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Abby Siegel (CritMedia鈥�19) is compelled to do something that鈥檚 usually ill advised in polite culture: Approach strangers to ask about their race and religion.

For her project, The Daughters of Esther, Siegel has profiled 11 women in a documentary photo series named after the Old Testament story of Queen Esther, who saved thousands of Jewish people from execution.

To Siegel, these women demonstrate Esther鈥檚 bravery by sharing their identities and struggles. Women like Nylah Burton, the Denver-based writer who first opened Siegel鈥檚 eyes to the need for more Jewish women of color to have their stories heard.

鈥淚nclusivity is not equity, and so saying, 鈥榃e accept Jews of color,鈥� is not the same thing as actually making Jews of color have an equal voice,鈥� Burton told Siegel.

In 鈥淎 Vital, Vulnerable Conversation With the Leaders of the Women鈥檚 March,鈥� which appeared in The Nation, Burton encouraged Jewish women of color to attend the 2019 march amid boycotts.

Siegel鈥攁 white Jewish woman鈥攚anted to hear more and, through that curiosity, created The Daughters of Esther project.

鈥淚t kind of just made me think more about how Judaism in America is mostly looked at through a white lens, and how we don鈥檛 hear those voices of two marginalized groups, which I wanted to bring to light,鈥� Siegel says.

One of Siegel鈥檚 interview subjects, Karen Rothstein, was adopted from Seoul, South Korea, by Jewish parents at age 2. Highlighting the tensions that can arise for nonwhite Jewish women in everyday life, Rothstein recalled a Jewish speed-dating event she attended during her early 20s, during which she was questioned by other attendees as to why she was there.

鈥淭hey felt like I was poaching their men. And (I) said, 鈥業鈥檓 actually Jewish,鈥欌�� she told Siegel.

Now working for the postproduction studio 11 Dollar Bill as a client services manager and associate producer, Siegel plans to continue her work on The Daughters of Esther. Her goal is to expand the project internationally and to teach others the lessons she continues to learn.

鈥淭here鈥檚 not one face to Judaism,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 hope people listen to their stories because they are important, and they鈥檙e a huge part of our Jewish community.鈥