Rephonic
Artwork for Heritage Words
Ladino
Yiddish
Jewish Language Project
Jewish Identity
Cultural Heritage
Hebrew
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 monthlyEpisodes38Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
JudaismReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Heritage Words

Latest Episodes

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

Hannelore Krug, a German-Jewish immigrant, and her son Ken, a genealogy enthusiast, discuss their family's roots in Hesse-Nassau, Germany. They detail the family's history as cattle dealers, noting a unique professional German-based jargon that incor... more

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Recent Guests

Benny Ginsberg-Margo
Undergraduate linguistics student; Ladino language reviver
McGill University; Mersi Muncho / WikiTongues fellowship
Episode: "Will They Taste What We Taste?": Cooking Up Ladino with Benny Ginsberg-Margo
Ken Krug
Executive with nonprofit experience; genealogy enthusiast
未知
Episode: The Secret Language of Cattle Dealers: German-Jewish Roots with Ken and Hannelore Krug
Laura Krug
Hannelore Krug; immigrant from Germany with personal family history in cattle trade
Krug family
Episode: The Secret Language of Cattle Dealers: German-Jewish Roots with Ken and Hannelore Krug
Michèle Russel-Capriles
President of the Jewish Museum Curaçao, cultural historian and curator
Jewish Museum Curaçao
Episode: Bon Siman and Oy Vey: Jewish Papiamentu and Curaçao Yiddish with Michèle Russel-Capriles and Phyllis Meit
Phyllis Meit
Museum curator and research presenter
Jewish Museum Curaçao
Episode: Bon Siman and Oy Vey: Jewish Papiamentu and Curaçao Yiddish with Michèle Russel-Capriles and Phyllis Meit
Ruben Shimonov
Educator, community builder, artist; National Director of Education, American Sephardi Federation
American Sephardi Federation
Episode: Dancing on the Same Page: Multilingual Calligraphy and Bridge-Building with Ruben Shimonov
Samantha Ellis
Daughter of Iraqi Jewish refugees, author of Always Carry Salt (Chopping On My Heart in the UK)
Author
Episode: From Baghdad to London: Losing and Keeping Judeo-Iraqi Arabic with Samantha Ellis
Yoni Avi Battat
Musician and composer exploring Iraqi Jewish heritage through Arab, Yiddish, and Hebrew music
Independent musician / Kedma founder
Episode: Singing from the Fragments: Iraqi-Ashkenazi Music with Yoni Avi Battat
Jenna Weissman Joselit
Historian and biographer, author of Mordecai M. Kaplan, Restless Soul
Yale University Press / Jewish Lives
Episode: The Rabbi Who Rejected Yiddish: Mordecai Kaplan’s Vision with Jenna Weissman Joselit

Host

Sarah Bunin Benor
Host of Heritage Words

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 11 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. For Heaven's Sake
4. Identity/Crisis
5. Unpacking Israeli History

How many episodes of Heritage Words are there?

Heritage Words launched 2 years ago and published 38 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Heritage Words?

Recent guests on Heritage Words include:

1. Benny Ginsberg-Margo
2. Ken Krug
3. Laura Krug
4. Michèle Russel-Capriles
5. Phyllis Meit
6. Ruben Shimonov
7. Samantha Ellis
8. Yoni Avi Battat

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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