Show Notes
What does our DNA reveal about who we are as a people? In this episode of Remember What's Next, we explore the genetic history of the Jewish people and what it teaches us about our shared origins, our journey through history, and the family-turned-nation we've become. We begin where it all began: in the Levant. The genetic evidence is clear — all Jews trace back to Judea, with roots firmly planted in the land of our ancestors. From there, we follow the threads of our story outward, examining how exile and survival shaped not only our culture and traditions, but our very biology. We trace the Ashkenazi journey through the Rhineland, the Sephardic experience in Spain and Morocco, and the long, rich history of Mizrahi communities across the Middle East and North Africa. We look at how being enslaved and dispersed by the Roman Empire scattered our family across continents, and how centuries of life in different lands left their mark on visible traits like skin tone, eye color, and hair — even as our core genetic identity remained remarkably intact. This is a story of one family that became a nation, a nation that endured exile, and a people whose genetic memory still carries the fingerprints of Judea after thousands of years. Join us as we connect the science to the soul of our shared Jewish story. Support the work: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Want the full story? Start from episode one. As Winston Churchill said, "The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." That's exactly what we're doing — going all the way back, so we can understand the present and shape what comes next. 🎙️ Learn more about your hosts: Rabbi Ken Spiro → www.KenSpiro.com Ellie Bass → www.elliebass.com 📧 Got a question or topic idea? Email us: [email protected] Help us keep going. Remember What's Next is a labor of love for our people — and it's working. We've hit #1 in multiple countries, with thousands of listeners around the world tuning in. We want to grow this even further, and we'd love your help. Become a patron or supporter → [email protected] The simplest way to support us? Like. Share. Subscribe. Review. Every single one helps more people discover the essential history behind who we are as a Jewish people — and the lens we need to understand the world today. ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@RememberWhatsNext Thank you for being part of this journey with us. 🕎
More from Remember What's Next
Welcome to Season 6 of Remember What’s Next, with Ellie Bass and Rabbi Ken Spiro. This season, we’re exploring Jewish history through the people who shaped it: who they were, the choices they made, and how their influence continues to shape our lives as Jews today. We’re beginning with Shaul, King Saul, Israel’s first king, whose story raises difficult questions about leadership, compassion, and moral courage. How could the same man who spared Agag, the king of Amalek, later order the killing of the priests of Nov? What shaped his judgment—and what can we learn from those contradictions? We’ll also explore the idea of “suicidal empathy”: when compassion, disconnected from judgment and responsibility, ends up enabling harm. How do we distinguish mercy from misplaced sympathy? When does humility become a fear of standing firm? And how do we recognize when our own emotions are clouding our sense of what is right? Join us as we get to know Shaul—and consider what his story asks of us today. Want the full story? Start from episode one. As Winston Churchill said, "The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." That's exactly what we're doing — going all the way back, so we can understand the present and shape what comes next. 🎙️ Learn more about your hosts: Rabbi Ken Spiro → www.KenSpiro.com Ellie Bass → www.elliebass.com ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RkenSp Help us keep going. Support the work on our KOFI page with a one time or monthly sponsorship: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Remember What's Next is a labor of love for our people — and it's working. We've hit #1 in multiple countries, with thousands of listeners around the world tuning in. We want to grow this even further, and we'd love your help. The simplest way to support us? Support the work: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Also! Like. Share. Subscribe. Review. Every single one helps more people discover the essential history behind who we are as a Jewish people — and the lens we need to understand the world today. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. 🕎 📧 Got a question or topic idea? Email us: [email protected]
Rabbi Ken Spiro and Ellie Bass discuss the history of truth, and how the idea of facts and ultimate truth are more new than we think. Want the full story? Start from episode one. As Winston Churchill said, "The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." That's exactly what we're doing — going all the way back, so we can understand the present and shape what comes next. 🎙️ Learn more about your hosts: Rabbi Ken Spiro → www.KenSpiro.com Ellie Bass → www.elliebass.com ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RkenSp Help us keep going. Support the work on our KOFI page with a one time or monthly sponsorship: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Remember What's Next is a labor of love for our people — and it's working. We've hit #1 in multiple countries, with thousands of listeners around the world tuning in. We want to grow this even further, and we'd love your help. The simplest way to support us? Support the work: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Also! Like. Share. Subscribe. Review. Every single one helps more people discover the essential history behind who we are as a Jewish people — and the lens we need to understand the world today. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. 🕎 📧 Got a question or topic idea? Email us: [email protected]
Rabbi Spiro and Ellie discuss the history of conspiracy theories and how those show up today in our world. Want the full story? Start from episode one. As Winston Churchill said, "The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." That's exactly what we're doing — going all the way back, so we can understand the present and shape what comes next. 🎙️ Learn more about your hosts: Rabbi Ken Spiro → www.KenSpiro.com Ellie Bass → www.elliebass.com ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RkenSp Help us keep going. Support the work on our KOFI page with a one time or monthly sponsorship: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Remember What's Next is a labor of love for our people — and it's working. We've hit #1 in multiple countries, with thousands of listeners around the world tuning in. We want to grow this even further, and we'd love your help. The simplest way to support us? Support the work: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Also! Like. Share. Subscribe. Review. Every single one helps more people discover the essential history behind who we are as a Jewish people — and the lens we need to understand the world today. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. 🕎 📧 Got a question or topic idea? Email us: [email protected]
This episode features a discussion about the historical and spiritual context of modern challenges facing the Jewish people, specifically as they approach Tisha B'Av. The conversation explores the recurring patterns of history, the concept of Jewish destiny, and how to maintain perspective during times of heightened antisemitism. Want the full story? Start from episode one. As Winston Churchill said, "The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." That's exactly what we're doing — going all the way back, so we can understand the present and shape what comes next. 🎙️ Learn more about your hosts: Rabbi Ken Spiro → www.KenSpiro.com Ellie Bass → www.elliebass.com ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RkenSp Help us keep going. Support the work on our KOFI page with a one time or monthly sponsorship: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Remember What's Next is a labor of love for our people — and it's working. We've hit #1 in multiple countries, with thousands of listeners around the world tuning in. We want to grow this even further, and we'd love your help. The simplest way to support us? Support the work: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Also! Like. Share. Subscribe. Review. Every single one helps more people discover the essential history behind who we are as a Jewish people — and the lens we need to understand the world today. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. 🕎 📧 Got a question or topic idea? Email us: [email protected]
In this episode Rabbi Spiro and Ellie discuss the recent elections in NY and the DSA candidates who won, and what the history of communism, socialism and democracy can help us understand about America today as it approaches it's 250th birthday. Want the full story? Start from episode one. As Winston Churchill said, "The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." That's exactly what we're doing — going all the way back, so we can understand the present and shape what comes next. 🎙️ Learn more about your hosts: Rabbi Ken Spiro → www.KenSpiro.com Ellie Bass → www.elliebass.com ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RkenSp Help us keep going. Support the work on our KOFI page with a one time or monthly sponsorship: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Remember What's Next is a labor of love for our people — and it's working. We've hit #1 in multiple countries, with thousands of listeners around the world tuning in. We want to grow this even further, and we'd love your help. The simplest way to support us? Support the work: https://ko-fi.com/rememberwhatsnext Also! Like. Share. Subscribe. Review. Every single one helps more people discover the essential history behind who we are as a Jewish people — and the lens we need to understand the world today. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. 📧 Got a question or topic idea? Email us: [email protected]