January 27, 2022
Recovering a Town's Lost Sephardic Jewish Culture 77 Years After the Holocaust
People of the PodAbout this episode
What would it be like to return to the village your ancestors called home, to walk in their footsteps, and try to recover their stories and culture? Ladino singer and songwriter Sarah Aroeste did just that for her seventh album, which honors what was once the largest Jewish community in the country now known as North Macedonia. In the mountainous city of Bitola, formerly known as Monastir, 98% of the Jewish population that remained after the Balkan Wars was deported in 1943, and murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. To mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Aroeste talks about her experiences in Monastir, explains why Sephardic culture is Jewish culture, and performs her song " Mi Monastir." Then, Manya Brachear Pashman talks about the challenge of confronting and processing the antisemitic attack on a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. ____ Episode Lineup: (0:40) Sarah Aroeste (27:53) Manya Brachear Pashman ____ Show notes: Episode photos, courtesy of Sarah Aroeste: Sarah Aroeste's cousin Rachel Nachmias (bottom left) and family, c. 1922. Nahmias family, c. 1922. Songs in this episode are from: Monastir . Listed in order of appearance: Espinelo Jovano, Jovanke (feat. Odelia Dahan Kehila and Gilan Shahaf) Mi Monastir Liner notes for Monastir , with lyrics and translations Listen to our most recent episodes: AJC CEO David Harris on the Deborah Lipstadt Holocaust Denial Trial and AJC's Critical Role in the Fight Inside the Colleyville, Texas Synagogue Hostage Crisis: Hear from 3 Local Jewish and Muslim Leaders on What It Was Like on the Ground Don't forget to subscribe to People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod Tune in next week for a tribute to slain Jewish reporter Daniel Pearl, 20 years after his death. You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, tag us on social media with #PeopleofthePod, and hop onto Apple Podcasts to rate us and write a review, to help more listeners find us.