Women Rabbis Talk

Even saying the word "Israel" hurts right now. So we're extra proud to be sharing (a bit belatedly) this interview with Israeli rabbi Maya Leibovich (please note: it was conducted prior to Oct. 7th). Emma and Marci also share their thoughts and reflections one month after Oct. 7th, and we've shared some of our most recommended Israel-related resources in the show-notes on our website. Am Yisrael Chai and may all the world soon know peace. #bringthemhomeNOW

In this episode Emma speaks with other female rabbis from all over the world who attended the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ)'s Connections Conference (including the incredible Ukrainian Rabbi Julia Gris, and both of France and Britain’s first female rabbis!)

Join us for this incredibly important conversation with Rabbi Sandra Cohen who shares with us valuable insights and resources relating to mental health (yes, Rabbis struggle with mental illness too!).  A transcript of this episode, and all of our other episodes can be found at: https://anchor.fm/womenrabbispodcast Have an "Ask the Rabbi" question? Click on the "Message" button on our webpage and ask away! You might just hear the answer on an upcoming episode and you'll get a fun shout out and maybe even some free swag! Please consider supporting us by clicking on the "Support" tab on our webpage so that we can keep this podcast current and accessible to all! You can also support us by buying some of our awesome Women Rabbis Talk swag at: www.bonfire.com/store/women-rabbis-talk-swag You can also email us with questions, suggestions or just to say hi at: womenrabbispodcast@gmail.com . . . Rabbi Cohen shared the following resources in our conversation: Rabbi Cohen's website: www.rabbisandracohen.org and her email is ravsjcohen@gmail.com  NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Health: https://nami.org/Home and NAMI Faith Net: https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/NAMI-FaithNet Debbie Friedman's Mi Shebeirach (prayer for healing): https://youtu.be/pHKo3CjuzpY The National Suicide Hotline (USA) has been changed to 988. UCC Mental Health Network (resources for WISE congregations): https://www.mhn-ucc.org Mental Health resources and WISE Brit at Rodef Shalom Denver website: https://www.rodef-shalom.org/mental-health-resource-guide.html The Trevor Project - mental health resources for LGBTQI+ teens: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_pastoral_education

Click here to read the complete transcribed episode Rabbi Stacy Rigler, RJE, the awesome Executive Director of ARJE (The Association of Reform Jewish Educators) takes us to the next level as she beautifully explains everything we could ever want to know about Rabbi-Educators and why they are so valuable in our Jewish education spaces! We also have a timely chat about the impact of anti-semitism on Jewish education and introduce some lesser-known women on whose shoulders we stand, Rabbi Regina Jonas and Ray Frank. To support ARJE: Support ARJE | Association of Reform Jewish Educators (ARJE) (reformeducators.org) To Read Rabbi Emma Gottlieb's sermon on Rabbi Regina Jonas, check out: https://www.facebook.com/rabbiemma.gottlieb/posts/pfbid0jdzdFGim67ckKfGgye4Ksd6FinHDmEkj1F13uJpggiF5Av7cW2Vnvbk9qwXaogzhl For more information on Ray Frank, the "Girl Rabbi of the West", check out: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/ray-frank Find all of our episodes (some of which are now transcribed) at: https://wordpress.com/view/womenrabbistalk.wordpress.com and wherever you download your favorite podcasts. Support us by clicking here Find our awesome swag and merch HERE

As we've learned in previous episodes, abortion is permitted in Jewish tradition. On May 17, 2022, a large "Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice" was held in Washington, DC. Rabbi Marci Bellows attended and captured the thoughts of more than twenty of her colleagues as they marched for women's rights, reproductive rights for all pregnant individuals, and basic health care rights.  Following some introductory reactions from Emma and Marci, allow yourself to be moved and heartened by the many voices of Jewish leaders committed to fighting for Abortion Justice.  For more information:  Support the Jewish Fund for Abortion Justice: https://www.73forward.org/fund National Council of Jewish Women: https://www.ncjw.org/ Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice: https://rcrc.org/ Planned Parenthood Action Fund: https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/Cd7K2F9CeEqEBghBivHa_Q2?fb=true Abortion Justice is a Jewish Value! 

Join us for this very important (dare we say groundbreaking?) conversation with Rabbi Rachael Pass about Jewish views on abortions and why (most) women rabbis don't share about their personal experiences of abortion. This is an episode we are particularly proud of so don't miss out!  The article we referenced by Rabbi Liz PG Hirsch can be found here: https://reformjudaism.org/blog/dont-call-me-female-rabbi For more information on the T'shuvah Center: https://tshuvahcenter.org/ Rachael's article on her own personal connection to abortion can be found here: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/i-am-a-rabbi-my-abortion-was-a-sacred-choice/   If you should feel moved to do so, please support Planned Parenthood by using this link to donate or get involved: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/get-involved   We invite your thoughts, comments, feedback, and questions! Hit us up on the socials! All of our episodes can be found at: https://anchor.fm/womenrabbispodcast Have an “Ask the Rabbi” question? Click on the “Message” button on our webpage and ask away! You might just hear the answer on an upcoming episode and you’ll get a fun shout out and maybe even some free swag! Please consider supporting us by clicking on the “Support” tab on our webpage so that we can keep this podcast current and accessible to all! You can also support us by buying some of our awesome Women Rabbis Talk swag at: www.bonfire.com/store/women-rabbis-talk-swag You can also email us with questions, suggestions or just to say hi at: womenrabbispodcast@gmail.com

And....we're back! You may have noticed we disappeared for a while. Want to know why? Tune in to find out! In this episode, Rabbis Marci & Emma also discuss whether or not they apologise too often and if Valentines Day is Jewish (or not so much).

