The Search for Jewish Homeland

The episode delves into the historical context of Zionism, particularly through the lens of Rachel Cockrell's family narrative. It begins with her great-grandfather's life as a Russian Jewish immigrant in England and traces the origins of his journey back to the founding of Zionism and the influence of Theodore Herzl. Herzl, originally an assimilated Jew in Vienna, became a central figure in the early Zionist movement, advocating for a Jewish homeland in Palestine amidst rising anti-Semitism and pogroms in Eastern Europe. The discussions illuminate the mix of hope and desperation felt by the Jewish people during this tumultuous period, highlighting the strong call for a return to Palestine as a means of self-liberation and survival.