Sermons

5786 | 2025-2026

Who is a Zionist?
Shabbat Lech Lecha | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

The Sacred Power of Emotion
Yom Kippur | By Rabbi Michael Schwab

To Life!
Yom Kippur | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

The Power of Faith in Contemporary Times
Rosh Hashanah | By Rabbi Michael Schwab

Humility: Finding Something Bigger
Rosh Hashanah | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

President’s Rosh Hashanah Address
Rosh Hashanah | By Larry Pachter

Cars and Souls
Erev Rosh Hashanah | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

5785 | 2024-2025

Standing Together Before the New Year
Shabbat Nitzavim 5785 | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

Leadership Is Earned in the Difficult Moments
Shabbat Nasso | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

“Don’t Murder” Means Much More Than That
Shavuot 1 5785 | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

What Have We Learned About the Jewish People from the Hostage Nightmare?
Shabbat Emor 5785 | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

Getting Knocked Down
Shabbat Tazria Metzora 5785 | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

Jewish Thoughts about Free Will – Part 2: Pharaoh
Shabbat Bo 5785 | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

Judaism and Free Will – Part One
Shabbat Vaera 5785 | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

Building Strong Jewish Identity in the Diaspora
Shabbat Vayechi 5785 | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

Rebuilding After Loss
Shabbat Hayyei Sarah | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

Why Not Celebrate Sukkot in the Spring?
Shabbat Hol Hamoed Sukkot | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

Yom Kippur:
Together We Will Make It Through
By Rabbi Michael Schwab
What Our Children Should Understand About Antisemitism
By Rabbi Alex Freedman

What to Return to in 5785?
Shabbat Shuvah–Haazinu | By Rabbi Alex Freedman

Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Shuvah – Haazinu: What to Return to in 5785?
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Nitzavim-Vayelech: Social Ladders Should Be Social Circles
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Ki Tavo: Each of Us Has a Role in History
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Behukotai: The Lie of Israel and Genocide
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Kedoshim: Campus protests
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Passover 1: Passover After October 7th Should Be Different
Rabbi Michael Schwab | Shabbat Vayikra: What Will Be Your Esther Moment?
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Vayakhel: Betzalel, Grandson of Hur
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Ki Tisa: Together in Tough Times
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Terumah: Joy and Pain Together
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Vaera: Freedom’s First Step
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Miketz: From Bad to Good to Bad to Good
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Vayislach: What I’m Wrestling With Right Now
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Toldot: Better to Be the Younger Sibling
Rabbi Michael Schwab & Rabbi Alex Freedman| Shabbat Chayei Sarah: Lessons from the past to help us understand Israel’s present
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Lech Lecha: Freeing Israel’s Captives
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Noah: Israel: Strength and Peace
Rabbi Michael Schwab | Shabbat Beresheet: Am Yisrael Chai – 10/14/23

Shmini Atzeret:
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Yizkor – Shmini Atzeret: Just be

Sukkot:
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Sukkot: Why is Sukkot right after Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur:
Rabbi Michael Schwab | Dedication: A Path to a Meaningful Life and A Better Society
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Why So Many Rules?

Rosh Hashanah:
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Leyl Rosh Hashanah: Alone Together
Rabbi Michael Schwab | Rosh Hashanah 1: Chasing Inspiration
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Rosh Hashanah 1: How to Say Sorry
Rabbi Michael Schwab/Rabbi Alex Freedman | Rosh Hashanah 2:
Joint sermon: How to Deal with an Uncomfortable Jewish Text
Marla Grossberg: President’s Remarks

5783 | 2022-2023

Erev Rosh Hashanah 5783 – A Model of Teshuvah | Rabbi Michael Schwab
Rosh Hashanah 5783– From Broken to Beautiful | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Rosh Hashanah 5783 – Why be Jewish? | Rabbi Michael Schwab
Yom Kippur 5783 – Good at Heart | Rabbi Michael Schwab
Yom Kippur 5783 – Honoring Parents is Not For Kids | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shmini Atzeret (Yizkor) 5783 – Last Words | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Lech Lecha 5783 – Abraham’s Second Journey | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Hayyei Sarah 5783– The Test of Strangers | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Vayetzei 5783– Visible in the Dark | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Chanukah 5783– What’s the Deal with the Shamash Candle? | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Shmot 5783– Talking with G-d | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Yitro 5783– Youth Shabbat | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Passover Day 2 5783– Rabbi Sacks Z’L – The Missing 5th | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Hol Hamoed Pesach 5783– Where to Start the Passover Story? | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Shmini 5783– Is Kosher Chicken Parmesan Kosher? | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Behar-Behukotai 5783– Wherever You Go This Summer, Do Something Jewish | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shavuot 1 – 5783– On the Wings of Eagles | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shavuot 2 – 5783– Dreams and Reality | Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Shabbat Ki Teitzei 5783– Why be kind to animals? | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Ki Tavo 5783– Voices from Israel | Rabbi Alex Freedman

