Overview

From the creator of the internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter project Girls in Trouble, a memoir following her journey from a secular Jewish childhood to becoming a modern queer woman owning ancient teachings and finding her own meanings in them, refracted through feminist interpretations of the lives of Biblical women. “Alicia Jo Rabins writes as if she’s in conversation with the divine itself. . . .This isn’t merely a book to be read—it’s a scripture for the searching heart, a reminder that the border between the human and the holy is, and always has been, porous.” —Reza Aslan, author of Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth As a self-described ‘90s suburban high school weirdo, Alicia Jo Rabins spent her time practicing violin and smoking cigarettes behind the mall while secretly dreaming of setting out on a spiritual quest no one around her seemed to understand. She often found herself drawn to the more ritualistic and rigorous Judaism that her parents had abandoned to assimilate and “become American.” In college, a chance meeting led her on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to study rabbinical texts (and play bluegrass fiddle on the street for cash). But that two years of immersing herself in traditional observance was only the start of a journey full of twists and turns. When We’re Born We Forget Everything follows Alicia’s relentless, often embarrassing, sometimes enlightening search for the sacred in everyday life as she tours America playing with a klezmer-punk band, falls in and out of love, scrapes through the initiations of motherhood, and witnesses the beauty—and danger—of mysticism. Rabins braids this personal narrative with the hidden stories of biblical women, uncovering a path of queer identity, feminist awakening, and spiritual self-invention. This lyrical, searching memoir is a meditation on longing, lineage, and what it takes to find meaning in a fractured world.

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9780593702161

Table of Contents

Reviews

ONE OF HEY ALMA’S MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2026 “Seeing the world through Alicia Jo Rabins’ eyes is like peering through a diaphanous veil—everything from college hookups to CD jewel cases to fiddle busking in suburbia are rendered with a sacred glow.” —GennaRose Nethercott, author of Thistlefoot “Raucous, entertaining, and always authentic, When We’re Born We Forget Everything filters the pilgrimage narrative through a punk aesthetic, and what emerges on the other side gloriously upends the received strictures and obligations of that which we’ve deemed ‘holy,’ and uncovers along the way a beguiling treatise on love. Throughout, When We’re Born We Forget Everything had me plotzing with joy.” —Matthew Gavin Frank, author of Submersed “With the lyricism of a poet and the courage of a seeker, [Rabins] transforms the fragments of a modern life—motherhood, music, faith, desire—into a meditation on what it means to awaken to the sacred hidden in the ordinary. I loved this book, it is a wonder.” —Nina McConigley, author of How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder “Feminist-spelunking in the depths of the patriarchy, Alicia Jo Rabins illuminates the sacred days and nights of the art life.” —Jolie Holland “In When We’re Born We Forget Everything, poet and musician Alicia Jo Rabins shares her journey of creating a world of music, love, study, language and care, ultimately finding her makom, her true and fitting place. She remembered everything. We are the enriched beneficiaries.” —Rabbi Ellen Lippmann “With the propulsive beat of her old-time fiddling, Alicia Jo Rabins’ When We’re Born, We Forget Everything exposes the heart of a great Jewish leader and her development as an educator, rebbe, and musician. These captivating vignettes offer deep insight into Rabins, the Jewish community, and our contemporary world.” —Rabbi Burt Visotzky, Jewish Theological Seminary “[Rabins’ memoir] interweaves her narrative of queer, feminist and spiritual self-realization with the stories of powerful biblical women.” —Hey Alma, “27 Jewish Books We’re Looking Forward to in 2026” “A lyrical, multilayered narrative. . . . The prose is musical, expansive and full of wonder. [It] is a deeply human book that locates the sacred firmly within earthly personhood. . . . [Rabins moves] through life looking into the hearts of the people and places around her, and finding beauty and holiness to a dazzling and psychedelic degree. While this may be a book of special significance to the Jewish community, in all the forms it can take, When We’re Born We Forget Everything can also be held as a balm against all the hurt places of humanity.” —Anna Christensen, BookPage (starred review) “Rabins’s memoir explores her Jewish identity and braids it with her musical journey and spiritual seeking. She searches for her place in Judaism, finding solace in feminist interpretations of Biblical women and with kindred souls.” —Jaime Herndon, Exploring Judaism “Engaging. . . . A thoughtful, tender memoir.” —Kirkus “Invigorating. . . . Readers drawn to stories of spiritual seeking will cherish this.” —Publishers Weekly