In our latest episode, Rabbi Emma Gottlieb and Rabbi Marci Bellows welcome guest Rabbi Cantor Raina Siroty (yes, she was actually fully ordained with both titles! Whoa!). Raina talks with us about the true Mitzvah of Foster Care as well as adoption of children in need of families. She is a superstar of a clergy person and a mom, and we really enjoyed talking with her. Bonus: she ends the episode by blessing ALL of us.

Rabbi Marci Bellows and Rabbi Emma Gottlieb were thrilled to welcome Rabbi Heather Miller, the entrepreneurial creator of the online Jewish community, Keeping it Sacred. In this episode, Rabbi Miller teaches us about following one’s heart, how our rabbinic work honors those who come before us, and the ways that she led the way in creating an online community before they became a necessity in the post-COVID world. https://www.keepingitsacred.com OUR SWAG STORE! https://www.bonfire.com/store/women-rabbis-talk-swag/

We welcome back our Consulting Correspondents  (our Corresponding Consultants?) Rabbi Elisa Koppel and Rabbi Leah Berkowitz for a review of the highlights of the recent WRN (Women's Rabbinic Network) Convention: Journey to 50! The Convention, celebrated virtually over Zoom, focused on five decades of women rabbis, and the coming 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rabbi Sally Priesand, the very first woman rabbi ordained in North America. Come along to hear what women rabbis talk about when they are only around other women rabbis!!  Women Rabbis Talk Swag available here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/women-rabbis-talk-swag/ Check our Rabbi Elisa Koppel's amazing Spotify playlist which she made for the convention: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3PsTiG7EGYmgtBMz3BKF6i You'll see why she added this skill to her resume!

Rabbi Tamar Grimm shares with us important thoughts about how we evaluate success in our own rabbinates. What are the external and internal pressures, benchmarks and factors in our personal lives that lead us to the decisions we make about our rabbinates?

It's not always easy to feel passionate about Israel and passionate about liberal, progressive ideals. Rabbi Lea Muhlstein serves as the Chair of Arzenu Olami, the International Federation of Reform and Progressive Liberal Zionists. She is also a Co-Senior Rabbi at the Ark Synagogue in London. Plus - what to think about all the Evangelical "Zionists" and what they really think about us! We were thrilled to talk with her, and we know you'll love hearing from her, too!  Also available with Closed Captions at https://youtu.be/8TMgRVytu0U.

Wait, there are Jews who aren’t Askenazic from Eastern Europe? Black Lives Matter isn’t just about THEM? There are rabbis and cantors who aren’t WHITE? Well, of course. This episode, we are honored to talk with Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder, Ph.D., Education Director and Rabbi-in-Residence at Be’Chol Lashon (https://globaljews.org). We learn more about the very important work going on in the area of racial and cultural diversity and inclusion. Enjoy! Watch this episode with closed captioning Read a transcript of this episode.

We chat with rabbinical student Sofia Zway about how the pandemic has changed the experience of rabbinical studies and internships.

Just in time for Purim! We are so excited to welcome back our THREE-PETE guest, Rabbi Leah Berkowitz to talk about her awesome new children's book, a rhyming feminist fairytale called "Queen Vashti's Comfy Pants" (available through PJ Library or Behrman House)! 

Join us to hear Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt share, for the first time, her incredible story of meeting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, becoming her Rabbi, and officiating at arguably the most notable funeral of 2020. A transcription of this episode can be found here. Find out more about Rabbi Holtzblatt and connect with her here. 

Rabbi Lauren Berkun, who gave the invocation earlier this year at the DNC, talks to us about rabbis and politics. How do we determine what we do and don’t say and where we can and can’t say it?

Rabbis Marci Bellows and Emma Gottlieb catch up on the past months, the changed world, what’s been lost, what’s been learned and do we dare look ahead?

Just a friendly reminder to join us on Facebook tomorrow for our first ever Facebook Live event! https://www.facebook.com/WomenRabbisTalk/

We were so relieved to take a break from worrying about COVID-19! We then had the honor of speaking with Rabbi Denise Eger, a true role model, and to hear about her two new books: Gender and Religious Leadership: Women Rabbis, Pastors, and Ministers (Lexington Press), and Mishkan Ga’avah: Where Pride Dwells, A Celebration of LGBTQ Jewish Life and Ritual (CCAR Press). Enjoy!