The Gallery space at the 14th Street Y on Manhattan’s Upper East Side lines its walls with three stories from Hyphen: Jewish Stories in Our Own Words, the graphic novel anthology with comics of Jews from uniquely diverse backgrounds. The gallery’s lobby level introduces visitors to the story of Rabbi Shoshana Nambi, a Ugandan woman who broke barriers to become her community’s first female rabbi. Upstairs, the gallery highlights the story of Dubbs Weinblatt, a Midwesterner who came to New York to find their authentic self. In “Mumbai-New York-via TLV” viewers enjoy Eddna Samuel’s celebration of her Indian Jewish heritage and the journey of making home wherever you are.
On a snowy evening, nearly fifty people gathered at 14th Street Y to celebrate Hyphen. People enthusiastically made their way through the gallery space while enjoying their own copies of the anthology. For Eddna, one of Hyphen’s twelve storytellers, entering the gallery was particularly meaningful. It was the first time she had seen her story in large-format gallery posters. “It was remarkable,” she says. “I was so honored to be in a gallery space like that in New York. When you watch that, you go back into your own memories and reflect.”
Each story prompted conversations amongst visitors, which was a core goal of the exhibition. The gallery was made possible with the support of the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes and JCRC NY in the hope that Hyphen’s stories would allow visitors to reflect, connect, and gain a greater understanding of the diversity, complexity, and humanity of Jewish life.
Eddna standing in front of her Hyphen story
“People are connecting and feeling like everyone has something to share,” explained Eddna. “Hyphen is universally relatable. The idea is to inspire empathy and understanding.”
Connection through storytelling continued in a panel discussion with Hyphen storytellers and Julian Voloj, Be’chol Lashon’s Executive Director. The discussion was a chance for panelists, which includes aside from Dubbs and Eddna also Souks Soukhaseum, the Laotian born outreach director of the Flushing Free Synagogue, and Hyphen co-creator Fabrice Sapolsky, to share their experiences and identities in greater depth. In explaining the significance of being on the panel, Eddna shared, “The story in six pages can only jump into one part of my story. So I got to add a story around it.”
When the other panelists spoke about finding home, Eddna offered something different. She grew up in Mumbai, embedded in India’s ancient Bene Israel Jewish community, where she spent a lifetime introducing herself. Eddna would regularly need to explain her identity, her traditions, and her origins. At each point in her journey from Mumbai, to Israel, to New York, the introductions, the explanations, and the new beginnings restarted over and over.
On the panel, Eddna shared how she seized each move as an opportunity to build community. One conversation at a time, each move added to her sense of home rather than replacing it. “Making aliyah was not a way of leaving behind my home. It was adding a new adventure,” she says. “India is my home. Tel Aviv is my home. Manhattan is my home.”
For Eddna, the evening at 14 Street Y validated her belief that being visible, being proud, and being willing to introduce yourself, again and again, is meaningful and powerful. Knowing the connection that storytelling allows, she hopes that Hyphen continues to inspire people to tell their stories and build community.
“It’s a conversation I’ve been having my entire life and continue to have,” Eddna says. “People are connecting and feeling like everyone has something to share. Hyphen is universally relatable. The idea is to inspire empathy and understanding.”
Hyphen continues to offer connection and community through storytelling. You can order the anthology at globaljews.org/hyphen, or bring the exhibition or a panel to your own community by emailing info@globaljews.org.
