Can Jew Believe?

Brad Pomerance
  • 5.0 (7)
  • MZGenre.Podcasts.SocietyCulture
  • MZPodcastFrequency.Episodic.Weekly

“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

    Why Holocaust Education Matters Now More Than Ever!

    Only 25 states in America legislatively mandate Holocaust education—and in a post-October 7th world, even those mandates are facing unprecedented pushback, cancellations, and political conflation. In this episode of "Can Jew Believe?," host Brad Pomerance speaks with Samantha Abramson, Executive Director of The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC) and J-Hub, about the struggle to maintain Holocaust education mandates, how educators handle social media misinformation, and how JHub is creating safe, inclusive spaces for Jewish identity in K-12 classrooms. -- Key Topics: - Legislative success in Wisconsin for Holocaust education - The impact of October seventh on school curricula - The role of Holocaust survivors and their descendants in education - Addressing misinformation and social media influence - Efforts to include Jewish identity and culture in public schools - The creation and goals of J-Hub for K-12 education - Strategies for building relationships with diverse school districts - Challenges and solutions in teaching about sensitive topics -- Follow The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center: https://holocaustcentermilwaukee.org/ https://www.facebook.com/HERCmilwaukee https://www.instagram.com/hercmilwaukee/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hercmilwaukee/home/ -- Follow J-Hub: https://jhubresources.org/ https://www.facebook.com/jHUBCle -- Follow Samantha: https://www.facebook.com/samantha.abramson.2025 https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-abramson-18683450/ -- 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

  2. Sep 18

    The Surprising Reality of Jewish Life in the American Heartland!

    How does a local Jewish publication thrive in an era where major media outlets are collapsing? And why does a state with just a 1% Jewish population consistently shatter political and cultural expectations?In this episode of Can You Believe?, host Brad Pomerance joins Rob Golub, editor of the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle and founder of SuccessfulJournalism.com. Together, they unpack why smaller heartland Jewish communities often build stronger bonds than massive coastal metro communities—and why shifting from "covering" news to “serving” readers, speaking to their emotions and community connections, might just save local and niche journalism. -- Key Topics: - The importance of serving the community through journalism - How to create emotional connections with readers - Strategies for covering sensitive issues like anti-Semitism and Israel-Gaza - The impact of local culture and Midwest Nice on Jewish communities - The story of Jonathan Brostoff and mental health awareness in journalism -- Follow The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle: https://www.jewishchronicle.org https://www.instagram.com/thewisconsinjewishchronicle https://www.facebook.com/WisconsinJewish https://twitter.com/WIJewish -- Follow Rob: https://www.facebook.com/robgolub https://twitter.com/robgolub https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-golub-4b20191b/ -- To Get A More In Depth Look Into Jonathan Brostoff's Story: Friends say Alderman Jonathan Brostoff’s tragic death came after months of bullying, tied to his Jewish and Zionist identities:https://www.jewishchronicle.org/2024/12/04/friends-say-alderman-jonathan-brostoffs-tragic-death-came-after-months-of-bullying-tied-to-his-jewish-and-zionist-identities/ Diana Vang-Brostoff to speak on suicide prevention, nine months after Alderman Jonathan Brostoff’s death https://www.jewishchronicle.org/2025/09/05/diana-vang-brostoff-to-speak-on-suicide-prevention-nine-months-after-alderman-jonathan-brostoffs-death/ -- Check Out Rob's Site: https://www.successfuljournalism.com/ -- 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

  3. Sep 11

    The Last of the Ellis Island Jews: The Lost World of Mid-Century Jewish New York

    Over 75% of American Jews trace their roots back to the massive immigration wave through Ellis Island that ended in 1924. But as generations pass, the living memory of that era is fading.In this episode of Can You Believe?, Brad Pomerance sits down with Professor Joel Dinerstein of Tulane University, author of The Last of the Ellis Island Jews. As one of the few surviving witnesses to that late-era Jewish American migration wave, Joel shares hilarious, heartwarming, and deeply personal stories about growing up in a world filled with Yiddish cadence, cousins clubs, and old-world traditions. -- Key Topics: - The migration wave of Jews from Eastern Europe to America - Impact of immigrant upbringing on Jewish identity - The role of food and family in Jewish culture - The influence of the Holocaust on Jewish American consciousness - The changing landscape of Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn - Generational differences in Jewish experience and memory - The significance of diaspora identity in modern Jewish life - The decline of Yiddish and traditional Jewish communities - The cultural legacy of the last Ellis Island generation -- Buy Professor Joel Dinerstein's Book: The Last Jews Of Ellis Island: A Brooklyn Memoir https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GNC3J3V8?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback -- Follow Professor Joel Dinerstein: https://twitter.com/JoelDinerstein https://www.instagram.com/jndprez/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-dinerstein-7611691/ -- 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

  4. Sep 4

    Showing Up Hitler: The Jewish Champions of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games

    Adolf Hitler meant for the 1936 Berlin Olympics to be a global showcase of Nazi supremacy. Instead, a group of extraordinary Jewish athletes swept the podiums and took home Olympic hardware—right in front of Hitler himself.In this episode of Can Jew Believe?, host Brad Pomerance is joined by legendary collector Neil Keller, owner of over 22,000 rare historical artifacts. Neil reveals actual 1936 Olympic gold medals, rare archival photographs, and original family heirlooms that bring these forgotten sports heroes back to life. -- Key Topics: - Neil Keller's collection of Jewish memorabilia - The 1936 Berlin Olympics and Jewish success - Notable Jewish athletes like Yblolya Csak and Helene Mayer - The significance of artifacts like medals, photographs, and star badges - The impact of anti-Semitism and Nazi propaganda - Stories of survival and legacy of Jewish athletes - The role of memorabilia in Holocaust education and remembrance -- Follow Neil: https://neilkeller.com/ https://www.facebook.com/neil.keller.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/neildkeller/ -- 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

