Jewish Life Around the World: Stories from Eleven Families

Rivka Tamim, a mother of three from São Paulo, Brazil, speaks about a unique Jewish community, highlighting warm-hearted people, reverence, and remarkable generosity. Brazil is a land of stunning landscapes, waterfalls, natural treasures, unpredictable weather, and a fear of kidnappings. Read more here.

Rivka's son in Rio de Janeiro (Inset: Rivka Tamim)

Debby Rosenfeld from Zurich, Switzerland: There is no antisemitism, but discussing the miracle of Chanukah on the streets is off-limits. Friday night welcomes many guests, but by Shabbat morning, not many linger. Everything is available for purchase, but nothing beats the spices from Machane Yehuda market. Read more here.

Debby Rosenfeld

Deborah Hazan from Genoa, Italy: Ancient bridges have fallen, and extravagant gift baskets feature Bamba snacks. It’s an Italian high school with Israeli matriculation exams, and matzah deliveries on a beloved singer's scooter. There are Jews unsure of their origins and elders remembering their roots. Read more here.

Nervi Génova, Italy

Sarita Brill from Colombia talks about online school sessions in the afternoons and an eternal spring season. A Bar Mitzvah boy wishes to read Torah in Spanish, with a variety of unusual fruits for Tu Bishvat. Read more here.

Medellin, Colombia (Illustrative Photo: shutterstock)

Yael Levy from Santiago reminisces about Bisli and Bamba, a private helper three times a week, an Excel spreadsheet for guests, and intense street protests. Read more here.

(Photo: shutterstock)

Idit Moav from Panama City, a mother of nine, shares about a Lag BaOmer bonfire in the schoolyard, a festive Jewish lesson for girls in the stairwell, an absent assistant, and a Jewish synagogue by the sea: "We have everything, but nothing compares to the land of Israel," she says. Read more here.

(Photo: shutterstock)

Racheli Sheinfeld from Kaunas, Lithuania, speaks of snow on Lag BaOmer, shacharit at 9 AM, a cheder class with just two kids, midnight sunbeams, vegan pizza, and a cow milking for the Shavuot festival. Read more here.

Sheinfeld family home, snow on Lag BaOmer

Maayan Asher from Venezuela talks about a security guard at the building entrance, chavruta under mango trees, fetching water from street wells, and an electric lunch warmer. Read more here.

Tovar Colony – A German-style settlement built by the Germans before World War II (Photo: Maayan Asher)

Leonor Tarica, a mother of five from Buenos Aires, tells of a groom who brought an entire family to faith, a pandemic-style gathering, an Argentine marmalade cake made by an eight-year-old, and gemach sales for meat. Read more here.

Valeria del Mar

Ruthie Twill from Mexico City, a mother of 13, describes non-Jewish housemaids staying in adjacent rooms, Shabbat parties on Friday nights, a giant sukkah in the yard, and hand sanitizers on shopping cart handles. And when do they clean the shoes? Read more here.

On vacation at conjunto in Cuernavaca

Kuti Crasianta, a mother of five from Venezuela, speaks of vibrant Jewish life under a tyrannical regime. What do they do when there's no gasoline at the stations, how do women from Spain join a Torah class in Venezuela, and what happens when no sugar is found in the supermarket? Read more here.

Venezuela (Photo: shutterstock)