Alef: The NEXT Conversation

02: Area Codes

This week we introduce Issue #2: Area Codes

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Area codes are more than numbers – they define us. Who can forget the classic Seinfeld episode where, because of the growth of the population of Manhattan, Elaine is forced to adapt to 646 from her beloved 212? Geography and corresponding area codes are steeped in Jewish identity. Members of the Tribe – well-represented in the New York City area codes of 212, 718, and 917 – can understand the sense of connection one develops to the code representing your particular part of the City. Tell a Brooklynite living in the 718 that he suddenly has to go by something totally different, and you are likely to have a reaction like the one Elaine had.

In this issue of Alef, we’ll explore Jewish identity through different area codes. And while many of us might have abundant 212, 718, 310, and 305 numbers in our contacts list, it’s probably more unusual for us to know people in the 616 of Kalamazoo, MI, or the 480 of Scottsdale, AZ. In the stories and accounts that follow, our writers share their experiences of being Jewish in the places served by these slightly less recognizable area codes and try to decipher what, if anything, it all means.

- Alef

Photo by Ballistik Coffee Boy, licensed under Creative Commons.

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Area Codes Posts:

St. Paul, MN (651)
Kalamazoo, MI (616)
Kobe, Japan
Scottsdale, AZ (480)
Chatsworth, CA (818)
Oh, Pioneers: Urban Kibbutzniks Cultivate Community in Brooklyn

Tags: Area Codes

Posted by Sarah, Saturday, October 17th, 2009, 11:22 am, Area Codes.