Building Jewish Community in Arkansas with Taste of Olam Haba

Join us as we talk to Stephanie (they/them), founder of Taste of Olam Haba, a vibrant Jewish community in Central Arkansas founded in 2021. We discuss the growth of Taste of Olam Haba and what building this community has looked like, what it's been like to engage with the rise and presence of fascism in the South, backlash from zionist Jewish community, and much more. Thank you to Stephanie and Taste of Olam Haba for this conversation and for all the work you do in Arkasas! If you're in Central Arkansas and looking for anti-zionist Jewish community, make sure to connect with Taste of Olam Haba.Stephanie is also a co-founder of Little Rock Peace for Palestine, and you can find more information about their work here.This episode is the first in what will be an ongoing conversation series with Jewish spiritual communities that exist outside of major cities, in an effort to uplift these spaces and discuss the unique challenges and joys that these communities face. [This episode was recorded in March 2025.]Big thanks to Stephanie for being on the pod, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join us for an extra special episode with ⁠Ayeola Omolara Kaplan⁠ and ⁠⁠Hadar Cohen⁠, two of the talented artists who created pieces for the ⁠⁠DWELL in Revolution project. In this episode, we discuss their creation processes, the ancestors that they depicted, why this project is important, and everything in between. Listen to the full episode to hear ⁠Shelby Handler⁠ reading their piece from DWELL!So much work went into this beautiful project, a project that enables folks to learn about and honor their anti-zionist ancestors. It is so essential that we see these examples of anti-zionism in our history, so that we can strengthen our own anti-zionist foundations. It’s equally as essential to begin learning about ancient ancestral practices and rituals that zionism has tried to stamp out of Judaism. ⁠⁠If you don’t already have it, you can purchase the DWELL zine here.⁠⁠[This episode was recorded in February 2025.]Big thanks to Ayeola and Hadar for joining us, to Shelby for reading their piece, and to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠⁠⁠

Join us for an extra special episode with Micah Bazant and Ollie Schwartz, two of the main organizers of the DWELL in Revolution project, as we discuss the creation process and intention behind the zine, in addition to discussing the complexities and joy that are a part of organizing for our movement. So much work went into this beautiful project, a project that enables folks to learn about and honor their anti-zionist ancestors. It is so essential that we see these examples of anti-zionism in our history, so that we can strengthen our own anti-zionist foundations. It’s equally as essential to begin learning about ancient ancestral practices and rituals that zionism has tried to stamp out of Judaism.Stay tuned for the second part of this series where we talk with two of the artists included in the project about their creation process!If you don’t already have it, you can purchase the DWELL zine here.[This episode was recorded in February 2025.]Big thanks to Micah and Ollie for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠

For this episode, we are joined by ⁠Ariella Aïsha Azoulay, who graciously talks with us about her recent book, “The Jewelers of the Ummah: A Potential History of the Jewish Muslim World.” Ariella is a film essayist, theorist, curator of archives, and professor currently teaching Modern Culture and Media in the Department of Comparative Literature at Brown University.Ariella talks us through Jewelers of the Ummah, discusses what the Jewish Muslim world is, how empires dictate history and peoplehood to serve their own interests, what principled anti-zionism looks like, how she has deepened her ancestral connections, and much much more. This is not an episode to miss! Every second is full of wisdom and steadfast love. Join us in two weeks for an exciting episode with more than one special guest 👀[This episode was recorded in February 2025.]Big thanks to Ariella for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠

we're back after our mid-season hiatus with our first episode in a long time that's just Jessie and Elana!we talk about the present moment and some of our upcoming events, and at the end is a rewind to our Instagram Live episode on tu b'shvat from 2022 (which was somehow THREE years ago). we've obviously grown and learned so much since then but enjoy our baby selves talking tu bishjoin us for our virtual tu b'shvat poetry event,find our events calendar here,and sign up for our newsletter!comment and let us know if you want more of us chit-chatting 👀

In our midseason finale, we are joined by Eliana Rubin, who talks (among many, many other things) about their new book, “Taking the State out of the Body: A Guide to Embodied Resistance to Zionism.” Eliana builds transgressive relationships with bodies, land, and lineage through their work as a somatic practitioner, politicized facilitator, anti-Zionist organizer, full spectrum doula, land steward, and queer pleasure instigator. They run a somatic facilitation practice with Sanctuary Embodied aimed at resourcing organizers in developing embodied leadership and power for movements for justice. While discussing her brilliant book, Eliana gives insight to what somatics are, how somatic practices can support us through challenging conversations with Zionists, speaks to some of the plants and body parts that informed the book - like calendula, redwoods, and the vagus nerve, and talks about the pitfalls of individualistic models of therapy. Eliana goes beyond fighting for liberation, and teaches us how to live for liberation.  Find more of Eliana on their instagram or website, and go buy the book ASAP! We truly could not recommend it enough. We will be back with more episodes in February, see you then! [This episode was recorded in November 2024.] Big thanks to Eliana for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠

