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Digging up Historical Jewish Roots(50:51)
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First, Eve is joined by Dr. Greenspan, dentist, mohel and self-described “serial halachic adventurer.” He tells Eve about some of his world travels in search of Jewish historical connections; people with Jewish origins; Jewish traditions that have been almost forgotten; and virtually anything having to do with Jews and Judaism. His latest? Helping 1,500 people in India convert to Judaism. (For more information: www.halachicadventures.com)
Then, Eve is joined by Antiquities Authority Jerusalem District Archeologist Dr. Amit Re’em, who describes the exciting discovery of an ancient ritual bath (mikvah) under the living-room floor of a house in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ein Karem, which sits on a Second Temple-era Jewish village traditionally associated with John the Baptist’s family. This is proof that Jews, maybe even priests, lived halachic lives there more than 2,000 years ago — until the Temple’s destruction in 70 CE. Finally, Oriya, under whose living room the mikvah was found during renovations, shares her feelings on raising her children in a home with such a history, and the personal significance it has for her as a Jewish woman.