The Voices of Emanu El Podcast

In this episode of the Voices of Emanu El podcast, guest Rabbi Seth Stander retells the giving of the Ten Commandments as God’s “rock words,” adapted from Rabbi Mark Gelman’s beloved story. With humor and heart, he explores what it means to worship more than “stuff,” to use God’s name for gratitude not curses, and to see Shabbat as a weekly reminder that work is what we do — not who we are. Rabbi...

In this week's episode, Rabbi Pam Silk begins with a 1984 classroom and a silent Wile E. Coyote cartoon to show how music brings stories — and our spirits — to life. From the Shema on the lips of our youngest learners to Shirat Hayam, the Song of the Sea, at the Sea of Reeds, she explores how song builds bridges between individuals, unites communities, and connects us across generations. This Shab...

In this week's episode of The Voices of Emanu El, Rabbi Josh Fixler explores the ninth plague’s “thick darkness” and asks a haunting question: Will you be paralyzed by the darkness, or will you be the light? Through Rashi, Midrash Tanchuma, and the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter and the Kotzker Rebbe, we explore how spiritual blindness to our neighbor’s pain can leave us stuck, and how tru...

At a recent professional retreat, Rabbi Pam Silk chose a simple pin that read “Be kind” and found it echoing through this week’s Torah portion, Va-eira. Drawing on the story of Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh, and the plagues, she explores how Jewish tradition insists that true freedom demands empathy, restraint, and responsibility toward those over whom we hold power. Citing Rabbi Ben Hollander, Rashi, and...

This week, guest Rabbi David Segal explores how the term “Judeo‑Christian” has shifted from a specific historical idea to a vague political slogan and why that matters for religious freedom today. Drawing on the Torah story of midwives Shiphrah and Puah and the work of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in Virginia, he shows how Jewish and American traditions alike resist state‑sponsored religion...

On the first Shabbat of 2026, Rabbi Pam Silk reflects on Jacob’s stark, honest words to his sons in Parshat Vayechi and what they reveal about real leadership and responsibility. Moving from childhood memories of New Year’s cards to the Torah’s challenging images of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, and their brothers, we explore how truth-telling, even when uncomfortable, can shape character and commu...

What if Dinah and Joseph were always telling a queer story the Torah never quite finished? Rabbi Josh Fixler revisits Dinah’s disappearance and Joseph’s “coat of many colors” as a princess dress, drawing on classical midrash and modern scholarship to uncover a trans-affirming reading of these siblings. ​ We explore: ✅ Dinah’s trauma, erasure, and the reality that so many victims lose their voice...

On this Mother’s Day Shabbat, Rabbi Pam Silk reflects on the many faces of motherhood: joy and exhaustion, gratitude and grief, presence and absence. Drawing on Torah, contemporary stories, and the language of Jewish blessing, she honors mothers, grandmothers, caregivers, and all who “mother” in less conventional ways, while making space for those who find this day complicated or painful. This hea...

In this searing Shabbat sermon, Rabbi Pam Silk departs from her planned d’var Torah on the Jubilee year to confront the anguish unleashed by the murders of two young Jews, Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lishinsky, in Washington, DC. She names their killings as an act of terrorism fueled by anti-semitism, exposes how contemporary anti-zionism often masks and amplifies Jew-hatred, and reflects on the chill...

Rabbi Pam Silk begins with a childhood memory of being told to “turn off the lights,” then turns to Parashat Baha’alotecha to explore the menorah, the divine cloud, and the fire that guided our ancestors through the wilderness. She reflects on how intentional light — both physical and spiritual — can orient us when we feel stuck under “cloud cover,” craving certainty yet unsure where to go next. T...

Starting with a love letter to The Container Store, Rabbi Oren Hayon moves from color‑coded bins and lucite organizers to Parashat Bamidbar and the wild revelation of Shavuot. He contrasts the Torah’s obsession with census, structure, and perfectly ordered camps with the thunder, fire, and uncontainable holiness of Sinai, asking what it means to seek both spiritual scaffolding and sacred spontanei...

In this Pride Month teaching, Rabbi Josh Fixler and Cantor Rollin Simmons revisit the rebellion of Korach to explore what happens when voices are silenced and belonging is denied. Drawing connections between the Torah’s challenge to authority and today’s struggles for LGBTQ+ dignity and inclusion, they ask how Jewish communities can honor holy dissent, expand compassion, and create space for every...

