Welcome to today’s episode, where I am joined by the incredible Caroline Topperman, author of 'Your Roots Cast a Shadow: One Family’s Search Across History for Belonging'. A few years ago, Caroline and her husband embarked on an adventure to Poland, where she uncovered a profound connection to her family’s past. What began as a personal journey quickly turned into a deep dive into history, as she pieced together her family’s story through old letters and an unpublished manuscript by her grandfather, which she translated from Polish. In her book, Caroline masterfully weaves together her mixed Jewish and Catholic heritage, connecting it to monumental historical moments. She shares gripping stories, like her Jewish grandfather’s harrowing escape from the Nazis during World War II, always one step ahead, and the heartbreaking loss of family members erased during the Holocaust. On the other side, she tells the remarkable tale of her Catholic grandmother, who broke barriers as the first woman allowed to shop in an Afghan market while her husband worked on building a highway from Kabul to Jalalabad. Through these powerful legacies, Caroline’s book explores how her family’s diverse histories shaped not only their identity but her own sense of belonging. Join us as we dive into this moving and richly layered story with Caroline Topperman. What You'll Discover in This Episode

• How Caroline uncovered her family’s story through letters and manuscripts.
• The harrowing escape of her Jewish grandfather during WWII.
• The resilience and groundbreaking story of her Catholic grandmother in Afghanistan.
• The process of weaving together personal history, heritage, and faith.
• How legacies of survival and resilience shaped Caroline's identity.

About Caroline Topperman: A writer and storyteller whose book, Your Roots Cast a Shadow, interweaves her Jewish and Catholic heritage with monumental historical events. She reveals gripping stories, including her Jewish grandfather’s escape from the Nazis during World War II, and the heartbreaking loss of family members in the Holocaust. On the other side, she shares the extraordinary life of her Catholic grandmother, who broke barriers as the first woman to shop in an Afghan market during a time of sweeping cultural change. Caroline’s work highlights how these legacies of resilience, courage, and tragedy shaped her identity and her search for belonging. Where to find the book "Your Roots Cast a Shadow": http://bit.ly/4lGxaBN How do you connect with your own roots and family history? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your stories. ——🎧 The Avrum Rosensweig Show —— A one-of-a-kind, intimate schmooze-fest, hosted and produced by the endlessly curious veteran radio and TV personality, Avrum Rosensweig. With warmth and wit, Avrum uncovers the secrets, dreams, and inner most thoughts of people from all walks of life. From local shelf stockers, plumbers, food servers to crossing guards, stars,public figures, and cultural icons. Join this channel to get access to perks: / @avrumrosensweigshow Listen to The Avrum Rosensweigh Show on: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LZFTR0... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... https://avrumspodcast.podbean.com/ Instagram: / avrumrosensweigshow TikTok: / avrumrosensweig #CarolineTopperman #yourrootscastashadow #family #familyhistory #catholicheritage #holocausthistory #holocaustremembrance #identityandbelonging #podcastcanada #storytelling #storytellingmatters #jewishpodcast #jewishwisdom #jewishfaith #jewishlearning #jewisheducation #jewishcommunity #jewishheritage #jewishtradition #jewishculture #jewishhistory #jewishphilosophy #spiritualwisdom #motivationalpodcast #motivationalinterview #fascinatingpeople #engagingconversations #personalgrowth #lifelessons #leadershipstories #faithandwisdom #jewishinspirations #successstories #podcastinterview #theavrumrosensweigshow