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What happens when you’re the only Jewish family in Oklahoma?

JL;DR SUMMARY Oklahoma Samovar, a new play by Alice Eve Cohen debuting at La MaMa’s Downstairs Theater, delves into the rarely discussed history of Jewish immigrants in the Midwest. 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

IdentityJewish DiasporaImmigrationAssimilationTheaterOklahomaFamily HistoryAmerican DreamMidwest JewsAlice Eve Cohen

Places mentioned

Chandler, Oklahoma, United States
"a note to scatter them on Sylvias farm in Chandler, Oklahoma."
New York, United States
"Oklahoma Samovar had its world premiere at LaMaMas Downstairs Theater in New York."
Latvia
"Jake and Hattie fled persecution in Latvia with nothing but a feather bed and a samovar."

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Cairo Item ID 70113
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Retrieved 2025-12-11 05:30:52 UTC
Curated 2025-12-11 08:30:52 UTC