ONE OF HEY ALMA’S MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2026 “A lyrical, multilayered narrative. . . . The prose is musical, expansive and full of wonder. [It] is a deeply human book that locates the sacred firmly within earthly personhood. . . . [Rabins moves] through life looking into the hearts of the people and places around her, and finding beauty and holiness to a dazzling and psychedelic degree. While this may be a book of special significance to the Jewish community, in all the forms it can take, When We’re Born We Forget Everything can also be held as a balm against all the hurt places of humanity.” —Anna Christensen, BookPage (starred review) “Engaging. . . . A thoughtful, tender memoir.” —Kirkus “Invigorating. . . . Readers drawn to stories of spiritual seeking will cherish this.” —Publishers Weekly “Alicia Jo Rabins writes as if she’s in conversation with the divine itself. . . .This isn’t merely a book to be read—it’s a scripture for the searching heart, a reminder that the border between the human and the holy is, and always has been, porous.” —Reza Aslan, author of Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth “Seeing the world through Alicia Jo Rabins’ eyes is like peering through a diaphanous veil—everything from college hookups to CD jewel cases to fiddle busking in suburbia are rendered with a sacred glow.” —GennaRose Nethercott, author of Thistlefoot “[Rabins’ memoir] interweaves her narrative of queer, feminist and spiritual self-realization with the stories of powerful biblical women.” —Hey Alma, “27 Jewish Books We’re Looking Forward to in 2026” “Raucous, entertaining, and always authentic, When We’re Born We Forget Everything filters the pilgrimage narrative through a punk aesthetic, and what emerges on the other side gloriously upends the received strictures and obligations of that which we’ve deemed ‘holy,’ and uncovers along the way a beguiling treatise on love. Throughout, When We’re Born We Forget Everything had me plotzing with joy.” —Matthew Gavin Frank, author of Submersed “With the lyricism of a poet and the courage of a seeker, [Rabins] transforms the fragments of a modern life—motherhood, music, faith, desire—into a meditation on what it means to awaken to the sacred hidden in the ordinary. I loved this book, it is a wonder.” —Nina McConigley, author of How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder “Feminist-spelunking in the depths of the patriarchy, Alicia Jo Rabins illuminates the sacred days and nights of the art life.” —Jolie Holland “In When We’re Born We Forget Everything, poet and musician Alicia Jo Rabins shares her journey of creating a world of music, love, study, language and care, ultimately finding her makom, her true and fitting place. She remembered everything. We are the enriched beneficiaries.” —Rabbi Ellen Lippmann “With the propulsive beat of her old-time fiddling, Alicia Jo Rabins’ When We’re Born, We Forget Everything exposes the heart of a great Jewish leader and her development as an educator, rebbe, and musician. These captivating vignettes offer deep insight into Rabins, the Jewish community, and our contemporary world.” —Rabbi Burt Visotzky, Jewish Theological Seminary

