What if Being a Stranger Is Actually Your Superpower? | Better in Person
Summary
Stephen Dubner interviews Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, the first Asian American cantor and a prominent leader at New York’s Central Synagogue. They discuss her memoir, *Heart of a Stranger*, her biracial identity, and the complexities of fame, including her role in the Coleyville synagogue hostage crisis. Buchdahl also shares insights on Jewish wisdom, the concept of awe, and strategies for overcoming binary thinking in polarized times.
Topics discussed
Intro: Angela Buchdahl's fame, Jeopardy, and new memoir
Early life: Biracial identity and Jewish roots in Tacoma
The awe business: Funerals, moral beauty, and human connection
The cost of fame: The Colleyville hostage crisis and threats
Political pressure: Why she refuses to sign public petitions
Israel and Gaza: Two-state solution and de-radicalization
Heart of a Stranger: Judaism as empathy and resilience
Belief in God: Judaism as peoplehood vs. religion
The Sabbath: Sanctifying time and unplugging from work
Breaking binaries: Hevrutta and finding third opinions
Outro: Show credits and behind-the-scenes banter
Listen ad-free on Castria