With Daniel Jonas as our guide, we explore how Sephardi traditions merge with philosophy, language, and music to form a personal and uniquely ‘alive’ sense of Jewish identity.
Our guest
Meet Daniel Jonas, a corporate innovation expert, leader of interfaith dialogue, and prominent figure in London's Sephardic community—a path that has led him to explore his Iraqi-Indian heritage and the influence of Judeo-Arabic culture.
Key topics
Language and Identity: How language, particularly Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic, has shaped Daniel's Jewish expression.
The Need for Change: Daniel advocates for systemic changes within communities and institutions to include the diversity of what it means to be Jewish.
Your guide
Short definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:
Kippah / Yarmulke - a brimless Jewish skullcap with variations in design and placement. Similar to a Kufi or Taquiya in Islam
Amba - a delectable tangy mango pickle condiment of Baghdadi Jewish origin
Reform Judaism - Jewish denomination that emphasises autonomy, and adapting to modern life.
Want to learn more? Listen to previous episodes where we discuss identity.
References & Resources
Los Desterrados - A London band with a rootsy take on the ancient folk music of the Sephardic Jews.
Nahamu - an organisation dedicated to combating religious extremism within the Jewish community
3yin - a London-based ground-breaking band that performs the music of the Jewish communities of the Middle East and North Africa
Dive deeper into the Jewniverse
Who Jew you think you are?
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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