Welcome back to Reform, a podcast examining the challenges and choices of America's largest Jewish movement.

I am non-Rabi Josh Cross.

And I'm Rabbi Diana Fersko.

So this time we're doing the big one.

Social justice.

I'm kind of scared that we're doing it this early because I wanted to build up to it,

but we have to.

If we can't talk about the hard things, why are we even talking at all?

So let's pull off the band-aid and do it.

Out of all the

the insults intentional or not that I've received over the years towards the

reform movement I would say this is the biggest most culturally intense insult that I've received and the

sort of or I should say criticism not insult. The criticism is that the reform movement and reform Jews spend too much time talking about

Ticunolam and actually doing the work of Ticunolam repairing the world.

So we're really great at talking about abortion rights and

immigration and caring for others but we're not great at talking about

Gamara or thearsha or even the Jewish people.

I think you'll hear all of those issues come up in this episode and more.

We spoke with Rabbi Sarah Laufer, chief engagement officer at Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles,

and another personal favorite rabbi of mine.

She's worked for the political organizing body of the movement, known as the rack, and she is a powerful voice on this topic.

Please have a listen. Welcome to Reform, Rabbi Seri Laufer.

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