Sarah Interviews Rabbi Susan Silverman | I Love You, America on Hulu

In this warm and candid conversation, host Sarah Silverman welcomes her sister, Rabbi Susan Silverman, to the show. The sisters begin by reflecting on their secular upbringing with an agnostic mother and an atheist father, sharing humorous anecdotes about Susan's journey to rabbinical school and their family's initial reactions. Susan explains her personal philosophy of Judaism, which centers on repairing the world and acting as an active partner to God rather than being subservient.

The discussion shifts to Susan's activism in Jerusalem, specifically her involvement with the Women of the Wall. She details her arrest for wearing traditional prayer garments at the Western Wall, a site controlled by the ultra-Orthodox Rabbinate. Susan and Sarah explore the dangers of turning religious interpretations into civil law, which Susan describes as a form of religious fascism, while also highlighting the progress made through court rulings since her arrest.

Finally, Susan addresses her lifelong passion for adoption and the critical state of the global foster care system. She shares staggering statistics about the millions of children living in institutions and on the streets, emphasizing the vulnerability of youth who age out of foster care to human trafficking. Susan calls for a global prioritization of finding permanent, loving families for these children to combat systemic poverty and homelessness.

Key takeaways

• Susan Silverman defines her Jewish faith through the concept of repairing the world, viewing herself as an active partner to God in addressing global injustices.
• The Women of the Wall group advocates for gender equality at holy sites in Jerusalem, challenging the ultra-Orthodox Rabbinate's control over religious practices.
• Merging religious interpretations with civil law can lead to religious fascism and antidemocratic practices within a state.
• There is a massive global crisis in foster care, with millions of children institutionalized or living on the streets without adequate tracking or resources.
• Children aging out of the foster care system face extreme vulnerabilities, including a high risk of falling victim to sex trafficking.

Highlights

• 0:35 — Growing Up in a Secular Household
• 1:40 — Repairing the World as God's Partner
• 2:35 — The Women of the Wall and Religious Arrests
• 3:32 — The Danger of Religious Civil Laws
• 5:45 — The Staggering Reality of Global Foster Care

00:00:00 A Sisterly Welcome and Secular Upbringing
00:01:14 Choosing the Path of a Rabbi
00:02:14 Activism and Arrests in Jerusalem
00:03:41 Religious Freedom and State Laws
00:05:03 The Global Foster Care and Adoption Crisis

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-<00:03:47.009> So<00:03:47.150> since<00:03:47.290> then,<00:03:47.431> the<00:03:47.571> courts<00:03:47.711> have<00:03:47.852> been<00:03:47.992> on<00:03:48.132> our<00:03:48.273> side,<00:03:48.413> very<00:03:48.554> much<00:03:48.694> so.

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And<00:03:51.772> now,<00:03:51.773> you<00:03:51.774> can't<00:03:51.775> be<00:03:51.776> arrested<00:03:51.777> for<00:03:51.778> any<00:03:51.779> of<00:03:51.780> that.

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But<00:03:55.039> it's<00:03:55.189> still<00:03:55.338> a<00:03:55.488> political<00:03:55.637> game.<00:03:55.787> I<00:03:55.936> mean,<00:03:56.086> the<00:03:56.235> reality<00:03:56.385> is<00:03:56.534> that<00:03:56.684> the<00:03:56.833> ultra<00:03:56.983> Orthodox<00:03:57.132> Rabbinate

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still<00:04:00.869> runs<00:04:01.005> all<00:04:01.142> the<00:04:01.279> holy<00:04:01.415> sites<00:04:01.552> and<00:04:01.689> it's<00:04:01.825> in<00:04:01.962> charge<00:04:02.098> of<00:04:02.235> lifecycle<00:04:02.372> events<00:04:02.508> in<00:04:02.645> Israel,

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and<00:04:05.335> that's<00:04:05.506> hugely,<00:04:05.677> hugely<00:04:05.848> problematic.<00:04:06.019> It's<00:04:06.191> antidemocratic<00:04:06.362> and<00:04:06.533> I<00:04:06.704> think<00:04:06.875> it's<00:04:07.046> anti-Jewish.

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-<00:04:10.475> Right.<00:04:10.636> I<00:04:10.796> remember<00:04:10.957> when<00:04:11.117> I<00:04:11.278> first<00:04:11.438> went<00:04:11.599> to<00:04:11.759> Israel<00:04:11.920> and<00:04:12.080> people<00:04:12.240> were<00:04:12.401> like,<00:04:12.561> "You're<00:04:12.722> gonna<00:04:12.882> feel<00:04:13.043> so<00:04:13.203> connected,"<00:04:13.364> and<00:04:13.524> blah-biddy-blah.

