Temple Beth Am Podcasts

Passover Prep 2021: Liturgy/Torah Reading

March 10th, 2021  |  50 mins 3 secs

From parody to poetry, from Trope to Tal, Rabbi-Cantor Hillary Chorny takes you on a tour of Passover music and liturgy as it’s evolved from medieval manuscripts to A Cappella viral videos.

Passover Prep 2021: Exploring the Haggadah & Seder with Rabbis Rembaum and Chorny

March 10th, 2021  |  45 mins 39 secs

Rabbi Joel Rembaum in conversation with Rabbi Hillary Chorny shares his insights into the history of the Haggadah and the Pesah seder. Learn about the evolution of traditions both ancient and contemporary as our rabbi emeritus gives an entertaining tour through the upcoming holiday.

Passover Prep 2021: How to Build a Creative Seder

March 9th, 2021  |  56 mins 58 secs

Dr. Erica Rothblum, Rabbi Schatz, and her parents: Moreh Dale and Tracy, explore creative seder ideas. They model, discuss, brainstorm, and provide practical takeaways for a fun and innovative seder.

Passover Prep 2021: Shir HaShirim Chapters 3-4

March 8th, 2021  |  1 hr 3 mins

Rabbi Avi Havivi leads a study of the biblical book Song of Songs (Shir HaShirim) exploring midrashic, mystical, and contemporary interpretations of this surprisingly sexy and romantic classic. Each of the four class sessions will be independent of the others, so feel free to listen to one or to all four.

This session was conducted at Temple Beth Am via Zoom on March 8, 2021.

Passover Prep 2021: Modern Day Slavery to Redemption

March 7th, 2021  |  55 mins 9 secs

Most of us think of slavery as something that happened in Biblical Times, or in the Pre-Civil War South, or in place likes contemporary Darfur. But there are cases of slavery happening right here in Los Angeles. This interactive event focuses on modern-day slavery and redemption. Our program includes speakers from HIAS, One LA, and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), who update us on the global and domestic challenges fueling modern-day slavery and share some personal experiences. Participants explore these issues more deeply with an interactive discussion and an immersive experience.

Passover Prep 2021: Music of Passover Part 1

March 3rd, 2021  |  52 mins 1 sec

From parody to poetry, from Trope to Tal, Rabbi-Cantor Hillary Chorny takes you on a tour of Passover music and liturgy as it’s evolved from medieval manuscripts to A Cappella viral videos.

Passover Prep 2021: How to shop: K(osher) for P(assover)

March 2nd, 2021  |  1 hr 37 mins

Rabbi Rebecca Schatz discusses "Shopping for Passover," something that can be challenging, or expensive, or limiting. In 2020, there were leniencies put in place for shopping during the pandemic to be easier, more affordable, less of a headache, AND STILL kosher. Hear tips and find best practices to make shopping for Passover a breeze!

Passover Prep 2021: Shir HaShirim Chapters 1-2

March 1st, 2021  |  1 hr 30 secs

Rabbi Avi Havivi leads a study of the biblical book Song of Songs (Shir HaShirim) exploring midrashic, mystical, and contemporary interpretations of this surprisingly sexy and romantic classic. Each of the four class sessions will be independent of the others, so feel free to listen to one or to all four.

Rabbi Havivi is introduced by Rabbi Rebecca Schatz.

This session was conducted at Temple Beth Am via Zoom on March 1, 2021.

Are You Coming Back? - A Personal Conversation About The Jewish Future With Sal Litvak

December 7th, 2020  |  51 mins 23 secs

Sit down with author, writer, and Torah-spreader Sal Litvak as Rabbi Cantor Chorny enters her first “Are You Coming Back?” conversation with a congregant. Learn how Sal sees each of the multi-faceted connections with the Jewish community having transformed under COVID, from tiny neighborhood prayer gatherings to spiritual connections in his own family. This wide-ranging conversations covers everything from golf to guns to Gemara, all on the way to the final question - Are you coming back?

Sal Litvak is an author, filmmaker, and spiritual leader. He was born in Santiago, Chile and moved to New York at age five. Sal graduated from Harvard College, NYU Law, and UCLA Film. His first movie, the raucous and inspiring When Do We Eat?, became a cult hit and Passover tradition. His next film, the historical epic Saving Lincoln, explored the 16th president’s crisis of faith as he leads the nation through its darkest hours. The film pioneered a new visual style called CineCollage that places actors within a world crafted from authentic period photography. Sal created both films with his wife and writing partner, Nina Davidovich Litvak. A pair of miracles propelled Sal on his faith journey, leading him to become the Accidental Talmudist. He and Nina share daily posts on Jewish wisdom, history, and humor with over one million followers in 70 countries.

Passover Sermon - Morning: Eighth Day of Passover

April 16th, 2020  |  14 mins 52 secs

Rabbi Cantor Hillary Chorny's Passover Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles on April 16, 2020" - Yizkor is Everywhere."