Rabbi Rebecca Schatz

Elul Study: Cheshbon Hanefesh - Taking an accounting of our souls through the Jewish value of Anavah/Humility

August 23rd, 2020  |  55 mins 20 secs

Rabbi Richard Camras of Shomrei Torah Synagogue in Los Angeles leads a discussion on Cheshbon Nefesh an accounting of the soul. The month of Elul invites us to prepare ourselves spiritually for the upcoming Days of Awe. To make the most of this spiritual work, this class focuses on the many ways we can observe how we act or don’t with proper humility as defined by the wisdom of Jewish tradition.

Rabbi Camras has been rabbi at Shomrei Torah Synagogue in the San Fernando Valley since 1999. His passion and focus has been in the area of Jewish education through Torah study. Rabbi Camras serves as President of the Pacific Southwest Regional Rabbinical Assembly. He served for three years as the Chair of the West Valley Rabbinic Task Force at the Valley Alliance Federation and is a lecturer of Practical Rabbinics at the Zeigler School of Rabbinic Studies.

This class was conducted via Zoom on August 23, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Shabbat Teaching - Afternoon: Ki‌ ‌Teitzei‌

August 22nd, 2020  |  24 mins 9 secs

Rabbi Rebecca Schatz's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on August 22, 2020.

Elul Study: Letting Go Of Guilt And Shame

August 21st, 2020  |  58 mins 47 secs

Rabbi Mark Borovitz leads a discussion on teshuva and spiritual preparation for the High Holy Days. Rabbi Borovitz is thefounding Rabbi of Beit T’Shuvah, a nonprofit, non-sectarian, Jewish addiction treatment center and synagogue community in Los Angeles.

Officially ordained in 2000 at the University of Judaism with a Master’s in Rabbinic Literature, Rabbi Borovitz combines his knowledge of Torah and street smarts to shape his calling: helping recovering addicts find their way in the world. Spiritual Leader, Author, Senior Rabbi, CEO, ex-con, recovering alcoholic, and overall anomaly, he is able to reach both the addict and the congregant, and de-stigmatize this life threatening disease.

This class was conducted via Zoom on August 21, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Music As Midrash, Behind The Music Of Prayer - Class 1

August 21st, 2020  |  45 mins 53 secs

Rabbi Josh Warshawsky leads an online discussion of music and the spiritual content of the High Holy Days. Embedded within each piece of music are stories, deep secrets, and intricate connections between Hebrew words and themes. Rabbi Warshawsky helps us deepen our understanding of the wisdom of the Jewish tradition, and enables us to sing with a newfound understanding of the words we bring into the world.

This class, introduced by Rabbi Rebecca Schatz, took place on August 20, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Curiosity As A Spiritual Practice

August 19th, 2020  |  50 mins 54 secs

Rabbi Zoe Klein leads an online discussion about the importance of curiousity and it's place in Jewish spiritual growth.

Albert Einstein said, “One cannot help but be in awe when one contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality.” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said, “Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement…To be spiritual is to be amazed.” In this discussion Rabbi Klein explores the soul-trait of Curiosity and having a Beginner’s Mind.

Zoë Klein serves as the spiritual leader of Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles. After graduating from Brandeis University with a B.A. in Psychology, she pursued the rabbinate out of a passion for ancient texts, mythology, liturgy and poetry. She received ordination from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 1998.

This discussion was conducted via Zoom on August 19, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Letting Go

August 19th, 2020  |  37 mins 45 secs

An online class featuring music and mediation with Cantor Phil Baron of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California hosted by Rabbi Rebecca Schatz.

Cantor Baron is the son of a violinist and the grandson of a Vilna rabbi. He is is currently part of the clergy cohort of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, an on-going project to study and embody the sacred teachings of the Chassidic masters, with an emphasis on meditation, prayer and mindful living.

This discussion was conducted via Zoom on August 19, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Other's Weaknesses, and Our Own - What It Means When We Judge Others

August 18th, 2020  |  56 mins 22 secs

The book of Jonah, traditionally read on Yom Kippur afternoon, has one of the most unsympathetic prophets in the Bible. In this class, Dr. Rachel Rosenthal offers an alternative reading of Jonah to help us consider how the ways we view the flaws of others can either hinder or aid our own process of repentance.

