Rabbi Rebecca Schatz

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.

Elul Study: What the Prophets Would Say Today

August 5th, 2020  |  1 hr 52 secs

Rabbi Ed Feinstein discusses the most extraordinary spiritual personalities the Jewish people ever produced were the Biblical prophets. Their words are eternal, most especially in moments of collective crisis. Rabbi Feinstein is senior rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California. He serves on the faculty of the Ziegler Rabbinical School of the American Jewish University, the Wexner Heritage Program, the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and lectures widely across the United States. This event took place on August 5, 2020 via Zoom as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: How the Shofar Wakes Us Up

August 4th, 2020  |  50 mins 35 secs

Abigail Pogrebin explores an Elul practice that grabs us by the throat and asks us whether we’re living a life we’re proud of. Hosted by Rabbi Rebecca Schatz at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles via Zoom on August 4, 2020 as part of Temple Beth Am's Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program.

Elul Study: How Story Telling Becomes Teshuva - Israel Story

August 3rd, 2020  |  1 hr 4 mins

Israel Story founders, Mishy Harman and Yochai Maital in conversation with Rabbi Rebecca Schatz about their 8-year journey to capture the 'Israeli Story'. They will talk about the role of storytelling in the process of doing Tshuvah - How stories can be a powerful coping mechanism, a way for people to sort out issues they are struggling with, and making sense of their personal and collective history.

The conversation via Zoom on August 3, 2020 was accompanied by audio clips and sneak previews into yet unpublished Israel Story episodes and was part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Shabbat Sermon -Morning: Bamidbar

May 23rd, 2020  |  8 mins 57 secs

Rabbi Rebecca Schatz's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles on May 23, 2020 - "Counting an Empty Chair at Sunrise."