Original images: Getty Images; Israel Government Press Office
Unorthodox

All in the Family

Ep. 211: Transgender Torah teacher Yiscah Smith, Israel’s Consul General in New York Dani Dayan, and feminist scholar Carol Gilligan

January 16, 2020
Original images: Getty Images; Israel Government Press Office

This week on Unorthodox: Three Jews, infinite opinions.

First, Mark sits down with Yiscah Smith, a Jewish educator, spiritual activist, and author. Yiscah discussed her journey as a trans woman and teacher of Torah—and offered surprising insights into how the great spiritual Zionist Rav Abraham Kook was instrumental along the way. Her documentary, I Was Not Born a Mistake, will be shown at the New York Jewish Film Festival on Tuesday, Jan. 21. More info here.

Our next guest is Dani Dayan, Israel’s consul general in New York. Liel spoke with him about the communities he’s prioritized outreach to, the challenge he faces in getting Israeli and American Jews to understand each other, and his solutions to that challenge.

And finally, Mark speaks with Dr. Carol Gilligan, feminist activist and NYU professor, about anti-Semitism and the Women’s March, which takes place this weekend across the country.

Let us know what you think of the show: email us at [email protected] or leave a message at 914-570-4869.

Come see us on tour!

Jan. 8, 2020—Westport, Connecticut: Book talk with Mark and Liel
Jan. 10, 2020—Fountain Valley, California: Book talk with Stephanie
Feb. 6, 2020—Scotch Plains, New Jersey: Book talk with Stephanie and Liel
Feb. 9, 2020—Wyomissing, Pennsylvania: Book talk with Mark and Liel
Feb. 26, 2020—Naples, Florida: Book talk with Stephanie and Mark
March 12, 2020—Boca Raton, Florida: Book talk with Stephanie and Liel

Copies of The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia will be sold and signed at each event. Like the book? Leave us a review on Amazon or Goodreads.

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Do you know a high school student who wants to deepen their engagement with Judaism? Nominate them today for the Maimonides Scholars Program, where they’ll debate and discuss Jewish thought, Zionism, philosophy, and politics at Yale University over two weeks in the summer of 2020. The application closes on Jan. 27, so nominate a student today at maimonidesscholars.org/Unorthodox.

Unorthodox is a smart, fresh, fun weekly take on Jewish news and culture hosted by Mark Oppenheimer, Stephanie Butnick, and Liel Leibovitz. You can listen to individual episodes here or subscribe on iTunes.

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