Dr. Rachel Rosenthal holds a PhD in Rabbinic Literature at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she serves as an adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Talmud and was voted List College Professor of the Year in 2018.

This class was conducted via Zoom on August 18, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Humility for Life

August 17th, 2020  |  54 mins 21 secs

Rabbi Barry Dov Katz leads a wide-ranging exploration of the nature and role of humility in our lives. He considers the king’s qualities in Parshat Shoftim, Charles Dickens’ character Uriah Heep, and, of course, our own life experience.

Rabbi Katz is the rabbi of the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale, New York.

The discussion took place via Zoom on August 17, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Ahavat Yisrael - Understanding the Name and Character of Israel from the Bible to Bibi

August 16th, 2020  |  42 mins 56 secs

A discussion via Zoom led by Rabbi Joshua Hoffman of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California on August 16, 2020. The session was part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles. part of Temple Beth Am's Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program.

Shabbat Sermon - Morning: Re'eh

August 15th, 2020  |  23 mins 13 secs

Rabbi Rebecca Schatz's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on August 15, 2020.

Elul Study: Love and Chesed Through Music Meditation and Mindfulness

August 14th, 2020  |  1 hr 2 mins

An hour of music and intention setting with Rabbi Noah Aronson focused on love and chased. Noah crafts an experience that aims at bringing more love and light into the world with his unique music, meditation, movement and mindfulness practices.

This hour was conducted via Zoom on August 14, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: From Tolerating to Celebrating All

August 13th, 2020  |  1 hr 22 mins

This is a discussion via Zoom led by Rabbi Abby Stein, an American transgender author, activist, blogger, model, speaker, and rabbi. She is the first openly transgender woman raised in a Hasidic community, and is a direct descendant of Hasidic Judaism's founder the Baal Shem Tov. In 2015, she founded the first support group nationwide for trans people of Orthodox background.

She says the conversation around LGBTQ Jews in our communities (as well as other community members who are part of minority identities within our communities) has usually revolved around tolerating the "other," accepting those that are "different." It's time we move past that. Tolerance is for lactose, not people. People we celebrate. Judaism has so much to teach us on this - how do we ensure that we create communities soaked in love and celebration for those who need it most?

The discussion took place August 13, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Jewish Ethics of Speech

August 11th, 2020  |  1 hr 27 mins

Rabbi Elliot Dorff leads a discussion on the nuanced ways in which Jewish law tells us what we should not say, and what we should. The Al Het prayer lists more sins of speech than of any other area of life -- food for reflection before the High Holy Days. The discussion was conducted on August 11, 2020 via Zoom as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Cultivating Moral Courage

August 10th, 2020  |  59 mins 28 secs

Rabbi Dara Frimmer, Senior Rabbi of Temple Isaiah Los Angeles, leads a discussion on ometz lev.
In Hebrew, courage is ometz lev which literally means “heart-strength.” Psalm 27 which is recited throughout the High Holy Day season ends with the words, “Be strong and strengthen your heart.” Rabbi Frimmer's discussion explores the bravery it takes to allow one’s heart to be vulnerable and the inner strength we need to meet whatever challenges come our way. The discussion was conducted on Zoom Auguat 10, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Here, now…what keeps you from being here?

August 7th, 2020  |  58 mins 14 secs

Rabbi Jonathan Aaron, Senior Rabbi of Temple Emmanuel in Beverly Hills leads a spiritual discussion about how we can use the High Holy Day season for being in the present moment through our own “accounting for our souls” Heshbon haNefesh. Are you still in March? Are you already in 2021? Let’s come back to the present.. The discussion took place August 7, 2020 via Zoom as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Connecting to Hannah’s Prayer and Our Take on High Holiday Culture: Where We Are With It All

August 6th, 2020  |  58 mins 21 secs

A discussion with with Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn, Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh and Rabbi Rebecca Schatz. They are from 3 different Jewish denominations, different cultures, different customs and rituals that are meaningful and troubling for them. They speak of their connection to Hannah’s story, which is read as the Haftarah on Rosh HaShana, and the general practices of these Holy Days that we love or wish to change. The discussion took place on August 6, 2020 via Zoom as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.