How Jewish Immigrants Created the American Childhood with Michael Kimmel

From the Teddy Bear to Barbie, Superman to Star Wars action figures, the American toy industry was largely built by first-generation Jewish immigrants. In this special Chanukah episode of Jewish Insights, Justin Pines sits down with sociologist and author Michael Kimmel (Playmakers: The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created the Toy Industry in America) to uncover how Jewish entrepreneurs created the modern concept of a "happy childhood."

🧸 In this episode:

• The Jewish family behind the Teddy Bear (and their connection to Teddy Roosevelt).
• Why Barbie was a revolutionary Jewish idea.
• The "Assimilation Fantasy" hidden in Superman and Comic Books.
• The story of the failed "Baby Jesus" doll.
• How the industry went from the Lower East Side to Sesame Street.

Discover how a generation fleeing persecution in Europe and Russia built the playground we all grew up in.

#JewishHistory #PopCulture #Toys #Barbie #History #JBS #Chanukah # Hanukkah