Temple Beth Am Podcasts

Online learning from A Dynamic Center for Conservative Judaism

About the show

Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles celebrates traditional and innovative Judaism and inspires lifelong learning in a warm, embracing community. With creative approaches to traditional prayer, a welcoming ethos that nourishes the soul, and a commitment to rigorous study of our tradition, Temple Beth Am has been a flagship institution of Conservative Judaism since its founding in 1934.

These podcasts share our sermons, classes and other activities.

Our goal is to reach out and enhance the learning and spiritual life of our congregants and listeners around the world.

Temple Beth Am Podcasts on social media

Episodes

  • Exploring the Parasha: Mental Health and Spiritual Growth - Toldot: Recurring Trauma

    November 5th, 2021  |  58 mins 31 secs

    Rabbi Rebecca Schatz and Rabbinic Resident Jacki Honig lead a discussion of a single verse from the weekly parasha and how it relates to mental and spiritual growth.

    This discussion was conducted at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles on November 5, 2021.

  • Shemitah: The Land Gets To Rest - A Close Reading of Rav Kook’s Ecological/Spiritual Masterpiece Shabbat Ha’aretz - Class 3

    November 4th, 2021  |  1 hr 1 min

    Is religious environmentalism new-age, post-modern and, essentially, incompatible with traditional Judaism? Or is it, rather, retro, a return to Biblical ideals, a re-wedding of the earth on which we live and the religion we all strive to observe on that land? In this biweekly course, we will do a close reading of central texts within Rav Kook’s own introduction of his seminal work שבת הארץ/Shabbat Ha’aretz, the very translation of which title will be an early focus of our study! Rav Kook (Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, 1865-1935) was the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community of pre-state Palestine. He was a mystic, scholar and communal leader who had the temperament and interest in straddling the two modern Jewish communities growing in the land of Israel: the piously observant Jew and the new secular “Israeli.” His words continue to confound, illuminate and inspire us nearly 100 years after his death, and he has much to teach us about our relationship to this one, precious world that is our home.

    The class is part of the Green Team initiative at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles. For more information go to https://www.tbala.org/get-involved/green-team. The class was conducted via Facebook and Zoom on November 4, 2021.

  • Shabbat Teaching: Next Week's Midrash Tonight: Toldot

    October 30th, 2021  |  20 mins 17 secs

    Rabbinic Resident David Kaplinsky's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on October 30, 2021.

  • Shabbat Sermon: Rise Up To Life

    October 30th, 2021  |  12 mins 49 secs

    Rabbi Adam Kligfeld's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on October 30, 2021.

  • Meditation and Mindfulness with Rabbi Adam Kligfeld

    October 29th, 2021  |  14 mins 45 secs

    Rabbi Adam Kligfeld offers up short bursts of meditation infused with the 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.

  • Exploring the Parasha: Mental Health and Spiritual Growth - Chayei Sara

    October 29th, 2021  |  35 mins 26 secs

    Rabbis Rebecca Schatz and Matt Shapiro lead a discussion of a single verse from the weekly parasha and how it relates to mental and spiritual growth.

    This discussion was conducted at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles on October 29, 2021.

  • Torah Through The Handmaid's Tale - Hagar Part 1

    October 28th, 2021  |  1 hr 12 mins

    How can the poignant fiction of The Handmaid’s Tale illuminate our understanding of relationships in the Torah? Rabbi Schatz engages in deep conversation about the connection to Hagar.

    This class was conducted on Zoom on October 26, 2021

  • Meditation and Mindfulness with Rabbi Adam Kligfeld

    October 27th, 2021  |  17 mins 45 secs

    Rabbi Adam Kligfeld offers up short bursts of meditation infused with the 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.

  • Rashi Class: Shemot/Exodus 4:11

    October 27th, 2021  |  58 mins 51 secs

    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, October 20, 2021, this week beginning with Shemot/Exodus 4:11.

  • Shabbat Teaching: A Poem for the New Week

    October 23rd, 2021  |  19 mins 57 secs

    Rabbinic Resident Julia Knobloch's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on October 23, 2021.

  • Shabbat Sermon: Torah Through The Handmaid's Tale

    October 23rd, 2021  |  23 mins 2 secs

    Rabbi Adam Kligfeld's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on October 23, 2021.

    "Studying text and history without sufficient reverence and context leads to a nation with no heroes, rather than with complicated ones. It leads to a Torah swiss-cheesed by the scenes, laws and characters we remove as we cannot countenance the dissonance with our 21st Century society." --Rabbi Adam Kligfeld

  • Meditation and Mindfulness with Rabbi Matt Shapiro

    October 22nd, 2021  |  11 mins 38 secs

    Rabbi Matt Shapiro fills in for Rabbi Adam Kligfled and offers up short bursts of meditation infused with the 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.

  • Exploring the Parasha: Mental Health and Spiritual Growth - Yayera

    October 22nd, 2021  |  52 mins 57 secs

    Rabbis Rebecca Schatz and Matt Shapiro lead a discussion of a single verse from the weekly parasha and how it relates to mental and spiritual growth.

    This discussion was conducted at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles via Zoom on October 22, 2021.

  • Shemitah: The Land Gets To Rest - A Close Reading of Rav Kook’s Ecological/Spiritual Masterpiece Shabbat Ha’aretz - Class 2

    October 21st, 2021  |  59 mins 47 secs

    Is religious environmentalism new-age, post-modern and, essentially, incompatible with traditional Judaism? Or is it, rather, retro, a return to Biblical ideals, a re-wedding of the earth on which we live and the religion we all strive to observe on that land? In this biweekly course, we will do a close reading of central texts within Rav Kook’s own introduction of his seminal work שבת הארץ/Shabbat Ha’aretz, the very translation of which title will be an early focus of our study! Rav Kook (Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, 1865-1935) was the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community of pre-state Palestine. He was a mystic, scholar and communal leader who had the temperament and interest in straddling the two modern Jewish communities growing in the land of Israel: the piously observant Jew and the new secular “Israeli.” His words continue to confound, illuminate and inspire us nearly 100 years after his death, and he has much to teach us about our relationship to this one, precious world that is our home.

    The class is part of the Green Team initiative at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles. For more information go to https://www.tbala.org/get-involved/green-team. The class was conducted via Facebook and Zoom on October 21, 2021.

  • Sources Through Srugim

    October 20th, 2021  |  55 mins 46 secs

    Rabbis Rebecca Schatz and Josh Pernick are joined by Rabbinic Resident David Kaplinsky in a discussion of important issues raised in the hit Israeli TV series "Srugim" and their relationship to halakha (Jewish Law). Each podcast in this series will address an issue raised in a specific episode of "Srugim". This podcast is based on season 3 episode 15.

    The discussion was conducted via Zoom on October 20. 2021.

  • Meditation and Mindfulness with Rabbi Adam Kligfeld

    October 20th, 2021  |  12 mins 59 secs

    Rabbi Adam Kligfeld offers up short bursts of meditation infused with the 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.