The Beth El Podcast Network

Send us Fan Mail In case you missed it or wanted to share, here is Rabbi Steven Schwartz's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. (February 1, 2025)

Send us Fan Mail NEW Podcast Alert - Havdalah Happy Hour on the Beth El Podcast Network! It’s finally here—the long-awaited Pizza Dipping Sauce Debate! Marinara, ranch, buffalo, or something more adventurous? The Havdalah Happy Hour crew is weighing in on the ultimate dipping sauce showdown. Will there be a consensus, or will this be the debate that divides us forever? A huge thank you to Tov Pizz...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Rabbis Schwartz and Saroken dive into Parashat Bo as we continue through the Book of Exodus. Locusts, darkness, and more—this portion is packed with drama! But beyond the plagues, we’re reminded of something deeper: No one gets left behind. We take care of each other because everyone matters. Resilience isn’t built overnight. Life isn’t always easy, and we all need supp...

Send us Fan Mail In case you missed it or wanted to share, here is Rabbi Naomi Zaslow's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. (January 25, 2025)

Send us Fan Mail Remember when you could call a phone number to get the weather or the exact time? We reminisce about those simpler days while diving into some unexpected weather stories, like cold and snow in places where it never snows. We’ll also discuss how Shabbat start times affect our routines and our lives—because, let’s face it, trying to squeeze in errands before candle lighting can be a...

Send us Fan Mail This week Rabbis Schwartz and Saroken dive into Parashat Va'era from the Book of Exodus. Join us as we explore the first plagues, Moses' courage in confronting Pharaoh, and how history shapes our resilience during tough times.

Send us Fan Mail In case you missed it or wanted to share, here is Rabbi Dana Saroken's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. (January 18, 2025) During her weekly, Shabbat sermon, Rabbi Dana Saroken shared her recent experience in Israel. Rabbi Saroken served as a mentor in a fellowship that brought together rabbinical students from Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox movements.

Send us Fan Mail This week on Havdalah Happy Hour , things get a little... suspicious. Emily recounts a strange phone call from the FBI? We dive into the world of scams—how they’ve evolved and why they’re so convincing.  Also, home phones: who still has one, and are they making a retro comeback or just holding on for dear life? Plus, we reflect on how deeply we rely on the internet in our day-to-d...

Send us Fan Mail Get to know Paul Cooper and his family as we learn about Alex Cooper Auctioneers and their four generations of leadership in our community. This is the centennial year for this thriving family business that has a long-time connection to the Beth El community.

Send us Fan Mail  Rabbi Steven Schwartz's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. (January 11, 2025)

Send us Fan Mail The moms are back! Amanda, Lacey, Jill, and Risa return from winter break with stories galore. Plus, a special guest joins the conversation. Tune in as the Kvetch & Co. squad kicks off the new year in true mom fashion.

Send us Fan Mail After a brief winter hiatus, Ben, Jill, Jeremy and Emily return to the mic with plenty to share! In this episode, we recap our winter vacations, swapping stories about air travel, adventure, and everything in between. We also dig into the aftermath of the recent snowstorm that blanketed Baltimore – from shoveling struggles to snow day surprises. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Havd...

Send us Fan Mail Don't miss this week's discussion on Parashat Vayechi with Rabbi Schwartz and Ben Kreshtool. Together, they’ll explore the powerful conclusion of the Book of Genesis. Tune in and join the conversation!

Send us Fan Mail In case you missed it or want to share, here is our Clergy Talk from this past Shabbat at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore.

Send us Fan Mail Ben, Jill and Emily are back for another episode. Esti is filling in for Jeremy who is away for his winter break in Florida! We do the great latke tasting, or more accurate, latke TOPPING tasting and talk about our favorite flavors! And of course, there are new Shondas to talk about this week. 

Send us Fan Mail This week, Rabbi Schwartz and Rabbi Saroken explore Parashat Vayeshev, offering valuable insights into human nature, sibling rivalry and reminding us of the importance of personal growth and resilience.

Send us Fan Mail Beth El Congregation presents My Story with Dr. Ed Mishner and Dr. Michael Schultz.  Get to know Dr. Michael Schultz, a well-known general surgeon with over 53 years of experience in the field of medicine. Learn about his career, his family and his connection to Beth El and our community. Dr. Schultz will be interviewed by Dr. Ed Mishner, past president of Beth El.

Send us Fan Mail Ben, Jill, Jeremy, and Emily are back for another episode! Ben shares an unexpected surprise that landed in his mailbox—spoiler alert: it’s not what you’d think. We also swap winter break travel plans and discuss the importance of working windshield wipers.  And, as always, we wrap things up with our Shonda of the Week —the juiciest bit of drama you don’t want to miss!  Pour yours...

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Schwartz and Rabbi Saroken are back to explore Parashat Vayishlach , highlighting the themes of reconciliation, forgiveness, and personal growth. This week we discuss the complexities of family dynamics and the power of redemption. 

Send us Fan Mail The Rabbi Mark G.Loeb Center hosted another wonderful My Story event. We all had the pleasure to meet and get to know past Beth El Congregation presidents Alan Dorenfeld and John Abosch.  Not only are they long time Beth El members, but they have held other congregational positions, are long time friends, vacation together with spouses, maintain strong family ties to Beth El and h...

Send us Fan Mail In case you missed it or want to share, here is our Clergy Talk from this past Shabbat at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. Rabbi Steven Schwartz and Rabbi Dana Saroken are joined by Bennett Decker, our Jewish Theological Seminary Student Ambassador. 

Send us Fan Mail Ben, Jill, Jeremy, and Emily are back to dish on their Thanksgiving highlights. Emily's family shook up tradition with a new addition to her Thanksgiving feast. Jill shares an update on her TMJ journey and the group swaps dentist chair stories. Plus, don’t miss our Shonda of the Week segment where we uncover the latest jaw-dropping drama. Tune in for laughs and plenty of kvet...

Send us Fan Mail Jumping into Genesis! Rabbi Scharwtz and Rabbi Saroken are back to explore Parashat Vayetze,  highlighting the themes of deception, betrayal, love, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Is Jacob the most complicated and complex character that we read about? We also touch on Thanksgiving in Israel with turkey and cranberries?

Send us Fan Mail "Judaism tells us who we should be. Who are we supposed to be as human beings? And one of the things it teaches us is that we are all responsible..." In case you missed it or want to share, here is Rabbi Steven Schwartz's sermon from this past Shabbat at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. 

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Saroken, Ben Kreshtool, and Cantor Emily Ellentuck are back to explore Toldot. Isaac and Rebecca's prayers are finally answered and after a difficult pregnancy, two children are born.  This week we discuss the unique personalities of siblings, highlighting how their differences can shape family dynamics. We also reflect the challenges parents face in raising children an...