Angela Buchdahl: This Passover, have faith in the story of the Exodus

In this powerful episode of The Times of Israel Daily Briefing, arts and culture editor Jessica Steinberg sits down with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi of New York City's Central Synagogue, to explore the deep resonance of the Exodus story in today’s world. Buchdahl, whose memoir *Heart of a Stranger* has become a cultural touchstone, reflects on her dual identity as a Korean-American, biracial Jew and a leading voice in American Judaism. She discusses how the current moment—marked by rising anti-Semitism, the ongoing war in Gaza, and the trauma of October 7th—has intensified the Jewish experience of being a 'stranger,' a theme central to her book and faith. Drawing on the Passover narrative, she emphasizes that while we may feel trapped in 'Mitzrayim'—the narrow place—faith and collective agency can lead to liberation. Buchdahl also shares how her synagogue became a sanctuary for hostage families, symbolized by the draped Israeli flag over an empty chair, a powerful act of solidarity that culminated in the return of the last living hostage. She calls for a renewed commitment to empathy, dialogue, and engagement across the Jewish world, especially between American and Israeli Jews, even amid deep political and ideological differences.