Heart of a stranger An unlikely rabbi's story of faith, identity, and belonging

Buchdahl debuts with an affecting account of becoming the first ordained Asian American rabbi. Born in 1972 to a Jewish American father and Korean mother, Buchdahl grew up in her father's hometown of Tacoma, Wash., finding in its small Jewish community a visceral sense of meaning (prayer was "a vocalization of longing, release, pain, and praise that bypassed the intellect and channeled to every nerve ending in my body"). She traces a rocky path to becoming a rabbi that included encountering unwelcoming Jewish groups in college and beyond (some questioned the validity of her patrilineal Jewish heritage; others "took one look at my face and questioned how I could possibly be a real Jew"). She became a mother before being ordained as a cantor in 1999 and as a rabbi in 2001. The author movingly draws on her experience to debunk race-based notions of Judaism (as far back as the Torah's description of those fleeing Egypt as a "mixed multitude," Jews have "never been just one color"), framing the faith as a family bound "by something stronger than blood... by our covenant with God, an ancient call to repair the world." In a moment of rising social division, racism, and antisemitism, this stirring call for unity resonates. (Oct.)

Seeing each other as part of the "same family." Buchdahl is the senior rabbi of Central Synagogue in Manhattan. A leading figure in Reform Judaism, she has led prayer services for two American presidents. She is also the daughter of a Jewish man and a Korean woman, each of whom brought family tradition and the power of faith to her upbringing. Buchdahl's eloquent memoir braids a narrative of growth and discovery with sermonic reflections on biblical texts. This is a book about finding a calling, but it is also a book about inclusion. Throughout her journey--from training as a cantor known for a magnificent voice, to ordaining as a rabbi famous for her close readings of holy words--she asks: Am I really Jewish? What is Judaism, now, in a 21st century of mixed-race families, of resurgent orthodoxy, and of challenging Israeli political, social, and military action? One answer comes from her father. "My father's Judaism wasn't about a deity or dogma. It was a series of actions played out every day." Another answer comes from her mother, the real hero of this book. Raised in wartime Japan, returning to wartime Korea, marrying an American Jewish man, moving to Tacoma, Washington, Angela's mother is more than a survivor. She is the creative spirit of her family and of this rich narrative. In one telling moment, we read that her mother put kimchi on the Passover plate to represent the bitter herbs of exile. Such a move teaches us that every culture has its passages and pains, that families and faith should be built out of welcome rather than on walls, and that out of bitter tastes come sweet memories. Amid the noise of current conflict, Buchdahl's voice invites us all to sing along. An inspiring life story of believing and belonging, told by one of the most influential figures in modern American Judaism. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.