Ashira Solomon is an international Public Speaker and Member of The Quad, an Israeli show with 4 co-hosts covering everything Israel and Jewish from the unique female perspective. In this episode Ashira a native of Livermore, California, takes us through her transformative journey that led her to embrace a new religion and to become an advocate of independent political thought in a world where identity politics seems to be the norm.

Ashira's story begins with her grandmother's dream to visit Israel. This dream, deeply rooted in family heritage, was the reason for Ashira's life-changing decision to move to Israel and study at the University of Haifa. We discuss Ashira's experiences of studying terrorism, peace psychology, and her eventual conversion to Judaism.

Listeners will be inspired by the ways Ashira challenges the assumptions placed upon her by academic advisors and peers alike. Her defiance against low expectations due to her race, and her refusal to conform to political ideologies simply based on her ethnicity, shows how Ashira is fiercely independent and intellectually curious.

We discuss what it is like to live as a black woman today in Israel, Ashira's conservative stance in a liberal state like California, and the misconceptions Ashira is fighting to correct among her American peers. Ashira shares what it really feels like to live and study in Israel and how political discourse between citizens varies in Israel and the US.

Zoom in to a topic you want tp hear first:

00:30-4:41 Childhood, conversion to Judaism, and decision to study in Israel. Experience studying terrorism, peace psychology, and learning Hebrew.

4:41-6:51 Deepening connection to Israel, language, and people. The start of the conversion process and sense of homecoming.

06:51-10:05 Influences and Evolution. Influence of family, advisors, and educational experiences. Struggles with beliefs and identity.

10:05-14:50 Reflections on creating unity amidst diverse perspectives. Importance of international experiences and understanding.

14:50-37:19 Efforts to unite black and Jewish communities. Participation in events, discussions, and initiatives for impact and dialogue.

43:2Ω Final thoughts and call to action for building bridges and creating a better world.

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