May
21
2018

Abby Wolf’s Bat Mitzvah, June 9, 2018

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills

abby wolf bat mitzvah temple emanuel of beverly Hills

I am a 7th grader at El Rodeo school. I enjoy dancing, listening to music, photography and playing with my dog Matilda. I am so grateful for my older brother Sam and my parents, Emily and Jeff Wolf. I am so lucky to have such supportive friends and family.For my Mitzvah Project, I am working… Read more »

May
14
2018

Maya Gibson’s Bat Mitzvah, June 2, 2018

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills

maya gibson temple emanuel beverly hills

Hi, I am Maya Gibson. I am in 7th grade and I am 13 years old. I attend City Charter Middle School. I have been a soccer player since I was 5 and currently I play for Culver City Football Club. I am also a huge fan of art and all things involving creativity. My… Read more »

May
03
2018

Strive to Make a Difference: Julian Javor | Pilots N Paws

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills

tikkun olam

In June of 2016, I began the pursuit of a lifelong dream of mine – Flying. Since I was a baby, aviation has been a huge passion of mine. Between you and me, it’s been more of an obsession – posters on my walls, model airplanes on my dresser, a bed in the shape of… Read more »

May
02
2018

On Helping Syria and Refusing Powerlessness

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

save the syrian children the big fill rabbi sarah bassin

I have no idea how to fix Syria.  Most Middle East experts admit they don’t either.  It’s complicated.  The Middle East is littered with the failed good intentions of our political interventions.  Now when we face the complicated in that region, we conclude that the best response must be no response.  My own disbelief at… Read more »

May
01
2018

Noor Houriani’s Bat Mitzvah, May 19, 2018

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills

noor houriani temple emanuel beverly hills

My name is Noor Nora Houriani. I am currently in 7th grade at Hawthorne School where I recently won the Aristonian Award for academic excellence. I like to play piano and tennis and I enjoy spending time with my friends. My parents are Mehrdad and Noushin Houriani. My siblings are triplets and I have two… Read more »

May
01
2018

A Reflection on Art and Soul – Fly: The Musical

Cantor Lizzie Weiss

cantor weiss temple emanuel

This past weekend I had the opportunity to witness thirteen magnificent teens pour their hearts out in word and song in the first ever “Art and Soul” show entitled “Fly: The Musical”. Last November I entered a partnership on behalf of Temple Emanuel with Craig Taubman and the Pico Union Project. Craig had been approached… Read more »

Apr
14
2018

Eli Nissenbaum Bar Mitzvah, April 14, 2018

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills

eli nissenbaum bar mitzvah tebh

I am a seventh-grade student at New West Charter, and my favorite subject is history because I love learning about the past. Soccer is my passion — I play for a west side club, FC England, and train hard as a goalkeeper. I hope to play in college, and one day, even play professionally. I… Read more »

Apr
13
2018

Yom HaShoah 2018, A Reflection

Rabbi Jonathan Aaron

yom hashoah temple emanuel beverly hills 2018

“Today, all over the world, Jews are remembering. Today, all over the world, it is Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. Today we continue to feel it and connect to it. Today our stories are heard. Today, and every year on this same day, Jews all over the world, whether connected through family, or connected through… Read more »

Mar
17
2018

Sela Aaron’s Bat Mitzvah, March 17, 2018

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills

sela aaron temple emanuel bat mitzvah blog

I am a 7th grader at Emerson Community Charter. I like to play guitar, be with kids, run, and spend time with my family. My parents are Jonathan and Michelle Aaron and I have an older sister, Adina, who is 16. For my Bat Mitzvah project, I have been volunteering with the dogs at Wags… Read more »

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 »

Jan
29
2018

How We Win Is Important: D’var Torah B’Shalach

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

This piece was originally published at ReformJudaism.org on January 26, 2018 B’shalach, Exodus 13:17−17:16 If we as Jews believed in a hell, Amalek would have a special place in it. Since we don’t, we take care in every generation to blot out Amalek’s name. It’s a level of disdain we retain for the worst of… Read more »

Jan
25
2018

Strive to Heal the World

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills

tikkun olam temple emanuel

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills strives to connect with the larger Jewish community and engage with the broader world. Tikkun Olam is a centerpiece of what we do at Temple Emanuel and a pillar value held by our congregation. Here are some of the ways we as a temple help make a difference in the… Read more »

Jan
22
2018

Thinking Big and Failing Fast: D’var Torah – Bo

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

This piece was originally published at ReformJudaism.org on January 20, 2018 Bo, Exodus 10:1−13:16 Think big. As a society, we value those who step beyond the status quo, who push us beyond what we think is possible. We think of them as heroic — because they possess a talent that we do not. But what… Read more »

Jan
12
2018

Kavanah for January 2018

Rabbi Jonathan Aaron

Kavanah January 2018   We count our lives by years But we don’t live that way We live for future moments For deadlines, for parties, for anniversaries and travels For raises, and for endings For lovers, and for friends We live in the past Remembering or lamenting Our projects, our parties, our anniversaries and travels… Read more »

Jan
10
2018

Shortness of Breath, Shortness of Spirit: D’var Torah Va-eira

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

rabbi sarah bassin temple emanuel of beverly hills

Va-eira, Exodus 6:2−9:35 High school wasn’t great for me. I functioned at the periphery of social groups, laying low and laughing at jokes made at my expense so as not to be excommunicated into social oblivion. The weekend I left for college, I never once second guessed my decision until the moment my parents said goodbye… Read more »