Laura Tanenbaum (Interviewer & Narrator)

Laura Tanenbaum is a long-time member of Kolot, a teacher and writer. Since 2007, she has taught at LaGuardia Community College, City University of New York, where she is a Professor of English. She has published poetry, short fiction, book reviews, and essays in a wide variety of venues including The New York Times Book Review, The New Republic and Jacobin. She is also a long-time activist with the Professional Staff Congress, the union representing CUNY’s faculty and staff. 
Originally from the Chicago area, she has lived in New York for over 25 years and now lives with her husband and two school-aged kids in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn. She has loved oral history since hearing Studs Terkel on the radio as a kid, and has integrated some of its methods into her writing and teaching and is excited for the opportunity to learn more while deepening her knowledge of the Kolot community. 

In this interview, Laura describes her path to Kolot, including her upbringing in the Midwest, college years, move to NYC for graduate school, political activism, search for a meaningful Jewish community, and starting a family.

She talks about the death of her mother in 2017, and how the Rabbi offered support that drew on
Jewish tradition but was also responsive to her own particular circumstances. As an activist/organizer, she reflects on the evolution of the political climate, generally, and in particular related to Israel-Palestine. And as a writer, she reflects on the intersections and possibilities of writing and poetry as ritual and in spiritual practice.

“Like seeing in color when you have been seeing in black and white” Laura talks about her introduction to Kolot.

“Something that’s concrete that’s so important” Laura discusses having a non-Jewish partner at Kolot.

“Give you the permission to be Jewish in your own way” Laura talks about openness at Kolot.

Listen to: Laura’s interview with Grace Lile

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