Temple Beth Am Podcasts

Elul Study: Love and Chesed Through Music Meditation and Mindfulness

August 14th, 2020  |  1 hr 2 mins

An hour of music and intention setting with Rabbi Noah Aronson focused on love and chased. Noah crafts an experience that aims at bringing more love and light into the world with his unique music, meditation, movement and mindfulness practices.

This hour was conducted via Zoom on August 14, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: From Tolerating to Celebrating All

August 13th, 2020  |  1 hr 22 mins

This is a discussion via Zoom led by Rabbi Abby Stein, an American transgender author, activist, blogger, model, speaker, and rabbi. She is the first openly transgender woman raised in a Hasidic community, and is a direct descendant of Hasidic Judaism's founder the Baal Shem Tov. In 2015, she founded the first support group nationwide for trans people of Orthodox background.

She says the conversation around LGBTQ Jews in our communities (as well as other community members who are part of minority identities within our communities) has usually revolved around tolerating the "other," accepting those that are "different." It's time we move past that. Tolerance is for lactose, not people. People we celebrate. Judaism has so much to teach us on this - how do we ensure that we create communities soaked in love and celebration for those who need it most?

The discussion took place August 13, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Navigating the Mahzor - Class 2

August 12th, 2020  |  1 hr 14 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 12, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Jewish Ethics of Speech

August 11th, 2020  |  1 hr 27 mins

Rabbi Elliot Dorff leads a discussion on the nuanced ways in which Jewish law tells us what we should not say, and what we should. The Al Het prayer lists more sins of speech than of any other area of life -- food for reflection before the High Holy Days. The discussion was conducted on August 11, 2020 via Zoom as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Cultivating Moral Courage

August 10th, 2020  |  59 mins 28 secs

Rabbi Dara Frimmer, Senior Rabbi of Temple Isaiah Los Angeles, leads a discussion on ometz lev.
In Hebrew, courage is ometz lev which literally means “heart-strength.” Psalm 27 which is recited throughout the High Holy Day season ends with the words, “Be strong and strengthen your heart.” Rabbi Frimmer's discussion explores the bravery it takes to allow one’s heart to be vulnerable and the inner strength we need to meet whatever challenges come our way. The discussion was conducted on Zoom Auguat 10, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Here, now…what keeps you from being here?

August 7th, 2020  |  58 mins 14 secs

Rabbi Jonathan Aaron, Senior Rabbi of Temple Emmanuel in Beverly Hills leads a spiritual discussion about how we can use the High Holy Day season for being in the present moment through our own “accounting for our souls” Heshbon haNefesh. Are you still in March? Are you already in 2021? Let’s come back to the present.. The discussion took place August 7, 2020 via Zoom as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: Connecting to Hannah’s Prayer and Our Take on High Holiday Culture: Where We Are With It All

August 6th, 2020  |  58 mins 21 secs

A discussion with with Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn, Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh and Rabbi Rebecca Schatz. They are from 3 different Jewish denominations, different cultures, different customs and rituals that are meaningful and troubling for them. They speak of their connection to Hannah’s story, which is read as the Haftarah on Rosh HaShana, and the general practices of these Holy Days that we love or wish to change. The discussion took place on August 6, 2020 via Zoom as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: What the Prophets Would Say Today

August 5th, 2020  |  1 hr 52 secs

Rabbi Ed Feinstein discusses the most extraordinary spiritual personalities the Jewish people ever produced were the Biblical prophets. Their words are eternal, most especially in moments of collective crisis. Rabbi Feinstein is senior rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California. He serves on the faculty of the Ziegler Rabbinical School of the American Jewish University, the Wexner Heritage Program, the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and lectures widely across the United States. This event took place on August 5, 2020 via Zoom as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Navigating the Mahzor - Class 1

August 5th, 2020  |  1 hr 14 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 5, 2020 as part of the Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program presented by Temple Beth Am Los Angeles.

Elul Study: How the Shofar Wakes Us Up

August 4th, 2020  |  50 mins 35 secs

Abigail Pogrebin explores an Elul practice that grabs us by the throat and asks us whether we’re living a life we’re proud of. Hosted by Rabbi Rebecca Schatz at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles via Zoom on August 4, 2020 as part of Temple Beth Am's Elul+ Pre-Tishre study program.