Wholly Jewish

What do we all have in common? We all live - and balance - complex and nuanced identities, that, when braided together, make us wholly ourselves - and “Wholly Jewish.” Join April Baskin, the Union for Reform Judaism’s former vice president for audacious hospitality, as she speaks with Jews of Color who share their experiences, insights, and how their identities enrich and create a more vibrant Jewish community.

Noa: The Beauty of Taking Up Space 10/20/2020

Noa: The Beauty of Taking Up Space On the season finale of Wholly Jewish season 2, we are joined by NYU student and college organizer Noa Baron (they/them)! Noa shares the personal and Jewish and significance of their name (and their Jewish name-changing ceremony), the importance of deep listening to the queer community, their aspirations as a trans Jewish leader, and the beauty LGBTQ+ Jews bring to the Jewish community. “I think I’ve been able to shed a real sense of fear…and in this, I’ve been more myself in all the ways that I can be,” Noa says. “I want to tell people like me that there is space for us…in Judaism and in the world and that someone like me who lives in this weird in-between space of gender has…the right to exist and the right to take up space.” /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/16401533

Denis: Coming Out and Showing Up 10/06/2020

Denis: Coming Out and Showing Up For LGBTQ+ Jews, coming out stories differ from person to person, and the story of Denis Victorovich Kurmanov (he/him) is no exception. This week, Denis shares his experience immigrating from Moldova at a young age, the pressure he faced to present as straight, how Judaism strengthened him to come out as gay and work as at organizer in his Jewish community, and even a few samples of his poetry. “It was a very slow process of [realizing that]…if God is love, then why should I not have it [too]?” Denis says. “It was a slow coming out. But…it was with full vengeance…and there was no going back. I'd done it all. I'm never going back here. I am!” (Recorded fall 2019) /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/16236677

Dara: From Parliament to the Bimah 09/15/2020

Dara: From Parliament to the Bimah Jewish innovation thrives on different perspectives, and it’s so vital that queer Jewish leaders be empowered to share their own. This week, Rabbi Dara Lithwick shares her experience wrestling both with God and coming out as a lesbian. She talks about her work with the Canadian Council for Reform Judaism and the Canadian Parliament, and embracing Torah through a lens of intersectionality. “When you bring different eyes and a different experience…to the study of Torah…it enables our tradition to stay alive and to stay relevant,” says Rabbi Lithwick. “[I bring] all of myself…as a queer woman, as a mom, as a lawyer, as a Canadian…into my read of Torah…And it's a really exciting time…to be a part of all of this.” /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/16002911

J: Breaking Down the Gates of Queer Judaism 09/01/2020

J: Breaking Down the Gates of Queer Judaism Being queer and Jewish means something different to everyone, and those differences deserve to be celebrated. This week, J Collins (they/them) talks about being a Jewish storyteller and teacher; their connection, as a Jew-by-choice, to Rabbi Akiva’s teachings;, repairing the world in an oppressive political climate; and the dangers of “gatekeeping” in queer and Jewish spaces. “[I]n the transgender community, you're often hit with [the question] of, ‘Am I trans enough?,’…And I've been recognizing some of this in the Jewish community as well: ‘Am I Jewish enough?’” they explain. “[But] whether you call me Jewish or not doesn't matter. I am who I am, and you can't take that away from me.” /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/15768464

Laura: Creating Peace Out of Wholeness 08/18/2020

Laura: Creating Peace Out of Wholeness With so much turmoil and uncertainty happening around us, finding wholeness – with oneself and one’s community – is especially important. This week’s guest, Cantor Laura Stein, shares her perspectives on how we can best care for those around us, the (lack of) tension between being Jewish and being a lesbian, and how her spiritual leadership inspires her social work at Mount Sinai Hospital's Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery. “I see…my work with the patients as trying to bring wholeness to their lives,” she says. “And for my patients in particular [to] look in the mirror and see who [they] are in a way that reflects who [they] truly are…spiritual pursuit is about [making] the world more whole. I really see that as beginning with these individuals.” /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/15659774

Max Antman: The Queerness and Politics of Torah 08/11/2020

Max Antman: The Queerness and Politics of Torah How can we embrace Judaism from not only a queer perspective, but also a “political” one? Max Antman (he/him), a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, discusses how being a gay man influences his reading of Torah, how his Reform synagogue empowered his gay identity, and the sacred relationship between activism and studying Jewish text. “Judaism is inherently very intertwined with politics,” he says. “[I want] to push the Jewish community forward and…rally behind these issues of equity, justice, diversity, inclusion…I want to be out and talking to people and integrating them into the Jewish community and pushing for progress in our world.” /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/15384935

