American Rabbi Project

Washington: Bimah and Beats

Seattle, Washington has one of the largest communities of Sephardic Jews in the U.S. Rabbi Simon Benzaquen has been serving this community for 36 plus years. In addition to his typical rabbinical duties, he's also part of a Ladino hip-hop group, that is putting a modern twist on classic songs. He says the ancient romanzas they perform were written by the Sephardim to articulate the pain and loss of being expelled from their homeland during The Inquisition. Benzaquen talks about the importance of preserving the Ladino language, and the role rap can play in that mission, in this music-heavy season 2 finale of American Rabbi Project.

Welcome to American Rabbi Project

American Rabbi Project is a podcast with the goal of interviewing at least one rabbi in every state about their thoughts on the Jewish experience in the U.S. 

Narrow Spaces and Liberation

In the Season Three premiere, rabbis from across the country weigh in on what Passover traditions particularly speak to them after a year of pandemic.   

Los Angeles Part One: The Rabbanit

"Rabbanit" is not a common title Jewish clergy members go by. But for Alissa Thomas-Newborn her unique title is a reflection on her unique situation as an Orthodox woman with formal rabbinical training, and a clergy position at an Orthodox congregation. Thomas-Newborn chats about her special role, the challenges and opportunities of the modern world, and her chaplaincy work in mental health care.