IsraelCast Episode 222
Where are the Jewish people truly from? On this thought-provoking episode of IsraelCast, join host Steven Shalowitz as he welcomes back celebrated author, Holocaust scholar, and pioneering voice of the Modern Jewish Pride Movement, Ben M. Freeman. Ben introduces his groundbreaking new book, The Jews: An Indigenous People, unpacking the powerful and historically undeniable truth of Jewish indigeneity to the Land of Israel. With eloquence, warmth, and abounding intellectual curiosity, Ben explores how centuries of exile couldn't diminish the Jewish people's bond to their ancestral homeland—a bond now celebrated in a modern miracle, the State of Israel. Delving into history, language, culture, and even the nuances of identity, this illuminating conversation encourages listeners to rediscover Jewish pride and embrace a vibrant heritage that has withstood millennia. Tune in to hear why Jewish history isn’t just about belief—it’s about unshakable facts that empower our present and guide our future.
Ben M. Freeman is an author, educator, and founder of the modern Jewish Pride movement. He wrote the seminal “People”and its follow-up, “Our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride.” The finale of his Jewish Pride trilogy, “The Jews: An Indigenous People,” was published in February 2025.
As a Holocaust scholar for over fifteen years, Freeman established himself as one of his generation's leading Jewish thinkers. He was voted number 8 on the inaugural 25 Young ViZionaries list by The Jerusalem Post and Jewish National Fund-USA. Additionally, he serves as a Jewish Diplomat for the World Jewish Congress and a Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism Policy.