Hyphen Fest transformed the historic sanctuary and garden of the Free Synagogue of Flushing into a celebration of identity, storytelling, and belonging on May 17, 2026. Hosted by Be’chol Lashon in partnership with the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), the gathering honored both American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month AND Jewish American Heritage Month through art, food, performance, and conversations about community.
Lion Dancers in front of the Free Synagogue.
The Asian stories found in Hyphen: Jewish Stories in Our Own Words were central to the day. A pop-up exhibition of large poster-sized pages from the anthology lined the synagogue’s fence, inviting both attendees and neighbors to pause and reflect on stories rarely seen in mainstream conversations about Jewish identity. One featured Hyphen storyteller was Souks Soukhaseum, the Director of Community Affairs at the Free Synagogue and a Be’chol Lashon Board Member, whose story was printed in Chinese and English in a special Hyphen edition in honor of AAPI/JAHM and given to attendees.
For Souks, Hyphen Fest was both an act of service and an act of vulnerability. Behind the scenes, he helped organize everything from catering, publicity, and venue setup. But his most meaningful role came during the panel discussion, where he spoke about diversity, responsibility, and the search for belonging.
Souks presenting the special bilingual Hyphen edition with his story.
“The most meaningful part of the day,” Souks reflected, “was standing back and looking around, seeing people of different races, religions, ethnicities, and cultures finding happiness, comfort, peace, security, and commonality with each other.”
That sense of shared connection was central to the day. Traditional Chinese lion dancers performed in the synagogue garden, while guests enjoyed a kosher Chinese lunch and sushi reception before gathering for a panel discussion on Asian Jewish identity. The conversation featured Souks alongside Eddna Samuel, a Bene Israel Jew whose life journey has spanned Mumbai, Israel, and New York and was moderated by Mitchel Wu, CPC Director of Queens Community Services.
Be’chol Lashon board members Eddna Samuel and Souks Soukhaseum with Mitch Wu from CPC.
Eddna described the panel not as a formal lecture, but as “a conversation about belonging.” Speaking about her experience as an Indian Jew, she emphasized how community shaped her identity across continents and cultures. While concepts like AAPI Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month were relatively new to her, she explained that she has always embraced both sides of who she is without needing to separate them.
For Eddna, celebrations like Hyphen Fest fill an important need at an important time. “In today’s world many communities are facing challenges to their identities, beliefs and cultures,” Eddna explained. “These special months bring focus and increase interest in the diversity that makes up this city and country.”
Event attendees with the Hyphen comic.
Along with the day’s stories, the setting of Hyphen Fest also carried significance. Located in the heart of Flushing’s Chinatown, the synagogue became a living example of cross-cultural connection. Souks noted the importance of hosting a primarily Asian celebration inside a Jewish house of worship, where local residents walking by could witness communities coming together.
Guests continued to mingle across cultures and generations, discussing identity, faith, and what it means to build community in a diverse city. Rather than focusing on differences, attendees found connection through shared experiences of searching for home and acceptance.
Panel discussion in the garden of the Free Synagogue.
Alan Brava, Executive Director of the Free Synagogue of Flushing, called the day one of the proudest moments of his 12 years leading the congregation. “It’s not about what people call their God, how they pray, or what they look like,” Alan shared. “The Free Synagogue of Flushing is known for taking care of each other.”
A value of community care, and an enthusiasm for Hyphen Fest’s success in creating connections, was shared by Mitchel Wu. “It was a great way to celebrate our diversity in Queens as well as recognize AAPI and Jewish American Heritage Month,” he explained. “The sharing of food, personal narratives and how we all value the sense of community is a model that we believe can build meaningful relationships for all the diverse populations that call this place home.”
As we close out Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month, Hyphen Fest offers a reminder of the power of our stories to connect and empower. Let us continue to bravely share our experiences like Eddna and Souks, open our spaces to opportunities to connect across differences like the Free Synagogue of Flushing, and celebrate alongside one another like the supporters of Hyphen Fest.
The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of UJA Federation, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes.
Matt Gerber (JCRC) and Emma Wong (CPC) in the sanctuary.
