18Forty Podcast Joshua Leifer and Shaindy Ort: How Progressive Activists Rediscovered Traditional Jewish Life [Teshuva IV 1/5]
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Sep 10, 2024 
Joshua Leifer is a journalist and author known for his critical work on American Jewish identity. Shaindy Ort is an attorney focused on social justice. Together, they discuss the transformation of progressive Jews in light of recent events. Did October 7 shift perspectives on Jewish identity? They explore the challenges of engaging with tradition while being part of leftist circles, sharing personal stories of reconnection. Their conversation dives deep into the complexities of navigating faith, activism, and community in contemporary society.
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Embracing Change
- Shaindy's transition away from modest dress was gradual and met with acceptance from her mother.
- She vividly remembers the liberating feeling of wearing jeans for the first time.
Conservative Upbringing
- Joshua Leifer grew up in a Conservative Jewish home, attending a Solomon Schechter school.
- His Jewish upbringing was strongly Zionist, but observance was more cultural than strictly halakhic.
Shifting Views
- Joshua's questioning of Zionism began with Operation Cast Lead and the realities of Israeli violence.
- Seeking a critical discourse about Israel, he attended Bina, a secular yeshiva, instead of a more religious one.