“Being Seen Matters”

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Who Jew Think You Are

Eylan Ezekiel

22 episodes

6 days ago

Exploring a more inclusive Jewniverse, with Eylan Ezekiel.

Meeting fascinating guests, this podcast will take you around the world, to understand the diverse histories and identities of Jewish people.

For more, join our community here https://linktr.ee/eylanezekielwhojew

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Judaism

Religion & Spirituality,

All content for Who Jew Think You Are is the property of Eylan Ezekiel and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Exploring a more inclusive Jewniverse, with Eylan Ezekiel.

Meeting fascinating guests, this podcast will take you around the world, to understand the diverse histories and identities of Jewish people.

For more, join our community here https://linktr.ee/eylanezekielwhojew

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Judaism

Religion & Spirituality,

Society & Culture,

History,

Documentary

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“Being Seen Matters” - Yaffa Judah

Who Jew Think You Are

44 minutes 49 seconds

6 months ago

“Being Seen Matters” - Yaffa Judah

Yaffa Judah reflects on growing up between worlds—navigating her Indian and English heritage, attending Ashkenazi schools while rooted in Bene Israel culture, and marrying into a Moroccan Jewish family. Yaffa shares how music, memory, and food have shaped her identity and how she’s working to create inclusive Jewish spaces for others.

Our Guest

Yaffa Judah is a community organiser, creative and educator passionate about celebrating Jewish diversity and creating spaces where all Jews feel they belong.

Key Topics

Mixed Heritage: How growing up with Indian and English Jewish heritage shaped Yaffa’s understanding of what it means to be Jewish.
Jew-ish in Ashkenazi Spaces: Yaffa reflects on being “an ethnic minority within an ethnic minority” and the experience of feeling othered.
Celebrating Difference: From leading inclusive student events at university to sharing Bene Israel traditions today, Yaffa is actively widening the circle.
Beyond the Norm: Yaffa explores how labels like “Sephardi” are sometimes used as a catch-all that doesn’t reflect the whole picture.

Your Guide

Short definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:

Bene Israel - One of the oldest Jewish communities in India
Selichot - Prayers recited during holidays with variations between communities
Minhag “Everyone should feel welcome—even if they’re just Jew-ish”- A custom or tradition in Jewish practice
Adani - community originally from Aden, Yemen, known for their unique pronunciation and liturgical style

Want to learn more?

Explore earlier episodes on Jewish identity and inclusion:

S2E1: Diverse Jewish Stories with Yaacov Yadgar

S2E4: Classical Sephardi Culture with Daniel Jonas - to follow soon

References & Resources

Gate of Mercy Synagogue – the oldest synagogue in Mumbai, built in 1796
JDC Entwine – A global service organisation where Yaffa led intercultural events

Illustrated Guide to a Jew in India by Solomon Devika – A fun visual storytelling project about Indian Jewish history

Find us elsewhere, here!

Show credits

Host / Producer: Eylan Ezekiel

Post-production: Communicating for Impact

Artwork: Emily Theodore

Music: Aleksafor utransndr Karabanov

Sound effects: Serge Quadrado

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.