Sarah Aroeste — Where Are You From?

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 is Sarah Aroeste - musician, writer, cultural leader. Inspired by her family's Sephardic roots, she writes and sings in Ladino, the Judeo-Spanish dialect that originated by Spanish Jews after their expulsion from Spain in 1492.  We spoke about family stories, musical leadership, the great Doña Gracia Nasi, and Jewish communities from Western Massachusetts to N. Macedonia. We also discuss access to childcare and paid leave as key issues for women’s leadership and equity. Mentioned in this episode: Sarah shares with us about Monastir, the community in N. Macedonia where she traces her family’s roots. You can hear some of Sarah’s music in the episode and more of it here. Learn more about the work of Women of Reform Judaism on paid family medical leave, which we discuss in the context of access to childcare. View the transcript here.  Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast justforthispodcast.com