Episode 8: How Judaism’s Teachings inform Jews’ Values & Politics with Rabbi Salem Pearce

The first of a two-part series, in this episode, we connect with Rabbi Salem Pearce, a Jewish leader and activist, to explore the teachings, history, and practices of Judaism. 

TUNE IN TO EPISODE 8 TO HEAR:

• The rich history and foundational teachings of Judaism as a religion of practice (and not always credo) including the importance of Shabbat, not only as a religious observance but also as a countercultural statement against the fast-paced nature of modern life
• How Judaism’s teachings inform Jews’ beliefs and values around policies such as abortion, gender and sexuality, climate change and especially caring for the vulnerable and marginalized, and how easily Jews can relate to other minorities and the vulnerable
• Why roughly 80% of jews vote democratic and how important a thriving multi-culture, multi-faith democracy is for American Jews and Jews all around the world. 

In part two, we discuss the Israel-Palestine Conflict as well as what Judaism can teach us about having difficult conversations with people who don’t share the same opinions. 

ABOUT OUR GUEST: 

Rabbi Salem Pearce is Director of Spirituality at the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, serving communities all across the U.S. South as a "circuit-riding rabbi" from her home in Jackson, Miss., where she lives with her two cats. She was ordained by Hebrew College Rabbinical School in Boston in 2018 and has served as Director of Organizing at T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, in New York City, and Executive Director at Carolina Jews for Justice in Durham, N.C. Her rabbinate has involved justice work on a variety of issues: immigration, reproductive rights, workers rights, and Israel/Palestine. She is passionate about Torah, baseball, non-fiction, and travel. You can learn more about her at www.salempearce.com 

RESOURCES: 

Learn more about Rabbi Salem Pearce 

breakdown of jewish denomination affiliation in 2020 - most recent I could find (9% orthodox)

Rabbis for Ceasefire  

T’ruah - the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Gisha: Israeli not-for-profit organization, founded in 2005, whose goal is to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, especially Gaza residents.

B’Tselem: The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories

HIAS: Originally founded to assist Jews fleeing pogroms in Eastern Europe, today HIAS works around the world to assist displaced people of all backgrounds.  

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