Feb
18
2018

The Limits of Communication: D’var Torah T’rumah

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

rabbi sarah bassin temple emanuel of beverly hills

This piece was originally published at ReformJudaism.org on February 15,  2018 T’Rumah, Exodus 25:1−27:19 As with any good architectural design, this Torah portion offers precise instructions. Parashat T’rumah lays out a manual for building our place of worship in the desert (known as the Mishkan) along with all of the instruments contained within. It details… Read more »

Feb
15
2018

Learning from the Imperfection of Religion: D’var Torah Mishpatim

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

This piece was originally published at ReformJudaism.org on February 2, 2018 Well, which is it? You can look to almost any sacred text in any tradition, and find those passages that condone and even encourage violence. And you can also find those that compel us to strive to help others, and live more compassionately. Religious… Read more »

Feb
15
2018

Encounters That Can Make Us Become Better Jews: D’var Torah Yitro

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

This piece was originally published at ReformJudaism.org on January 26, 2018 Yitro, Exodus 18:1–20:23 Jews are good at nostalgia. We remember with fondness the tenements of the Lower East Side when our community was tight knit and intact. We remember the quaintness of shtetl life untouched by outsiders. We yearn for the sovereignty of Ancient… Read more »

Feb
05
2018

Holy Envy | OnBeing Podcast featuring Rabbi Sarah Bassin

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills

krista tippett on being podcast

On Being takes up the big questions of meaning with scientists and theologians, artists and teachers. This episode was recorded at the URJ’s biennial in boston and features Rabbi Sarah Bassin and imam Abdullah Antepli.   It felt strange after only a year working in Muslim-Jewish relations to have become a national expert on the… Read more »