Heart of a Stranger - by Angela Buchdahl (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the first Asian American to be ordained as a rabbi, a stirring account of one woman's journey from feeling like an outsider to becoming one of the most admired religious leaders in the world

Angela Buchdahl was born in Seoul, the daughter of a Korean Buddhist mother and Jewish American father. Profoundly spiritual from a young age, by sixteen she felt the first stirrings to become a rabbi. Despite the naysayers and periods of self-doubt--Would a mixed-race woman ever be seen as authentically Jewish or chosen to lead a congregation?--she stayed the course, which took her first to Yale, then to rabbinical school, and finally to the pulpit of one of the largest, most influential congregations in the world.

Today, Angela Buchdahl inspires Jews and non-Jews alike with her invigorating, joyful approach to worship and her belief in the power of faith, gratitude, and responsibility for one another, regardless of religion. She does not shy away from difficult topics, from racism within the Jewish community and the sexism she confronted when she aspired to the top job to rising antisemitism today. Buchdahl teaches how these challenges, which can make one feel like a stranger, can ultimately be the source of our greatest empathy and strength.

Angela Buchdahl has gone from outsider to officiant, from feeling estranged to feeling embraced--and she's emerged with a deep conviction that we are all bound to a larger whole and mission. She has written a book that is both memoir and spiritual guide for everyday living, which is exactly what so many of us crave right now.

Review Quotes

Praise for Heart of a Stranger

"A moral masterpiece that speaks to head, heart, and soul."
--Senator Cory Booker

"Love and light live in Angela Buchdahl's extraordinary memoir. It comes at a time when the world needs reminding that all our hearts must remain open to the oneness of humanity--and, not least, to the outsiders among us. . . Crossing over is at the heart of the Jewish experience, and in exploring the arc between home and promised lands, memory and meaning, Buchdahl has given us a memoir of profound insight and hope."
--Henry Louis Gates Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University

"An astonishingly beautiful story . . . the journey and wisdom of a deservingly renowned leader. A must read."
--Jeannie Suk Gersen, Harvard law professor and The New Yorker contributor

"Rabbi Angela Buchdahl's Heart of a Stranger is the perfect book for our times. It brings a highly personal vision of tolerance, kindness, hope, and wisdom to a world in desperate need of them. Buchdahl's account of her life-journey richly illuminates contemporary Judaism and addresses with unfailing grace and courage highly sensitive, bitterly contested issues of race, gender, and ethnic identity."
--Stephen Greenblatt, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Swerve: How the World Became Modern

"Come for the story; stay for the sermon. Honest, intelligent, and tender, this memoir of a one remarkable woman's journey tells a story of everyone's need to be part of and in service to something larger than themselves."
--Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

"In her wonderful debut, Heart of a Stranger, Angela Buchdahl helps us understand how ancient biblical ideas can help us flourish in our confusing modern age. With great storytelling and stirring flashpoints of wisdom, Buchdahl offers insights on everything from immigration and hospitality to the pursuit of truth and living in a state of "radical amazement." This heart-opening book offers guidance for living a deeper and more loving life, whether or not you are Jewish or believe in God."
--Jonathan Haidt, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Anxious Generation

"Buchdahl's eloquent memoir braids a narrative of growth and discovery with sermonic reflections on biblical texts. This is a book about finding a calling, but it is also a book about inclusion. . . . Amid the noise of current conflict, Buchdahl's voice invites us all to sing along. An inspiring life story of believing and belonging, told by one of the most influential figures in modern American Judaism."
--Kirkus

"A beautifully told story about the call to spiritual leadership... In our fractured world, it's so important to think beyond easy categories of religious and cultural identity. Rabbi Buchdhal's book explores many threads of Jewish life and teaches us to celebrate
complexity."
--Allegra Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of Isola

"Reading this book is a powerful and moving experience. Buchdahl's journey is fascinating, but what comes through is the real meaning of leadership: the humility, curiosity, vision and integrity it takes to carry a community through water and fire."
--Dara Horn, author of People Love Dead Jews

About the Author

Angela Buchdahl is the first Asian American rabbi. She serves as the Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City, the first woman to lead this flagship congregation in its 185-year history. Under her leadership, Central has grown to become one of the largest synagogues in the world, with live stream viewers in more than one hundred countries. She has led prayers in the White House for two U.S. presidents and is frequently featured on national news outlets including Today, NPR, and The Wall Street Journal to speak on the moral issues of the day. Rabbi Buchdahl and her husband live in New York City and have three children.