Kol Jeshurun

Rabbi Karen Perolman's inspired sermon begins with Jonathan Larson's infamous rock musical quote: "The opposite of war isn't peace...it's Creation!"

Originally aired March 28, 2025.

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz' sermon takes light from TBJ children's wisdom to his recent mission to Kibbutzim Nir Oz and Erez, meeting with freed Israeli hostages, being in chance proximity to a terror attack, approaching wholeness in Jerusalem and finding the compelling need for healing and completion of this stage of the October 7th war.

More of "Nobody Wants This!"

Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman and Lauren Rutkin (who happens to be married to TBJ's Senior Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz) sit down to discuss more about the hit Netflix show-- what rang true, what was over the top, and what they hope to see in Season 2.

On October 7, the Cohens hid in their bomb shelter with their two young sons in their home in Kibbutz K’far Aza for nearly 30 hours. They quieted their older son, Adam, by watching 'Cocomelon' on his iPad. Eleven-year-old TBJ member Cody Braverman, who voices the main character on the show, was able connect with Adam, which is what brings the Cohens to TBJ on January 5, 2024. This is their harrowing story of survival against all odds.

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz reflects on the impact of his experience viewing the harrowing footage of the attacks on October 7th and how we all parse out our different views on the conflict as it unfolds.

Originally broadcast December 19th, 2023.

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director.

Rabbi Leah Sternberg explores the concept of machloket l'shem shamayim, arguments for the sake of heaven, as it pertains to the present conflict in Israel/Gaza.

Cantor Lucy Fishbein sings a classic Israeli folk song, Ani V'atah - Me & You - which expresses how it is our responsibility to work together to create the change we wish to see in the world.

Music & Lyrics by Arik Einstein

Originally broadcast November 10th, 2023 @ 5:23pm

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director

Rabbi Matt Gewirtz reports back after a very powerful trip to Israel in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks.

Cantor Lucy Fishbein sings a heart wrenching peace of music - Rikmah Enoshit Achat (We are one human tapestry) by Moti Hammer - to honor the fallen in Israel.

Originally broadcast November 3rd, 2023

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director

The first in our Israel series:

Rabbi Perolman reflects on the aftermath of October 7th and how the world immediately changed. She asks the question "what do we do now??" and gives us some tools to start searching for the answer.

Sermon originally aired Friday October 27th, 2023 at TBJ.

For more information, visit us at TBJ.org.

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director.

Cantor Lucy Fishbein of TBJ sits down for a conversation with her teacher, Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller. Cantor Schiller has been a professor at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion for 35+ years and is a prolific composer in her own right. She is on the verge of retiring from her post as the Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman Professor of Liturgy, Worship and Ritual and Professor of Cantorial Arts and shares her reflections on her career and the evolution of the cantorate in the 4 decades of her career!

Senior Cantor Emeritus Howard M. Stahl shares his thoughts on TBJ's 175 years.