Alicia Jo Rabins Projects – To produce and disseminate a Jewish educational web series, develop accompanying study guides, and lead teacher-training sessions to support educators’ implementation of these new resources.

What gap in the field of Jewish education–and bible study in particular– do you see this content as filling or responding to? 

As a Jewish educator and professional artist (writer, musician, composer and performer), I work at the intersection of arts and Jewish education. There is so much power in the arts to help learners connect their own lives to Torah in an accessible, joyful way. Our project specifically uses film and tv storytelling to explore Biblical women’s stories, and how their resilience, challenges, and experiences can help give us strength and compassion as we navigate our own complex modern lives.

In which kind of settings do you think this new content would be most effective?

We are excited for these videos and study guides to be used in two distinct settings: in the classroom, and out in the world. In the classroom, we’re thrilled to support teachers in bringing stories of Biblical women directly to tweens, teens and adults of all backgrounds. Out in the world, we’re excited to use the incredibly powerful tool of short videos in informal Jewish education outside the classroom. From YouTube to social media, Girls in Trouble TV will enable unaffiliated Jewish teens and adults of all backgrounds to engage with Torah on their own terms.

Which female biblical figure do you most identify with? Why?

This is an impossible question for me to answer! I feel like each character represents a different element of life, and their stories offer support in different situations. In moments requiring boundaries, I draw on Vashti, who refuses to dress up for the King. When I’m feeling isolated, I connect with the story of Miriam in the wilderness. In complicated moments of interpersonal relationships, Rachel and Leah remind me I’m not alone. And when I need to act courageously, I draw on Esther, Tamar and Judith for inspiration. I’m so grateful these women’s stories are here to support us, the way they’ve supported our ancestors for thousands of years.