Temple Beth Am Podcasts

Elul Study: Cultivating a life of Chesed

August 30th, 2020  |  57 mins 6 secs

Rabbi Aaron Schonbrun explores how we might find our way back to a posture of gemilut hasadim, caring and compassion, as individuals and as a society during this High Holy Days season.

As we approach this New Year during such uncertain, unusual, and challenging times, it is easy to get caught up in the negativity. From a global pandemic to a divisive political climate, many of us spend at least some portion of most days feeling angry, bitter, or frightened. Yet ours is a tradition that invites us to cultivate life of chesed, of kindness, caring, and compassionate – – both within ourselves and towards one another. As we approach the Days of Awe, this season of reflection and renewal, we are fortunate that the stories, texts, and lessons, of this season have much to teach us about how to cultivate such a life.

Rabbi Aaron Schonbrun is the first spiritual leader of Congregation Torat El, a Conservative synagogue in Oakhurst, New Jersey.

This class took place via Zoom on August 30, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Shabbat Teaching: Ki Tavo

August 29th, 2020  |  11 mins 25 secs

Rabbinic Intern Rachel Cohn's Shabbat Teaching at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on August 29, 2020.

Shabbat Sermon - Morning: Ki Teitzei

August 29th, 2020  |  26 mins 55 secs

Rabbi Rebecca Schatz and Rabbi Matt Shapiro's Shabbat Sermon/Discussion at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on August 29, 2020.

Shabbat Sermon - Morning: Ki Teitzei

August 29th, 2020  |  6 mins 48 secs

Rabbi Adam Kligfeld's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on August 29, 2020.

Elul Study: Unleashing Invisible Voices with Urban Voices Project

August 28th, 2020  |  1 hr 3 mins

Leeav Sofer, Artistic Director & Co-Founder of Urban Voices Project, leads a Zoom workshop designed to empower individuals to bring music and art into their lives - both for self-care and for the care of others. The session is equally intended for those with or without a background in music and art. Leeav Sofer explores how the theme of finding one's own voice doubles as a means to unleash the voice of the oppressed.

Urban Voices Project creates supportive community spaces with music to bridge vulnerable individuals to a sense of purpose and improved health. UVP engages men, women and families across the greater Los Angeles area with music workshops in partnership with social, civic and healthcare organizations.

This workship, hosted by Rabbi Rebecca Schatz, took place on August 28, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Meditation and Mindfulness with Rabbi Adam Kligfeld

August 28th, 2020  |  16 mins 6 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: August 28, 2020

August 28th, 2020  |  22 mins 51 secs

Rabbi Adam Kligfeld explores rabbinic material surrounding Yom Kippur in tractate Yoma from Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on August 28, 2020.

Elul Study: Music As Midrash, Behind The Music Of Prayer - Class 2

August 27th, 2020  |  49 mins 9 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 took place on August 27, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: High Hurdling - Power and Teshuvah

August 27th, 2020  |  51 mins 57 secs

The path to meaningful and lasting teshuvah is often unnoticeably obscured by the role power plays in our lives. Based on Talmudic stories and a book by Dachar Keltner entitled The Power Paradox, Rabbi Menashe seeks to identify and lower the hurdles to a Tishrei filled with renewal and lifelong teshuvah.

Rabbi Menashe is Executive Director of Camp Ramah in California.

This class was conducted via Zoom on August 27, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Navigating the Mahzor - Class 4

August 26th, 2020  |  1 hr 31 mins

Enter the High Holy Days this year with a newfound mastery of the special prayer book at the heart of the season. Pencils in hand, Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny takes students on a guided tour of the structure, core texts & music that make up the thickest, richest prayer book on your shelf.

This class was conducted via Zoom on August 26, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Meditation and Mindfulness with Rabbi Adam Kligfeld

August 26th, 2020  |  15 mins 33 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.

Elul Study: Presents and Presence - Helping Others Is Not Easy

August 26th, 2020  |  51 mins 39 secs

Rabbi Daniel Greyber leads a disucssion of what religion can and can't teach us about acts of hesed. He draws on a story from the Talmud and a poem by Yehuda Amichai to help us undersand how we can give what is most needed and continue the important work of the High Holy Days season.

Daniel Greyber is the rabbi of Beth El Synagogue in Durham, North Carolina. A gold medalist and Captain of the U.S. Swimming Team at the 1993 World Maccabiah Games, Rabbi Greyber holds a Masters in Speech and Communications Studies from Northwestern University and was ordained in 2002 at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies of American Jewish University where received the Henry Fisher Award for outstanding achievement in Jewish Studies. In July 2011, he became the rabbi of Beth El Synagogue, a Conservative and Orthodox synagogue in Durham North Carolina that welcomes many intermarried and gay and lesbian families.

This class was conducted via Zoom on August 26, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Rashi Class: Shemot/Exodus 2:13

August 26th, 2020  |  55 mins 54 secs

Rashi Class conducted by Rabbi Adam Kligfeld at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, on August 26, 2020.

Elul Study: A Throne For The Shechina In The Middah of Chesed

August 25th, 2020  |  57 mins 12 secs

Rabbi Ruth Gan Kagan leads a discussion of a fascinating and brave Besht teaching about Chesed. Who is in need of Chesed in this world? Who are the ones who should be acting from within this Middah and why?

Rabbi Ruth Gan Kagan was born in Jerusalem. She grew up in a Zionist Orthodox family and is a descendent of a long line of Lithuanian Rabbis on her mother's side. She studied law at the Hebrew University but decided not to work in the field – instead she immersed herself in Torah studies at the Hartman and Pardes Institutes in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Kagan is founder and spiritual leader of Nava Tehila in Jerusalem. A dynamic and innovative teacher of Torah, Ruth teaches Kabbala and Hassidut in Israel, internationally and online, and is a co-author, with Rabbi Zalman Shachter-Shalomi of the Hebrew book Jewish Renewal - Integrating Heart and World.

This class was conducted via Zoom on August 25, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Siddur Class #19 Shacharit: Shema Part 2

August 25th, 2020  |  32 mins 11 secs

Rabbi Avi Havivi's siddur class at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles - August 25, 2020 via Zoom.

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.