You've Always Belonged Here: The Temple Israel Podcast

Oct 23, 2026 | Answering the Call To Be a Blessing

Exploring three traditional interpretations of why Abraham was chosen to lead, Rabbi Plesent reflects on how we can earn our purpose by staying attuned to the opportuniti

Oct 16, 2026 | Righteousness, One Good Deed at a Time

Drawing from Maimonides and this week's Torah portion of Noah and the Ark, Rabbi Friedman teaches that righteousness isn’t something we achieve once, but a habit we build

Oct 9, 2026 | New Beginnings

In this week's episode, Cantor Becky Mann teaches that every day offers an opportunity for a new beginning and reminds us that growth comes from embracing our humanity an

Sept 25, 2026 | Fragility and Joy

This week, Rabbi Zachary A. Plesent spoke about how Sukkot teaches us to move from fragility to vulnerability, embracing life’s uncertainty while remaining open to joy, c

Yizkor 2026 | Beyond Words

During Yizkor, Cantor Becky Mann spoke about finding light in moments of darkness, reminding us that even when there are no words to ease our grief, we can carry one anot

Yom Kippur Morning 2026 | AI & Judaism

During Yom Kippur 2026, Rabbi Michael S. Friedman spoke about how Judaism can serve as a counterbalance to AI by preserving the uniquely human capacities for thinking, cr

Kol Nidrei 2026 | The Case for Sacred Argument

On Kol Nidrei, Rabbi Zachary A. Plesent charged us to reclaim disagreement as a sacred practice, and approach those who differ from us with curiosity, kindness, and a rec

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