Lea
Favorite Jewish food: Probably shakshuka or mofletta.
Favorite Jewish holiday: I really like mimouna. It’s a Moroccan Jewish holiday for the end of Passover, we just have a huge celebration and eat a lot of bread. How would you describe your identity? I’ve been thinking about that a lot this past year. My dad is Jewish and my mom is Christian. I would call myself a conservative Jew because I’m more observant. As for culturally, I’m a Sephardic Jew. Some people say Morocco is Mizrahi, but because I have Spanish roots, I’m Sephardi. I wouldn’t call myself Christian. Do you feel like your looks or experiences are included in the general picture of what a Jewish woman is? I look more Ashkenazi just because I do have that Swedish side, so yeah. Definitely. The representation that we normally get is Ashkenazi Jewry, so it’s weird dealing with while also not being Askenazi. |
Has that affected your feelings about Judaism or Jewish identity?
I feel like it’s different in the U.S. I went on Heller High first semester, so I was in Israel. In the U.S., it’s kind of not as much of a focus because there is more assimilation and Judaism that has developed. I was one of a few Sephardi on the trip, so it was a focus for me. It was a way that I was different from other people, so when we learn about Ashkenazi history, it’s not exactly me. Do you feel like you’ve generally been welcomed in Jewish spaces? Yeah, it’s a little more difficult once you get more religious just because I don’t have a Jewish mother. I am going through the process of conversion already, just for later, so I do feel pretty well accepted. Have you felt excluded from other spaces because of your Jewish identity? Yeah, sometimes. Nothing too extreme. At [my school], there is a very small Jewish population. There are a lot of times where I’ve been in a group and it’s only Christians. They’ll be talking about church, I’ve had people invite me to church. People act a little weird about it. They’ll be like, “Oh, she’s Jewish” as a reason for something. Do you feel like you’ve been able to find communities where your whole identity has been accepted? It was a little harder in the U.S., but yeah. I kind of figured it out. |
"[Being Sephardic] was a way that I was different from other people, so when we learn about Ashkenazi history, it’s not exactly me." |
What do you think we could do as a larger Jewish community to make our spaces more welcoming to people who identify differently than the “norm” of American Judaism?
One thing I’ve actually been thinking about for [our synagogue] specifically is just more education on the history of Judaism. There are differences in Judaism that we don’t understand because we’re not taught about it as much. I’m not saying that my synagogue has done a bad job of educating us, I definitely disagree with that. It would be great to learn more about history and the diversity within Judaism. Like, Ethiopian Jewry and Ashkenazi Jewry.
Does Judaism/identifying as Jewish play an important role in your life?
Yeah, definitely. I like to say that I’m irritatingly Jewish. I’ve actually introduced myself like “I’m Lea, I’m Jewish” because I do feel like it is such an important part of me and my identity. It affects everything I do.
What’s your favorite part about being Jewish?
I really like the historical aspect of being Jewish. Last year, I took a Jewish history class and we would learn about Judaism for like three hours a day. It was one of my favorite classes even when I got tired of it, but it was something to really be proud of.
One thing I’ve actually been thinking about for [our synagogue] specifically is just more education on the history of Judaism. There are differences in Judaism that we don’t understand because we’re not taught about it as much. I’m not saying that my synagogue has done a bad job of educating us, I definitely disagree with that. It would be great to learn more about history and the diversity within Judaism. Like, Ethiopian Jewry and Ashkenazi Jewry.
Does Judaism/identifying as Jewish play an important role in your life?
Yeah, definitely. I like to say that I’m irritatingly Jewish. I’ve actually introduced myself like “I’m Lea, I’m Jewish” because I do feel like it is such an important part of me and my identity. It affects everything I do.
What’s your favorite part about being Jewish?
I really like the historical aspect of being Jewish. Last year, I took a Jewish history class and we would learn about Judaism for like three hours a day. It was one of my favorite classes even when I got tired of it, but it was something to really be proud of.