Rabbi Jim‘s Podcast

Beshalach 5768, How Do We Value That Which Is Closest?

This was our healing service week and we delved into the differences between healing according to our institutions and healing in our own souls.  What is the Jewish connection to healing and what is closest to all of us at taught in the Torah?  Listen and find out.

Hi, I Am Your New Siddur Mishkan Tefillah

We welcomed our new Siddur this week at Beth David. Mishkan Tefillah has been 'in the works' for several years, but its true evolution has occurred over the 150+ years of Reform Jewish history in this country. This sermon is told from the point of view of the Siddur coming to a new congregation, where it came from and what its purpose is for the congregation. What is involved in creating a Siddur and why would it change? Listen and discover. 1885 Pittsburgh Platform 1937 Columbus Platform 1976 San Francisco Platform 1999 Pittsburgh II Platform

V'eyrah

The hardening of Pharaoh's heart seems to bother many people, however we seem to be more troubled by God doing this than the Egyptian king doing it. What happens when we find hard hearts in our society and is there little difference between Pharaoh and some of our current leaders?  This is an archive sermon from a year ago.

Shemot 5768 -- What's in a Good Name?

Thank you for being patient! What is a good name and why is it more important than fame? With the tragedy that stuck at the mall in Salt Lake City, the murderer said he did it so he could be important. Hmmmm.....maybe this is a way of being important in the media, but what of having a lasting value on our world? Let's take a few minutes and think about that in our new secular year. -- Shalom The music you hear on this podcast is by Trip Wamsley and is entitled Firm Foundation. You can purchase his music and other albums at the price you pick at Magnatune.com.

Vayekhi 5768 - Leadership (archive)

This is an archive sermon, but given where we are in our country it seems appropriate to talk about leadership. I don't want comment on the candidates, but I do want to offer this podcast as a way of thinking about the demands of leadership and in particular Jewish leadership. Music you hear on this podcast is available for purchase from magnatune.com.

Vayigash 5766 (Archive) - Lessons from the Bottom of a Well

Be careful of your friends is an old warning. This is an archive sermon from the time when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon first fell ill. It looks at our Torah portion and makes us wonder about the true friends of Israel, and the search for those who really believe in supporting the Jewish State even when it makes necessary and painful decisions.

Pat Robertson, ... Zionist!

Pat Robertson, ... Zionist?

Mikeitz 5768

The Bible is said to contain large pieces of wisdom and this week we encounter one. In the midst of his anxiety over his dreams, Pharaoh summons Joseph, a foreigner to help solve his dilemma. If only our leaders were as smart as to use the wisdom of other peoples and cultures to address the anxieties we face as a country and society today. Shalom!

Vayeishev, Synaplex, Annapolis, and Hope

Shalom and thank you for tuning in this week. It was a curious week as we tried something new at Beth David and we saw something that might be considered new in the Middle East. The question that we need to ask ourselves is how do we hope and can we afford not to? Clearly Joseph had to have some hope that his dreams would come true, and perhaps we need more dreamers than 'realists' to push into our future. Hanukkah also starts at the end of this week so please click on the links below for resources and have a brilliant Hanukkah! Shalom! I Had A Little Dreidel (Lyrics) Dreidel - USY (hmmmm....) Sivivon (Hebrew for Dreidel) Song Music heard in this podcast is available for purchase from Magnatune.

How Do We Give Thanks?

Shalom and thank you for pointing your browser this way. We had Thanksgiving this week, and Jews across the United States celebrate this holiday with great joy. However there have been questions about this observance in the past and we might even want to think twice about giving thanks today, especially if we look at this holiday from the perspective of Native Americans. Listen, think, consider and do your thanks in a meaningful and thoughtful way. Shalom! A Halakhic Perspective on Thanksgiving A Native American Viewpoint Music you hear on this podcast is available at Magnatune.com.

Vayeitzei 5768 - Dancing With The Metaphors

Shabbat Shalom and thank you for listening. When we hosted Seeds of Sun last week for a wonderful Shabbat service.  I have included snippets of their music this week in the Podcast. The sermon this week is wrestling with what it means to pray, or plant  Seeds of Sun in our lives. With the reintroduction of Mi Shebeirach into the Reform worship service we now must think about what those words mean. When we pray for healing, does it really mean that the prayer is meant to take the place of a cure? Or, could it be that we express our wishes and our hopes to some place and Someone who might give us courage and strength? - Shabbat Shalom

Seeds of Sun's latest CD cover