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
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.
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