Emily begins the interview by talking about her family background and her childhood growing up in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She describes her family's involvement in the Reform Jewish community. Her parents had different participation levels but were raised with liberal Jewish values. One of Emily's grandfathers was Rabbi Eugene Borowitz, a well-known theologian; her other grandfather was a scholar of the Holocaust. Emily spent a lot of time at religious school and participating in her synagogue's choir—doing so helped her come out of her shell and find her passion for Jewish learning. By the end of high school, she was helping to lead services once a month. Once she arrived at Yale University, she immediately dove into studying Modern Hebrew. While she was involved in the Hillel, it took her until her sophomore year of college to find her place within the Yale Jewish community. Emily comments on how she came to the understanding that women did not always have equal opportunity in Judaism. She grew up in a household where men and women were held to the same standards, so she reflected on the gender discrepancies in some Jewish communities. Emily discusses the "feminization of Judaism" – the concept that women becoming more involved in Judaism is driving men away – and why she finds the idea problematic. She notes the impact of consciousness-raising groups such as Keshet and discussions about interfaith marriage and gender roles in the Jewish family. She concludes by talking about her grandfathers' legacies and how they inform her rabbinical work and spiritual practice.