Sarit Chalamish

I was born and raised in Israel, where I developed a strong Jewish identity. My parents are both first generation Sabra, whose parents had escaped the horrors of WWII.

I've always been fascinated by Jewish life, its fabric and maintenance abroad, where one is removed from the epicenter that is Israel. As I started exploring the world, having been to nearly 30 countries to date, I've been blessed by being able to connect and share thoughts, meals, and warmth with local Jews.

Since 2002, I was fortunate to be part of thriving Jewish communities in Ann Arbor, Paris, and most recently Manhattan. Having lived in NYC for the past 11 years, my initial quest to learn about my brothers and sisters in the diaspora has become part of my own journey. I came across JICNY when I first moved here in 2005 and was blown away. Jodi and Gavin have created a wonderful platform through which Jews from various backgrounds find a home away from home. Nowadays, as a mom of three young girls, our family enjoys JICNY's Shabbat meals with other families. It is truly amazing that in a the heart of this concrete jungle you can knock on someone's door and an entire new, yet familiar, world would open up to you. You just have to show up. It's a great way to make friends if you're new to the city and also a wonderful way to keep growing as a community.