TBE Richmond Podcast

Building Caring Communities Through Compassionate Communication (featuring Josh Jeffreys)

In his Dvar Torah for Parshat Korah (June 25, 2023), TBE member Josh Jeffreys observes that questions about leadership are rarely just about the leaders and suggests that

Don't Bunt (featuring LeAnne Whitlow)

In her Dvar Torah for Parashat Shlah-Lekha (June 17, 2023), TBE member LeAnne Whitlow argues that perspective is everything.

Beyond Words (featuring Alane Cameron Ford)

In her Dvar Torah for Parashat Beha’alotekha (June 10, 2023), TBE member Alane Cameron Ford discusses how the preparations for life beyond the wilderness can guide us in

Crimes Against Humanity

In his Shabbat message for Parashat Naso (June 3, 2023), Rabbi Knopf argues that, from the Torah's perspective, laws that target transgender and nonbinary people are crim

A Magical, Mystical Tour of the Weirdest Commandment

Description: On the festival of Shavuot, we read the Ten Commandments. The first of those commandments is a little baffling, considering it doesn’t appear to command anyt

Of, by, and for the people (featuring Brandon Metheny)

In his Dvar Torah for parashat Bamidbar (May 20, 2024), TBE member Brandon Methey explains that Jewish people have often had a fraught relationship with the countries we

Of, by, and for the people (featuring Brandon Metheny)

In his Dvar Torah for parashat Bamidbar (May 20, 2024), TBE member Brandon Methey explains that Jewish people have often had a fraught relationship with the countries we

Vulnerability and Purity (featuring Emily Jasper)

Description: After a startling experience, TBE member Emily Jasper reflects in this Dvar Torah on how Parashat Emor (May 6, 2023) describes the laws for purity required o

A Place for Silence. The Time of Hope. (Featuring Laurance Wieder)

In his Dvar Torah for Parashat Tazria-Metzora/Rosh Hodesh Iyar (April 22, 2023), TBE member Laurance Wieder explains that Leviticus says nothing about actual pregnancy, w

A Mishkan of our Own

Parashat Terumah focuses on the construction of the elaborate Tabernacle so that ‘G-d can dwell among them.’ But why does G-d require a physical, earthly dwelling at all?

Next Year in the Built Jerusalem!

In his Passover message for this year, Rabbi Knopf explains how the customary conclusion of the Seder, "Next Year in the Built Jerusalem!” is actually a commandment, call

Reframing Leviticus (featuring Alane Ford)

In her Dvar Torah for the 2nd day of Passover (April 7, 2023), TBE member Alane Ford explains that the biblical book of Leviticus can be a toolbox or instruction manual f

What About God? (Featuring Damien Timms)

In his Dvar Torah for the 1st day of Passover (April 6, 2023), TBE Executive Director Damien Timms looks at the events of the 10th plague from the point of view of the mo

A Temple For All

In his Shabbat message for Parashat Ki Tissa (March 11, 2023), Rabbi Knopf celebrates the completion of Temple Beth-El’s sanctuary renovation with a call to honor its pur

Remember Not to Forget — Finding Beauty and Joy in a Broken World (featuring Brittany Usiak)

In her Dvar Torah for Parshat Zachor (March 4, 2023), TBE member Brittany Usiak teaches us what our tradition has to say about how we remember or push away challenging ex

Spirituality and Activism (featuring Bob Siegel)

TBE member and past-president Bob Siegel explains that Parashat Yitro (February 11, 2023) helps us understand that spirituality is not limited to quiet moments of introsp

What if Moses was Autistic? (Featuring Jamie Weinstein)

Inspired by the Autistic Rebbetzin’s idea of Moses being Autistic, TBE member Jamie Weinstein tells the story of Parashat Beshallah (February 4, 2023) with an autistic he

Pharaohs Past and Present — What we can do to support Ukrainians (featuring Sam Revenson)

In his Dvar Torah for Refugee Shabbat (January 28. 2023), TBE member Sam Revenson shares how the war in Ukraine relates to the Exodus story, and what our community is doi

Free Will and Fairness (featuring Brandon Metheny)

In one of the most famous stories in the Torah, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened during the plagues and his choice is taken away. In his Dvar Torah for Parashat Va-era (Januar

Jacob Lived (featuring Alane Ford)

In this Dvar Torah for Parashat Va-Yehi (January 7, 2023), TBE member Alane Ford discusses the patriarch Jacob's preparations for his own death and asks, what does it mea