Wilshire POV

What We Carry Into the New Year - Rabbi Leah Fein

Sunday afternoon was my ideal beach day: sunny, clear blue skies, uplifting music, lots of laughter, connection and catching up.  As a community, we gathered together fo

Remember, Forget, and Keep Moving Forward

Rabbi Leah Fein reflects on the story of Amalek and the Torah’s command to remember, exploring how moments of coldness and despair can challenge our hope. As we journey t

What Is Torah? - July 17, 2026 - Rabbi Leah Fein

What do we really mean when we say "Torah"? In this week's Shabbat Message, Rabbi Leah Fein explores a deceptively simple question with surprisingly rich answers. Be

Honoring the Journey - Cantor Lisa Peicott - July 9, 2026

As we conclude the Book of Numbers with the double Torah portion Matot-Mas'ei, we reflect on the Israelites' 42 journeys through the wilderness and what they te

What Comes Next - Rabbi Leah Lewis - June 12, 2026

As graduation season invites us to reflect on what lies ahead, this week’s Torah portion reminds us that while uncertainty is inevitable, we can choose curiosity, courage

Embracing the Journey Ahead

As summer begins and new adventures lie ahead, this week’s Torah portion reminds us that growth often requires leaving behind what is familiar and embracing the possibili

A Muted Mimouna, An Unbroken Faith - Rabbi Leah Lewis - April 10, 2026

The smells of barbecue and sweet Moroccan treats wafted through the air as I walked through Gan Sacher (Sacher Park) in Jerusalem in the days after Passover, during the y

Active Participation - Rabbi Leah Fein - April 3, 2026

Monday was a day we’ve been looking forward to for a long time: moving day. On Monday morning I sat alone in our apartment, surrounded by boxes, and breathed a deep sigh

Vayikra - Rabbi Hannah Elkin - March 20, 2026

Vayikra, the opening portion of the Book of Leviticus, discusses the first details of the sacrificial system that the priests will operate on behalf of the Jewish people.

It's Over - Rabbi Leah Lewis - Parashat Beshalach - January 30, 2026

Ran Gvili’s funeral was a moment unique among all others, but the collective need to rise to the next chapter is a feeling familiar to the Jewish people. It is on full di

A Sacred Symbol - Rabbi Leah Fein - February 6, 2026

Imagine: You are an ancient Israelite, and all you have ever known - all your recent ancestors have ever known - is oppression. You witnessed the plagues and the sea spli

We Are in the Thick of It - Cantor Lisa Peicott - Parshat Bo - January 23, 2026

Well folks, we are in the thick of it. In just the last few weeks, we have witnessed the abuse of unchecked power against a group of outsiders, the rising up of a people

Parashat Vaeira - Rabbi Hannah Elkin - January 16, 2026

In our Torah portion this week, Parashat Vaeira, we see an important moment for Moses to speak the truth. God has told Moses that he will be the savior of the Jewish peop

Who Were Ephraim and Menasseh? - Rabbi Leah Fein - January 2, 2026

For thousands of years, Jewish parents and parental-figures have been saying this exact same blessing. So who were Ephraim and Menasseh, that the Torah warrants blessing

Parashat Vayishlach. December 5, 2025. 15 Kislev 5786. Rabbi Leah Lewis

Today is the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. On the fifteenth day of any month on the Hebrew calendar, there is a full moon in the sky. But when the full moo

Collective Responsibility - Rabbi Leah Lewis - August 29, 2025

Taking responsibility to care for those who are vulnerable has always been core to Jewish tradition, but living this value has always been an imperfect endeavor. That is

Have I Done Enough? - Cantor Lisa Peicott

At the conclusion of this Shabbat, the Jewish community will commemorate Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av. It’s a day steeped in mourning and reflectio

What We Do Matters - Rabbi Hannah Elkin - July 25, 2025

We come to the end of the book of Numbers this week with the double portion Matot-Massei. The Israelites wrap up a challenging chapter of wandering through the desert and

A Prayer for Shabbat - Cantor Lisa Peicott - June 27, 2025

Lucky for us, our tradition has a secret weapon to help us deal with the never-ending mishigas of our time, and no, it’s not a giant space laser  Each week, a member of

Thoughtful Celebration - Rabbi Leah Lewis - July 4, 2025

By definition, ritual becomes habituated and in its familiarity lies much of its power. But when we never stop to consider why it is that we engage in the first place, th