Host Jackie Congedo, CEO at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, joined this episode from her hotel in Jerusalem, where she was with leaders from Holocaust education centers around the world, studying and collaborating.
“Their son had a knack for connecting with people, and for seeing the humanity in somebody else, and for caring enough about another human being with a different story to ask about that story, to want to know more about it.” -- Jackie, on meeting the parents of an Israeli soldier killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Now, they honor his memory by passing out packets of instant coffee, urging people to listen to people who are different than them.
Jackie and her co-host Kevin Aldridge, Opinion & Engagement Editor at Cincinnati.com talked about some of the people she met and the experiences she had during her time in Israel, including Holocaust survivors and their families. She was also very moved by her time meeting other leaders in Holocaust education, which faces multiple challenges right now – the loss of remaining survivors, rising antisemitism, and a growing gap in knowledge about the Holocaust itself.
During our taping, sirens went off in Jerusalem, indicating a safety threat, and Jackie had to quit recording and take shelter. She is fine, and we were able to continue the episode. This brief interruption left us all with a greater sense of empathy for the daily realities that people on both sides of this conflict are living with right now and the incredible resilience required to sustain life there.
This episode touches on the human toll of conflict, the importance of preserving and learaning from history, and how even small acts can create ripple effects of empathy and understanding.
This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Email us podcast@cincyhhc.org
Find us on social media
https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/
https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/
https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Episode Resources
Visit us in person or online https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/
Removal of articles from government websites
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/19/politics/pentagon-website-purge/index.html
Dr. Eyal Kaminka and his wife Elena, on the loss of their son, Yannai, at the hands of Hamas
https://time.com/6327936/israel-mother-son-death-hamas-war/
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com