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Tablet Studios

Knowing, Doing, and Being: Ep. 213

Tablet Studios

Tablet Magazine

Judaism, Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 30 January 2020

⏱️ 73 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Mike Bloomberg are leaning into their Jewishness (see here and here), and we’re here to analyze their efforts. Our Jewish guest is Andrew Rehfeld, the new president of Hebrew Union College, the Reform movement’s rabbinic and educational training ground. He tells us how the institution is adapting to face the challenges of the 21st century, targeting three areas: strengthening Jewish education, Jewish engagement, and Jewish identity; as he puts it, “the knowing, the doing, and the being of Jewish.” He also explains the history and theology of Reform Judaism, and shares where he sees the movement today and going forward. Our Gentile of the Week is Ed Gaskin, a devout Christian who started attending Shabbat services following the Tree of Life shooting in October 2018, to show solidarity with the Jewish community. He’s attended all but four weekly Shabbat services since. He tells us what he’s learned from a year at Temple Beth Elohim in Boston, as well as some of the questions he’s received about his undertaking, both from Jewish congregants and his Christian friends. Let us know what you think of the show: Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message at 914-570-4869. Come see us on tour! Feb. 6 – Scotch Plains, NJ: Book talk with Stephanie Feb. 9 – Wyomissing, PA: Book talk with Mark Feb. 11– New York, NY: Stephanie moderating Q&A following ‘Latter Day Jew’ screening Feb. 20 –New York, NY: Stephanie in conversation with authors Goldie Goldbloom and Abby Chava Stein Feb. 26 – Naples, FL: Book talk with Stephanie and Mark March 6 – Amherst, MA: Stephanie @ Yiddish Book Center March 12 – Boca Raton, FL: Book talk with Stephanie and Liel March 17 – Long Island, NY: Book talk with Stephanie March 19 – Virginia Beach, VA: Unorthodox live show Like the book? Leave us a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram and join our Facebook group. Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies here. Sponsors: “Those Who Were There” is a podcast presented by the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale University. The Fortunoff Archive holds more than 4,400 testimonies recorded in over a dozen countries, and the first season of the podcast features 10 episodes drawn from the archive. In every episode, a survivor or witness shares their own story. For more visit fortunoff.library.yale.edu/podcast The Yiddish Book Center’s Great Jewish Books Summer Program brings rising high school juniors and seniors together to read and discuss modern Jewish literature, study with outstanding professors, and meet published authors. Every participant receives a scholarship for the full cost of tuition, room, board, books, and special events. Learn more and apply at www.yiddishbookcenter.org/greatjewishbooks

Transcript

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0:00.0

What better way to be proudly Jewish right now than with our book, the newest Jewish

0:06.2

Encyclopedia?

0:07.2

It's the perfect coffee table book for your proud Jewish home, and it covers everything

0:11.3

from Jewish history, pop culture, holidays, and of course food,

0:14.9

all with our trademark, irreverence, and love.

0:17.5

Our publisher is offering a special 20% discount on newest Jewish and their entire Hanukkah shop.

0:22.4

So head to Artisan Books.com

0:24.0

and use the code unorthodox at check out.

0:26.5

That's Artisan Books.

0:28.2

Discount code, unorthodox, all caps.

0:44.9

D'N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N. caps. leading Jewish podcast. I am Mark Avondheimer, joined as ever by my co-hosts, Tablet deputy editor Stephanie Butnik.

0:46.8

Hello. And tablet senior writer, Leah Leibowitz.

0:50.0

Madhaba. And two great interviews this week we are talking with Andrew Rayfeld, the new president of Hebrew Union College, the premier training ground for American Reform rabbis.

0:58.0

And we're talking with Gentile of the week, G-O-T-W, Ed Gaskin, who was this charming and interesting gentleman who began

1:04.9

attending Shabbat services after the Pittsburgh shooting to give solidarity to the local

1:08.8

Jewish community, though he is not a Jew.

1:11.1

And he never stopped.

1:12.1

He's still a Shabbis observant synagogue attending

1:15.4

Gentile he's now attended more shabot services than 98% of all American

1:20.8

Jews collectively.

1:21.8

So a percent of all American Jews collectively. That's right.

1:24.0

So a really nifty show for you this week.

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