“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.
Black, Jewish, and Israeli: What They Don't Tell You About Ethiopian Jews
For over 1,500 years, the Beta Israel community of Ethiopia lived in complete isolation—convinced they were the last remaining Jews on Earth.
In this episode of Can Jew Believe?, host Brad Pomerance speaks with multilingual content creator, speaker, and Ethiopian-Israeli influencer Brhan Leibman. Brhan shares her family’s astonishing journey from the remote villages of Ethiopia to Jerusalem. She reveals how her mother shockingly discovered her own Jewish identity through a childhood slur, how her family guarded a 400-year-old holy text in the Ge'ez language, and why the popular "rescue" narrative of Operations Moses and Solomon ignores the incredible agency and deadly sacrifices made by Ethiopian Jews themselves.
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Key Topics:
- Ethiopian Jewish history and culture
- Family stories and migration from Ethiopia to Israel
- The significance of Torah scrolls and religious practices
- The narrative of rescue and agency in migration
- Experiences of Ethiopian Jews in Israel, including challenges and identity
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Follow Brhan:
https://www.instagram.com/brhan_leibman/
https://www.tiktok.com/@beyoubrhan
https://www.facebook.com/p/Brhan-Worku-Activist-and-Educator-61572150804864/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brhan-worku/
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Follow JLTV:
https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv
https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv
https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv
https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok
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Follow Brad:
https://facebook.com/bradpomerance
https://twitter.com/bradpomerance
https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial
25 Sept 2026
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.
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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
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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/
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Follow J-Hub: https://jhubresources.org/
https://www.facebook.com/jHUBCle
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Follow Samantha:
https://www.facebook.com/samantha.abramson.2025
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-abramson-18683450/
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Follow JLTV:
https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv
https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv
https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv
https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok
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Follow Brad:
https://facebook.com/bradpomerance
https://twitter.com/bradpomerance
https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial
18 Sept 2026
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.
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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
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Follow The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle:
https://www.jewishchronicle.org
https://www.instagram.com/thewisconsinjewishchronicle
https://www.facebook.com/WisconsinJewish
https://twitter.com/WIJewish
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Follow Rob:
https://www.facebook.com/robgolub
https://twitter.com/robgolub
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-golub-4b20191b/
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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/
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Check Out Rob's Site:
https://www.successfuljournalism.com/
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Follow JLTV:
https://facebook.com/jewishlifetv
https://twitter.com/jewishlifetv
https://instagram.com/jewishlifetv
https://tiktok.com/@jltvtok
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Follow Brad:
https://facebook.com/bradpomerance
https://twitter.com/bradpomerance
https://instagram.com/bradpomeranceofficial
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Contact Can Jew Believe?
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