Kol Jeshurun

Rabbi Jonah Pesner preaches at TBJ about how to together create a world as it should be, one overflowing with social justice where love drives out hate and light drives out darkness.

Rabbi Pesner preaches at TBJ about how to together create a world as it should be, one overflowing with social justice where love drives out hate and light drives out darkness. Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner serves as the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and as senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism. Named one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine, he is an inspirational leader and tireless advocate for social justice. Rabbi Pesner is a visiting scholar at Harvard University, speaks regularly on college campuses, has trained students on all four campuses of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and gives speeches in interfaith and secular venues all over the world. Rabbi Pesner serves as a board member of the NAACP and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. He is a member of the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council for the Department of Homeland Security.

Dr. David Jefferson Jr's inspiring sermon proclaims how good it is to be in the picture and how to stay in God’s picture as one human family. Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein sings Chava Mirel's "May We Find Peace" to conclude.

Dr. David Jefferson Jr. is the Director of the Center for Africana Studies at Kean University and a professor of religion and philosophy. An ordained minister and widely respected speaker, his work explores faith, culture, and social responsibility through multiple lenses. Listen to Dr. Jefferson's sermon about how it's good to be in the picture and how to stay in the picture. Emphasizing you are not forgotten, and your life is still in God's frame, you are asked to declare I'm still in the picture. Within the sacred frame of Shabbat, God's holy pause, we are all called to stay in the picture as one family. Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein sings Chava Mirel's "May We Find Peace" to conclude.

In this inspiring episode Rabbi Naamah Kelman-Ezrachi’s sermon calls for a “divinity that is renewed and renewing,” filled with change and shared values.

Naamah Kelman-Ezrachi is an American-born Israeli Reform rabbi who was named as Dean of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion campus in Jerusalem starting in July 2009. In 1992, Kelman made history as the first woman in Israel to become a rabbi when she received her rabbinic ordination. In this inspiring episode Rabbi Kelman’s sermon calls for a “divinity that is renewed and renewing,” filled with change and shared values. Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein sings Elana Arian’s “Lo Vashamayim Hi” with the TBJ band featuring Cantor Becky Mann. “It is not in Heaven”, referring to the Torah that is not distant and mysterious, is rather accessible and meaningful to humans on earth.

A Covenant That Ties Generations Together

Rabbi Hannah Ellenson speaks on a covenant that ties generations together. One that is defiant in the face of injustice with acts of moral courage. One where leadership is meeting God, trusting in moments both filled with fear and courage.

Chanukah: A time to rededicate ourselves...

Rabbi Hannah Ellenson explores what a meaningful Chanukah may be, inviting us to rededicate ourselves to open the gates of justice, holiness, and kindness wide for all who want to enter.