Can Jew Believe?

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

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

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

The Democratic Party’s Dilemma: How Jew Hatred is Infiltrating Local School Boards and City Halls

In this eye-opening episode of Can Jew Believe?, host Brad Pomerance is joined by Dillon Hosier, CEO of the Israeli American Civic Action Network (ICAN). Together, they pull back the curtain on the massive, coordinated political strategy to undermine Israel: the radicalization of local governments, often through local Democratic Party elected officials and activists. While most eyes are on D.C., an orchestrated movement is targeting the quarter-million local officials—from school boards to city councils—who serve as the "pipeline" to federal power. -- Key Topics: - ICAN's role in monitoring local legislation and social media - The pipeline from local officials to national policy on Israel - The influence of city and school board races on anti-Semitic rhetoric and policies - Strategies for grassroots engagement in pro-Israel advocacy -- Follow Dillon: https://twitter.com/DillonHosier https://www.instagram.com/dillon.hosier/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonhosier/ https://www.facebook.com/DillonLHosier -- Follow The Israeli-American Civic Action Network (ICAN): https://twitter.com/ICANAction https://www.facebook.com/ICANAction/ https://www.instagram.com/icanaction/ -- 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

What is Zionism? The True Story Behind Theodor Herzl's National Liberation Movement

In this episode of Can Jew Believe?, Host Brad Pomerance sits down with Canadian Lawyer David Matlow, who has amassed the largest private collection of Theodore Herzl memorabilia in the world, with over 6,000 pieces. Explore the life and legacy of the father of Political Zionism, his origins, pivotal life moments, the significance of Zionism in today's context, and see some of David’s favorite pieces from his extraordinary Herzl archive. -- Key Topics: - Herzl's early life and family background - The pivotal moment during the Dreyfus trial - Herzl's book 'Der Judenstaat' and its impact - The first Zionist Congress in Basel 1897 - The Uganda Plan and territorial considerations - Herzl's children and legacy - The significance of memorabilia in preserving history-- Follow David: https://www.facebook.com/david.matlow.3 https://www.instagram.com/dmatlow/ https://twitter.com/DavidMatlow/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mardaveed -- 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