Being Jewish with Jonah Platt Bullsh*t Behavior & Central Synagogue’s Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
8 snips
Oct 14, 2025 
Rabbi Angela W. Buchdahl, the first Asian American rabbi and author of Heart of a Stranger, joins Jonah to delve into her unique journey of faith, identity, and belonging. They explore the challenges of feeling like an outsider and how embracing that feeling can lead to empathy. Rabbi Buchdahl reflects on growing up with multiple identities, the lessons from her community-oriented mother, and the importance of inclusion in Judaism. Their conversation also touches on the meaning of rituals today, significantly highlighting how to connect with others while navigating the complexities of communal identity.
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Jewish Peoplehood Was Always Diverse
- Rabbi Angela Buchdahl frames the Jewish commandment to love the stranger as central to her life and work.
- She emphasizes many Jews fail this ideal, especially in modern American contexts that police who 'counts' as Jewish.
Israel Trip Sparked Identity Crisis
- At 16, Buchdahl learned some Israelis questioned her Jewish status because descent is matrilineal.
- That external doubt triggered internal questions about what it meant to 'be' Jewish.
Mother Built Community From Scratch
- Buchdahl recounts her mother building a Korean Women's Association from 30 women in a living room to a major social-service organization.
- Her mother's dignity under discrimination taught Buchdahl resilience and how to hold her head high.