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And<00:04:17.236> it's<00:04:17.237> like,<00:04:17.238> and<00:04:17.239> I<00:04:17.240> know<00:04:17.241> it's<00:04:17.242> a<00:04:17.243> special<00:04:17.244> place<00:04:17.245> for<00:04:17.246> you

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and<00:04:20.016> I<00:04:20.158> don't<00:04:20.301> wanna<00:04:20.443> s**t<00:04:20.585> on<00:04:20.727> that,<00:04:20.869> but<00:04:21.011> it<00:04:21.154> is<00:04:21.296> funny<00:04:21.438> because<00:04:21.580> you<00:04:21.722> walk<00:04:21.864> around<00:04:22.007> and<00:04:22.149> you're<00:04:22.291> like,<00:04:22.433> this<00:04:22.575> is<00:04:22.717> where<00:04:22.860> Jesus<00:04:23.002> wiped<00:04:23.144> his<00:04:23.286> brow,

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and<00:04:26.646> this<00:04:26.785> is<00:04:26.924> where<00:04:27.062> blah<00:04:27.201> blah.<00:04:27.340> And<00:04:27.479> you're<00:04:27.618> like,<00:04:27.757> oh<00:04:27.895> my<00:04:28.034> God,<00:04:28.173> but<00:04:28.312> at<00:04:28.451> the<00:04:28.590> same<00:04:28.728> time,<00:04:28.867> there's<00:04:29.006> Doritos,<00:04:29.145> empty<00:04:29.284> Doritos<00:04:29.423> bags<00:04:29.561> on<00:04:29.700> the<00:04:29.839> ground,

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litter<00:04:34.304> everywhere.<00:04:34.689> It's<00:04:35.075> so<00:04:35.460> bizarre.

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And<00:04:36.671> then<00:04:36.781> when<00:04:36.891> you<00:04:37.001> go<00:04:37.111> to<00:04:37.221> the<00:04:37.331> Western<00:04:37.440> Wall,<00:04:37.550> or<00:04:37.660> the<00:04:37.770> Wailing<00:04:37.880> Wall,<00:04:37.990> same<00:04:38.100> thing,<00:04:38.210> right?

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There's<00:04:41.571> this<00:04:41.572> much<00:04:41.573> space<00:04:41.574> for<00:04:41.575> men,

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and<00:04:44.162> this<00:04:44.163> much<00:04:44.164> space<00:04:44.165> for<00:04:44.166> women.

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My<00:04:47.458> reaction<00:04:47.693> wasn't,<00:04:47.929> this<00:04:48.164> is<00:04:48.400> amazing.<00:04:48.635> It<00:04:48.871> was,<00:04:49.106> f**k<00:04:49.342> you.

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And<00:04:51.463> then<00:04:51.588> you<00:04:51.714> write<00:04:51.839> a<00:04:51.964> little<00:04:52.089> message<00:04:52.214> to<00:04:52.339> put<00:04:52.465> on<00:04:52.590> the<00:04:52.715> wall<00:04:52.840> and<00:04:52.965> I<00:04:53.090> put,<00:04:53.216> no<00:04:53.341> more<00:04:53.466> religion.

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I<00:04:56.204> love<00:04:56.449> you<00:04:56.695> though!<00:04:56.941> [laughs]<00:04:57.186> -<00:04:57.432> I<00:04:57.677> love<00:04:57.923> that.

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-<00:04:59.263> Aw.<00:04:59.466> I<00:04:59.669> love<00:04:59.871> you<00:05:00.074> for<00:05:00.277> loving<00:05:00.480> that.

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Ever<00:05:03.625> since<00:05:03.626> I've<00:05:03.627> known<00:05:03.628> you,<00:05:03.629> which<00:05:03.630> is<00:05:03.631> my<00:05:03.632> entire<00:05:03.633> life,

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since<00:05:07.812> birth,<00:05:07.813> you've<00:05:07.814> always<00:05:07.815> wanted<00:05:07.816> a<00:05:07.817> big<00:05:07.818> family.

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You've<00:05:12.267> always<00:05:12.413> talked<00:05:12.559> about<00:05:12.705> having<00:05:12.851> five<00:05:12.996> kids.<00:05:13.142> Five<00:05:13.288> kids,<00:05:13.434> five<00:05:13.580> kids,<00:05:13.726> five<00:05:13.872> kids.

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And<00:05:16.146> now,<00:05:16.147> you<00:05:16.148> have<00:05:16.149> five<00:05:16.150> kids.

