At the very core of Jewish life is the act of meeting, whether in clubs, youth groups or in prayer. In fact, "synagogue" in Hebrew is bet knesset – literally translated as "house of meeting".
In a new format for our Sounds Jewish podcast, Alan Dein digs out four remarkable stories on the theme of encounters: from meeting a stranger on a bridge who would change a life to the regular reunions of old Jewish men in the steam rooms of east London; from going back in time to meet yourself at your barmitzvah to a Polish woman's desperate search for family.
Barmitzvah boy
Dein meets his 13-year-old self at his barmitzvah thanks to the archives his family recorded 40 years ago. He recalls the brown crushed-velvet suit of his special day and the speech designed to make his parents proud – and win over the crowded room.
In search of a stranger
Jola Drzynska was born in Poland to a Catholic father and, unknown to her, a Jewish mother, who died when Jola was a baby. Brought up as a Catholic, she had no idea of her Jewish roots – or that her one surviving Jewish relative, an aunt, had been trying to track her down. Eventually they were to meet, far away from Poland – an encounter that changed her life forever. Karen Glaser and her mother, Jola, share a remarkable conversation.
The old men and the baths
Playwright Nick Cassenbaum was always intrigued by the stories of the steam baths his grandfather would tell, that were brought over by Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe in the 19th century. But if he was to write about them for his next play, he'd have to experience the ritual of the baths, the schmeiss, at first hand. Who better to turn to than his "papa" Alan and his old mates during one of their weekly sessions at an east London steam rooms. But that would mean getting completely naked ...
A meeting on a bridge
Alan Dein talks to Jonny Benjamin, whose encounter with a passing stranger on Waterloo Bridge was to save his life. Jonny never got a chance to thank the man – and now, six years on from that meeting, he has finally tracked him down.
• Sounds Jewish is made in association with JW3, the Jewish Community Centre for London
• JW3 will be holding the Unknown Purim Party on 15 March, where the Gypsy-Balkan band Paprika will be playing
