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We know the Jewish world is global — but we also need to experience it

JL;DR SUMMARY Reflecting on a century-old story of two Sephardic Jewish immigrants shouting "Yehudi!" in Seattle to find community, the importance of experiencing and connecting with global Jewish life is emphasized. 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 EducationJewish CommunitiesHebrew Union CollegeJewish SolidarityJewish ConnectionSephardic Jewish ImmigrantsWeitzman Jdc FellowshipGlobal Jewish LeadershipJdc Entwine

Places mentioned

Seattle, Washington, United States
"Over 100 years ago, Solomon Calvo and Jacob Policar arrived in Seattle from the Turkish island of Marmara."
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
"As Jews, we are grappling with rising global antisemitism, including the horrific attacks in Sydney and Jackson, a fragile ceasefire in Israel and instability around the globe."
Jackson, Mississippi, United States
"As Jews, we are grappling with rising global antisemitism, including the horrific attacks in Sydney and Jackson, a fragile ceasefire in Israel and instability around the globe."
Israel
"As Jews, we are grappling with rising global antisemitism, including the horrific attacks in Sydney and Jackson, a fragile ceasefire in Israel and instability around the globe."
Buenos Aires, Argentina
"From Buenos Aires to Bucharest, from Mumbai to Dubai, the fellowship has enabled HUC students to encounter the Jewish world in all its richness and complexity."
Bucharest, Romania
"From Buenos Aires to Bucharest, from Mumbai to Dubai, the fellowship has enabled HUC students to encounter the Jewish world in all its richness and complexity."
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
"From Buenos Aires to Bucharest, from Mumbai to Dubai, the fellowship has enabled HUC students to encounter the Jewish world in all its richness and complexity."
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
"From Buenos Aires to Bucharest, from Mumbai to Dubai, the fellowship has enabled HUC students to encounter the Jewish world in all its richness and complexity."
Dallas, Texas, United States
"Weitzman-JDC Fellow alumnus Rabbi Michael Lewis brought a group of young adults from his congregation at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas on a JDC Entwine Insider Trip to connect with the Jewish community in Budapest."
Budapest, Hungary
"Despite the enduring legacy of the Holocaust and decades of Communist persecution, this community continues to thrive."
Ukraine
"Shortly after the conflict began in Ukraine, countless Weitzman-JDC Fellowship alumni reached out to see how their synagogues could offer support to the local Jewish community there."
Moldova
"Some organized collection drives and shipped items to refugees in Moldova, while others shared their experiences of visiting Ukrainian Jewish communities with their congregants, urging support and solidarity."
Cochin, Kerala, India
"the synagogue behind an aquarium supply shop in Cochin, India, or the Jewish family camp in located in a Romanian town named Christian."
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
"acquired from a Jewish choir in Budapest and the familiar Reform tunes he chanted in a synagogue in Cape Town."
Los Angeles, California, United States
"In an October 2025 sermon at HUCs Los Angeles campus, Sarah Livschitz, a fifth-year rabbinical student from New Zealand who has traveled with and received a microgrant from JDC Entwine, said that JDC taught me how to enact Klal Yisrael."
New Zealand
"In an October 2025 sermon at HUCs Los Angeles campus, Sarah Livschitz, a fifth-year rabbinical student from New Zealand who has traveled with and received a microgrant from JDC Entwine, said that JDC taught me how to enact Klal Yisrael."
San Francisco, California, United States
"Rabbi Madeline T. Budman serves as rabbi educator at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco."

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Cairo Item ID 73957
Cairo Source ID 34
Retrieved 2026-01-31 05:30:41 UTC
Curated 2026-01-31 08:31:06 UTC