Girls in Trouble TV
“Girls in Trouble: The Series,” created by musician/Torah teacher Alicia Jo Rabins and filmmaker Alicia J. Rose, brings the viewer on a journey through the world of women in Torah. Inspired by Anthony Bourdain-style food and culture shows, each episode focuses on one character, exploring her challenges, her triumphs, and how her story relates to contemporary life, including interviews with artists, scholars and culture-bearers across the Jewish diaspora.
Created collaboratively by the three-women filmmaking team of Rabins, Rose, and producer Lara Cuddy, “Girls in Trouble: The Series" examines stories of Biblical women through a feminist diasporic lens, challenging patriarchal interpretations and celebrating these female characters’ resilience and strength. A free, downladable study guide accompanies each episode - great for going deeper on your own, with friends or in the classroom!
Episode 3: Tamar
Episode 3 explores Tamar’s creativity and courage, which enable her to live her dreams, even when she’s told it’s not possible. Features interviews with legendary klezmer fiddler Alicia Svigals and theater-maker/Rabbi Kendell Pinkney, and discussions about queerness in Yiddish culture revival, the power of storytelling, and conversion. Plus a live performance of “I Was a Desert” with string quartet, and gorgeous original animation from Noa Mishkin.
Download the free study guide for episode 3 here - great for going deeper on your own, with friends or a book club, or in the classroom!
Episode 2: Esther
Episode 2 features a deep dive into the story of Queen Esther, who rises from rags to riches and risks her life to save her people. This episode includes interviews with chef Sonya Sanford and soferet (Hebrew scribe) Julie Seltzer; conversations about hamentashen, vulnerability, Esther as a scribe, and the difficulty of Jewish life in the former Soviet Union; a live performance of Girls in Trouble’s new ballad about Esther with piano, accordion and violin; and gorgeous original animation from Lettie Jane Rennekamp.
Episode 1: Vashti
The series pilot features a deep dive into the rebellious antihero of the Purim story, Queen Vashti, and includes live performances of two songs about her - one by musician/anthropologist/cantor Galeet Dardashti, inspired by her Persian Jewish heritage, and one by Rabins, inspired by her love of bluegrass fiddle — as well as original animation from Jessica Tamar Deutsch & Zak Margolis. Stream the full 15-minute episode today!
Series Trailer
Series Teaser
“Girls in Trouble: The Series” is created with the generous support of The Covenant Foundation, RACC (Portland’s Regional Arts and Culture Council), and Jewish Women’s Giving Circle of Portland. Girls in Trouble TV is fiscally sponsored by The Film Collaborative. We cannot do what we do without the support of generous donors like you! Please get in touch at girlsintroublemusic at gmail.com to support future episodes with a tax-deductible donation.