist era to a modern-day Jewish cultural renaissance. Marcell shares his own jaw-dropping personal story: how he discovered his own hidden Jewish roots as a teenager, and how a chance trip to Cleveland revealed a hidden family legacy of Holocaust rescue that his own father never spoke about. Finally, they tackle the massive political shift currently rocking Central Europe. With Peter Magyar’s recent historic, supermajority victory defeating Viktor Orbán, what does this political earthquake mean for the third-largest Jewish population in the European Union? -- Key Topics: - History of Hungarian Jewry from 1000 to WWII - Post-WWII Jewish community in Hungary - Communism's effect on Jewish identity - Fall of the Iron Curtain and Jewish revival - Recent political changes and their impact on Jews -- Follow Marcell: https://www.facebook.com/marcell.kenesei https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcell-kenesei-6055241b6/ https://www.instagram.com/marszelusz/ -- Follow JCC Budapest: https://www.instagram.com/balinthaz/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/jcc-budapest-bálint-ház/ https://www.facebook.com/BalintHaz/ -- Follow JLTV: https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok -- Follow Brad: https://facebook.com/bradpomerance https://twitter.com/bradpomerance https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial

    33 min

  7. May 15

    Uncovering 1,000 Years of Hungarian Jews: From Royal Kings to WWII

    In this gripping episode of "Can Jew Believe," Host Brad Pomerance sits down with Marcell Kenesei, Executive Director of the JCC Budapest, to unravel the epic and often paradoxical history of Hungarian Jewry. Spanning over a millennium, the story of Jews in Hungary is one of grand success, cultural integration, and sudden, heartbreaking tragedy. From the welcoming decrees of Hungary's first king 1,000 years ago, to the "Golden Age" of the Austro-Hungarian Empire where the Hungarian Jewish community became one of the most vibrant in the world, through the tragedy of the Second World War. This is a two-part episode. Listen/watch the 2nd part of this conversation, where Brad and Marcel discuss Hungarian Jewry’s remarkable resilience after World War II, through the Communist era, after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, through to the present day, with the defeat of Victor Orban and historic election of Peter Magyar. -- Key Topics: - Origins of Hungarian Jewry under King Stephen - Impact of Ottoman conquest on Jewish communities - Habsburg rule and anti-Semitic policies - Hungary's role in WWII and the Holocaust - Post-war recovery and modern Hungarian Jewry -- Follow Marcell: https://www.facebook.com/marcell.kenesei https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcell-kenesei-6055241b6/ https://www.instagram.com/marszelusz/ -- Follow JLTV: https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok -- Follow Brad: https://facebook.com/bradpomerance https://twitter.com/bradpomerance https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial

    34 min

  8. May 8

    How Israel Is Connecting With US College Students: TAMID!

    In this episode of "Can Jew Believe?," Brad Pomerance talks with Yoni Heilman, CEO of TAMID Group, an organization connecting the next generation of business leaders on college campuses to Israel’s "Startup Nation." With a ten-fold increase in antisemitic incidents on university campuses since October 7th, the climate for Jewish students is more challenging than ever. But while headlines focus on protests and hostile anti-Israel faculty, a quiet revolution is happening. Discover how TAMID bypasses the political noise by focusing on what students care about most: their careers. From consulting for Israeli startups to elite internships in Tel Aviv, learn how TAMID is creating a "bias toward action" that keeps the Israeli economy thriving while giving students the "chutzpah" to lead fearlessly in a divided world. -- Key Topics: - TAMID's origin and mission - Engagement with Israel through business, not politics - Impact of anti-Semitism and campus hostility - Diversity and inclusion in TAMID - Student projects and real-world Israeli collaborations - TAMID's growth and chapter expansion -- Follow Yoni: https://www.facebook.com/yoni.heilman.1 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahheilman/ https://www.instagram.com/yonionthemove/ -- Follow TAMID: www.tamidgroup.org https://www.instagram.com/tamidgroup/ https://www.facebook.com/TAMIDgroup https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamid-israel-investment-group/ -- Follow JLTV: https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok -- Follow Brad: https://facebook.com/bradpomerance https://twitter.com/bradpomerance https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

“Can Jew Believe?” is the podcast that dives head-first into the questions, controversies, and cultural puzzles the Jewish world is talking about—and the ones it’s not. Each episode tackles topics you’d never expect, with insights you’d never believe, delivered by leading historians, cultural critics, and political thinkers who aren’t afraid to go where other Jewish podcasts don’t. Bold, surprising, and unfiltered, “Can Jew Believe?” pulls back the curtain on the issues shaping Jewish life today and reveals the stories and perspectives that will leave you thinking long after the episode ends.

Information

  • Creator
    Brad Pomerance
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brad Pomerance
  • Show Website
    Can Jew Believe?

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