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And<00:05:20.510> now,<00:05:20.678> they're<00:05:20.845> all<00:05:21.013> old.<00:05:21.180> They're<00:05:21.348> not<00:05:21.515> even<00:05:21.682> cute<00:05:21.850> anymore.<00:05:22.017> -<00:05:22.185> I<00:05:22.352> know.<00:05:22.520> [audience<00:05:22.687> laughs]

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-<00:05:25.892> But<00:05:26.099> you<00:05:26.305> always<00:05:26.512> wanted<00:05:26.718> a<00:05:26.925> big<00:05:27.131> family<00:05:27.338> and<00:05:27.544> you<00:05:27.750> always<00:05:27.957> wanted<00:05:28.163> to<00:05:28.370> adopt<00:05:28.576> and<00:05:28.783> it<00:05:28.989> was<00:05:29.196> like<00:05:29.402> a<00:05:29.608> childhood<00:05:29.815> thing,<00:05:30.021> but<00:05:30.228> it<00:05:30.434> became<00:05:30.641> a<00:05:30.847> very<00:05:31.054> grownup<00:05:31.260> thing.

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And<00:05:33.549> adoption<00:05:33.550> became<00:05:33.551> a<00:05:33.552> huge<00:05:33.553> part<00:05:33.554> of<00:05:33.555> your<00:05:33.556> life,

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obviously<00:05:36.350> with<00:05:36.351> Adar<00:05:36.352> and<00:05:36.353> Zamir,<00:05:36.354> who<00:05:36.355> are<00:05:36.356> my<00:05:36.357> nephews,<00:05:36.358> her<00:05:36.359> sons.

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But<00:05:41.560> why<00:05:41.561> is<00:05:41.562> adoption<00:05:41.563> important<00:05:41.564> to<00:05:41.565> you?

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-<00:05:45.201> There<00:05:45.202> are<00:05:45.203> 400,000<00:05:45.204> kids<00:05:45.205> in<00:05:45.206> the<00:05:45.207> foster<00:05:45.208> care<00:05:45.209> system.

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They<00:05:48.323> are<00:05:48.448> between<00:05:48.574> eight<00:05:48.700> and<00:05:48.825> 12<00:05:48.951> million<00:05:49.077> kids<00:05:49.202> in<00:05:49.328> institutions<00:05:49.453> living<00:05:49.579> outside<00:05:49.705> parental<00:05:49.830> care<00:05:49.956> worldwide.

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There<00:05:53.724> are<00:05:53.961> tens<00:05:54.197> of<00:05:54.433> millions<00:05:54.670> of<00:05:54.906> kids<00:05:55.142> on<00:05:55.379> the<00:05:55.615> street.<00:05:55.851> For<00:05:56.088> many,<00:05:56.324> many<00:05:56.560> of<00:05:56.797> those<00:05:57.033> kids,<00:05:57.269> the<00:05:57.505> best<00:05:57.742> option<00:05:57.978> for<00:05:58.214> them<00:05:58.451> to<00:05:58.687> have<00:05:58.923> a<00:05:59.160> permanent<00:05:59.396> loving<00:05:59.632> family<00:05:59.869> is<00:06:00.105> adoption.

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Not<00:06:02.206> for<00:06:02.207> all,<00:06:02.208> but<00:06:02.209> for<00:06:02.210> many.

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Kids<00:06:04.889> who--<00:06:05.071> -<00:06:05.253> Could<00:06:05.435> you<00:06:05.617> say<00:06:05.799> those<00:06:05.981> numbers<00:06:06.163> again?<00:06:06.345> -<00:06:06.526> Well,<00:06:06.708> between<00:06:06.890> eight<00:06:07.072> and<00:06:07.254> 12<00:06:07.436> million<00:06:07.618> kids<00:06:07.800> in<00:06:07.982> institutions,

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which<00:06:10.666> is<00:06:10.842> like,<00:06:11.019> really,<00:06:11.196> you<00:06:11.372> don't<00:06:11.549> f****ng<00:06:11.726> know<00:06:11.903> how<00:06:12.079> many<00:06:12.256> kids<00:06:12.433> are<00:06:12.609> in<00:06:12.786> institutions?

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With<00:06:14.314> technology,<00:06:14.478> you<00:06:14.642> don't<00:06:14.806> f*****g<00:06:14.970> know?<00:06:15.134> -<00:06:15.298> Like<00:06:15.462> a<00:06:15.626> four<00:06:15.790> million<00:06:15.954> human<00:06:16.118> child<00:06:16.282> discrepancy.

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-<00:06:20.253> Exactly.<00:06:20.524> And<00:06:20.796> we<00:06:21.067> could<00:06:21.339> know.<00:06:21.610> As<00:06:21.882> a<00:06:22.153> world,<00:06:22.425> we<00:06:22.696> don't<00:06:22.968> care.