5782 | 2021-2022

Erev Rosh Hashanah 2021 – Rachel’s Prayer is Most Effective | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Rosh Hashanah 2021 – Teshuvah: Returning to a Place You Have Never Been | Rabbi Michael Schwab
Rosh Hashanah 2021 – Reconnect to Israel: Go, Watch, Listen | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Yom Kippur 2021 – Words Build Worlds | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Yom Kippur 2021 – The Transformative Power of Torah | Rabbi Michael Schwab
Shemini Atzeret 2021 – Yizkor| Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Lech Lecha 5782 – What is a Person Worth? |Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Miketz/Shabbat Hanukkah 5782| A New Spin on Chanukah candles and Shabbat candles | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Vayechi 5872 – When Dreams Intersect | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Shmot 5782 – How Long Were the Jews in Egypt | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Mishpatim 5782 – Naaseh V’Nishma – We will do and we will | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Vayakhel 5782 – My Favorite Israeli Poem |Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Emor 5782–No Always Means Yes to Something Else | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Behukotai 5782 – First Responders Follow G-d’s Ways | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Emor 5782– No Always Means Yes to Something Else | Rabbi Alex Freedman

5781 | 2020-2021

Shabbat Korach 5781 Zooming Out for Clarity on Israel | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Shlach Lecha 5781 – “The Survey Says…” – Key Takeaways From the Recent Pew Research Survey on Jewish Americans | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim – We Are Always On, Even When The Zoom Camera is Off | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Pesach 5781 – The Long and Short of Journeys |Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Tetzaveh 5781 – Making Room for Others: Moses, G-d, and Disney World | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Yitro 5781 – Jewish Ethics and Vaccine Distribution | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Vaera 5781 – Moses, Herzl, mRNA, and Tenacity | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Vayishlach 5781 – Connecting to Israel through TV: My Favorite Israeli Shows Streaming Now, and What They Say About Israel Today | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Toldot 5781 – Rabbi Sacks Z”L and the Genesis of Responsibilities | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Vayera 5781 – Post-Election Thoughts | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Shabbat Breishit – Think Different | Rabbi Freedman
Erev Rosh Hashana 2020 – Return | Rabbi Michael Schwab
Rosh Hashana 2020 – Crossing the Finish Line Together | Rabbi Michael Schwab
Rosh Hashanah 2020 –A Football Player’s Wisdom for Racial Justice | Rabbi Alex Freedman
Yom Kippur –Painting the Picture of Those We Love | Rabbi Michael Schwab
Yom Kippur – Jewish Hope and Chutzpah | Rabbi Alex Freedman

5780 | 2019-2020

Shabbat Zachor -Living in tension: When to stand firm, and when to compromise?
Shabbat Va’era – Rabbi Alex Freedman “The Forgotten Word in Exodus”
Shabbat Vayigash 5780 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Anti-Semitism-Flight With Light”
Shabbat Vayishlach 5780 – Rabbi Michael Schwab “Gratitude”
Shabbat Vayeshev 5780 Rabbi Alex Freedman “Hanukkah’s Other Miracles”
Shabbat Toldot 5780 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Should We Give Money to Beggars on the Street?”
Shabbat Hayyei Sarah 5780 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Why Thanksgiving is a Jewish Holiday”
Shabbat Vayera 5780 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Honestly, Is It Ever OK To Lie?”
Shabbat Breishit 5780 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Humankind: Of Lower and Higher”
Shabbat Hol HaMoed Sukkot 5780 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Why Does Judaism Have So Many Rules
Shmini Atzeret Yizkor 5780 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “People We Love Keep Us Warm”

High Holiday Sermons 2019/5780:

Erev Rosh Hashanah 2019 – Rabbi Freedman “Don’t Aim for Perfect; Aim for Better”
Rosh Hashana 2019 – Rabbi Michael Schwab “Rosh Hashanah: Oy to Joy!”
Rosh Hashanah 2019 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Take 5 Minutes Each Day To Deepen Your Jewish Knowledge”
Yom Kippur 2019 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Seth Rich Z’L; How to Comfort Mourners”
Yom Kiuppur 2019 – Rabbi Michael Schwab “A Vision for Beth El: Fulfilling Our Dreams”