Rabbi Josh Fixler explores the spiritual weight of names: how Torah names reveal destiny and how the labels we use today can wound or heal. Through stories from Jewish text and modern life, he considers what it means to misname, rename, or courageously claim one’s true name in a world that often flattens identity. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on how language shapes relationships and how cho...

L'Cha Dodi welcomes Shabbat and the Shabbat Bride; this jazzy, moving version from Cantor Rollin Simmons during Emanu El's Warehouse Shabbat service, kicking off the month of Elul, is based on Mumford & Son's "Awake My Soul."

In this special High Holy Day episode of Voices of Emanu El, Rabbi Oren Hayon leads a Kever Avot service from the quiet grounds of Congregation Emanu El’s cemetery, Emanu El Memorial Park, in the “sacred valley of time” between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Drawing on Geraldine Brooks’ memoir Memorial Days, the Hebrew poetry of Psalm 118, and the teaching that “grief is praise,” Rabbi Hayon reflec...

Join Rabbi Oren Hayon for a moving exploration of heritage, legacy, and spiritual inheritance. In this Heritage Shabbat sermon, Rabbi Hayon draws from the Torah to reveal how we, like Isaac, are called to uncover the wells of Jewish wisdom left by our ancestors and keep them flowing freely for future generations. Using the metaphor of Isaac's work to reopen the wells his father Abraham had dug — o...

In a world full of brokenness, how do we keep going? Sometimes we’re asked to carry heavy things — brokenness, regret, hope. This week’s teaching from Rabbi Josh Fixler explores moral distress, moral residue, and the power of moral resilience, from the story of Moses to the struggles of today’s caregivers.

Cantor Becky Mann joined us in November for a weekend as our Music at Emanu El Artist in Residence. In this shabbat message, she explores the powerful message of lifting our eyes to find hope, healing, and divine presence even in our most challenging moments. Through the stories of our ancestors — Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — we're reminded that God is often found in the moments we least expect. Ke...

What does it mean to be “made for” something, and how do we find our way there? In this episode, Rabbi Oren Hayon weaves together a therapy dog named Obie, the spectacle of the Houston World Series of Dog Shows, and the quiet, powerful moments when humans, like well-trained dogs, seem to slip effortlessly into what they were born to do. Through stories of agility courses and scent work, Olympic-le...

In this episode of The Voices of Emanu El, Rabbi Pam Silk explores Parashat Vayeishev and the paradox of “settling” in a world that rarely feels settled. Drawing on the story of Joseph, we reflect on what it means to remain grounded and present even when life feels turbulent and unpredictable. Rabbi Silk weaves together Joseph’s journey from the pit to leadership with the courage of the Maccabees,...

One week after devastating flooding in Central Texas, Rabbi Pam Silk reflects on how the 23rd Psalm can so powerfully capture and express the experience of struggle, grief, and bereavement. She captures the necessity of soul restoration, being with others, and celebrating Shabbat together.

Did you know Superman's story is deeply rooted in Jewish culture? Discover how two Jewish teenagers created an iconic hero who embodies immigrant struggles and Jewish values. This fascinating insight from Rabbi Josh Fixler connects superhero lore with real history, sparking curiosity and pride. Perfect for history buffs and comic fans alike; share this hidden story!

Join Rabbi Oren Hayon for an inspiring reflection on the deep significance of the Sh’ma — the six Hebrew words that form the backbone of Jewish faith and peoplehood. Discover how the Sh’ma weaves through every stage of the Jewish lifespan, grounding us in tradition and community, and fueling acts of justice and repair. Through ancient legend, Torah teachings, and the wisdom of modern theologians,...

Join Rabbi Oren Hayon for an inspiring reflection on the deep significance of the Sh’ma — the six Hebrew words that form the backbone of Jewish faith and peoplehood. Discover how the Sh’ma weaves through every stage of the Jewish lifespan, grounding us in tradition and community, and fueling acts of justice and repair. Through ancient legend, Torah teachings, and the wisdom of modern theologians,...

Dropping your child off at college? Grappling with change and those bittersweet, proud parent moments? In this heartfelt reflection, Rabbi Pam Silk connects the milestone of sending a child off to school with this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Re’eh. Explore the journey from day-to-day parenting to long-distance love, the mixed emotions of letting go, and the wisdom the Torah offers when facing m...