The Clergy Suite Podcast by Temple Isaiah

Rabbi Frimmer and Klein Miles look back on Temple Isaiah's High Holy Day services: Favorite moments, surprising twists and turns, majestic melodies, and congregant feedback. Follow this link on our website to read/watch/listen to all of our High Holy Day sermons: http://templeisaiah.com/High-Holy-Day-Sermons.php

Bill McKibben shows us again why "Foreign Policy named him to their inaugural list of the world’s 100 most valuable global thinkers." He poignantly presented the results of time lost, embraced the political tools we have to influence decision makers, but said that was not enough. He is now working to develop enhanced financial strategies for all of us to use to accelerate the transition to renewab...

Sam Surloff shares his experience of Isaiah clergy in the wake of tragedy following the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre on October 27, 2018.

Rabbi Frimmer and Klein Miles discuss Isaiah's new initiative: #beingisaian Shabbat. How can Shabbat dinner build stronger relationships and new connections throughout the Isaiah community? What obstacles keep us from hosting or inviting new people to our table? Thank you to everyone who signed up to host, or be hosted, on November 1, 2019. Our next #beingisaian Shabbat is scheduled for Friday, Ap...

You’ve seen movies in which characters go back in time and are told, “Don’t disturb a single thing. If you even step on an ant you alter the whole continuum of time. Agitate anything and you initiate a trajectory of change. Every little thing you do disrupts the story and has an immense impact on the future.” Well, we are the emissaries sent from the dream-of future of our ancestors, and every sma...

Rabbi Frimmer invites the community of Isaiah to build a Jewish home at the intersection of obligation and choice.

Rabbi Zoe shares the story of her father’s 100-edition print “Abraham”. An art dealer took the edition to Europe to sell, and disappeared. 47 years later, after the art dealer’s death, his children found 87 “Abraham” prints in their attic and decide to correct one of their father’s transgressions.

We know about the Evil Eye, but could we exercise its antidote, the Good Eye, to change the way we see others and ourselves?

Noting historic tensions for the Jews as they move between strength and vulnerability, Rabbi Frimmer explores topics of antisemitism and immigration. “We are not stuck in a story of hate. We are the authors of the most ancient and inspiring story of liberation. A story that reminds us that transformation is possible. That slaves can become liberators. That weakness is a touchpoint for strength.”

From culinary queries to the serious work of forgiveness, Isaiah's clergy team answer your questions as we prepare for the start of the High Holy Days.

Rabbis Frimmer and Klein Miles discuss the process of preparing to write High Holy Day Sermons. Where do the ideas come from? When do you start to write? What do you think the audience wants to hear? The pressure is on as the days count down to Rosh Hashanah!

Isaiah clergy explore the themes, music and practice of Yizkor. What is this mysterious memorial service embedded in Isaiah's Yom Kippur service between mincha and ne’ilah? How does Isaiah approach the obligation to remember? Background: Originally, Yizkor was recited only on Yom Kippur. Its primary purpose was to honor the deceased by committing to giving tzedakah [charity] in their memory, on th...

The question of “What will keep the Jews safe?” has been on the minds of every Jew for thousands of years. No matter the promises of Enlightenment and the celebration of citizenship, Jews were never 100% certain that antisemitism was over. No longer do we argue, “IS anti-Semitism still present?” Now, we spend our time debating: How bad is it? Who is most responsible for it? Can it ever be defeated...

Temple Isaiah's clergy reflect on the musical traditions and selections of the High Holy Days, and, in particular, the choices we make for Temple Isaiah. Which melodies make our members feel comfortable? Which ones create spiritual disruption? Get the insider's look at preparing and selecting the sounds of the season. For members of Isaiah: Consider joining one of our many High Holy Day choirs (ad...

Rabbis Frimmer, Cohen and Cantor Coyot, aspiring to fulfill the Jewish people's ancient moniker, "The People of the Book", discuss the books they are currently reading in preparation for the High Holy Days. As we anticipate asking God to write us into the Book of Life for the New Year, Isaiah clergy share highlights from a few books that might guide us in a process of personal and communal cheshbo...

Rabbis Frimmer, Klein Miles, Cohen and Cantor Coyot discuss the Jewish tradition's commitment to spiritual preparation in advance of the New Year. Isaiah clergy offer personal anecdotes and practical suggestions for congregants of all ages including book recommendations, conversation starters, the use of rituals like shofar and mikvah, and reviewing your calendar from the past year. The month of E...

Rabbis Frimmer and Timoner come together for one more conversation after an evening conversation with Tal Becker and Yossi Klein Halevi, Senior Fellows at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. How can Progressive Zionists use power in a world in which powerlessness is seen as more moral? How do we close the gap between Diaspora and Israeli Jews when it comes to radically different answers to...

Each time the Jewish people have entered the land of Israel, from ancient times until now, there is a turning point in our collective history and identity. There is an unintended rupture within the community of Clal Yisrael: If Israel is now our home, what do we call the land outside of Israel in which Jews live? If Peoplehood is reborn in the land, by what name do we call our People who live outs...

Listen to the inspirational story of five biblical women known as Tzelafchad’s daughters. They act according to Jewish values: they speak out against injustice, teach us that Judaism must evolve, and preserve the legacy of their father.

Rabbi Dara Frimmer and Rabbi Rachel Timoner discuss Jewish Identity Politics and the conflicting, and seemingly contradictory, experiences of being both vulnerable and powerful. How does the historical (and contemporary) Jewish experience of trauma and oppression as a minority group make us stronger allies in the fight for justice? How does our power/privilege complicate our efforts to join coalit...

Rabbi Dara Frimmer and Temple Isaiah’s Emeritus Cantor, Evan Kent, sit down in Jerusalem for a pre-Shabbat talk about life-after-aliyah, Israeli politics, Jewish identity and (feral) cats. Thanks to everyone who shared their questions online. Dara is going to Israel in January, 2020. Hear Rabbi Josh Weinberg talk Israel election results from April 9, 2019. Evan's Website. SoundCloud Links: Hear Ra...

From an Airbnb kitchen in Jerusalem, Rabbi Frimmer shares a Clergy Suite conversation with her friend and colleague, Rabbi Rachel Timoner. Reflecting on the theme of Peoplehood and the recent teachings by Dr. Elana Stein Hain, Scholar in Residence and Director of Faculty at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, Rabbis Frimmer and Timoner discuss inclusion, opting-out, the necessity of reb...

The Clergy Suite's final episode of Season 1 explores the simple and provocative question: How's Your Heart? Taken from Omid Safi's article, The Disease of Being Busy, Safi writes: In many Muslim cultures, when you want to ask them how they’re doing, you ask: in Arabic, Kayf haal-ik? or, in Persian, Haal-e shomaa chetoreh? In reality, we ask, “How is your heart doing at this very moment, at this b...

Rabbis Frimmer and Klein Miles discuss a provocative article from The New York Jewish Week, “20 Years In The Rabbinate: ‘They Didn’t Teach Me This In Rabbinical School’”, about the state of synagogues, rabbinic leadership and the ever-changing and challenging nature of Jewish communities. Tune in to hear what Isaiah clergy learned (and missed out on) in rabbinical school. Why do people join Isaiah...

Rabbi Meyer delivers an inspiring and informative D'var Torah about the work of HIAS and the current crisis of policy, placement and discrimination facing refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants. What is the Jewish-American response to fear? Who do we want to be? Q & A from the community follows. Rabbi Meyer currently serves as Rabbi-in-Residence at HIAS, where she develops educational materials,...