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We<00:06:25.029> do<00:06:25.030> not<00:06:25.031> prioritize<00:06:25.032> it<00:06:25.033> because<00:06:25.034> they're<00:06:25.035> not<00:06:25.036> voting,

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they're<00:06:27.957> not<00:06:28.195> giving<00:06:28.433> money<00:06:28.671> to<00:06:28.909> our<00:06:29.146> organizations,<00:06:29.384> you<00:06:29.622> know,<00:06:29.860> screw<00:06:30.098> them.

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And<00:06:31.038> then,<00:06:31.039> kids<00:06:31.040> who<00:06:31.041> come<00:06:31.042> from<00:06:31.043> foster<00:06:31.044> care,

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girls<00:06:35.642> who<00:06:35.818> age<00:06:35.993> out<00:06:36.169> of<00:06:36.344> foster<00:06:36.520> care,<00:06:36.695> they're<00:06:36.870> 82%<00:06:37.046> of<00:06:37.221> sex<00:06:37.397> traffic<00:06:37.572> girls.

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Right,<00:06:41.578> of<00:06:41.748> course,<00:06:41.919> because<00:06:42.090> they<00:06:42.260> don't<00:06:42.431> have<00:06:42.602> parents<00:06:42.772> to<00:06:42.943> go<00:06:43.113> back<00:06:43.284> to.<00:06:43.455> There<00:06:43.625> are<00:06:43.796> literally<00:06:43.967> pimps<00:06:44.137> waiting<00:06:44.308> outside

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of<00:06:47.752> institutions<00:06:47.753> on<00:06:47.754> release<00:06:47.755> days,

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waiting<00:06:50.701> for<00:06:50.902> the<00:06:51.103> kids<00:06:51.303> to<00:06:51.504> come<00:06:51.705> out.<00:06:51.906> -<00:06:52.107> When<00:06:52.308> females<00:06:52.509> age<00:06:52.709> out<00:06:52.910> of--<00:06:53.111> -<00:06:53.312> Or<00:06:53.513> boys<00:06:53.714> to<00:06:53.914> different<00:06:54.115> kinds<00:06:54.316> of<00:06:54.517> trafficking.

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This<00:06:57.073> is<00:06:57.138> what<00:06:57.204> happens.<00:06:57.269> So<00:06:57.335> if<00:06:57.401> we<00:06:57.466> care<00:06:57.532> about<00:06:57.598> homelessness,<00:06:57.663> we<00:06:57.729> care<00:06:57.794> about<00:06:57.860> poverty,

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we<00:07:00.533> care<00:07:00.534> about<00:07:00.535> these<00:07:00.536> issues,<00:07:00.537> let's<00:07:00.538> frigging<00:07:00.539> stop<00:07:00.540> it.

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Let's<00:07:04.102> give<00:07:04.103> these<00:07:04.104> kids<00:07:04.105> permanent,<00:07:04.106> loving<00:07:04.107> families

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before<00:07:07.124> they<00:07:07.338> age<00:07:07.552> out<00:07:07.766> of<00:07:07.979> the<00:07:08.193> system.<00:07:08.407> [audience<00:07:08.621> applauds]

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-<00:07:12.114> Don't<00:07:12.422> spoil<00:07:12.729> her.<00:07:13.037> Susie,<00:07:13.345> thank<00:07:13.653> you<00:07:13.960> so<00:07:14.268> much.

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I<00:07:16.512> love<00:07:16.658> you<00:07:16.803> so<00:07:16.949> much.<00:07:17.094> -<00:07:17.240> You're<00:07:17.385> my<00:07:17.531> whole<00:07:17.676> heart.<00:07:17.822> -<00:07:17.967> You're<00:07:18.113> most<00:07:18.258> of<00:07:18.404> my<00:07:18.549> heart.

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You're<00:07:20.077> like,<00:07:20.295> 7%<00:07:20.514> of<00:07:20.733> my<00:07:20.951> heart.<00:07:21.170> [laughs]<00:07:21.389> And<00:07:21.607> I<00:07:21.826> love<00:07:22.045> you,<00:07:22.263> the<00:07:22.482> sky<00:07:22.701> and<00:07:22.919> the<00:07:23.138> moon.

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I<00:07:26.717> love<00:07:26.958> you<00:07:27.200> forever.<00:07:27.441> -<00:07:27.683> [Susan]<00:07:27.924> Love<00:07:28.166> you<00:07:28.407> forever.<00:07:28.649> [audience<00:07:28.890> applauds]

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-<00:07:32.429> Okay.<00:07:32.837> Spoon<00:07:33.245> me<00:07:33.652> Susie.

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What<00:07:36.961> a<00:07:37.270> fun<00:07:37.578> show.<00:07:37.887> Goodnight,<00:07:38.196> America.<00:07:38.505> I<00:07:38.813> lurve<00:07:39.122> you.

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[audience<00:07:40.501> applauds]