Caroline: Forming a Sacred Queer Community 07/21/2020

Caroline: Forming a Sacred Queer Community Being wholly Jewish means not having to hide parts of who we are when we enter Jewish spaces - including our queer identities. Caroline Dorn (she/her) discusses the importance of such a community; why Jewish congregations must hold intentional communities for marginalized folks; combining her improv skills with her “extracurricular Judaism"; and the importance of expanding our worldviews. "I think that the best resource that the Jewish community has is people," she says. "It's our relationships. It's our connection to one another. It's how we move through the world and the people that we hold close to us while we do it." /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/15008888

Leonard: Creating Seats at the Queer Jewish Table 07/07/2020

Leonard: Creating Seats at the Queer Jewish Table Judaism is in a constant state of reform, and our approach to LGBTQ+ inclusivity should be, too. Leonard Slutsky (he/him), a Union for Reform Judaism lay leader and college admissions counselor, shares his experiences as a gay cisgender Jewish man; how Reform Jewish spaces affirmed his gay identity; how Judaism inspires his work as a suicide hotline volunteer; and how our communities can better serve queer Jews of all backgrounds. “I feel that it’s my role as someone who has a great deal of privilege, especially within the queer community,” he says, “to use it and help support those who don’t have as much as a voice.” /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/14828531

Mo: Standing in the Closet Doorway 06/16/2020

Mo: Standing in the Closet Doorway Being queer means something different to everyone who identifies this way. Mo Selkirk (she/her), a queer Jewish mother, spouse, and activist, to name a few, discusses how her grandparents inspired her to embrace Judaism, what it means to be in a queer family, and how presenting as straight has been a blessing and a curse. “My [queer] invisibility is my personal superpower,” she says, “because people will say things to me [when] they don’t know who they’re talking to, and…I have the have the opportunity to educate them.” /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/14828459

The Secret to Eliana's Fabulous Hair 06/12/2020

The Secret to Eliana's Fabulous Hair During Shira’s conversation with Eliana Rubin (check out our June 2nd episode, if you missed it), many topics came up – including Eliana’s beautiful, curly hair! In case you couldn’t get enough from episode one, check out this bonus episode all about how she creates those perfect curls. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/14686649

Eliana: Gender Diversity is So Jewish 06/09/2020

Eliana: Gender Diversity is So Jewish On the premiere episode of Wholly Jewish: Season 2, we hear from Eliana Rubin (she/her). Eliana (who went by Elias at the time of this episode’s recording) talks about when she first connected with her nonbinary transfemme identity and her desire to create more queer-inclusive classrooms. "I find that identifying as a Reform Jew and a queer person...are two parts of me that are so integral now to my core identity," she says. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/14686223

B'ruchim Haba'im - Welcome Back to Wholly Jewish: Season 2! 05/27/2020

B'ruchim Haba'im - Welcome Back to Wholly Jewish: Season 2! Welcome to the first episode of Wholly Jewish: Season 2! Hosted by Jewish performance and ritual artist Shira Kline (she/her), a.k.a. ShirLaLa, this season features interviews with LGBTQIA+ Jews from the Union for Reform Judaism's JewV'Nation Fellowship. Follow along as they share their experiences in Jewish spaces, how their queerness and their Judaism intersect, and their visions of a more inclusive and equitable Jewish community. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/14589257

Becky: Kimchi and Latkes 09/17/2019

Becky: Kimchi and Latkes Fashionista and future rabbi Becky Jaye talks about navigating the world as an Asian Jew – in rabbinical school, in Israel, in the broader Jewish community, and in society at large. “I'm probably the most confident I've ever been in my identity as a Reform Jew,” she says. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/11271059

Erika: Check Your Assumptions at the Door 09/03/2019

Erika: Check Your Assumptions at the Door Erica Riddick is a lifelong dancer, an avid learner, and a keen observer who talks about consistent curiosity, intent versus impact, how to have honest conversations, and more. “I like thinking about identity, like who I am and where I’m going in the world,” she says. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/11032835

Destiny: Jews Like Us are Out Here 08/20/2019

Destiny: Jews Like Us are Out Here Meet Destiny Karash Givens, a multiracial Jewish teacher and scientist who’s proving that she can do just about anything – including raising the profile and visibility of Jews of Color. “People automatically have this assumption of the ‘why’ about my Judaism,” she says. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/10928251

