Louisiana
Where America turns French.
New Orleans · Baton Rouge · Lafayette · Monroe
The Journey
Louisiana is one of those states that almost transports you across the Atlantic while still feeling deeply American.
We were in New Orleans for only a short time, arriving late at night and not getting to see much. But we purposely chose a hotel near the French Quarter so we could wake up in the middle of it all.
And what a morning it was.
The architecture, balconies, music spilling into the streets, food, people, and mix of French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and American influences gave New Orleans a personality unlike anywhere else we had been. It is a melting pot, but somehow the French influence still leads the way.
We stopped at Café du Monde for coffee and fresh beignets, listened to live music in the streets, and simply took in the vibrancy around us.
In Baton Rouge, we visited the State Capitol, the tallest state capitol building in America. Unlike the beautiful domed capitols we had become used to seeing across the country, Louisiana’s rises straight into the sky. It did not have the classical elegance we encountered in many other states, but it was uniquely Louisiana.
We also enjoyed the little towns and cities along the way. In Monroe, we found a cute playground filled with animal figures, and naturally, the girls made sure we stopped.
The more we traveled, the more Louisiana seemed to become its own world. The bayous, enormous oak trees, little towns, Cajun culture, accents, food, and music all felt distinctly Louisiana.
It somehow feels completely American while also feeling like nowhere else in America.
Jewish Louisiana
One of my best surprises in Louisiana was sitting down to a steaming bowl of matzah ball chicken soup with some homemade chopped liver on the side.
Not exactly what I expected to find in New Orleans.
We ate at Kosher Cajun, shortly after visiting nearby Beth Israel, where we met some locals, prayed, and got a glimpse of everyday Jewish life in the city.
We also spent time at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, which deserves much more than a quick stop. Its exhibits tell the story of Jews who built lives across the South, often in small towns far from major Jewish centers.
We visited the historic Touro Synagogue and Anshe Sfard, and really tried to immerse ourselves in the local Jewish story. Louisiana produced some remarkable Jewish figures too, including Judah P. Benjamin, who represented the state in the United States Senate before becoming one of the most powerful officials in the Confederacy.
Organized Jewish life in New Orleans dates back to 1828, and Touro remains the oldest active Jewish congregation in Louisiana.
What struck me was how naturally the Jewish story fit into Louisiana itself. French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, Catholic, Jewish, and so many other cultures somehow found room here while keeping something of their own character.
What Stayed With Me
What stayed with me about Louisiana was its unique personality.
Some states share much of their culture with the states around them. Louisiana seems determined to keep its own.
The music sounds different. The food tastes different. The buildings look different. The accents are different. Even the pace of the streets feels different.
And somehow, all of those pieces live together naturally.
Louisiana reminded me that part of what makes America interesting is that becoming American never required every place to become the same.
Louisiana certainly did not.
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