Chevra haChachamotPublishers Note by JIMENA's Director of Education, Ty Alhadeff
"...The Winter issue of Distinctions underscores these existential questions: What defines “home” for Jews? Will we forever be seen as outsiders? How much persecution is tolerable? When is resistance necessary? Why is preservation of cultural heritage in hostile environments worthwhile?
Personally, I contemplate my family’s history of survival through various exiles, from Babylon, Rome, and Spain to Rhodes, and now Seattle. The uncertainty of what lies ahead, whether it’s a fifth exile or a sense of displacement in the Pacific Northwest, looms large. Ultimately, my physical connection to Israel feels more distant — but my emotional ties have grown stronger — since October 7. I imagine many Jews around the world feel like me here in Seattle, where living outside of Israel seems more like an exile than a diaspora..."
