'Why Choose This Fight?' How the Daughter of a Korean-Buddhist Became One of America's Most Distinguished Rabbis - Jewish World

'Why Choose This Fight?' How the Daughter of a Korean-Buddhist Became One of America's Most Distinguished Rabbis - Jewish World

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'Why Choose This Fight?' How the Daughter of a Korean-Buddhist Became One of America's Most Distinguished Rabbis
https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2025-12-22/ty-article-magazine/.premium/how-the-daughter-of-a-korean-buddhist-became-one-of-americas-most-distinguished-rabbis/0000019b-4157-d3cf-a1bf-4d7f30df0000

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Rabbi Angela Buchdahl at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. In "A Stranger's Heart," Buchdahl writes honestly about the challenges faced as leader of this big and historic shul. Credit: Gili Getz
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In a new memoir, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl traces her journey from a young immigrant whose Jewishness was often challenged, to the rabbi called on to lead Hanukkah at the White House. Last month, she called out Zohran Mamdani for 'mainstreaming some of the most abhorrent antisemitism'

Judy Maltz
December 22, 2025



Nearly four years ago, a lone gunman entered a synagogue in Colleyville, a little-known town in Texas, and held four people, including the rabbi, hostage for 11 hours.

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7Daemon • 28.12.2025 | 12:40


All carefully cultivated as a persona. An opportunist seeing a chance for social advancement she would never have achieved had she identified as Korean .

Sounds like a classic case of Jewish Lite…

There are many more out there . From young they know to keep quiet , not to express a real opinion . Never to be controversial in a manner that will ever impair social advancement .

She will go to Israel one day. She'll be spat at by Haredis abusing her. She'll have a crisis. No going back , how to carry on ?

Her mother did warn her … but where ego meets opportunity remarkable decisions are made in life.
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6Allan E. • 27.12.2025 | 16:05


You are among Israel's finest and most precious people. May HaShem grant you a long and happy life with peace of mind. The Jewish people are grateful and proud of your IDF service. Kol Hakavod!
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MiramarAllan E. • 27.12.2025 | 21:58


" …among ISRAEL'S finest and most precious people"?!!? She's a Korean living and preaching as a rabbi in NYC!! Or did I miss something? It's this kind of "logic" that resurrects the old "antisemitic dual loyalty" tropes. Jews need to really start calling out the conflation of Judaism and Zionism in their synagogues. This identification with the genocidal-apartheid state of Israel only stokes antisemitism. Or maybe the need for an enemy is precisely the point.
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5Connecticut • 26.12.2025 | 19:36


It is strange, then, that in this very detailed memoir, while professing her deep attachment to Israel and its people, she avoids any criticism of its leaders.

Not really. Nothing described of the "memoir" indicates anything other than a very careful self-promoter.
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4Gil • 23.12.2025 | 18:08


Rabbi Buchdahl has fallen into the trap laid out by the Israeli government. Jewish communities and organisations all over the world do not dare to openly criticize the current Israeli Government of Doom and Disaster (GDD) in the mistaken notion that Jews must remain united. This is exactly the problem: by keeping quiet we tacitly support the mass slaugher in Gaza, the pogroms in the West Bank, the discrimination against Israel's Arab and Druze citizens, the destruction of democracy and the rule of law, the shameless plundering of the state resources by the Ultra-Orthodox, the discrimination of the non-religious citizen, the illegal settlements in the West Bank, the wilful sabotage of the Two-State solution, the incitement against anyone who dares to criticize the GDD, etc. Not only is this wrong and stupid, it actually supports the position of the enemies of the Jewish people that Jews all over the world can be identified with the GDD and therefore endangers us all.
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AEGil • 27.12.2025 | 16:25


You should rightfully save your wrath for Hamas instead of lying about Israel committing "genocide" and "portals."

During any war, civilians are unfortunately killed and wounded — but not murdered as you insinuate. Remember the Allies bombing German cities during World War II, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki.

The anti-Semites and pro-Hamas supporters are only reinforced with your vindictiveness.

Israel was brutally attacked on October 7th. The loss of so many innocent Israelis and whole families was nothing less than a planned genocide. The latter has always been the goal of Islam and its jihadists since Mohammad. Israel is fighting not only to save her people but also to save Western civilization from barbarism.
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ChutzpanitGil • 27.12.2025 | 18:53


To those of us (Israeli Americans) fervently protesting against the extremist government, its senseless war, and the evil it perpetrates, Rabbi Buchdahl is an embarrassment. For two years she consistently abstained from any criticism of Israel and then has the chutzpah to spread baseless rumors and fear about the mayor-elect of NY. Shame.
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3Petty Officer Amhaze • 23.12.2025 | 16:43


Poor lady confused and lost
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Dr EPetty Officer Amhaze • 26.12.2025 | 17:28


As a colleague of Rabbi Buchdahl's I can assert she is neither confused nor lost. She is a beacon of liberal Judaism and serves as a constant reminder that there exists gracious and goodness in this world.
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ConnecticutDr E • 26.12.2025 | 19:16


Good grief. If more people than you take her seriously as a beacon of liberal Judaism how much confusion is there?

I will say that I am heartened to read it presented, without challenge, that Judaism is just a choice, and people make it up from there.
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2The Other israel23.12.2025 | 15:26


Let's not forget that here, in israel, not only is she NOT (recognized as) a Rabbi, and in fact most Jewish groups, including the Chief Rabbi of israel do not even accept that she is a Jew!!!
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1Strange story… • 23.12.2025 | 06:19


How confused can you get? Rejected by many Jews because of her bloodline, she turns around and gives indirect support to the occupation by scurrilously attacking Mamdani but remaining silent about Netanyahu, etc.
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KatyDidStrange story… • 23.12.2025 | 12:40


Oh ffs, not everything has to be made about 'the occupation'! It sounds to me like you're the one who's confused. It's a book about "faith, identity & belonging", her spiritual journey, it doesn't have to get down to the nitty gritty of contemporary Israeli politics. She's already made it clear where she stands on that, at the risk of her own standing amongst her congregation, and there are already enough armchair experts writing on the matter. Sheesh.
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Strange story...KatyDid • 25.12.2025 | 23:52


Like hell. It has everything to do with the occupation and the Gaza crimes. Give me a break. Take a shower and wash off all that self-righteousness you're coated in. FFS.
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JayStrange story... • 26.12.2025 | 08:56


Being Jewish in New York and being Jewish in Israel are not equal. A French immigrant to the U.S. may or may not care what Mitterand does, regardless of his/her religion, and certainly does not need to publicly express opinions. So why should Rabbi Buchdahl
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ConnecticutJay • 26.12.2025 | 19:36


Netanyahu and his cohorts in government have turned the Israel state into a genocide machine. That is why people expect someone cultivating an image like this woman is to speak out against what is actually going on. Of course, it is a mistake to expect that from organized religion, but somehow the shock of the hypocrisy stays ever fresh.
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