“Alicia Jo Rabins writes as if she’s in conversation with the divine itself. . . .This isn’t merely a book to be read—it’s a scripture for the searching heart, a reminder that the border between the human and the holy is, and always has been, porous.” —Reza Aslan, author of Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth “Seeing the world through Alicia Jo Rabins’ eyes is like peering through a diaphanous veil—everything from college hookups to CD jewel cases to fiddle busking in suburbia are rendered with a sacred glow.” —GennaRose Nethercott, author of Thistlefoot “Raucous, entertaining, and always authentic, When We’re Born We Forget Everything filters the pilgrimage narrative through a punk aesthetic, and what emerges on the other side gloriously upends the received strictures and obligations of that which we’ve deemed ‘holy,’ and uncovers along the way a beguiling treatise on love. Throughout, When We’re Born We Forget Everything had me plotzing with joy.” —Matthew Gavin Frank, author of Submersed “With the lyricism of a poet and the courage of a seeker, [Rabins] transforms the fragments of a modern life—motherhood, music, faith, desire—into a meditation on what it means to awaken to the sacred hidden in the ordinary. I loved this book, it is a wonder.” —Nina McConigley, author of How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder “In When We’re Born We Forget Everything, poet and musician Alicia Jo Rabins shares her journey of creating a world of music, love, study, language and care, ultimately finding her makom, her true and fitting place. She remembered everything. We are the enriched beneficiaries.” —Rabbi Ellen Lippmann “With the propulsive beat of her old-time fiddling, Alicia Jo Rabins’ When We’re Born, We Forget Everything exposes the heart of a great Jewish leader and her development as an educator, rebbe, and musician. These captivating vignettes offer deep insight into Rabins, the Jewish community, and our contemporary world.” —Rabbi Burt Visotzky, Jewish Theological Seminary

“Alicia Jo Rabins writes as if she’s in conversation with the divine itself. . . .This isn’t merely a book to be read—it’s a scripture for the searching heart, a reminder that the border between the human and the holy is, and always has been, porous.” —Reza Aslan, author of Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth “Seeing the world through Alicia Jo Rabins’ eyes is like peering through a diaphanous veil—everything from college hookups to CD jewel cases to fiddle busking in suburbia are rendered with a sacred glow.” —GennaRose Nethercott, author of Thistlefoot “Raucous, entertaining, and always authentic, When We’re Born We Forget Everything filters the pilgrimage narrative through a punk aesthetic, and what emerges on the other side gloriously upends the received strictures and obligations of that which we’ve deemed ‘holy,’ and uncovers along the way a beguiling treatise on love. Throughout, When We’re Born We Forget Everything had me plotzing with joy.” —Matthew Gavin Frank, author of Submersed “With the lyricism of a poet and the courage of a seeker, [Rabins] transforms the fragments of a modern life—motherhood, music, faith, desire into a meditation on what it means to awaken to the sacred hidden in the ordinary. I loved this book, it is a wonder.” —Nina McConigley, author of How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder “In When We’re Born We Forget Everything, poet and musician Alicia Jo Rabins shares her journey of creating a world of music, love, study, language and care, ultimately finding her makom, her true and fitting place. She remembered everything. We are the enriched beneficiaries.” —Rabbi Ellen Lippman “With the propulsive beat of her old-time fiddling, Alicia Jo Rabins’ When We’re Born, We Forget Everything exposes the heart of a great Jewish leader and her development as an educator, rebbe, and musician. These captivating vignettes offer deep insight into Rabins, the Jewish community, and our contemporary world.” —Rabbi Burt Visotzky, Jewish Theological Seminary

