Spiritually Speaking

Ep. 4: Community, Connection, and Showing Up with Lance Gilden

In Episode 4 of Spiritually Speaking, we sit down with Lance Gilden for a warm and honest conversation about community, generosity, family, and what it really means to be the person people know they can call. A longtime member of Temple Beth Sholom, Lance reflects on his journey in Rockland County, raising his family within the TBS community, and the relationships that grew from baby steps, Bar and Bat Mitzvah years, services, friendships, and shared Jewish life. Together, we talk about Lance’s deep belief in connection, from his work as an entrepreneur and business owner to his involvement with Temple Beth Sholom and the Jewish Federation. Lance shares how his bottle redemption business became more than a small business. It became a place of conversation, networking, laughter, recycling, unexpected stories, and real human connection. The conversation also touches on giving back, Jewish values, family, gratitude, and the quiet power of being someone who shows up for others. Lance shares how growing up with little, but with a lot of love, shaped the way he lives today, with a desire to help, connect, and give back wherever he can. A heartfelt and uplifting conversation about kindness, community, family, service, and the people who help hold a community together.

Ep. 5: Crafting a Sacred New Beginning with Tim Englert

In Episode 5 of Spiritually Speaking, we sit down with craftsman and longtime friend of Temple Beth Sholom, Tim Englert, for a heartfelt conversation about art, memory, tradition, and the creation of our new Torah ark. Tim shares his personal journey as a woodworker, his deep connection to the TBS community, and the honor of creating a sacred piece that will hold both our Torahs and the spirit of our next chapter. Together, we explore what it means to honor the past while building something new — a vessel rooted in beauty, touch, history, and hope. As Temple Beth Sholom moves from a sanctuary filled with decades of memories into a new home at the Rockland Jewish Community Campus, this episode reflects on continuity, craftsmanship, and the sacred journey we are taking together.

Ep. 3: Jewish Pride, Resilience, and Community with Jarrod Newman

In Episode 3 of Spiritually Speaking, we sit down with Jarrod Newman for a deeply personal conversation about Jewish pride, resilience, and the power of community in uncertain times. A longtime member of Temple Beth Sholom, Jarrod reflects on family, service, music, and what it means to stay connected to Jewish life with honesty, awareness, and heart. Together, we explore Jarrod’s moving experience visiting the Bondi Beach memorial in Australia after a tragic act of antisemitic violence. He shares what it felt like to stand in a place of beauty and peace while witnessing grief, remembrance, and the strength of a community coming together. The conversation also touches on rising antisemitism, the importance of showing up proudly as Jews, and the responsibility we carry to support one another through fear, loss, and uncertainty. Alongside the heaviness, Jarrod shares the beautiful work of his family’s “Gift of Giving” initiative, a project that brings dignity, comfort, and joy to children and mothers in shelters. A thoughtful and honest conversation about grief, pride, kindness, and the quiet strength that keeps communities together.

Ep. 2: Faith, Purpose, and Community with Father Bill Cosgrove

In Episode 2 of Spiritually Speaking, we sit down with Father Bill Cosgrove for a thoughtful conversation about faith, purpose, and the lived work of community. Drawing from more than five decades of parish life and ministry, Father Cosgrove reflects on vocation, long-term service, and the changing spiritual landscape of our communities. Together, we explore what it means to seek meaning in a time when many people describe themselves as spiritual but not religious, and how faith communities can respond to that search with presence, dialogue, and care. The conversation also touches on interfaith understanding, shared values, and the belief that strong communities are built not by numbers, but by depth, spirit, and commitment. A grounded and honest continuation - reflective, respectful, and deeply human.

Ep. 1: 26 Years of Building Community with David Kirschtel

In our very first episode of Spiritually Speaking, we sit down with David Kirschtel, who has led and continues to lead the JCC in Rockland for 26 years, for a thoughtful conversation about community, responsibility, and shared values. Together, we reflect on community, changes, and the lived work of building community - not in theory, but through presence, care, and long-term commitment. This episode explores what it means to lead with intention and to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected. A meaningful beginning - grounded, progressive, and deeply human.