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Groundhog Day: Meet the Jews of Punxsutawney, Pa.

JL;DR SUMMARY Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, famously known for its Groundhog Day celebrations, also has a rich Jewish history, significantly shaped by figures like Sam Light. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish HistoryJewish CommunityCultural HeritagePennsylvaniaGroundhog DayTraditionsCelebrationsPunxsutawneySam LightAbraham Light

Places mentioned

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, United States
"Three generations of a Jewish family that immigrated to Punxsutawney around 1880."
Washington, Washington DC, United States
"Lights daughter, Meredith, who lives near her mother in Washington, D.C."
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
"Eventually, local Pittsburgh television stations broadcast them."
New York, United States
"A synagogue in Pittsburgh took the prayer books. Some of the synagogues items including its ark, one of its stained glass windows and candlesticks are now on display in the historical society."

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Cairo Item ID 43230
Cairo Source ID 35
Retrieved 2025-02-02 05:30:25 UTC
Curated 2025-02-02 08:30:47 UTC