Rabbi Jim‘s Podcast

By Rabbi Jim Egolf

Religion & Spirituality Judaism

What's Rabbi Jim‘s Podcast about?

Podcast of Sermons, Readings and Jewish Resources from Rabbi Jim Egolf

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Rabbi Jim‘s Podcast episodes:

07.29.2014
Masai - The Meaning of the Journey
Shalom, it has been a long time. We also celebrated our oldest becoming Bar Mitzvah at his camp. In this podcast are some reflections about our journey to this new place...
12.01.2013
Hanukkah - Celebrate Our Light
Happy Hanukkah! Let us pause for a moment and consider one element we often take for granted.
09.11.2013
Thoughts on Syria
Before our president speaks, I wanted to offer some Jewish perspective on the situation in Syria.
07.03.2013
Ancient Travel Logs - Matot/Masai 5773
So if you remember AAA Trip-Ticks, this weeks parasha contains one of these. The Israelites wander for many years and an entire chapter is dedicated to where they went. I wonder if we approach our life's journeys with as much...
06.21.2013
Balak 5773 - When Donkeys Cry
Remember the TV show Alice? Apologies for swiping Flo's second most famous catch phrase, but it seems to fit with this week's Torah portion. On the road to curse the Israelites, the pagan prophet Balam rides his donkey and encounters...
06.14.2013
Chukat - Answering Change
This week's Parasha tells of Moses' final 'sin' that will excluded him and Aaron from entrance into the Promised Land. Yet, Moses' response this week was his response to a similar problem before. What changed? When in our lives do...
06.04.2013
Korach-How Our Arguments Can Bring Heaven to Earth
This weeks Torah portion carries the name of a person. I always teach that if you have a name for a Torah portion, either the person did something very good or, well, not. Pirkei Avot makes a direct mention of...
05.31.2013
Fear, Faith, and Twelve Spies
The Torah portion this week speaks to the episode in the wilderness when the Israelites are ready for their first attempt to enter into the Promised Land. Things do not proceed according to plan and the ancient community is split...
05.23.2013
Only One Day of Passover?
Looking at B'ha-alotkha we find an observance from the Torah that might drive many of us to plan long trips during a certain Spring holiday. The Torah speaks of the situation when one cannot observe Passover due to being ritually...
05.21.2013
Elijah in the Whirlwind
For all of us affected by the storms in Oklahoma, a reflection, a biblical reminder and a prayer. II Kings Chapter 2
01.13.2013
Shemot 5773-Learning to Be...and Then Do
In the aftermath of the recent shootings in our country, I felt that we needed to rethink how we react/respond to these horrible events. As Jews we are familiar with the face of evil whether it be Pharaoh, Haman, or...
01.13.2013
Shemot 5773-Learning to Be…and Then Do
In the aftermath of the recent shootings in our country, I felt that we needed to rethink how we react/respond to these horrible events. As Jews we are familiar with the face of evil whether it be Pharaoh, Haman, or...
12.15.2012
Today, We Are Jacob's Daughters
With the events in Newtown, Conn. in hearts and minds I wanted to look to Torah. There in the portions that surround parashat Miketz, the Torah portion of Hanukkah, we find two emotional moments echoing the events in Newtown. In...
12.15.2012
Today, We Are Jacob’s Daughters
With the events in Newtown, Conn. in hearts and minds I wanted to look to Torah. There in the portions that surround parashat Miketz, the Torah portion of Hanukkah, we find two emotional moments echoing the events in Newtown. In...
11.24.2012
Becoming the One You Were Meant to Be - Kol Nidre 5773
I delivered this sermon at Kol Nidre this year. It was sparked by several events including the scandal at Penn State during this past year. We wonder how such events could happen, especially at a school known for academic integrity. ...
10.02.2012
Rosh Hashannah Morning 5773 - The Men and Women with Nehemiah at the Water Gate
Is it just in our nature to be fearful of the stranger or the 'other' in our society? What happens when Jews forget acceptance and understanding and even begin to create strangers out of fellow Jews in our midst? This...
09.19.2012
Be and Beware Your Tefillah
Shannah Tovah U'Metukah! A sweet and happy Jewish New Year to all of you. This podcast is my Rosh Hashannah evening service and in it we will explore the meaning of the phrase, V'Ani Tefillati, I am my ... Tefillah. I...
08.26.2012
Who Do We Think We Judge?
Shalom and thank you for listening. This week we are going to look at Parashat Shoftim, a Torah portion that speaks to the qualities we are supposed to look for when appointing judges. Perhaps this parasha also has some lessons...
05.18.2012
And He Saved Moses...
This podcast is a reflection on our trip to Washington, DC with our confirmation class. While we were there we had a chance to tour the Supreme court and while it was nice to see an image of Moses among...
05.17.2012
And He Saved Moses…
This podcast is a reflection on our trip to Washington, DC with our confirmation class. While we were there we had a chance to tour the Supreme court and while it was nice to see an image of Moses among...
01.21.2012
Hearts of Fire
The Torah portion this week continues with God's charge to Moses to continue to mission of freeing the Israelites. Even after speaking from the heart of the Burning Bush, Moses continues to protest God's call. Perhaps the question for us,...
12.06.2011
Vayeitzei 5772-Between a Rock and a Holy Place
Recently I had the honor to write the Devar Acher for the URJ's 10 Mintues of Torah. I want to share my reading of this passage with you this week.
06.25.2011
Monty Python, Korach, and Disputes
I'd like to have an argument... Among the things we don't know about the Torah we can include what the dispute was about in the week's Torah portion. Maybe in our Torah, Monty Python, and in our nation we are...
05.17.2011
Behar 5771 - On the Mountain of Meaning
So the bad guy is dead...now what? While several rush to attach a meaning to bin Laden's death, what does it really mean or is his death meaningless when the liberties we thought were promised to us as Americans are...denied...stolen...or...
05.02.2011
Kedoshim 5771-Nobility, Nobels, Nightmares and...Hope
The images from this week were truly amazing. Royal weddings, massive destruction, and this week we read the Torah portion concerning how God defines holiness in our Torah. Funny thing about holiness and nobility, at least God's definition, it is...
05.01.2011
Kedoshim 5771-Nobility, Nobels, Nightmares and…Hope
