Noted author Eric Kimmel shares his passion and inspiration as a Jewish writer, his experiences in Indiana, and exploring his Ukrainian Jewish Heritage. Eric wrote such beloved books as "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins."

In this episode of IN Jewish History, we have a guest whose service to the United States is incredible. Rear Adm Rabbi Harold Robinson was Rabbi of Temple Israel of Gary, Indiana, 1974-1977.

A true innovator and trailblazer, Rabbi Robinson was the first Rabbi and non-Protestant to serve as chair of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces.

And as Director of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council, The first Siddur or Jewish Prayer book for US Military Personnel was Published and Distributed to our Armed Forces since World War Two. 

We are joined by Rabbi Dr. Gary Zola, Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives, as we discuss how some of Indiana's early Rabbis were trailblazers who shaped the future of American Judaism. 

Pictured Rabbi Bernhard Felsenthal 

Warren Rosenberg, Professor Emeritus from Wabash College, discusses what it was like being one of the few Jews in a small Indiana Town and how being a Professor at an All-Male College with few Jews informed many of his ideas about Jewish Masculinity and the role of the Jew in American pop culture.  

Michael speaks with William Lasser, author of "Benjamin V. Cohen: Architect of the New Deal" We learn how a shy genius from Muncie, Indiana, shaped World History and Legal Policy with legislation that still shapes our lives. 

Caitlin and Alex from The Shapell Roster Project discuss discoveries about Indiana's Jewish Service Members in the US Civil War. 

Professor Carl Zimring, an Environmental Historian from the Pratt Institute and the author of Cash for Your Trash: Scrap Recycling in America (Rutgers University Press, 2005), discusses how Scrap Metal is an integral part of the American Jewish Experience. And why Scrape Metal was so important to Jews in Indiana. 

Historian Dr. Rabbi Lance Sussman was a three-year Rabbinic student who served the Jewish Community of Richmond Indiana almost 40 years ago.

Rabbi Sussman published a History of the community with the Indiana Jewish Historical Society in 1981 called "The Emergence of a Jewish Community in Richmond, Indiana."

We talk about the uniqueness of Of Temple Beth Boruk in Richmond Indiana where Rabbi Sussman served as Student Rabbi and how it differs from other Jewish communities of similar size in Indiana. We discuss how small communities such as Richmond Indiana can be a great launching pad for future Rabbinic carriers. 

Dr. Susan Hyatt, the Chair of Anthropology at IUPUI, discusses how marginalized groups of African Americans and Sephardic Jews bonded in Indianapolis. The two communities were dispersed after the South Side of Indianapolis was torn down to make way for a highway system. To save the History of this unique integrated community, Dr. Hyatt discusses how she learned about its History. And how she worked with both the Jewish Community and African American Communities to preserve their history and legacy.

Funding Support for the IN-Jewish History Podcast came from the Leonard & Marion Freeman Charitable Fund.