The Kehillah RVA Podcast

The results of our community survey are in, and there are many ways you can make Kehillah MORE of what you need it to be. Yes -- this podcast episode has a lot of asks in it. But they are all fun. Wish Kehillah was closer to you? Host a Shabbat (we pay for food, setup, cleanup -- all of is) Wish there were more groups that you can connect with? Start one! Info is on the website. And also, we need...

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Rabbi Patrick explores a different path through our nation's political and cultural divisions: Radical Pragmatism . Drawing on the wisdom of Yitro's advice to Moses, and the daughters of Zelophehad, this episode argues that Judaism offers a model for solving problems practical action rather than ideological certainty. What might happen if we focu...

Why do people return to unhealthy relationships, destructive habits, or situations they worked so hard to escape? And why does Rabbi Patrick watch Halloween commercials from 1988? In this episode of the Kehillah Podcast, Rabbi Patrick explores the phenomenon of false nostalgia through the lens of the Torah's wilderness narratives. Topics include:  Why the Israelites repeatedly wanted to retur...

This is an announcement 📣  a lot of great opportunities to connect, to volunteer and to donate to your Jewish community. Details in the episode. Links below:   JCC Pride Shabbat Service with Kehillah, Or Atid & NextGen (Richmond)  Fri Jun 12, 2026 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM | Weinstein JCC, 23226 Shabbat Learning and Brunch at Second Arrow (Church Hill)  Sat Jun 13, 2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Second A...

In this episode, Rabbi Patrick explores a provocative question: What do we owe ourselves? Drawing from the Book of Genesis and Johann Hari’s book Lost Connections, we explore whether many of our struggles stem from something deeper than stress or busyness—a loss of our humanity itself. This includes asking ourselves some deep questions like: What does it mean to be created in the image of God? How...

Repeat after me: converting to Judaism is not joining a religion. (Or at least, it’s MORE than joining a religion.) Judaism is a peoplehood, and becoming Jewish is about being brought into that peoplehood. And the peoplehood, well, they certainly know how to people! LOL In this part II episode on converting to Judaism, Rabbi Patrick talks about all the things they DON’T talk to you about in your J...

Shavuot starts this Thursday evening, and in the spirit of all night Jewish learning, we thought we’d offer something unique — a kind of Ask the Rabbi Anything . Questions include: The theology behind Jewish humor (HE HAD A HAT!) Why Jews got into the entertainment industry Dealing with chronic illness Jewishly Rabbi’s favorite holidays and why (Make Simchat Torah Great Again) Yitzhak Rabin and pr...

What happens when life gets in the way of doing the right thing at the right time? And what happens when “second chances” go too far? From ancient ritual law to modern community life, this episode unpacks a core tension: responsibility vs. reality. UPCOMING EVENTS See you for Shavuot! Marking both the harvest festival and the giving of the Ten Commandments, it'll feature an interactive storyt...

For ancient people, words had material power. Today, communication is the greatest form of world currency. Let's tie all that together, along with a beginners guide to arguing the holiest way possible. Follow along here: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/241948?lang=bi Donate to support Kehillah: https://kehillahrva.org/donate/ Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show S...

Tiktok is garbage and influencers are just that...influence peddlers. How about we trust people we actually can know, especially about Israeli and Palestinian issues? Here are six people Rabbi Patrick trusts -- including three locals -- because relationships are the heart of learning. https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyGilShusterAskProject https://www.yelp.com/biz/jerusalem-market-and-deli-richmond htt...

Another round of Kehillah questions answered, inspired by the 80 people (!!!) we had for Passover and the questions I was asked before or during seder. This includes, but is not limited to: Why does God kill the Angel of Death in Chad Gadyah? (thanks Eitan K.!) Are you/is Kehillah Zionist? ("thanks" Reddit!) And who cooked this food? (thanks everyone else!) Kol hakavod to all our volunte...

DOUBLE CHAI! Episode 36 has Rabbi Patrick rambling about Passover... How to kasher a kitchen when your family members have multiple, competing opinions about what is kosher or not The pro/con on going to a community seder or hosting your own What do they do? Rabbi answers questions about how his family observes the holiday And some notes about kitniyot, pizza, RSVPs, Kehillah recipes, aluminum foi...

