How to Belong When You’ve Always Been An Outsider with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
Summary
Host Elizabeth Oldfield interviews Rabbi Angela Buchdahl about navigating hybrid identities and the nature of sacredness. Buchdahl shares her experiences as a biracial Korean-American Jew, discussing how she embraces multiple cultural and religious backgrounds without feeling fragmented. They explore how sacredness is created by setting apart time, relationships, and objects, rather than receiving it from external authority. The conversation also touches on Jewish theology, the power of communal worship, and the importance of hospitality in overcoming feelings of being an outsider.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Feeling like an outsider and meeting Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
Defining the sacred: Setting apart time, relationships, and objects
Sacred values: Human goodness, authenticity, and hope
Childhood identity: Growing up biracial in Korea and moving to America
Navigating faith: Christian relatives, Jewish identity, and maternal resilience
Welcoming the stranger: Hospitality as a way to reclaim agency
Music and ritual: Finding voice through singing and becoming a cantor
Breaking barriers: Being a female rabbi and a person of color
Humility and presence: Taking up space in the White House and beyond
Community and polarization: Bridging divides through shared action
Conclusion: Reflections on leadership, grace, and the heart of a stranger
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