Adiel Cohen remembers Oct. 7 like it was yesterday. He was at his sister's house in Northern Israel when he woke up to hear his phone buzzing with rocket alerts and notifications. His first-ever panic attack washed over him as he realized he would quickly be called back into the army—which happened immediately after Shabbat. That night, Cohen filled a backpack with a few essentials and travelled south on the eerily quiet roads.

After his time fighting in the south, he returned to his studies at Tel Aviv University, but didn't stop fighting for his country. Instead of prepping rocket launchers near Gaza, he took to TikTok and Instagram to argue against anti-Zionists describing his home country as a land of colonizing Europeans. For Cohen, this line of attack is particularly egregious, as one of his biggest inspirations is his grandmother, who came to Israel from Yemen decades ago.

Cohen joins Rivkush, The CJN's podcast about Jews of colour, to talk about the history of Yemeni Jews, share his war stories and explain why watermelon is actually a very Israeli fruit.

Credits

• Host: Rivka Campbell
• Producer: Michael Fraiman
• Music: Westside Gravy

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When the University of Windsor recently conceded to the demands of its pro-Palestinian encampment protesters, officials signed an agreement that stated, among other anti-Israel sentiments, the post-secondary institution would affirm "its commitment towards principles of decolonization... in the context of the occupation of Palestine."

The narrative of Israel as a colonizing force is synonymous with the modern-day pro-Palestinian movement. But it's a narrative thrust upon Jews and Israelis by non-Jewish actors—a fact that Ysabella Hazan is keen to point out.

The young law school graduate, backed by 40,000 Instagram followers, is a rising star in the Jewish activist space, working out of Montreal to promote a movement and clothing line she calls "Decolonized Judean". It's not just about Israel: Hazan rejects numerous facets of Judaism that seem imposed by non-Jews, as well, such as the Christian concept of God.

Hazan, whose roots are Moroccan, recently joined Rivka Campbell for a live taping of The CJN podcast Rivkush, about noteworthy Jews of colour, at Beth Tikvah Synagogue in Toronto.

Credits

Rivkush is hosted by Rivka Campbell. Michael Fraiman is the editor and producer. Our theme music is by Westside Gravy. The show is a member of The CJN Podcast Network. Support the show by subscribing to this podcast or donating to The CJN.

There's a fact Zilka Joseph likes to toss out to prove how old the Bene Israel culture is: the community, native to the Indian subcontinent, spent centuries unaware of what Hanukkah was. That's because the first Bene Israel people arrived on the shores of modern-day India in 175 BCE, according to some estimates—almost a full decade before the Maccabees fought back against King Antiochus. Blending into the local culture, the Bene Israel people built their unique community without contacting outside Jews until centuries later.

Joseph tells this story, and others, in her new book of poetry, Sweet Malida: Memories of a Bene Israel Woman, published by Mayapple Press. A blend of historical lessons, personal stories and beautiful poems, Joseph weaves together a tapestry of life in India, connecting past and present, examining how her culture has stayed alive despite waves of migration, assimilation and an exodus to Israel shortly after the state's establishment.

Joseph discusses all this on the latest episode of Rivkush, The CJN's podcast spotlighting remarkable Jews of colour, hosted by Rivka Campbell.

Credits

Rivkush is hosted by Rivka Campbell. Michael Fraiman is the editor and producer. Our theme music is by Westside Gravy. The show is sponsored by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and is a member of The CJN Podcast Network. Support the show by subscribing to this podcast or donating to The CJN.