Kol Jeshurun

“Back in elementary school, I didn’t know how to own my differences – I hid from what I now know are actually my superpowers.” Join author Sadie Gewirtz for her book launch, in conversation with Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman.

Cantor Beth Reinstein explores the connections between the festival of Shavuot through the lens of the Shofarot liturgy from Rosh Hashanah. Tying together song and spoken word, Cantor Reinstein invokes the call of the shofar to ask us what Torah we need to hear as we celebrate Divine revelation for Shavuot.

In a powerful and refreshing take on the golden rule, Rabbi Hannah M. Ellenson does not demand we resolve or solve everything, only see humanity in each of us; listen, care, and affirm the image of God, even when difficult to see.

Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein explores the role of fire to welcome Shabbat, how to tend it, and how it can destroy. Fire is not one thing and is never neutral in Torah nor in our lives. It is in this tension of safety, danger, and calling with consequence that our tradition lives asking how to tend to the shared fire. Cantor Fishbein sings Yih'yu L'ratzon by Michelle Citrin accompanied by the TBJ Band.

Rabbi Pesner preaches at TBJ about how to together create a world as it should be, one overflowing with social justice where love drives out hate and light drives out darkness. Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner serves as the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and as senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism. Named one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek ma...

Dr. David Jefferson Jr. is the Director of the Center for Africana Studies at Kean University and a professor of religion and philosophy. An ordained minister and widely respected speaker, his work explores faith, culture, and social responsibility through multiple lenses. Listen to Dr. Jefferson's sermon about how it's good to be in the picture and how to stay in the picture. Emphasizing you are...

Naamah Kelman-Ezrachi is an American-born Israeli Reform rabbi who was named as Dean of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion campus in Jerusalem starting in July 2009. In 1992, Kelman made history as the first woman in Israel to become a rabbi when she received her rabbinic ordination. In this inspiring episode Rabbi Kelman’s sermon calls for a “divinity that is renewed and renewi...

Rabbi Hannah Ellenson speaks on a covenant that ties generations together. One that is defiant in the face of injustice with acts of moral courage. One where leadership is meeting God, trusting in moments both filled with fear and courage.

Rabbi Hannah Ellenson explores what a meaningful Chanukah may be, inviting us to rededicate ourselves to open the gates of justice, holiness, and kindness wide for all who want to enter.

A TBJ Tradition of Homecoming Shabbat on Thanksgiving weekend features Zach Rosen and Jordyn Lipkin. Listen as they share what life is like now as Jewish students at Cornell University and the University of Maryland. Through their experience, we encounter a modern theater of anti-Semitism. Listen and discover their courage, hope, and strength. Elevating their Jewish identity on campus, while playi...

This episode is Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz's first sermon of an upcoming series on AI. Looking deeply into the the ethical, existential and spiritual puzzle brought by AI, Rabbi Gewirtz highlights the need for us, the creator of these machines and technology, to maintain our access to ourselves and the depths of our souls.

Rabbi Hannah Ellenson’s November 14, 2025 sermon calls for us to all celebrate life and bring a better reality into being. We are to be open to another side of the story that may have been hidden from our view. We watch as brothers reunite against the odds being stacked against them in this refreshing account of the story of Isaac and Ishmael.

A service of memory and hope in the wake of October 7th as we mark the somber 2 year anniversary of that dark day with prayer and music. Originally aired Erev Shabbat - October 10, 2025

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz's Rosh Hashana Morning Sermon September 22nd, 2025 ~ 5786

Mark Gerson is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, author and the co-founder and Chairman of United Hatzalah, the crowd-sourced network of volunteer medics that save people’s lives in the two minutes that separate life from death. On September 12, 2025, he joined us at TBJ to teach about his new book "God Was Right: How Modern Social Science Proves the Torah Is True."

Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman proclaims 5786 here we come.

Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein tenderly leads "Tree of Life" by Nefesh Mountain while Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz shares of his most recent trip to Israel. Sermon: Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz Music & lyrics by Nefesh Mountain - sung by Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein & Matt Turk, Music Director Originally broadcast - Erev Shabbat 8/1/25 Theme Music & Production by Matt Turk

TBJ Alum and Coordinator of Chapter Engagement and Strategy at Israel Policy Forum, Rebecca Mandelbaum shares her profound insight on her trip to Auschwitz this spring, her work in Israel advocacy and conflict resolution, and how she holds on to hope during uncertain times. A bit about Rebecca: Rebecca Mandelbaum is IPF Atid Coordinator of Chapter Engagement and Strategy. She received her bachelor...

In a world overwhelmed by hardship and division, the story of Balaam reminds us that wisdom, holiness, and the power to bless can come from unexpected places—even outside our own community—and that by staying open and attentive, we can bring more goodness and peace into our lives and to our world. Rabbi Hannah Ellenson shares her thoughts about this week's Torah portion - Balak.

Rabbi Perolman reflects on how Judaism models that a loving relationship spurs us to action.

Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman offers her reflections on Parshat Sh'lach Lecha and how we manage our fear during these unprecedented and uncertain times. Originally aired Erev Shabbat - June 20th, 2025

“Yatzah MiMitzrayim by Elana Arian and Noah Aronson” sung by Cantor Lucy Fishbein and Matt Turk. Original theme music by Matt Turk. As we approach the end of the Passover holiday, listen as Cantor Lucy Fishbein shares about the time honored Passover tradition that in every generation each of us should imagine that we ourselves experienced the exodus from Egypt.

Rabbi Karen Perolman's inspired sermon begins with Jonathan Larson's infamous rock musical quote: "The opposite of war isn't peace...it's Creation!" Originally aired March 28, 2025.

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz' sermon takes light from TBJ children's wisdom to his recent mission to Kibbutzim Nir Oz and Erez, meeting with freed Israeli hostages, being in chance proximity to a terror attack, approaching wholeness in Jerusalem and finding the compelling need for healing and completion of this stage of the October 7th war.

More of "Nobody Wants This!" Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman and Lauren Rutkin (who happens to be married to TBJ's Senior Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz) sit down to discuss more about the hit Netflix show-- what rang true, what was over the top, and what they hope to see in Season 2.