Parshat Re’eh Rabbi Alex Freedman “Defining Anti-Semitism”
Parshat Kedoshim Rabbi Alex Freedman “Honoring Parents Is Not For Kids”
Pesach II 5779 04.21.19 Rabbi Alex Freedman “Who Knows Why We End the Seder With “Who Knows 13?”
Parshat Mishpatim 02.02.19 Rabbi Alex Freedman “Mitzvah Means Jewish Responsibility”
Parshat Shimini 3.30.19 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “What’s Our Beef With The Pig?”
Parshat Shmot 12.29.18 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Strangers: Heroines of the Exodus”
Parshat Shuva 9.15.18 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Jonah = Noah 2.0”
Parshat Tezaveh 02.16.2019 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Jewish Routines: Springboards for Growth and Change”
Parshat Vaera 01.05.19 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Moses, Water, and Reflections”
Parshat Vayera 10.27.2018 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Lead by Following”
Parshat VaYeshev 12.01.18 – Rabbi Alex Freedman “Where Should We Place the Hanukiyah in an Anti-Semitic World?”
Parshat Noah 10.13.2018 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Toldot 11.10.2018 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Vayishlach 11.24.2018 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz

High Holiday Sermons 2018/5779:

Erev Rosh Hashana 2018 – Rabbi Alex Freedman
Rosh Hashana 2018– Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Rosh Hashana 2018 – Rabbi Michael Schwab
Yom Kippur 2018 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Yom Kippur 2018 – Rabbi Michael Schwab

5778 | 2017-2018

Shabbat Sermons:

Parshat Nitzavim 9/8/2018 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Sh’lach 6.9.2018 6/9/2018 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Behar-Bechukotai 5.12.2018 05/12/2018 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Acharie Mot-Kedoshim 4.28.2018 04/28/2018 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Pesach Yizkor – Rabbi Michael Schwab (google doc seder questions)
Parshat Ki Tisa 3.3.2018 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Noah 10/21/17 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz

High Holiday Sermons:

Erev Rosh Hoshana 2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Rosh Hashana 2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Rosh Hashana 2017 – Rabbi Michael Schwab
Yom Kippur 2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Yom Kippur 2017 – Rabbi Michael Schwab
Shemini Atzeret 2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz

5777 | 2016-2017

Shabbat Sermons:

Parshat Ha’Azinu 10/15/2016 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Chol Hamoed Sukkot 10/22/2016 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Noach 11/5/2016 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Vayeshev 12/24/2016 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Vayigash 01/07/2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Shemot 01/21/2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Beshalach 02/11/2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Terumah 03/04/2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
13th Anniversary Shabbat 04/01/2017 – Rabbi Michael Schwab
Parshat Tzav 04/08/2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Shemini 04/22/2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Behar-Bechukotai 05/20/2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Naso 06/3/2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Parshat Ki Tavo 09/09/2017 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz

High Holiday Sermons:

Rosh Hashana 2016 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Rosh Hashana 2016 – Rabbi Michael Schwab
Yom Kippur 2016 – Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Yom Kippur 2016 – Rabbi Michael Schwab

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Sermons

5786 | 2025-2026

5785 | 2024-2025

5784 | 2023-2024

Shmini Atzeret:
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Yizkor – Shmini Atzeret: Just be

Sukkot:
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Sukkot: Why is Sukkot right after Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur:
Rabbi Michael Schwab | Dedication: A Path to a Meaningful Life and A Better Society
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Why So Many Rules?

5783 | 2022-2023

5782 | 2021-2022

5781 | 2020-2021

5780 | 2019-2020

High Holiday Sermons 2019/5780:

5779 | 2018-2019

High Holiday Sermons 2018/5779:

5778 | 2017-2018

Shabbat Sermons:

High Holiday Sermons:

5777 | 2016-2017

Shabbat Sermons:

High Holiday Sermons:

In This Section

Sermons

Shmini Atzeret: Rabbi Alex Freedman | Yizkor – Shmini Atzeret: Just be

Sukkot: Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Sukkot: Why is Sukkot right after Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur: Rabbi Michael Schwab | Dedication: A Path to a Meaningful Life and A Better Society Rabbi Alex Freedman | Why So Many Rules?

High Holiday Sermons 2019/5780:

High Holiday Sermons 2018/5779:

Shabbat Sermons:

High Holiday Sermons:

Shabbat Sermons:

High Holiday Sermons:

In This Section

Shmini Atzeret:
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Yizkor – Shmini Atzeret: Just be

Sukkot:
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Shabbat Sukkot: Why is Sukkot right after Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur:
Rabbi Michael Schwab | Dedication: A Path to a Meaningful Life and A Better Society
Rabbi Alex Freedman | Why So Many Rules?