Lauren Markoe

Touro Synagogue sits on the Mardi Gras parade route. During services, the clergy sometimes end a few minutes early so everyone can step outside and watch the floats roll by. It’s also one of the fastest-growing synagogues I’ve reported on. Membership has surged from 570 families to nearly 750 since the pandemic, and the congregation is already booking b’nai mitzvahs two years out. I went to New Orleans to understand why. What I found was a Jewish community that rebuilt itself differently after Katrina — with fewer barriers, blurrier denominational lines and a distinctly New Orleans instinct for improvisation. 🔗 Tap the link in the comments to read the story.