Season 2 is here! This trailer explains why the conversations in the podcast are so important. Now, more than ever.

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Show credits

Host / Producer: Eylan Ezekiel

Post-production: Communicating for Impact

Artwork: Emily Theodore

Music: Aleksafor utransndr Karabanov

Sound effects: Serge Quadrado

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yaffa Judah reflects on growing up between worlds—navigating her Indian and English heritage, attending Ashkenazi schools while rooted in Bene Israel culture, and marrying into a Moroccan Jewish family. Yaffa shares how music, memory, and food have shaped her identity and how she’s working to create inclusive Jewish spaces for others.

Our Guest

Yaffa Judah is a community organiser, creative and educator passionate about celebrating Jewish diversity and creating spaces where all Jews feel they belong.

Key Topics

• Mixed Heritage: How growing up with Indian and English Jewish heritage shaped Yaffa’s understanding of what it means to be Jewish.
• Jew-ish in Ashkenazi Spaces: Yaffa reflects on being “an ethnic minority within an ethnic minority” and the experience of feeling othered.
• Celebrating Difference: From leading inclusive student events at university to sharing Bene Israel traditions today, Yaffa is actively widening the circle.
• Beyond the Norm: Yaffa explores how labels like “Sephardi” are sometimes used as a catch-all that doesn’t reflect the whole picture.

Your Guide

Short definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:

• Bene Israel - One of the oldest Jewish communities in India
• Selichot - Prayers recited during holidays with variations between communities
• Minhag “Everyone should feel welcome—even if they’re just Jew-ish”- A custom or tradition in Jewish practice
• Adani - community originally from Aden, Yemen, known for their unique pronunciation and liturgical style

Want to learn more?

Explore earlier episodes on Jewish identity and inclusion:

S2E1: Diverse Jewish Stories with Yaacov Yadgar

S2E4: Classical Sephardi Culture with Daniel Jonas - to follow soon

References & Resources

• Gate of Mercy Synagogue – the oldest synagogue in Mumbai, built in 1796
• JDC Entwine – A global service organisation where Yaffa led intercultural events

Illustrated Guide to a Jew in India by Solomon Devika – A fun visual storytelling project about Indian Jewish history

Find us elsewhere, here!

Show credits

Host / Producer: Eylan Ezekiel

Post-production: Communicating for Impact

Artwork: Emily Theodore

Music: Aleksafor utransndr Karabanov

Sound effects: Serge Quadrado

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deeply personal episode, Shelley Silas guides us through her intricate journey of Jewish identity, shaped by her unique heritage, family dynamics, and the profound impact of loss.

Our Guest

Shelley Silas is a playwright and storyteller whose work delves into the nuances of identity and cultural belonging. Her plays, including "Calcutta Kosher," reflect her diverse heritage and the challenges of navigating multiple identities.

Key Topics

• Multifaceted Identity: Exploring the intersection of Baghdadi Jewish heritage, Indian roots, and LGBTQ+ identity.
• Family and Loss: How significant life events, especially the loss of family members, reshape one's understanding of Jewish identity and cultural practices.

Your guide

Short definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:

• Sephardi - Jews descended from Iberia and the Spanish diaspora
• Ashkenazi: Jewish people descended from Germany and Northern France
• Mizrahi: Jews from the Middle East and North Africa
• Shul: Yiddish word for synagogue
• Kippah: A small skull cap worn by Jewish men

Want to learn more? Listen to previous episodes where we discuss identity.

• S1E1 The Big Three Origin Stories
• S1E7 “Identity is overrated” with Dr Orphira Gamliel

References & Resources

• The Royal Literary Fund - Shelley Silas's profile and works, including "Calcutta Kosher"
• Jewish Museum London - blog entitled Understanding the Indian Baghdadi Jews

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Find us elsewhere, here!

Show credits

Host / Producer: Eylan Ezekiel

Post-production: Communicating for Impact

Artwork: Emily Theodore

Music: Aleksafor utransndr Karabanov

Sound effects: Serge Quadrado

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.