The images from this week were truly amazing. Royal weddings, massive destruction, and this week we read the Torah portion concerning how God defines holiness in our Torah. Funny thing about holiness and nobility, at least God's definition, it is...
03.13.2011
V'Yikrah 5771-Questions We Should Consider About the Muslim Hearings
I was not alive for the McCarthy hearings, but they seemed to have the effect of turning Americans against Americans which is something most would consider un-American. Our country has put itself forward many times as one of the places...
03.12.2011
V’Yikrah 5771-Questions We Should Consider About the Muslim Hearings
I was not alive for the McCarthy hearings, but they seemed to have the effect of turning Americans against Americans which is something most would consider un-American. Our country has put itself forward many times as one of the places...
02.06.2011
Egypt and a Tabernacle in the Desert
When we think of our sacred structures, (synagogue, mosque, church) we often think of them as ends in and of themselves. This week's Torah portion comes to remind us that religious structures are really vehicles for the greater connection to...
12.21.2010
Empty Chairs Filled with Hope - V'yigash 5771
The Empty Chairs we have in our lives can signal many things. For Jacob it must have been difficult to see a place empty of Joseph every time the family gathered together. In our day, an empty chair can be...
12.20.2010
Empty Chairs Filled with Hope - V’yigash 5771
The Empty Chairs we have in our lives can signal many things. For Jacob it must have been difficult to see a place empty of Joseph every time the family gathered together. In our day, an empty chair can be...
11.22.2010
Defined by Our Wounds - Va'Yishlakh 5771
When we hurt we often don't focus on the choices before, rather we focus on the pain. Jacob is wounded in this week's Torah portion, yet at the same time he is also blessed by the 'Eish' he wrestles in...
11.22.2010
Defined by Our Wounds - Va’Yishlakh 5771
When we hurt we often don't focus on the choices before, rather we focus on the pain. Jacob is wounded in this week's Torah portion, yet at the same time he is also blessed by the 'Eish' he wrestles in...
10.13.2010
Mimus Polyglottos - Yom Kippur Morning 5771
I grew up in Monroeville, Alabama. The only claim to fame that Monroeville has is that it is the setting for the fictional town presented in the book To Kill A Mockingbird. The question for us today is are we,...
10.03.2010
Kol Nidre 5771-To Love Our Neighbors...
When it comes to the issues facing the United States on the topic of religion, it has become very difficult to have conversations without emotions. Even survivors of the events of 9/11 argue over what is the correct course of...
10.02.2010
Kol Nidre 5771-To Love Our Neighbors…
When it comes to the issues facing the United States on the topic of religion, it has become very difficult to have conversations without emotions. Even survivors of the events of 9/11 argue over what is the correct course of...
09.28.2010
Wanted! A Prophetic Paradigm Shift - Rosh Hashannah Day
It is hard to imagine, but at several points in history Jews and Arabs have managed to come together and do sacred work. It started when Isaac and Ishmael went to bury their father Abraham. What seemed natural then appears...
09.23.2010
RH Eve - Our Homes and Our Values
This Rosh Hashannah I wanted to share the idea that our values are the real foundations of our homes. As we go through life, we often take our values with us whether it is praying with our feet, to the...
07.07.2010
Chukat 5770 - Unseen Rudders Set The Courses
The recent events off the coast of Israel and Gaza have bothered many. In this podcast I will explore our moral and religious duty to the issue at hand and explore those article who may (or may not) be hitting...
04.20.2010
How do we see ourselves? Pesach 5770
How do we wrestle with the idea of meaning? While we all believe that we understand the concept, for many it is elusive at best. On the holiday of Passover, we are asked to engage the idea of meaning. What...
03.21.2010
Vayikrah 5770 Calling For Support
This week saw a series of horrible headlines between Israel and the United States play out on the front pages of too many newspapers. The scary piece is what has begun to happen in our country as certain generals are...
03.15.2010
Tetzaveh 5770 Our Masks That Define, Our Masks That Hide
In an attempt to learn Hebrew after a trip to Israel, I found myself listening to a podcast about a Purim party. What does a Purim party have to do with searching for who we are and who we might...
03.02.2010
Terumah 5770 - The Idols Which Go Before, and The Sanctuary Of and By People
Terumah is the Torah portion that describes the first call for a sacred space in the Israelite community. Interestingly some believe that this parasha is out of order, and that the Golden Calf should come first. Should it? I would...
02.10.2010
Haiti R.E.L.I.E.F.
Dear listeners, As you know, I usually don't ask for money unless there is a significant cause. This is one of those days where I feel the need to reach out to you for help. A group of people are going...
12.21.2009
Bridges - Opening Comments of Rabbi Elwell
These are the comments at our last Bridges program. Bridges is the program that speaks to the transitions in life and how we address these moments a Jews.
12.10.2009
The Enemies that Define - V'yeitzei
This podcast will focus on the the issues surrounding Laban, Iran and Israel. How could these be connected (you might ask)? Let's just say that nuclear threats, stealing a Nobel Prize, and executing people sentenced to ten years in prison...
12.09.2009
The Enemies that Define - V’yeitzei
This podcast will focus on the the issues surrounding Laban, Iran and Israel. How could these be connected (you might ask)? Let's just say that nuclear threats, stealing a Nobel Prize, and executing people sentenced to ten years in prison...
11.15.2009
Chayei Sarah - Interfaithways Shabbat
This week I am going to explore the most prominent non-Jew in our Torah portion, Ishmael and ask us to consider what he teaches us about ourselves. I am doing this because Beth David is a part of InterFaithways Shabbat,...
11.06.2009
Va-yeirah 5770 - And Even Abraham Needed to See Humans
The name for an angel and a human messenger has never been clear in Hebrew texts. This makes some wonder why the Torah and Jewish literature did not strive for a distinction, yet maybe there is a reason for this. ...
10.14.2009
Yom Kippur Morning - Each Generation Needs to Stand
This Yom Kippur saw the end of a 104 history of a synagogue where I once served as the 'traveling rabbi.' Beth-El of Lexington Mississippi closed its doors at the end of Neilah, the end of the Yom Kippur service...

