You've Always Belonged Here: The Temple Israel Podcast

Rosh Hashanah Day Two 2026 | Fear and Awe

On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Nemitoff-Bresler explored the concept of yirah, a word that means both fear and awe, and invites us to acknowledge our fears whi

Rosh Hashanah Morning 2026 | 250 Years: Jewish History & Future in the United States

This Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Friedman reflected on the changing experience of being Jewish in America and calls us to respond with Jewish pride, courage, resilience, and a c

Erev Rosh Hashanah 2026 | Evil & Fear: 25th Anniversary of 9/11

On Erev Rosh Hashanah – which coincided with the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 – Rabbi Friedman spoke about what it means to hold onto our values when fear takes hold. High

Aug 28, 2026 | Returning to Our Best Selves

In this week's episode, Rabbi Michael S. Friedman uses photos from his office to teach how the historic Black-Jewish partnership of the Civil Rights era can inspire us to

Aug 21, 2026 | This Elul: More Love

For this week's episode, Rabbi Plesent shares how the Elul acronym for ani l'dodi v'dodi li ("I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine,” Song of Songs 6:3) invites an exp

Aug 14, 2026 | A Season of Becoming

This week, Rabbi Lily Goldstein teaches that Elul is a season of reflection and preparation, inviting us to take responsibility for our own growth, strengthen our faith a

Aug 7, 2026 | A New Stage of American Jewish Identity

Grounded in a personal heritage of deep political conviction and amidst today's shifting tides, Rabbi Michael S. Friedman calls on us to navigate current political uncert

July 31, 2026 | Choosing Gratitude Over Fear

This week, Rabbi Lily Goldstein, citing her current pregnancy, remarked on how this week's Torah portion – Parashat Eikev – invites us to move beyond fear of the evil eye

July 17, 2026 | Turning Mourning Into Dancing

Inspired by Debbie Friedman's Mourning Into Dancing, Rabbi Lily Goldstein, Rabbi Zachary A. Plesent and Cantor Becky Mann gave a sermon in three parts this week about wha

July 10, 2026 | The Sacred Courage to Ask for What We Need

This week, Cantor Julia Cadrain helps us explore how rest, healthy boundaries, and self-advocacy are not acts of selfishness but sacred practices that renew us and streng

July 3, 2026 | This Land was Made for You AND Me

This week, Rabbi Plesent remarked about the United States of America's semiquincentennial and how respectful disagreement can strengthen both our communities and our demo

June 26, 2026 | You Are Holy Just As You Are

For this week's podcast, Cantor Becky Mann taught us during our Pride Shabbat on the Beach that we are all created b'tzelem elohim – in the image of God. To learn more a

June 19, 2026 | From Egypt to Galveston: A Shared Journey of Liberation

Drawing on the shared history of enslavement and the imperative to remember the past, Rabbi Elana Nemitoff-Bresler reflects on the deep parallels between Passover and Jun

June 5, 2026 | A Sanctuary Without Walls

This week, Rabbi Friedman reflected on the sale of his childhood synagogue and how encounters with God have traditionally taken place in nature and invites us to experien

May 15, 2026 | Cantor Barbara Ostfeld: A Legacy

For this week's episode, our Legacy Shabbat Artist-in-Residence, Cantor Barbara Ostfeld reflected on how TI has carried forward a legacy of social justice, musical innova

May 8, 2026 | Excerpts from Temple Israel's 2026 Adult B'nei Mitzvah Service

For this week's episode of You've Always Belonged Here, we are sharing excerpts from our 2026 Adult B'nei Mitzvah class: Diana Blau, Kate Jonas, Michael J. Miller, Randi

May 1, 2026 | A Letter to Jews Considering Abandoning Zionism

This week, Rabbi Friedman urges "troubled Zionists" to remain engaged with Israel rather than distancing themselves. To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the

Apr 24, 2026 | The Heart of Who We Are

This week, Cantor Becky Mann explores the true soul of the state of Israel—a nation where holiness and peace are discovered by embracing a shared humanity within the comp

Apr 17, 2026 | Turn Toward One Another

This week, Cantor Cadrain highlights the Torah’s invitation to turn towards one another, even and especially across lines of difference. To learn more about Temple Israe

Apr 10, 2026 | "The Yoms"

This week, Rabbi Friedman explores the significance of "The Yoms": Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom HaAtzma’ut. To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the li