Get the inside secrets on what it's REALLY like to be a rabbi. • What “work” means when your job is community   • Coffee with the rabbi as pastoral care and first contact   • Protecting lunch time, health, and sustainable boundaries   • Shabbat prep realities, hosting at home, and security logistics   • Volunteer culture, delegation, and learning to say "I need help" • Unexpected ca...

Avi Remetz is the Director of Philanthropy and Engagement for Next Gen, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond’s initiative for young adults to connect, lead, and make an impact. They bring together individuals in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s to build meaningful relationships, strengthen Jewish identity, and create a vibrant future for our community.  Reach out to Avi: ARemetz@jewishrichmond...

“Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal position for just such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) What if where you are right now isn’t accidental? What if this moment — complicated, uncomfortable, demanding — is precisely the one you’re meant to step into? The conversation begins with the surprising parallels between Inglourious Basterds and the Book of Esther — and a cute story about Rabbi and Re...

In this episode, Rabbi Patrick speaks directly to those who feel hurt, betrayed, or disillusioned by famous Jewish men in the news — whether in politics, philanthropy, or Jewish communal life. The rise of antisemitism online is, in some part, caused by their actions. And we the innocent are paying the price for it. Drawing from the Prophet Amos, the story of Eli the High Priest, and even Battlesta...

Regretfully the audio from this recording was messed up. We chose to publish it anyway, because this interview is just too fun. If you'd like to help us, we could really use someone who likes audio and video production. Volunteer by emailing rabbi@rabbipatrick.com -- free tickets to events for your help! Meet the Rabbi's Kid! Javon is Rabbi Patrick and Rebbetzin Stefanie's son, who...

Take a journey through the inner world of your soul and the outer world of the earth. Welcome to Tu Bishvat -- an obscure holiday made living through kabbalistic teaching. In this episode, Rabbi Patrick guides you through one (of many) approaches to Tu Bishvat, and asks important questions about how the skills we have learned to survive may not be the skills we need to thrive. And yes, there is fr...

From Ashton’s experiences working with children with special needs and navigating higher education, to Nick’s path through mechanics, military service, and spiritual reflection, explore with our Kehillah friends in this podcast takeover how their backgrounds, passions, and personalities shape the way they approach life. Along the way, they reflect on leadership, responsibility, and integrity—askin...

Are you tired of being forced to "pick a side"? In a world that feels increasingly polarized—Red vs. Blue, Us vs. Them—we often feel trapped in a binary that doesn’t actually fit our reality. In this episode of the Kehillah RVA podcast, we explore the life-changing power of believing that when two things are true at once, a third way is needed. 🧵 The "Third Way" of Thinking Dr...

In this podcast, we challenge both the Americanized “Hanukkah as Jewish Christmas” approach and the backlash against it...Because Hanukkah’s story is far more complicated than either side admits. Hanukkah is ultimately a blend of civil war memory, Temple rededication, rabbinic theology, and ancient seasonal tradition. That mix is what makes it meaningful. So while we respect concerns about “Christ...

If Seinfeld was a show about nothing, then this episode is a podcast about nothing. That's because in this episode of the Kehillah RVA podcast, we get to listen in on a an unedited conversation between Rabbi Elisha Paul, Head of School at RTA - Richmond Hebrew Day School and Rabbi Patrick Beaulier from Kehillah. The conversation goes into every kind of topic -- from demographic shifts in Isra...

Want some dad advice from Rabbi Patrick on dating Jewish in Richmond, VA? Well...you're getting it!  In this episode, Rabbi Patrick takes the collective observations of Kehillah's singles and offers up spiritual wisdom around places having energies, about Jewish matchmaking, love, companionship, and finding a sense of home where you are and who you are with.  Upcoming Events: Latke Makin...

Get to know Kehillah member Arianna who you've likely seen around, but have not had a chance to chat with one-on-one. In this episode we discuss growing up as a teen in West Virginia, her move to RVA, a shared love of music, and what it's like for her as a neurodivergent person (and what she needs your brutal help with). Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show Sup...

Get to know Kehillah member Shawn Harris as we discuss the life of a creative person, her big moves from the west back to Richmond, the power of imagination, storytelling and world building. Learn more about her project Bizarro Torah: https://bizarrotorah.wordpress.com/ This is part of a series of interviews with Kehillah members including Lori Levy and her parents, Arianna Rose, and Rebbetzin Ste...