Rabbi Diana Fersko — It’s Time to Talk About Antisemitism

Welcome back to Just For This, a new podcast. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) will interview women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  This week’s guest, Rabbi Diana Fersko, is senior rabbi at Village Temple in Manhattan, and author of We Need To Talk About Antisemitism. We discuss how Rabbi Fersko came to write a book about antisemitism, and her insights on this timely subject. In the spirit of Queen Esther, we talk about hiding and revealing our Jewish identity. With Equal Pay Day this week, we reflect on pay equity and the progress made by women in the rabbinate and beyond.  Content warning for this episode: sexual violence. Mentioned in this episode: We Need to Talk About Antisemitism, by Rabbi Diana Fersko The Anti-Defamation League’s report on the unprecedented rise antisemitic incidents from December 2023. Read more about the months-long denial and recent acknowledgment by the United Nations about violence perpetrated against Israeli women on October 7 and continuing threats to those held hostage in Gaza. As we observe the first of a series of Equal Pay Days this week, you can learn more about Women of Reform Judaism and Women’s Rabbinic Network’s commitment to this issue through the Reform Pay Equity Initiative. View the transcript here.  Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast justforthispodcast.com