Tehillah Talks

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: What strong means What strength looks like Whether we need to be strong because of a perception of weakness Moral characteristics that typically accompany physical strength How characteristics of strength emerge in a community setting The strengths of mothers Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome w...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: A brief recap of the story of Purim What courage and insecurity look like How personal fear plays into the Purim story How Esther’s actions give her courage Power and responsibility How to confront fear and move forward Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome wherever they or their families find them...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: Expectations for the year ahead Who we are and how our surroundings shaped us How our family stories have impacted us Whether connectedness to others is a lost value How we can reinvigorate connectedness as a value Small actions that lead to connections Being together as a better way The importance of meaningful conversations Learn more about our comm...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: Why we always go back to the beginning How two stories of creation give us tools The value of multiplicity of views Reset opportunities in life How are text teaches us adaptability Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome wherever they or their families find themselves on their Jewish journey, inclusi...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: How the words of Samuel resonate with us today Qualities of a good leader The impact of poor communication from leaders How to create positive change Why it’s so hard to be a good leader How we choose leaders Who we admire as leaders Our thoughts about leading from behind Best models of leadership How to influence people to see and hear one another Le...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: How community is a Jewish value The tension between individualism and community Working collaboratively vs. individually Having a sense of shared responsibility Family as the center of our circles of community Tools to support and engage with community How community supports us in times of need Creating community Learn more about our community that is...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: How people stick together during times of trauma What our collective story teaches us about unexpected obstacles Tools and resources we access to get us through challenging times How showing up makes all the difference Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome wherever they or their families find thems...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: Why we read the Torah in cycles The value of hearing stories over and over The importance of structure in our lives How we respond to the repetition of specific stories Finding anchors as we begin the New Year Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome wherever they or their families find themselves on...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: How we respond to rules and regulations What we should do with inexplicable rules How stories impact our responses to rules What helps us prepare for transitions Where it makes sense to be granular vs. open about rules How the Torah and the Talmud serve as a blueprint for the interaction of stories and rules How rules help us navigate transitions, int...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: Being in a heated conversation, what happens when you really listen? If you don’t know someone who disagrees with you, how do you find respect for them? How easy is it to hear other people’s stories? How hard is it to find commonality with someone with whom you disagree? What it means to be taught how to compromise How we can get out of our corners Le...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: What is love? Can you command someone to love? How easy is it to love your neighbor as yourself? The challenges and benefits of connecting being a stranger in a strange land with loving your neighbor How looking at love as paying attention changes the transaction and focus How breaking bread with strangers can build connections Learn more about our co...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: How can you command people to listen What it takes to listen to and hear another person’s voice How God’s unity helps us listen to people we don’t agree with How to discern the biases in someone else’s viewpoint Using the Sh’ma as a context for listening to the world Taking time to listen before we talk Learn more about our community that is committed...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: Why it matters to tell the story on Passover The desire to remember the story of the Holocaust and to forget it How objects connect us to story Our connections to our family stories How stories change as we reread them over time What stories may obligate us to do Story as a way in Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in w...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: Dressing in ridiculous costumes What roots us in our identity The tension between our public and private identity How to get beyond judgments that are based on appearance How to keep going forward in challenging times Fear vs. solidarity in response to a threat What holds us up during difficult moments Learn more about our community that is committed...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: The definition of the word genesis Where we are in our own personal formation journey How the Joseph narrative may relate to our own transitions How we find a good starting point for something new How to find the positive amid negative messaging Communities we can turn to when we are feeling overwhelmed or struggling What we are grateful for that supp...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: What does it mean to be a good person? Should we give Noah a bad rap? What does it take to get out of our places of comfort? Are we being trained to think before we act? What can we do differently to build positive impact? Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome wherever they or their families find t...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: Why we have to mark beginnings Why we start with the same texts and stories at the beginning of every year How we highlight the importance of beginnings Our wishes for the New Year Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome wherever they or their families find themselves on their Jewish journey, inclusi...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss: Why the environment has lost attention Learning about long-term impact The way values about our land are embedded in our Jewish texts How can we focus more on the communal and less on the individual How can we create a sense of urgency with the environment How can we make choices for the future where the environment fits in Learn more about our commun...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we speak about what Anti-Semitism means as a young person today. We discuss: What Anti-Semitism demands of us in relation to other groups under attack How we tell the story of Ant-Semitism without blinding ourselves to the suffering of others How our laws are embedded in our story, giving empathy a voice   Learn more about our community that is committed to...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we speak about what Anti-Semitism means as a young person today. We discuss: What Anti-Semitism means from the vantage point of a 15- to 20-year-old The kinds of incidents we see and experience The connection between reactions to Israel policy and anti-Semitism How our laws are embedded in our story, giving empathy a voice   Learn more about our community th...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we speak about how hard blessings are to offer and receive. We discuss: Marking endings and beginnings How the notion of blessings can be a source of empowerment How we feel when we receive blessings Being taught how to speak up for ourselves Aligning our inner sense of self with how we are seen   Learn more about our community that is committed to an enviro...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss the connection between gratitude and: Prayer Food Thanksgiving How others benefit us Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome wherever they or their families find themselves on their Jewish journey, inclusive of any age, race, orientation, gender identity, ability and economic status at www.congregatio...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we explore transitions. We discuss: What it’s like to enter a new place What tools we have to ease the stresses of transition Adapting to new ways of working and living Whether change is a good thing How we can keep moving forward in the face of obstacles Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome wherever they or...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss part two of our reflections of the last year. We discuss: What the year ahead will look like What will help us get through the next year How we have changed – or not Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome wherever they or their families find themselves on their Jewish journey, inclusive of any age, r...

In this episode of Tehillah Talks, we discuss part one of our reflections of the last year. We discuss: Adapting the Biblical parallels to a new reality Changing social dynamics Our very personal experiences of the last year Learn more about our community that is committed to an environment in which all are welcome wherever they or their families find themselves on their Jewish journey, inclusive...