  5. Aug 28

    The Growing Problem of Antisemitism Within The Mental Health Field

    When you walk into a therapy session, you expect a sanctuary—a safe, politically neutral space to process trauma, anxiety, and personal grief. But in the wake of October 7th, that safe space was shattered for many Jewish patients and clinicians. In this eye-opening episode of Can Jew Believe?, host Brad Pomerance sits down with Dr. Shelly Steinwurtzel, Psy.D., co-founder of Gesher Community Care, to address the growing shift toward "decolonizing therapy" and the anti-Zionist politicization of the mental health field. Together, they confront hard-hitting questions about the current state of psychoanalysis. -- Key Topics: - The impact of October 7th on therapy as a safe space - The concept of decolonizing therapy and its implications - The coordinated efforts to politicize and undermine Jewish therapists - The role of the American Psychological Association in Jewish advocacy - The creation and mission of Gesher Community Care - Intersectionality and its challenges for Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities - The importance of cultural and ethnic identity in therapy - The ethical considerations in politicized therapeutic environments -- Follow Dr. Shelly: https://www.instagram.com/shellbelle710/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochelle-shelly-steinwurtzel/ https://www.facebook.com/shelly.steinwurtzel -- To Contact Shelly or Gesher Community Care: www.geshercampuscare.org Geshercc.org Shelly@geshercc.org -- 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

  6. Aug 21

    The Untold True Story Behind the Real Factory from "Schindler’s List!"

    "Can Jew Believe?" that the factory from 'Schindler’s List' actually belonged to a Jewish family who had no idea it saved 1,200 lives until decades later? In 1938, the Low-Beer family was forced to flee Czechoslovakia, leaving behind one of Europe’s largest textile empires. Decades after WWII ended, Daniel Low-Beer’s father picked up the book Schindler’s Ark—only to realize the famous factory where Oskar Schindler sheltered 1,200 Jews was his own stolen family property. In this episode of "Can Jew Believe?," host Brad Pomerance (who reveals his own family link to Schindler's List) sits down with Daniel Low-Beer to uncover this jaw-dropping story of loss, discovery, and survival. -- Key Topics: - Family history and connection to Czechoslovakia - The impact of WWII and Nazi occupation on Jewish families - Oskar Schindler's role and the factory's history - The post-war communist era and family scattering - Efforts to restore and turn the factory into a museum - The importance of preserving Holocaust history and survivor testimonies -- Support and Follow Daniel Low-Beer: https://arksfoundation.net/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B006YVWNXG?ccs_id=9de7c96d-506d-4a57-b33a-c92404a616f2 https://www.facebook.com/daniel.lowbeer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-low-beer-128747185/ -- 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

  7. Aug 14

    In 1897, Belarus Was 14% Jewish. Today, It’s 0.2% - What Happened?

    From the heart of the Pale of Settlement to the devastation of the Second World War to secretly praying behind closed Soviet doors, the history of Jewish life in Belarus is one of survival, resilience, and rich heritage.Join host Brad Pomerance as he talks with Artur Livshyts, leader of the Jewish Religious Union in Belarus, about the deep roots of Belarusian Jews and the modern efforts to preserve historic synagogues and cemeteries for future generations. Artur also shares his extraordinary personal journey—from learning about Judaism in secret in the Soviet Union, to studying Judaism openly in America as a 12-year-old who didn't speak English, to returning home to spearhead the rebirth of Belarusian Jewish life. -- Key Topics - Jewish migration waves into Belarus - Impact of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth - Jewish life during the Soviet era - Holocaust by bullets in Belarus - Revitalization of Jewish heritage and communities --To Learn More About Artur's Mission, Watch Documentary "Memory Embrace: The Brest Jewish Cemetery" Available Below: - English: https://plus.jltv.tv/play/699f4f339e50cb2b41fc3d77/401b16ea-b780-415e-8ee0-786ec176f9b1 - English with Russian Subtitles: https://plus.jltv.tv/play/699f4f339e50cb2b41fc3d77/401b16ea-b780-415e-8ee0-786ec176f9b1 -- Follow Artur: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artur-livshyts-200252134/ https://www.facebook.com/artur.livshyts/ -- Follow The Together Plan: https://www.thetogetherplan.com https://www.instagram.com/thetogetherplan/ https://www.facebook.com/TheTogetherPlan/ -- 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-- 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

  8. Aug 7

    The Jewish Frontier: The Forgotten Jewish History of Indiana

    Before Indiana was even a state, early Jewish immigrants were shaping the American Midwest—as fur traders, lawmakers, and military leaders. Yet, many of these stories have been lost to time. Join host Brad Pomerance and guest Michael Brown, Executive Director of the Indiana Jewish Historical Society as they travel back to 18th- and 19th-century Indiana, the Hoosier state, to highlight four towering Jewish figures who defied the odds and made American history. -- Key Topics - The role of the Gratz brothers in early Indiana land acquisition and trade - Samuel Judah's groundbreaking political career as the first Jewish speaker of a state house - Frederick Knefler's military service and abolitionist stance during the Civil War - Louis Brandeis' roots in Indiana and his rise to the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice - The impact of Jewish immigrants from Prague and their contributions to Indiana's development -- Follow The Indiana Jewish Historical Society: https://www.ijhs.org/ https://www.facebook.com/IndianaJHS/followers https://www.instagram.com/indianajewishhistory/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/indiana-jewish-historical-society/ -- 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

See All (46)

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
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brad Pomerance
  • Show Website
    Can Jew Believe?

You Might Also Like