How Jewish Immigrants Created the American Childhood with Michael Kimmel
Update: 2025-12-10
Description
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.Â
- 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 # HanukkahÂ
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