Ep 13. Jewish Roots

Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi is a travel series that follows Mickela, a passionate dancer, and traveler. In season 2 episode 13, Mickela explores her Jewish roots and travels to Buenos Aires, Argentina, which has the largest Jewish community in all of Latin America. Her journey revolves around experiencing the culture and dance of the Jewish community and discovering how it has evolved over the years.

She begins her journey by meeting with the Rabbi of Buenos Aires. The Rabbi talks to Mickela about the history of the Jewish community in Argentina and how it has changed over time. He tells her about the challenges that Jews faced in Argentina, such as discrimination and persecution, and how they managed to overcome them.

After meeting with the Rabbi, Mickela attends a traditional Jewish dance class. The dance instructor teaches her a dance that has been passed down through generations of the Jewish community. The dance style is lively and energetic and has an interesting footwork pattern that Mickela tries to mimic.

Next, Mickela travels to the neighborhood of Once, which is where the majority of the Jewish community resides in Buenos Aires. Here, she visits a Kosher market and learns about the traditional foods that Jews eat during different festivals.

After this, she travels to a local synagogue and attends a Sabbath service. Throughout the ceremony, she witnesses the prayer rituals and traditions of the community. The Rabbi at the synagogue explains to her about the significance of different prayers and how they are recited.

Mickela then has the opportunity to learn about another dance style that is popular in the Jewish community, Tango. She visits a dance studio where she meets a Tango instructor who teaches her the basics of the dance style. She practices with a partner and finds that the dance has a different rhythm and style than other traditional Jewish dances.

Finally, Mickela attends a Jewish festival, where she sees performances by local dance groups. She also tries some of the traditional foods that are offered at the festival, such as Challah bread and smoked salmon. The festival is a joyful and lively celebration that highlights the vibrancy and diversity of the Jewish community in Buenos Aires.

Through her journey, Mickela discovers that the Jewish community in Buenos Aires is rich in culture and diversity. She learns about their traditions, food, and dance and sees how they have evolved over time. She finds that this journey has helped her connect with her Jewish roots and has deepened her understanding and appreciation of the community.