Golems, Dybukks, Psychedelics, oh my! Today we are joined by Julie Weitz (she/her) - diasporic performance artist, Fulbright Scholar, and co-creator of the Tzitzit Project - some of you may know her as @MyGolem_is_here. In this episode, Julie reflects on her time in Poland and the ways that we can reconnect with our ancestral homeland outside. Julie talks about recent and past projects, what brought her to performance art, and the ways her work is informed by anti-zionism. We can’t wait for you to listen! UPCOMING OFFERING FROM JULIE: Online Dybbuk Workshop Sunday, December 8 at 11am pst / 1pm cst / 2pm est / 8pm cet / 9pm ist Registration Link: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/event_step2/MTkzNzI1/289544  Join artist Julie Weitz for a dynamic online workshop exploring ancestral folktales about the dybbuk and Jewish rituals of exorcism. Drawing from her extensive research and artistic practice, Weitz will share stories, images, and videos that illuminate the cultural and spiritual significance of the dybbuk. Participants will also explore simple, accessible movement techniques inspired by Yiddish dance, fostering embodied connections to their ancestors. The session incorporates insights from Holy Names for Our Dybbuk, Weitz’s performance art project that reimagines dybbuk exorcism as a movement-based ritual at sites of Jewish memory in Poland. Conducted in English, this workshop welcomes participants of all backgrounds and requires no prior experience. Come dressed comfortably and ready to engage in storytelling, movement, and learning. All ticket proceeds will support the artistic collaborators of Holy Names for Our Dybbuk. If funds are a concern, use the discount code DISCOUNT50 at checkout for 50% off. Links to things we mention in this episode: -No State Manifesto -Rabbi Aaron Tamares -The Great Dominatrix -Kosmic Kamels (@kosmickamels) [This episode was recorded in October 2024.] Big thanks to Julie for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠⁠you can do so here.⁠

We are joined by the brilliant Jules Pashall (they/he) for this episode! Jules is a fat, white, trans/queer Jew who holds space as a somatic, creative and spiritual practitioner. Their offerings are built on the belief that undoing violent hierarchies and how they live in our bodies is part of the path of soul retrieval and collective liberation. For 15 years, they have been exploring fat as a resource for transformation. Jules holds a master’s degree in Somatic Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and their writing can be found in The Fat Studies Journal and Diverse Bodies, Diverse Practices: Toward an Inclusive Somatics. In this episode, we explore all things fat. How Judaism loves fat, how fat is connected to liberation, how fatness is weaponized in our world, how people can be invited into - and celebrate! - their fat, and so so much more. Jules is an endless well of wisdom and we imagine you will feel as inspired by them as we do after listening!  UPCOMING OFFERINGS FROM JULES: -Feeding the Erotic: A Jewish winter journey spanning Hannukah to Tu Bshvat Dec 19-Feb 13th Thursdays 8-10 ET / 5-7 PT (Led by Jules and elana june margolis) -Tonguing the Divine: a Tu B’shvat Retreat at Mariposa Institute in Ukiah, CA 2/14-2/17 (Led by Jules and elana june margolis) -One on one work with new clients for 10 weeks of “a season of practice” - follow him for more information! You can read “thank god i’m fat: gifts from the underbelly” by Jules here and join his email list here to stay updated on upcoming offerings. [This episode was recorded in August 2024.] Big thanks to Jules for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, ⁠you can do so here.⁠

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Oren Kroll-Zeldin, who is the assistant director of the Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice at the University of San Francisco where he is also an assistant professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. Oren recently published his first book, “Unsettled: American Jews and the Movement for Justice in Palestine.” You can buy the book here! “Unsettled digs into the experiences of young Jewish Americans who engage with the Palestine solidarity movement and challenge the staunch pro-Israel stance of mainstream Jewish American institutions. The book explores how these activists address Israeli government policies of occupation and apartheid, and seek to transform American Jewish institutional support for Israel.” As we talk with Oren, we delve into the research that led to Unsettled and explore the growth of anti-zionist community and activism over the last few decades. We talk about necessary tools in liberation movements and the complex nuances of organizing. We are deeply grateful to Oren for this conversation and hope you all enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed having it. Links: Check out this article by Oren Check out this article Oren mentions by Sarah Anne Minkin about Palestinians as present absentees

Join us as we talk to Ezra Star (he/they) and Jen Deerinwater (Jen), two organizers with Disability Divest, as we talk about Disability Divest and their work, how genocide is a mass disabling event, and how Ezra combines his drag and Judaism. Ezra, also known by their drag name - Neuro Cosmos - is a queer, anti-zionist, disabled drag artist in DC and one of the organizers of Disability Divest. Jen is the Founding Executive Director of Crushing Colonialism, Crushing Colonialism is an Indigenous-led nonprofit that uplifts and supports Indigenous people through arts, media, and traditional storytelling. Jen is a fellow organizer of Disability Divest! Some helpful links: Sins Invalid  Disability Divest (@disabilitydivest) • Instagram photos and videos Tefillat Trans - SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva Big thanks to Jen and Ezra for joining us, to Jessie for editing the podcast, and to Nate for our podcast music. If you want to support our work, you can do so here.