Think you know Jewish history? Think again. Most of us grew up learning about Hebrew and maybe Yiddish, but did you know there are over 25 distinct Jewish languages that have existed throughout history? In this episode of Can You Believe?, Host Brad Pomerance dives deep into the fascinating world of Jewish languages with Professor Sarah Benor from the Jewish Language Project, exploring the Jewish languages of Yiddish, Ladino, Judeo-Arabic, and Judeo-English (or Jewish English).

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takeaways:

- The Jewish Language Project fosters connections through language.

- Yiddish is an amalgam of Germanic, Hebrew, and Slavic influences.

- Yiddish was primarily spoken in Eastern Europe and has a rich cultural history.

- The decline of Yiddish began before World War II due to urbanization and assimilation.

- Ladino is a melodic language that evolved after the expulsion from Spain.

- Judeo-Arabic reflects the unique linguistic features of Jewish communities in Arab lands.

- Jewish English incorporates Yiddish and Hebrew influences in modern English.

- The Cairo Geniza provides valuable insights into historical Jewish languages.

- Cultural events and media have revived interest in Yiddish today.

- The Jewish Language Project plays a crucial role in language preservation.

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Follow Sarah: https://www.jewishlanguages.org/

https://www.instagram.com/sarahbenor/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093675309034

https://twitter.com/SarahBenor/

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Follow Brad:

https://facebook.com/bradpomerance

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