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I traveled from Israel to Spain to convert new Jews. A single ‘Sababa’ made me feel safer.

JL;DR SUMMARY Rabbi Hayim Leiter reflects on his experiences traveling from Israel to Spain to perform ritual circumcisions (brises) for converts amidst a politically charged atmosphere. 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

SpainJewish IdentityDiplomatic RelationsJewish ConversionHolocaust RemembranceEuropean JudaismBrit MilahCultural Connection

Places mentioned

Madrid, Madrid Province, Spain
"Ive been to Madrid twice, both times to perform ritual circumcisions, and both trips overlapped with some of the saddest yearly Jewish commemorations: Tisha Bav and, this year, International Holocaust Remembrance Day."
Israel
"Title: I traveled from Israel to Spain to convert new Jews."
Bulgaria
"I was subject to such scrutiny once in Bulgaria when purchasing a last-minute return ticket."
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
"Where were you born? he continued. Philadelphia, I told him."

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Cairo Item ID 74448
Cairo Source ID 42
Retrieved 2026-02-03 18:00:34 UTC
Curated 2026-02-03 19:00:25 UTC