A Lonely Time To Be A Jew – Rabbi Tara Feldman

A Lonely Time To Be A Jew – Rabbi Tara Feldman

Author: Meli Solomon, the Talking with God Project December 28, 2023 Duration: 36:26

Episode 57.
As an American Reform Rabbi who made Aliyah (moved to Israel) about a year ago with her family, she has found herself in an all-too-real Israel. Her lifelong liberal leaning into the Ruach (spirit) and not the war of the prayer she grew up with, has been shattered. Discovering that both spirit and war is necessary has been humbling. That said, joining the ranks of volunteers, in her case doing agricultural work near the Gaza border, has reconnected her with the original vision of Israel. Moreover, being swept up in the national spirit has been like nothing she’s ever experienced. On a spiritual level, she has found both yoga and the ancient words of the Shabbat service to be grounding.


Highlights:
·       Amidah prayer evokes unity and solidarity.

·       Individual spirituality, synagogue community, and national spirit.

·       National spirit and sense of togetherness and resilience.

·       Finding light and hope in times of trauma.

·       Intensified Jewishness and Israeliness since October 7th.



Social Media links for Tara: 
Website – https://talkingpeace.org.il



Social Media links for Méli:
Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/melisolomon/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066435622271


Transcript on Buzzsprout 


Other episodes with immigrant experiences:

Daniel Stein Kokin - a Jew was in Germany, Italy and Israel

Oliver Bradley - a Jew in Germany and Italy

Sostheng Kituyi - a Kenyan in America


Follow the podcast!
The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. When you hear about how observant Christians, Jews and Muslims live their faith, new ideas and questions arise:  Is your way similar or different?  Is there an idea or practice that you want to explore?  Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet. 


Comments?  Questions? Email  Méli at – info@talkingwithgodproject.org

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project


Hosted by Meli Solomon of the Talking with God Project, Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life is a conversation about the practical realities of spiritual life. This podcast moves beyond abstract theology to examine how ancient traditions from Judaism, Islam, and other spiritual paths actually inform our modern routines, decisions, and relationships. Each episode delves into the nuanced spaces where belief meets action, exploring the challenges and rewards of aligning deeply held values with everyday behavior. You'll hear from a variety of voices discussing how they navigate this integration, whether through ritual, ethical choices, or community engagement. The discussions are grounded in real-life experience, focusing on the tangible ways faith provides meaning, fosters connection, and shapes identity in a contemporary context. Rather than offering simple answers, this series invites reflection on the ongoing, personal work of weaving spiritual principles into the fabric of daily existence. It’s for anyone curious about how others live out their convictions and seeking inspiration for their own journey toward a more coherent and purposeful life, all through thoughtful, accessible dialogue.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 101

Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life
Podcast Episodes
Is a Loving God in the Brokenness and Darkness? – Will Berry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:16
Episode 81. When you are swamped by tragedy and darkness, when all you are seeing is broken and the worst that society has to offer, what does your faith offer you? For Will Berry, a paramedic for 14 years, his Christian…
Bonus. Tying the Knot in Faith (panel) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:22
Episode 80. Bonus.Wedding ceremonies are universal and central to many religious and cultural groups. But they vary widely. In this conversation with four guests from different religious traditions – Judaism, Mormonism,…
Discipline as a Necessary Struggle – Aaron Solberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:49
Episode 78. Father Aaron Solberg joined me to talk about his personal experience converting from the Orthodox Judaism of his childhood and his current practice of Christianity in a remote Canadian village. These are expe…
On Campus: Protest or Conversation? – Aviva Stein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:21
Episode 77. This is the second of a two-part series with my guest is Aviva Stein. In part one, we talked about her Jewish practice at UMass Amherst, where she is now a senior. Part two covers her engagement on campus in…
A Jewish Feminist Finds Modern Orthodoxy at College – Aviva Stein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:33
Episode 76.In part one, we talk about her Jewish practice at UMass Amherst, where she is now a senior. Part two will cover her engagement on campus in support of Israel and the need for bridge building. Given the tension…
Jewish Coaching with Text Study – David Levin-Kruss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:35
Episode 74. Rabbi David Levin-Kruss is a Jerusalem-based life coach, educator, and community organizer. David sees himself as a bridge between Jewish wisdom and those who want to utilize this wisdom to live more meaningf…
A Muslim Woman in Corporate America – Prianka Alam (rerelease) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:26
Episode 73. Prianka Alam has retained the dedication to helping her family and Muslim community in Maryland that she learned as a young immigrant child. The financial uncertainty growing up has prompted a craving for sta…