MOST ANTICIPATED: HEY ALMA, AUTOSTRADDLE “Seeing the world through Alicia Jo Rabins’ eyes is like peering through a diaphanous veil—everything from college hookups to CD jewel cases to fiddle busking in suburbia are rendered with a sacred glow.” —GennaRose Nethercott, author of Thistlefoot “Raucous, entertaining, and always authentic, When We’re Born We Forget Everything filters the pilgrimage narrative through a punk aesthetic, and what emerges on the other side gloriously upends the received strictures and obligations of that which we’ve deemed ‘holy,’ and uncovers along the way a beguiling treatise on love. Throughout, When We’re Born We Forget Everything had me plotzing with joy.” —Matthew Gavin Frank, author of Submersed “With the lyricism of a poet and the courage of a seeker, [Rabins] transforms the fragments of a modern life—motherhood, music, faith, desire—into a meditation on what it means to awaken to the sacred hidden in the ordinary. I loved this book, it is a wonder.” —Nina McConigley, author of How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder “Feminist-spelunking in the depths of the patriarchy, Alicia Jo Rabins illuminates the sacred days and nights of the art life.” —Jolie Holland “From smoking cigarettes behind the mall as a ‘90s suburban high school weirdo to a pilgrimage to study rabbinical texts to touring America with a klezmer-punk band, this memoir follows an acclaimed queer Jewish singer-songwriter through a quest for spiritual re-invention.” —Autostraddle, “Our Most Anticipated Queer Books for March 2026” “Spiritual quester and acclaimed creator of Girls in Trouble, Rabins is a writer and performer and poet — and now a memoirist. Run don’t walk!” —Book and Film Globe “Rabins’s unique insights emerge through her empha­sis on seek­ing as spir­i­tu­al prac­tice. . . . Rabins often orga­nizes the chap­ters of When We’re Born around a sin­gle image, defin­ing moment, or par­tic­u­lar insight from her life, then deft­ly braids these inci­dents into con­ver­sa­tion with Jew­ish tra­di­tions. . . . Compelling.” —Julie R. Enszer, Jewish Book Council “[Rabins’ memoir] interweaves her narrative of queer, feminist and spiritual self-realization with the stories of powerful biblical women.” —Hey Alma, “27 Jewish Books We’re Looking Forward to in 2026” “A lyrical, multilayered narrative. . . . The prose is musical, expansive and full of wonder. [It] is a deeply human book that locates the sacred firmly within earthly personhood. . . . [Rabins moves] through life looking into the hearts of the people and places around her, and finding beauty and holiness to a dazzling and psychedelic degree. While this may be a book of special significance to the Jewish community, in all the forms it can take, When We’re Born We Forget Everything can also be held as a balm against all the hurt places of humanity.” —Anna Christensen, BookPage (starred review) “Rabins’s memoir explores her Jewish identity and braids it with her musical journey and spiritual seeking. She searches for her place in Judaism, finding solace in feminist interpretations of Biblical women and with kindred souls.” —Jaime Herndon, Exploring Judaism “In When We’re Born We Forget Everything, poet and musician Alicia Jo Rabins shares her journey of creating a world of music, love, study, language and care, ultimately finding her makom, her true and fitting place. She remembered everything. We are the enriched beneficiaries.” —Rabbi Ellen Lippmann “With the propulsive beat of her old-time fiddling, Alicia Jo Rabins’ When We’re Born, We Forget Everything exposes the heart of a great Jewish leader and her development as an educator, rebbe, and musician. These captivating vignettes offer deep insight into Rabins, the Jewish community, and our contemporary world.” —Rabbi Burt Visotzky, Jewish Theological Seminary “Engaging. . . . A thoughtful, tender memoir.” —Kirkus “Invigorating. . . . Readers drawn to stories of spiritual seeking will cherish this.” —Publishers Weekly

“Alicia Jo Rabin’s brilliant new memoir, When We’re Born We Forget Everything, repaves the path toward self-identification via quests that are, in turns, spiritual, sexual, musical, and more. Profound, and profoundly hilarious, Rabins’ unexpected journeys and reverently irreverent renditions thereof often had me hugging myself with delight. . . . Raucous, entertaining, and always authentic, When We’re Born We Forget Everything filters the pilgrimage narrative through a punk aesthetic, and what emerges on the other side gloriously upends the received strictures and obligations of that which we’ve deemed ‘holy,’ and uncovers along the way a beguiling treatise on love. Throughout, When We’re Born We Forget Everything had me plotzing with joy.” —Matthew Gavin Frank, author of Submersed

Author Information

ALICIA JO RABINS is an award-winning writer, musician, and Jewish educator. She is the author of Divinity School (winner of the APR/Honickman First Book Prize) and Fruit Geode (finalist for the National Jewish Book Award), and the creator of Girls in Trouble, a feminist indie-folk song cycle about biblical women. Her feature film A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff was called “a blessing” by The Atlantic. Rabins holds an MFA in poetry and an MA in Jewish women’s studies. She tours internationally as a performer and teacher.

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