In this conversation, Talya Gillman and Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum reflect on what it means to be a light unto the nations, and whether we, as a collective Jewish people, are living up to the aspiration.

Talya is an educator, facilitator, and community organizer in Seattle, who’s work and family life are deeply rooted in Jewish values and practice.

Rabbi Jay is the rabbi emeritus of Herzl-Ner Tamid, a conservative congregation with a rich history in Seattle, from the Central District to Mercer Island.

The two have been in dialogue on topics pertaining to Israel and Jewish identity for over a year as part of a group organized and facilitated by Rabbi Jay. They’ve been exercising the muscle of engaging from a place of curiosity, patience, and mutual respect, and you can hear it in their conversation.

// Intro quotes from Sapir Journal, A Light unto the Nations.

// Music by Balkan Bump.

If you would like to share your reflections, or have suggestions for a guest or a topic, please email arthur @ inthediaspora.com.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inthediaspora.com

Noa and Sam met after a fiery back-and-forth in The Seattle Times. Since then, they have been organizing intra-communal dialogue for Jews across a very wide spectrum and inspiring others to do the same (like this podcast).

In this conversation, introduced by educator Beth Huppin, Noa and Sam share their experience of building understanding and engaging in challenging conversations. They go through the exercise of a negotiated “we agree” statement, share how differently they see and experience things, and consider some core differences in the communities they come from and inhabit today.

// Music by Balkan Bump

If you would like to share your reflections, or have suggestions for a guest or a topic, please email arthur @ inthediaspora.com.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inthediaspora.com

In this conversation, Diana and Max discuss their experiences with solidarity post October 7th, the challenges of building coalitions around the fight against antisemitism, and the importance of building understanding within the Jewish community.

Diana Dvora Falchuk works locally and nationally on deepening understanding of antisemitism and racism in progressive spaces.

Max Patashnik is the director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), a coalition of 36 Jewish organizations and synagogues across the Puget Sound.

This conversation was recorded on February 14, 2025.

// Music by Balkan Bump

If you have suggestions for topics or guests, or want to provide some private feedback, please email arthur @ inthediaspora.com. Or, share your reflections in a voice message on our website.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inthediaspora.com

In this conversation, Natalie Smith and Tamar Newman discuss their duel identities as Israeli-Americans, the role of Diaspora Jews in social and political movements in Israel, and holding space for Palestinian suffering alongside Israeli suffering.

This episode was recorded on March 3, 2025.

// Music by Balkan Bump

// Share your reflections in a voice message on our website.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inthediaspora.com

Solly Kane and Anna Goren engage in a thoughtful conversation about their Jewish identities, relationships to the State of Israel, and local Jewish institutions. They explore the challenges and importance of holding nuanced discourse and maintaining relationships across silos.

Solly shares his experience of balancing diverse narratives as the CEO of Seattle’s Jewish Federation, and his commitment to building an inclusive, vibrant Jewish community.

Anna talks about her deep ties to Seattle’s Jewish institutions, many of which no longer represent her today, particularly when it comes to narratives on the State of Israel and the fate of Palestinians.

This episode was recorded on February 7, 2025.

// Music by Balkan Bump

// Share your reflections in a voice message on our website.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inthediaspora.com

Welcome to Diaspora Dialogues. This is an invitation to lean into some of the most important aspects of Jewish expression: talking, exchanging ideas, wrestling with texts.

This project was born out of a deep concern for the fracturing among Jewish people in Seattle. While our diversity can be a source of a vibrant Jewish life, today we are being pulled apart by political and ideological differences. But as much as we might try to distance ourselves from one another, our fates remain deeply interdependent.

// Music is by Will Magid of Balkan Bump, from a track titled Wonderland.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inthediaspora.com