The Importance of Playing ‘Jewish Geography’

Photo courtesy of the author.

Photo courtesy of the author.

My mom is among the best at playing “Jewish Geography.” If you are not familiar with the game, it goes like this: an American Jew meets another American Jew who may be local or from another geographical area. They begin a conversation:

“You’re from (any city). Do you know (name of person)?”
“That’s my (cousin, best friend, campmate, other relation)!”

And the conversation continues until they finally run out of common connections. As Jews, we desperately look for these connections to make our tiny 0.2 percent of the world’s population feel like mishpacha (family).

I was thinking about this need for connection and how happy we feel when meeting like-minded Jewish people, especially in groups like Hadassah.

Since the beginning of time, the Jewish people have been persecuted and forced to leave their homes. During these mass exoduses and coerced relocations, families were often separated. The need for connection to the “old country” and to look for lost family and friends possibly originated the game of “Jewish Geography” that we know today.

Every time a segment of the Jewish people left a home or a country, some individuals would inevitably stay behind. The hope that things would get better led some to stay, while the possibility of returning home when things improved drove others to leave. Unfortunately, neither choice has kept the Jewish people safe 100 percent of the time.

One of the most famous exodus stories is recounted every year during the Passover seder. The Talmud (our reservoir of Jewish legal and ethical teachings), tells us, however, that there were many Jewish people who did not leave with Moses. Would you follow a guy who speaks to burning shrubbery and says he is speaking with God? A guy who promises the waters of the sea will recede so you may walk across? Would you just start walking?

During the rise of the Nazi party in Europe, many Jewish people chose to leave, while some waited to see how things would play out. Others tried to relocate only to find themselves in a different city being taken over by Nazis. We know from the stories told to us that different people had different experiences, but the commonality they eventually shared was searching for those they left behind or lost in the upheaval of war.

Joining Hadassah has connected me to women from all over the world, especially my Evolve: The Next Generation friends, who live all over the US.. We have played many rounds of “Jewish Geography” over zoom and in person. One of my favorite connections from playing this game is my Hadassah friend in Boston, who went to Jewish overnight camp in Wisconsin with my cousin from Minnesota. I told you – “Jewish Geography” is a great game.

When Jewish women come together, we accomplish amazing things.  And the desire to grow our community continues. My mom is so good at “Jewish Geography” because she has always understood the importance of those personal connections. She has always been active in her local Jewish community and national organizations like Hadassah.

I have heard people say, “Hadassah is the best-kept secret,” often referring to the support and community women find when they join our ranks. Hopefully, the secret is out and the game of “Jewish Geography” will continue to enhance our connections to each other and the State of Israel.

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Sara is a member of the Hadassah Writers’ Circle, a dynamic and diverse writing group for leaders and members to express their thoughts and feelings about all the things Hadassah does to make the world a better place. It’s where they celebrate their personal Hadassah journeys and share their Jewish values, family traditions and interpretations of Jewish texts. Since 2019, the Hadassah Writers’ Circle has published nearly 650 columns in The Times of Israel Blogs and other Jewish media outlets. Interested? Please contact hwc@hadassah.org.