What's Rabbi Jim‘s Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Rabbi Jim‘s Podcast episodes:

Masai - The Meaning of the Journey

Hanukkah - Celebrate Our Light

Thoughts on Syria

Ancient Travel Logs - Matot/Masai 5773

Balak 5773 - When Donkeys Cry

Chukat - Answering Change

Korach-How Our Arguments Can Bring Heaven to Earth

Fear, Faith, and Twelve Spies

Only One Day of Passover?

Elijah in the Whirlwind

Shemot 5773-Learning to Be...and Then Do

Shemot 5773-Learning to Be…and Then Do

Today, We Are Jacob's Daughters

Today, We Are Jacob’s Daughters

Becoming the One You Were Meant to Be - Kol Nidre 5773

Rosh Hashannah Morning 5773 - The Men and Women with Nehemiah at the Water Gate

Be and Beware Your Tefillah

Who Do We Think We Judge?

And He Saved Moses...

And He Saved Moses…

Hearts of Fire

Vayeitzei 5772-Between a Rock and a Holy Place

Monty Python, Korach, and Disputes

Behar 5771 - On the Mountain of Meaning

Kedoshim 5771-Nobility, Nobels, Nightmares and...Hope

Kedoshim 5771-Nobility, Nobels, Nightmares and…Hope

V'Yikrah 5771-Questions We Should Consider About the Muslim Hearings

V’Yikrah 5771-Questions We Should Consider About the Muslim Hearings

Egypt and a Tabernacle in the Desert

Empty Chairs Filled with Hope - V'yigash 5771

Empty Chairs Filled with Hope - V’yigash 5771

Defined by Our Wounds - Va'Yishlakh 5771

Defined by Our Wounds - Va’Yishlakh 5771

Mimus Polyglottos - Yom Kippur Morning 5771

Kol Nidre 5771-To Love Our Neighbors...

Kol Nidre 5771-To Love Our Neighbors…

Wanted! A Prophetic Paradigm Shift - Rosh Hashannah Day

RH Eve - Our Homes and Our Values

Chukat 5770 - Unseen Rudders Set The Courses

How do we see ourselves? Pesach 5770

Vayikrah 5770 Calling For Support

Tetzaveh 5770 Our Masks That Define, Our Masks That Hide

Terumah 5770 - The Idols Which Go Before, and The Sanctuary Of and By People

Haiti R.E.L.I.E.F.

Bridges - Opening Comments of Rabbi Elwell

The Enemies that Define - V'yeitzei

The Enemies that Define - V’yeitzei

Chayei Sarah - Interfaithways Shabbat

Va-yeirah 5770 - And Even Abraham Needed to See Humans

Yom Kippur Morning - Each Generation Needs to Stand