Jan
04
2018

Strive to Make a Difference: Shana Passman | Jewish Family Services

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills

tikkun olam

As my four children left the house, I found myself looking for a way to both fill my time, but more importantly to fill my soul. The answer for me was volunteer work. As far back as I can remember my parents were involved with the community, so I always felt it was the right… Read more »

Jan
03
2018

The Limits of Control: D’var Torah Sh’mot

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

This piece was originally published at ReformJudaism.org on January 1, 2018. Sh’mot, Exodus 1:1−6:1 We take control. We lose control. Sometimes things are beyond our control. There is as much value in recognizing what’s within our control as there is in acknowledging what is not. Finding that balance of what to own and what to… Read more »

Dec
27
2017

What Cantors Do to Get Families to Services… and Why

Cantor Lizzie Weiss

This post originally appeared here on the URJ website on December 22, 2017. As a relatively new cantor, I approach each day as a learning experience and am thrilled by the number of congregants who show up each year for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. During these services, my goal is to offer enough of… Read more »

Dec
20
2017

Strive to Make a Difference: Sue and Barry Brucker | Concern Foundation

Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills

tikkun olam

In our Strive to Make a Difference feature we will highlight member involvement in causes near and dear to their hearts. If you have a connection to a charity and would like to share it with us, please email Hub@tebh.org. Perhaps there is no elegant way to ​explain why Barry and I got involved with,… Read more »

Oct
16
2017

Blessing After The Camp Newman Fires

Cantor Lizzie Weiss

A Blessing for those who Love URJ Camp Newmanby Cantor Lizzie Weiss First there was Saratoga and Swig, where our grandparents and parents and then our generation made memories.  Then there was Newman which we all begrudgingly marched over to And worked hard to rebuild the memories of our past.  And with the lessons of Swig and… Read more »

Oct
12
2017

Prayer of the Month: How We Speak

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

The Amidah Our standing prayer that allows for our silent moments of more personal prayer—it opens and closes with some of the most compelling words of poetry from King David. At the beginning, we say: And at the end we say:The opening and closing words both speak to the power of, well, words. According to… Read more »

Sep
18
2017

The Value of….Betterment

Jenny Kramer

Betterment It is hard to believe that I have already been part of the TEBH community for two months and already feel at home. Over the past two months, as numerous families have warmly welcomed me and shared about what makes TEBH such a special community, I have, in turn, shared about the values I… Read more »

Sep
15
2017

Dear Rabbi: Why Do We Celebrate Two Days of Rosh HaShanah

Rabbi Jonathan Aaron

Dear Rabbi, I have never understood this: why do some synagogues (like Temple Emanuel) celebrate two days of Rosh Hashanah, while others only celebrate one? Dear Celebrater, The origins of Rosh Hashanah’s two days is connected to the 2 day celebrations at the beginning of the three Pilgrimage Festivals (Sukkot, Pesach, Shavuot) and goes back… Read more »

Aug
08
2017

Prayer of the Month: When Your Head Is Not in the Game

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

Core of Goodness There are lots of ways to describe the phenomenon of self-doubt, that you have “psyched yourself out” or that “your head is not in the game”.                        Maybe you are more prone to “not trusting yourself.” At the core, each of these phrases captures a sense of inadequacy…. Read more »

Jul
11
2017

The Value of…Authenticity

Jenny Kramer

Authenticity             I am so excited to officially join the community at TEBH! Leading up to this moment many people have asked me: “How will your journey to this point in your life in uence your leadership as Rabbi Educator?” This question gives me reason to pause and re ect on my journey… Read more »

Jul
06
2017

Dear Rabbi: What are We Preparing for in the Month of Elul?

Rabbi Jonathan Aaron

Dear Rabbi                 Every year you offer “Elul Preparation Classes” at Temple Emanuel. What are we preparing for, and why during Elul? Sincerely, – Too Elul for School       Dear Too Elul for School,               During the month of Elul, Jewish tradition provides several preparatory words, symbols, and actions leading… Read more »

Jan
15
2017

Dear Rabbi: Last Week Someone Told Me I Wasn’t Jewish

Rabbi Jonathan Aaron

Dear Rabbi…                                Rabbi, my father is Jewish and my mother is Christian, I went to religious school, had a bat-mitzvah, and my whole life I’ve had Shabbat dinner at home with my family and friends on Friday nights. Last week someone told me I wasn’t Jewish, is that… Read more »

Nov
16
2016

Dear Rabbi: I’m Finding Myself So Busy…

Rabbi Sarah Bassin

Dear Rabbi… I’m finding myself so busy, with work emails, to-do lists, meetings, and family time—I’m not making any time for any sort of meditation or re ection for myself. Is there any way to infuse a little spirituality so I can start my day on the right foot, without taking a ton of time? … Read more »

Nov
10
2016

Prayer of the Month: Modim

Cantor Lizzie Weiss

When I was a student, a rabbi once asked my class, “What is the BEST prayer in the prayer book?” Fellow students yelled out:                                      “Shma!” “Kaddish!” “Shalom Rav!”                                                 After entertaining everyone’s ideas, he paused and said, “I’ll tell you what the most important prayer in the prayer book is!” We all leaned in anticipatin the… Read more »