Robin: Driven by Curiosity and Joy 08/06/2019

Robin: Driven by Curiosity and Joy Robin Harrison contains multitudes: This Black, Jewish, Disney-loving father, husband, and son tells us about his childhood in Compton, his family’s Jewish studies, and the sense of wonder he cultivates in adulthood. “I want to make a difference for someone,” he says. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/10753775

Amanda: Identities, Politics, and Spiritual A-Ha Moments 07/16/2019

Amanda: Identities, Politics, and Spiritual A-Ha Moments Amanda Ryan, a elected official in Nebraska, talks about what it means to her to identify with historically marginalized communities. "I'm pushing people to think outside of what is Jewish and or what is Latino." /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/10390430

Everlyn: Bring Your Whole Self to Everything 07/02/2019

Everlyn: Bring Your Whole Self to Everything Everlyn Hunter, an honest, insightful West Coast psychologist, embraces her multi-faceted identity – Jewish, Black, multi-ethnic, a lesbian, and more. “All of who I am exists at all times and in every context.” /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/10303178

Tani: We Need Inclusive Jewish Spaces 06/18/2019

Tani: We Need Inclusive Jewish Spaces Tani Prell Epstein, an artist, Jewish educator, and woman of Color, talks about what drew her to Judaism and how we can all embrace and move toward a fully inclusive Jewish world. “Judaism is the way that I think and love and learn,” she says. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/10125313

Chris: The Blessing of Telling My Stories 06/04/2019

Chris: The Blessing of Telling My Stories ReformJudaism.org’s own Chris Harrison, a skilled writer and editor, talks about life as a Black Jew-by-Choice, a networker extraordinaire, and lover of all things Marvel and marvelous. “I always knew I had a calling to communicate, to write, and to be my own authentic self.” /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/9982595

Alexandra: 100% Jewish, 100% Latina 05/21/2019

Alexandra: 100% Jewish, 100% Latina Come schmooze with Alexandra Corwin, a dedicated Jewish educator, a proud Latina woman, and a lover of Yiddish: “Those identities fill me spiritually and culturally,” she says. We discuss antiracism work, her evolution as a Jewish leader, and teaching social justice to students. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/9760904

Yolanda: Forging Connections Through Conversations 05/07/2019

Yolanda: Forging Connections Through Conversations Yolanda Savage-Narva is a Jewish woman of Color, a mother, an activist, an educator, and so much more: “Jewish identity, for me, is multifaceted,” she said. She teaches us to be kind but strong, patient but firm, and always fair, just, and humble. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/9574484

Anjelica: Dia de los Muertos Meets Yom Kippur 04/16/2019

Anjelica: Dia de los Muertos Meets Yom Kippur Anjelica Ruiz, a Jewish educator with Hispanic-Filipino heritage, shares personal stories and classroom experiences from the heartbreaking to the heartwarming. “I want to keep teaching and keep bettering myself as a Jew,” she says. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/9359753

Jordan: Black, Jewish, and Bettering the World 04/02/2019

Jordan: Black, Jewish, and Bettering the World Meet Jordan Berg Powers, a social justice leader, family man, and all-around mensch striving to create a world of awareness and kindness. His number-one rule? Leave the world better than you found it. “I come from a long line of activists making change for the better,” he says. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/9081560

Gina: The Path I’ve Chosen 03/19/2019

Gina: The Path I’ve Chosen Gina Drangel is a trained opera singer and devoted mother who recently became a bat mitzvah. “Feeling so whole with my Jewishness and my Blackness, it completes me,” she says of her beautiful, ongoing journey. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/9004760

Kelly: I Have a Right to Be Here 03/05/2019

Kelly: I Have a Right to Be Here Fierce, proud, and powerful, Kelly Whitehead navigates the world as queer, Black, Jewish woman – oh, yeah, and a lifelong lover of Jewish summer camp! “I think a lot about who I am because I'm often in exclusively white spaces or mostly exclusively Jewish spaces,” she says. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/8731697

Bryant: From Tennessee to Iraq and Back 02/02/2019

Bryant: From Tennessee to Iraq and Back This week we meet veteran Bryant Heinzelman, who shares powerful and impactful moments of his journey as a Jewish man as he travels the world, and how every step along the way has shaped and strengthened his identity. /episode/index/show/whollyjewish/id/8496110

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