In this episode, we speak with Ruth Behar, poet, children’s author, and Professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, about the history of the Jews of Cuba. Ruth weaves personal stories of her Ashkenazi and Sephardic family members’ journeys from Poland and Turkey to Cuba into a larger narrative of Jewish diaspora and the search for home. We discuss “keepers of memory” and Ruth’s role as a memory keeper through her many books, including Letters from Cuba and Everything I Kept/Todo lo que guardé.

Learn more about Rachel Laryea and Kelewele at www.kelewelenyc.com

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Episode Credits:

Joy and Conversation is hosted by Dan Osborn

Music supervision, editing mixing, and mastering by Nico Rivers (www.nicoriversrecording.com)

Graphics and Klezmer theme song by Alec Hutson (www.alechutson.com & www.warbirdcreative.com)

Website design by Jakob Lazzaro (www.jakoblazzaro.com)

This episode featured music from the Sephardic group, Voice of the Turtle (www.voiceoftheturtle.com).

• “Par’o Era Estreyero” from the album A Different Night: A Passover Musical Anthology
• “Asheriko De Kinze Anyos”
• “Kuando D’aifto” from the album A Different Night: A Passover Musical Anthology

This episode featured music from Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).

• “Arlan Vale” from the album Minimal
• “Contrarian” from the album Sketchbook
• “Union Hall Melody” from the album Union Hall