Temple Beth Am Podcasts

Erev Rosh Hashana - Shabbat Sermon

September 18th, 2020  |  24 mins 34 secs

Rabbi Adam Kligfeld's Erev Rosh Hashanah - Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on September 18, 2020.

Siddur Class #22 Shacharit: Viahavta

September 15th, 2020  |  39 mins 24 secs

Rabbi Avi Havivi's siddur class at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles - September 15, 2020 via Zoom.

Race and Racism: A Sacred Conversation About Building Bridges and Unity in Diversity

September 13th, 2020  |  1 hr 9 mins

A distinguished panel comes together in sacred conversation about race and racism in our society, and our obligation to confront 1it, understand it, and ameliorate it.

Guided by a deep love of community and commitment to improve ourselves and our society, we as Jews and Christians, White and Black, are embarking on a series of sacred (for now virtual) conversations. Our traditions mandate us to engage deeply with difficult subjects. We invite listeners to join us with an open mind, an open heart, vulnerability and curiosity for an ongoing discussion about interfaith and interracial relations, racism, and what we, as Angelenos, are going to do about it.

The event featured a moderated conversation among our panelists, an opportunity for small-group conversations in breakout rooms, and uplifting music.

Welcome and Benediction: Rabbi Adam Kligfeld (Temple Beth Am), Pastor James Collins (Exousia Evangelical Outreach Ministries).

Panel Moderator: Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny (Temple Beth Am)

Panel: Pastor Ananias Rose Sr. (Hallelujah Gospel Service, Naval Support Activity), Rabbi Sarah Bassin (Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills), Elder Charles Blake II (West Los Angeles Church of God in Christ), Rabbi dr. Aryeh Cohen (American Jewish University, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action), Sheila Thomas (Holy Name of Jesus Church, One LA) Gamal Palmer (Jewish Federation), Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard (USC, Word of Encouragement Community Church).

The event took place via Zoom on September 10, 2020.

Transmitting the Legacy of the Holocaust: The Role of the Holocaust Museum

September 13th, 2020  |  1 hr 9 mins

Holocaust Museums were almost invariably created by survivors and are now the institutional heir of Holocaust Memory. Michael Berenbaum, who has created Museums in the United States and abroad conducts a panel discussion addressing the changing mission of Holocaust Museums, essentially how does a 20th century event that happened to the Jewish people impact the 21st century world and reach audiences from all races, religions and countries, many born into the 21st century world. It is an ongoing discussion as to how to remain faithful to the past and yet speak to our present and future.

Panelists include: Elizabeth Gelman, Executive Director of the Florida Holocaust Museum, Beth Kean, CEO of the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, and Richard Hirschhaut, Founding Director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

The panel discussion took place via Zoom on April 21, 2020 and is introduced by Lia Mandelbum, Director of Programming and Engagement at Temple Beth Am.

Shabbat Teaching: Bereishit Rabbah 55.8

September 12th, 2020  |  19 mins 52 secs

Rabbinic Intern Joshua Jacobs Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on September 12, 2020.

Shabbat Sermon - Morning: Nitzavim-Vayeilech

September 12th, 2020  |  8 mins 57 secs

Rabbi Rebecca Schatz's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on September 12, 2020.

Shabbat Sermon - Morning: Nitzavim-Vayeilech

September 12th, 2020  |  6 mins 28 secs

Rabbi Adam Kligfeld's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on September 12, 2020.

Elul Study: How Jews Look To The Future

September 11th, 2020  |  49 mins 55 secs

Rabbi David Wolpe leads a class on understanding our future apart from prophecy. How much is our Jewish future given to us and how much can we create it - especially in this time of pandemic.

Named one of the 500 Most Influential People in Los Angeles in 2016 and again in 2017, Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World by The Jerusalem Post, David Wolpe is the Max Webb Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.

This class took place via Zoom on September 11, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Meditation and Mindfulness with Rabbi Adam Kligfeld

September 11th, 2020  |  16 mins 14 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.

Yoma Study: September 11, 2020

September 11th, 2020  |  27 mins 6 secs

Rabbi Adam Kligfeld explores rabbinic material surrounding Yom Kippur in tractate Yoma from Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on September 11, 2020.

Elul Study: Music As Midrash, Behind The Music Of Prayer - Class 4

September 10th, 2020  |  42 mins 27 secs

Rabbi Josh Warshawsky leads an online session 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 took place on September 10, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Moving Forward, Looking Back - Reflections on Forgiveness

September 10th, 2020  |  55 mins 24 secs

Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld leads a discussion on apologizing and asking for forgiveness, things which can allow us to move past old mistakes. What is the impact of granting - or withholding - forgiveness? The traditions of the new year are built upon the belief that asking for and receiving forgiveness allows us to leave old mistakes behind us. But how does the act of granting forgiveness change us as human beings?

Sara Wolkenfeld is the Chief Learning Officer at Sefaria, an online database and interface for Jewish texts. She is also a fellow at the David Hartman Center at the Hartman Institute of North America.

This class took place via Zoom on September 10, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Our Mother Our King - The Hidden Women of the Rosh Hashana Liturgy

September 9th, 2020  |  1 hr 4 mins

Rabbi Shoshana Cohen leads a discussion on Rosh Hashana, the day in which Jews coronate God as king, acknowledge God as all powerful creator and in which we celebrate our submission to Divine will at the Akeidah. What does it mean for us today to stand before this kind of God? What other messages, encoded in the liturgy can we turn to as we seek a relationship with the Divine that includes intimacy and love, not only fear and submission?

Rabbi Shoshana Cohen teaches Midrash, Talmud and Gender Studies at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

This class took place via Zoom on September 9, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Meditation and Mindfulness with Rabbi Adam Kligfeld

September 9th, 2020  |  14 mins 18 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 2:14

September 9th, 2020  |  1 hr 20 secs

Rashi Class conducted by Rabbi Adam Kligfeld at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on September 9, 2020.

Elul Study: The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven: Reviewing and Renewing Your Life on Earth

September 8th, 2020  |  45 mins 3 secs

Dr. Ron Wolfson leads a class based on his best-selling book “The Seven Questions You’re Asked in Heaven”. What they are so you can prepare your answers this year? The High Holidays are our yearly opportunity to engage in what the Rabbis called: cheshbon ha-nefesh - “spiritual accounting.” They imagined when we get to the Pearly Gates, we will be asked questions about how we lived our lives on earth. The cool thing is we get to know them now.

Dr. Ron Wolfson is the Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University and president of the Kripke Institute.

This class took place via Zoom on September 8, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.