Deatra Cohen and Adam Siegel have explored the world of Jewish medicinal plant healers within the communities of the Pale of Settlement in Eastern Europe, and written a book to share their findings. As trained librarians and linguists, Deatra and Adam were uniquely suited to uncover these practices that lasted from the Middle Ages to the Modern Era, hidden by language barriers and obscure documents. The book is eye-opening and includes the first materia medica of 26 plants and herbs essential to Ashkenazi folk medicine. In this interview, Deatra and Adam discuss their research process, the legacy of Ashkenazi herbalism, and how their experiences as Jews interacted with their work.

EPISODE NOTES

Order "Ashkenazi Herbalism: Rediscovering the Herbal Traditions of Eastern European Jews" from Bookshop.org

Visit the Ashkenazi Herbalism Website

Join the Ashkenazi Herbalism Facebook Group

Follow Ashkenazi Herbalism on Instagram

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If you liked this episode try out Embracing Yiddish Language, Theater, Culture, and History, with Rokhl Kafrissen or Jewish New York with Dr. Deborah Dash Moore .

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This episode was produced and presented by Clarissa Marks with music by Gillicuddy.

This episode was recorded on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past, present, and emerging. As a land-based people in diaspora, we recognize first nations and indigenous people as the stewards of this land from time immemorial. We honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.