Episode Details

In 1648, a Cossack uprising erupted across Eastern Europe, unleashing one of the deadliest waves of violence against Jewish communities before the Holocaust. Entire towns were destroyed, tens of thousands were killed, and survivors carried the trauma for generations. What sparked the rebellion? Why were Jews targeted? And how did these massacres reshape Jewish history and relations across the region? In this episode, we'll explore the Chmielnicki Massacres—a devastating chapter that remains little known outside of Jewish history, yet left an enduring mark on Europe and the Jewish people.