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We were instant friends. Then came the Israel question.

JL;DR SUMMARY Louis Keene reflects on the challenges Jews face when navigating friendships with non-Jews in today's complex political environment, particularly when Israel becomes the focal point of discussions. 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

FriendshipJewish CommunityJewish IdentityGazaFloridaAmerican JewsJewish FutureQueer Orthodox Jews

Places mentioned

Miami, Florida, United States
"an article last month in the conservative magazine Tablet pondered whether Miami was the new Jerusalem"
South Beach, Florida, United States
"I took my talents to South Beach and spent essentially no time in the Jewish community at all."
Dallas, Texas, United States
"They are best friends and roommates, two Dallas-born transplants chasing careers in fashion design."
Israel
"Then came the Israel question."
Gaza, Palestinian Territories
"He volunteered his sense of horror about Gaza and related his shock about the circumstances of Israels establishment."
Los Angeles, California, United States
"He is based in Los Angeles."

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Cairo Item ID 78727
Cairo Source ID 35
Retrieved 2026-03-28 05:31:04 UTC
Curated 2026-03-28 08:30:35 UTC