The Clergy Suite Podcast by Temple Isaiah

Jewish tradition teaches “Who is rich?” and the answer is simple, “Those who rejoice in their own portion.” (Pirke Avot 4:1) Yet, many of us struggle, daily, to find words of appreciation for all that we have. In Psalm 92, we are invited to thank God in the morning – to praise God’s lovingkindness (chesed) – and then again in the evening with thanks for God’s faithfulness (emunah). How often do we...

Rob, Dara and Joel exchange thoughts on how to live a life of faith, purpose and meaning in the 21st century. This conversation was part of our Installation weekend celebration. Rob Bell is an American author, speaker and former pastor. Bell was the founder of Mars Hill Bible Church located in Grandville, Michigan, which he pastored until 2012. He is also the author of the New York Times bestselle...

Rob Bell is an American author, speaker and former pastor. Bell was the founder of Mars Hill Bible Church located in Grandville, Michigan, which he pastored until 2012. He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller Love Wins and the writer and narrator of a series of spiritual short films called NOOMA. In 2011, Time Magazine named Bell on its list of the 100 Most Influential People in the...

Catastrophe Parenting deals with parents who get emotional or anxious in almost every situation so that every event is one level of catastrophe or another. We will learn how to climb down from that ladder. The question and answer section of the conversation starts at 36:18 mark. About Tamar: Tamar Andrews, EdD, began her tenure as our Preschool Director in 2003. She is a national and international...

The word “Jew” has been maligned by anti-Semites over the centuries, and we are seeing increasing antisemitism in our world. It is time to remember what the word “Jew” really stands for, and to take back our beautiful, powerful, purposeful name. Rabbi Zoë delivered this sermon on Kol Nidre, 2015.

Thea Brodkin from the League of Women Voters presents pro/con arguments for Propositions 1-6 and 10. Thanks to Janet Hirsch, VP of Community Affairs for Temple Isaiah, for arranging this session and for leading this year’s social justice efforts to create a more informed and engaged base of voters throughout Los Angeles. Note: After presenting on each proposition, Thea pauses to allow congregants...

Rashi, an 11th century Torah commentator, lays out the two sides of the Noah debate: There are those among the sages who view Noah positively. Certainly, had he been living in a generation of just individuals, he would have been more just. And, yet, others view him negatively. Had he been living in the generation of Abraham he would have been considered worthless. In other words, either we’re stat...

Excerpts from one of the Great American Speeches, Anna Howard Shaw’s 1915 Suffragette Speech “Fundamental Principles of a Republic” In honor of the upcoming midterm elections, Rabbi Zoe K M shares excerpts from a fiery suffragette speech through which we may reflect how far we have come, and how far we have yet to go.

When gender-based violence is considered a “women’s issue” instead of a “men’s issue,” we all lose. Link to Jackson Katz Ted Talk:

In the emotional wake of the Ford-Kavanaugh hearings, Rabbi Frimmer shifts our focus from self to other, and offers the Lens of Sukkot to help us see those who live with impermanence, vulnerability, fragility, and exposure 24-7-365. Thanks to activist Dove Kent and congregant Jennifer Yashari for inspiring this post.

Rep. Ted Lieu (Congressman for California’s 33rd District)talks about his ongoing efforts to restrict the use of nuclear weapons, limit the US military’s role in Yemen, and eliminate the money bail system. He then answers questions from Rabbi Frimmer and the Isaiah community addressing immigration, Citizens United, Israel and Brett Kavanaugh. This talk took place at Royce Hall in between the Yom K...

Co-Senior Rabbis Nickerson and Frimmer upend the traditional model of Yom Kippur sermons by inviting the Isaiah community to study together the story of Cain and Abel. [Genesis 4:1-16] Thank you to all our congregants who participated and shared their voices and interpretations.

Using excerpts from childhood, Talmud, and philosopher Martha Nussbaum, Rabbi Nickerson argues that unchecked fear will either paralyze or tear us apart. It turns out, the antidote to 21st century fear is a 5000 year old tradition that promotes membership in a tribe, and the powerful rituals we practice to affirm and enforce the values of hope and wholeness.

Rabbi Dara Frimmer shares a provocative and timely teaching in the name of Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, who first taught this idea during Hartman's Rabbinic Holiday Webinar, August 27, 2018. What if "sinners" are required for us to build 'true' community and to successfully elevate our prayers to God? Video of Dr. Kurtzer's full teaching for rabbi...

Patterns in Flux. Rabbi Zoë Klein Miles shares her Rosh Hashanah 5779 sermon, the key to artful living is to be able to dance with change. This year Rabbi Klein Miles transitioned from Senior Rabbi to Interim Religious School Director, and shares her personal experience of major change, and the deeper goal of Jewish education, to know who you are.

Rabbi Dara Frimmer delivers her Erev Rosh Hashanah sermon at Royce Hall (UCLA) on September 9, 2018. "Temple Isaiah is uniquely suited to help you respond to the 'urgency of now,' and, at the same time, we are experts in the long game. That’s one of the political strengths of being a minority. We’ve been navigating and surviving different administrations for thousands of years, and we’re still her...

Christianity has long derided Judaism for being obsessed with law, claiming that love of Jesus replaces law, and that the teachings of the gospel replace the commandments of the Old Testament. However, as the Me Too movement meets the Catholic Church, and it is revealed how complicit church leadership is in employing and protecting sexual predators, it is time to reestablish the importance of law.

Rabbis Frimmer, Nickerson, Klein Miles and Cantor Coyot discuss the making of the first-ever, Yom Kippur Yizkor video. The clergy discuss the origin of the idea, who signed up to share memories of their loved ones, and what Jewish tradition offers to help us mourn and remember.

How do we choose to move away from our fears and towards communal hope? Reflections on Martha Nussbaum's latest book.

We’ve forgotten what it’s like to travel with allies without google maps calling out our next turn and giving us an estimated time for arrival. We’ve forgotten the importance of flexibility - being willing to use the tools and resources we have in the moment - the skills we are learning as we do the work -- and making decisions in real time as to what is required and how we want to act. The poet A...

[Short & Sweet] Israel: Rabbi Dara Frimmer by Temple Isaiah

[Short & Sweet] Finding Your Authentic Self: Rabbi Joel Nickerson by Temple Isaiah

[Short & Sweet] Modern Take on Kashrut: Cantor Tifani Coyot by Temple Isaiah

[Short & Sweet] Holding on and Letting Go: Rabbi Zoë Klein Miles by Temple Isaiah

[Short & Sweet] Catastrophe Parenting: Tamar Andrews by Temple Isaiah