Rabbi Angela Buchdahl: The Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging
Angela Buchdahl was born in Seoul, the daughter of a Korean Buddhist mother and Jewish American father. Profoundly spiritual from a young age, by sixteen she felt the first stirrings to become a rabbi. Despite the naysayers and periods of self-doubt-Would a mixed-race woman ever be seen as authentically Jewish or chosen to lead a congregation?-she stayed the course, which took her first to Yale, then to rabbinical school, and finally to the pulpit of one of the largest, most influential congregations in the world.
Today, Angela Buchdahl inspires Jews and non-Jews alike with her invigorating, joyful approach to worship and her belief in the power of faith, gratitude, and responsibility for one another, regardless of religion. She does not shy away from difficult topics, from racism within the Jewish community and the sexism she confronted when she aspired to the top job, to rising antisemitism today. Buchdahl teaches how these challenges, which can make one feel like a stranger, can ultimately be the source of our greatest empathy and strength. Her new memoir, Heart of a Stranger, became an instant New York Times bestseller.
Angela Buchdahl has gone from outsider to officiant, from feeling estranged to feeling embraced-and she's emerged with a deep conviction that we are all bound to a larger whole and mission. She has written a book that is both memoir and spiritual guide for everyday living, which is exactly what so many of us crave right now.
Join us for a conversation with Rabbi Buchdahl on Thursday, November 13 at 7:30pm at Krannert Center. Free, but registration is required.
Conversation hosted by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
Presented with support from The Chabad Jewish Center; Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation; Illini Hillel; Sinai Temple of Champaign-Urbana.
