‘An ambassador’ of sorts ‘comfortable in (his) own skin’
Monroe. “An out of the box Chasid,’ Hasidic influencer Shloime Zionce promotes tolerance and mutual respect at Chabad’s summer social barbecue.
Monroe /
| 22 Aug 2021 | 02:51
Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston hosted a community Summer Social BBQ in their backyard with Hasidic influencer Shloime Zionce. Photos provided by Chabad of Orange County.
Rabbi Pesach Burston blows the Shofar, in preparation for the High Holidays, and to “start the Summer Social BBQ on a high note,” he joked.
Partial view of the crowed at the Chabad Summer Social BBQ with Hasidic influencer Shloime Zionce. “We need to see the humanity in other people and try to interact with individuals who are different from us,’ he told the audience. “It will enrich both your life and the lives of those around you.”
Shloime Zionce, donned in religious Tallit and Tefilin, praying on a rooftop In Larnaca, Cyprus.
Ninety people from across Orange County gathered for a Summer Social barbecue at the backyard of Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston, in Monroe.
Delicious dinner and desserts, fine wines and cold brews were served. The Burstons, directors of Chabad of Orange County, welcomed the crowd and the rabbi sounded the Shofar, a tradition during the month that precedes the High Holidays.
Pesach Burston then introduced the speaker for the evening – Hasidic influencer Shloime Zionce, describing him as an “out of the box Chasid.”
“There are as many types of Chasidim as there are flavors of ice cream,” the rabbi said, “and their perspectives and worldviews are just as many. It’s refreshing to have a Chasid who breaks stereotypes as a Chassidic YouTuber, podcaster and travel writer.”
Zionce, a 27-year-old father of two, is a travel writer for Ami magazine. He also serves as an “ambassador” of sorts to the Hasidic community, often appearing in viral YouTube videos and television shows, explaining Chasidic culture and traditions, with millions of views.
As he travels around the world, Zionce teaches about Judaism while learning about other cultures. He has visited more than 40 countries, many of which are not frequently visited by religious Jews.
Zionce described his travels to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other countries. He shared stories about finding kosher food in Afghanistan, explaining tefilin to airport security in Saudi Arabia and being mistaken for an Israeli spy.
He said that at times he encountered challenging and even dangerous situations. But he also shared the life-lessons he learned.
“We need to see the humanity in other people and try to interact with individuals who are different from us,” Zionce said. “It will enrich both your life and the lives of those around you.”
In many countries, Shloime was the first Chasidic Jew people met, and the positive and warm impression shaped the way Jews were viewed.
“As Jews, let’s be proud to be Jewish,” says Zionce. “I’ve walked around dressed as a Chasidic Jew in the heart of the Arab world and all I have received is love and respect because people love and respect someone who is 100% comfortable in their own skin.”
For more info on Chabad of Orange County events, log onto www.ChabadOrange.com, email rabbi@chabadorange.com or call 845-782-2770.
To view Shoime’s Youtube channel, www.youtube.com/c/ShloimeZionce/videos.