Rephonic
Artwork for Heritage Words
Ladino
Yiddish
Jewish Language Project
Jewish Identity
Hebrew
Cultural Heritage
Heritage Words
Judeo-Arabic
Jewish Culture
Judaism
Jewish Language
Sephardic Culture
Coded Language
Cultural Identity
Spanish
Mexico City
Music
North Macedonia
Jewish Linguistic Diversity
Yiddish Literature

Heritage Words features interviews about the words we've inherited and the meaning they bring to our lives. Heritage Words is produced by the HUC Jewish Language Project, which raises awareness about Jewish ancestral diversity through the lens of language, in partnership with HUC Connect. Sarah Bunin Benor is the host.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes39Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
JudaismReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Heritage Words

Latest Episodes

Marek Jezowski and Dominika Zakrzewska-Olędzka, members of Warsaw's progressive Jewish community, discuss their experiences reclaiming their Jewish identity in today’s Poland. Marek recounts fighting the 1982 government to register his daughter's Heb... more

How do you talk about Shabbat? Do you say Hamotsi or Nöten? Kiddush or ‘Adus? Attend knis, kenisa, kal, or shul? This episode features American Jews from various backgrounds – including Syrian, Bukharian, Persian, Iraqi, and Ashkenazi – discussing th... more

Ariel Lazarus, Nissimmi Naim-Naor, and Samuel Torjman Thomas discuss their diverse Mediterranean Jewish roots spanning Morocco, Gibraltar, and Libya. The guests detail how family histories are preserved through heritage words, explaining how unique d... more

Growing up in a polyglot household, Benny Ginsberg-Margo developed a deep fascination with the intersection of language and identity. With mixed Sephardi and Ashkenazi roots, he developed a connection to Ladino after encountering it during his bar mi... more

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Recent Guests

Marek Jezowski
Founder/leader in progressive Jewish communities in Poland
Beit Polska / Beit Warszawa
Episode: Polish Jewish Life Today with Marek Jezowski and Dominika Zakrzewska-Olędzka
Dominika Zakrzewska
Educator and social psychologist
Maria Gzegorzewska University ( Warsaw ) / Reform Jewish Community in Poland
Episode: Polish Jewish Life Today with Marek Jezowski and Dominika Zakrzewska-Olędzka
Simon Amiel
Sephardic, Turkish community; Seattle upbringing
Sephardic Turkish community
Episode: Jewish Unity Through Diversity: A Shabbat Conversation
Chagit Ariely Chai
Israeli; Iraqi father; Hebrew teacher
Locom Schools of Jewish Studies for USC; Hebrew Union College
Episode: Jewish Unity Through Diversity: A Shabbat Conversation
Isaac Shua
Sephardi, Lebanese background
Brooklyn-based community member
Episode: Jewish Unity Through Diversity: A Shabbat Conversation
Amelia Glazer
Mixed Ashkenazi background; grew up in California
Individual listener/participant
Episode: Jewish Unity Through Diversity: A Shabbat Conversation
Bobby Ishakov
Mizrahi Sephardic; Bukharian heritage
Bukharian community
Episode: Jewish Unity Through Diversity: A Shabbat Conversation
Aaron Sabin
Syrian, Damascus; based in LA
Community member
Episode: Jewish Unity Through Diversity: A Shabbat Conversation
Ariel Lazarus
Composer, guitarist, conductor, and scholar specializing in Sephardi music
Israeli Ladino Orchestra
Episode: Mediterranean Recipes and Rhythms: with Ariel Lazarus, Nissimmi Naim-Naor, and Samuel Torjman Thomas

Host

Sarah Bunin Benor
Host of Heritage Words

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 15 ratings
  • Learn and enjoy

    Consistently good yet wide-ranging, takes me outside my usual silos. Jack interviewing his mother (my generation) is the most delightful thing you'll hear online

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Feivel Yek
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests bring diverse backgrounds, making complex topics accessible.
Listeners praise thoughtful, in-depth language storytelling.
The host asks curious, respectful questions that invite nuance.
Production quality and guest variety keep episodes engaging.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"Will They Taste What We Taste?": Cooking Up Ladino with Benny Ginsberg-Margo
Q: How did you come up with the idea of doing cooking videos in Ladino?
I connected my love of food with language preservation, recognizing that recipes and cooking traditions offer a tangible way to engage people with Ladino and keep it alive across generations.
The Secret Language of Cattle Dealers: German-Jewish Roots with Ken and Hannelore Krug
Q: What were some of the words and phrases from the German Jewish cattle-dealing world that stuck with you?
They discuss Schneckschen as a term of endearment, Tishkabait and other words tied to daily life and religious practice, and how some notes and notebooks may have contained the specialized jargon used in the trade.
The Secret Language of Cattle Dealers: German-Jewish Roots with Ken and Hannelore Krug
Q: How did your family end up coming to the United States?
Laura explains there was a financial sponsor and family presence in the U.S., which facilitated their immigration; the conversation touches on the broader context of Jewish families seeking opportunity and safety.
The Secret Language of Cattle Dealers: German-Jewish Roots with Ken and Hannelore Krug
Q: Tell us about what your names mean and if you also have Hebrew names.
Ken explains his name Kenneth M. Krug, his middle initial M after Mordechai, and that his Hebrew name is Mordechai Ben Zalman, reflecting family lineage; Laura confirms having a Hebrew name as well, Hanna, and discusses her own background.
From Baghdad to London: Losing and Keeping Judeo-Iraqi Arabic with Samantha Ellis
Q: It seems from your book that you didn't really grow up in an Iraqi Jewish community beyond your family; did you have other friends who were children of immigrants from Iraq?
Yes, there was a tight-knit Iraqi Jewish community in London, and I focused on my own family to present an authentic, nuanced picture of language transmission, migration, and intergenerational choices in heritage language use.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Heritage Words

What is Heritage Words about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Heritage Words centers conversations about inherited words and the meaning they carry across Jewish communities and diasporas. Episodes frequently explore language revival, heritage cuisines, and personal family histories, illustrated by guests who are linguists, historians, curators, educators, and artists. The show stands out for blending rigorous language-focused discussion with lived cultural narratives, showcasing endangered languages, multilingual identities, and practical ways to sustain heritage words for future generations.

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How many subscribers and views does Heritage Words have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Heritage Words?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Heritage Words:

1. Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
2. Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
3. Identity/Crisis
4. The Promised Podcast
5. For Heaven's Sake

How many episodes of Heritage Words are there?

Heritage Words launched 2 years ago and published 39 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Heritage Words?

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What guests have appeared on Heritage Words?

Recent guests on Heritage Words include:

1. Marek Jezowski
2. Dominika Zakrzewska
3. Simon Amiel
4. Chagit Ariely Chai
5. Isaac Shua
6. Amelia Glazer
7. Bobby Ishakov
8. Aaron Sabin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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