Temple Beth Am Podcasts

Elul Learning Series: "9/11, Covid, and Rosh Hashanah: What to Do When the World Changes"

September 11th, 2023  |  1 hr 6 mins

There are certain moments in history when everything changes. We all just lived through one of these world-changing times with the recent pandemic. On 9/11, we commemorate another day that profoundly changed our reality. The rabbis of the Talmud were likewise living through a major paradigm shift, trying to figure out how to live in a world without the Great Temple that had long been the center of Jewish life. Their response to the great catastrophe of their time can help us reflect more deeply on how we are responding to the calamities of our own age. This program was presented by Rabbi David Kasher, Director of HADAR West Coast, at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on September 11, 2023, as part of TBA's Elul Learning series.

Unforgiven: When Teshuvah Might Not Be Enough (Remastered)

September 10th, 2023  |  1 hr 1 min

Rabbi Danny Landes' special presentation at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, September 10, 2023.

Rav Daniel Landes, born and raised in Chicago, attended the Jewish schools founded by his grandfather, Rav Menachem Sacks – The Menachem Tziyon. Following ordination from Rav J. B. Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University, he was a founding faculty member both at Yeshiva of Los Angeles teaching Talmud, as well as at its sister institution, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, as Director of Educational Projects. At the same time, he became Associate Professor of Jewish Law at Loyola Law School and Rabbi of the B’nai David Congregation, which he developed into a center for Orthodox halakhic innovation, social action, and spirituality. He made Aliyah with his family in 1995 to head the Pardes Institute, which he brought to a level of prominence through instituting its Educators Program, Kollel, and Seminars for lay people. After bestowing Orthodox Semikhah (ordination) to a number of outstanding men and women in 2016, he founded Yashrut in 2018. Yashrut offers Semikhah , as well as its Classic Talmud Program. Rabbi Landes is introduced by Rabbi Elliot Dorff.

Sheheheyanu, Vekiyamanu, Vehigiyanu" Elul & The Search for A Sustainable Life

September 9th, 2023  |  31 mins 18 secs

TBA Clergy & Beit T'Shuvah Chaplain Adam Siegel headline an evening of Torah study and heartfelt reflection on the sustainability of the choices we make. The program features text study, storytelling, and intimate conversation in community. Rabbi-Cantor Hillary Chorny and Rabbi Adam Kligfeld preceed Chaplian Siegel.

Shabbat Learning: "Consolation Through Success"

September 9th, 2023  |  18 mins 37 secs

Rabbinic Intern Ben Sigal's Shabbat Learning at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, September 9, 2023.

(An early) High Holiday Sermon: “Dream Bigger”

September 9th, 2023  |  18 mins 7 secs

Rabbi Matt Shapiro's (early) High Holiday Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, September 10, 2023.

Meditation and Mindfulness with Rabbi Adam Kligfeld

September 8th, 2023  |  15 mins 17 secs

Rabbi Adam Kligfeld offers up short bursts of meditation infused with imagery, wisdom, and the rhythms of our Jewish calendar, including selected verses from the Torah. Many of these meditations are performed in sitting positions; some standing. Simply find yourself a comfortable space and let Rabbi Kligfeld's voice and direction guide you into a world of serenity and tranquility.

Elul Learning Series: "Sustaining Tradition in Modernity"

September 7th, 2023  |  1 hr 6 mins

Rabbi Rebecca Schatz examines different elements of the High Holidays as well as Elul and how we have shifted those rituals into modern-day life, or how we might do so. From Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, September 7, 2023.

The Poetry of Prayer - Class 7

September 6th, 2023  |  56 mins 41 secs

This is the last in a series of 7 classes on The Poetry of Prayer conducted by Rabbi Joel Rembaum and presented by the Rembaum Institute for Adult Education and Family Programming:in preparation for this year's High Holy Days.

The prayers and psalms that fill our Mahzor (High Holiday prayerbook) and Siddur (regular prayerbook) have been gathered together to form a vehicle for finding our own meaningful relationship with God and to teach us the basic principles of our faith in God. They are written either as poems or suffused with poetry. As such, they constitute a spiritual art form that calls upon each of us to find our own meaning in their words, structures, metaphors, and symbols — much as we would find our own meaning in a Shakespearian sonnet or a Chagall painting — recognizing, of course, that there is Kedushah (holiness) in the prayers that makes them unique.

It is hoped that our study of key elements of the High Holiday Shaharit (morning) prayer service will aid us in making our Holy Day worship an enriching spiritual experience with which to begin the new year of 5784.

This class was conducted via Zoom on September 5, 2023.

Siddur Class #120 - Intro To Jewish Theology - Part 8

September 5th, 2023  |  44 mins 9 secs

Rabbi Avi Havivi's siddur class at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles and via Zoom - September 5, 2023

Elul Learning Series: "T'Shuva with Our Bodies (Yoga included)"

September 4th, 2023  |  57 mins 2 secs

With Jewish text and movement inspired by yoga, Rabbi Kerry Chaplin explores T'shuvah, soulful return, to and with our bodies.

Shabbat Teaching: "So now you're part of a covenant..."

September 2nd, 2023  |  31 mins 8 secs

Shabbat Teaching with Rabbinic Intern Nico Losorelli at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, September 2, 2023.

Shabbat Teaching: "Gratitude!"

September 2nd, 2023  |  14 mins 18 secs

Rabbi Elliot Dorff's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, September 2, 2023.

Meditation and Mindfulness with Rabbi Adam Kligfeld

September 1st, 2023  |  16 mins 37 secs

Rabbi Adam Kligfeld offers up short bursts of meditation infused with imagery, wisdom, and the rhythms of our Jewish calendar, including selected verses from the Torah. Many of these meditations are performed in sitting positions; some standing. Simply find yourself a comfortable space and let Rabbi Kligfeld's voice and direction guide you into a world of serenity and tranquility.

Elul Learning Series: "Sustaining Stories"

August 31st, 2023  |  25 mins 45 secs

‘We sustain ourselves through stories and our stories sustain us. Rabbi Matt Shapiro examines traditional and contemporary frameworks for exploring this important and nuanced topic and how it is central to our tradition, and offers a practical framework for how we can share our own stories in a way that both provides sustenance to others and helps to sustain each of us."

Rashi Class: Shemot/Exodus 8:5

August 30th, 2023  |  1 hr 1 min

Rashi Class, a weekly exploration of Torah featuring a deep dive on the text and lively conversation focused on an 11th-century French commentary, conducted by Rabbi Adam Kligfeld at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, this week beginning with Shemot/Exodus 8:5.

The Poetry of Prayer - Class 6

August 29th, 2023  |  1 hr 24 mins

This is the sixth in a series of 7 classes on The Poetry of Prayer conducted by Rabbi Joel Rembaum and presented by the Rembaum Institute for Adult Education and Family Programming:in preparation for this year's High Holy Days.

The prayers and psalms that fill our Mahzor (High Holiday prayerbook) and Siddur (regular prayerbook) have been gathered together to form a vehicle for finding our own meaningful relationship with God and to teach us the basic principles of our faith in God. They are written either as poems or suffused with poetry. As such, they constitute a spiritual art form that calls upon each of us to find our own meaning in their words, structures, metaphors, and symbols — much as we would find our own meaning in a Shakespearian sonnet or a Chagall painting — recognizing, of course, that there is Kedushah (holiness) in the prayers that makes them unique.

It is hoped that our study of key elements of the High Holiday Shaharit (morning) prayer service will aid us in making our Holy Day worship an enriching spiritual experience with which to begin the new year of 5784.

This class was conducted via Zoom on August 29 2023.