The Torah, gender barriers, and new traditions

The Jawncast from KYW Newsradio

When Bec Richman started out in rabbinical school, she felt lost. What was she going to do with herself? Then, her vision became clear: she wanted to learn how to scribe. The only problem was, tradition stood in her way. According to Jewish law, only men could be scribes, but Rabbi Bec and other non-male aspiring scribes like her worked around the rules. In a time when so much attention is being paid to religion and how it affects the world, join Brian Seltzer as he explores a growing movement within progressive Judaism, how a congregation in Philadelphia is pushing the movement forward, and the transcendent themes from this story that can be applied to people of all walks of life, regardless of how they worship.

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Links to organizations referenced in this story:

Congregation Rodeph Shalom

Stam Scribes

Songs performed in this episode by Rodeph Shalom cantor Bradley Hyman:

"Eitz Chayim Hi" (Robbie Solomon)
"Tri-Faith Nigun" (Jacob "Spike" Kraus)