What Does Juneteenth Have to Do with Judaism?

What Does Juneteenth Have to Do with Judaism?

Recorded live as part of Temple Sholom's Juneteenth Shabbat on June 19, 2026. Temple Sholom member, educator, attorney, and shofar blower Nia Crosley joins Rabbi Conover to explore the connections between Juneteenth, the Exodus story, and the ongoing pursuit of freedom. Drawing on Jewish tradition, American history, and personal experience, they reflect on memory, justice, and the responsibility that comes with remembering what it means to be oppressed. Together, they examine the parallels and distinctions between the Jewish and Black American experiences, asking what freedom requires of us today and how sacred memory can inspire meaningful action.

Consider the Grasshopper – Lily Ginsberg at Pride Shabbat

What can a grasshopper teach us about resilience, identity, and hope? Recorded live during Temple Sholom's Pride Shabbat on June 6, 2026, guest speaker Lily Ginsberg explores the surprising role of the grasshopper in Jewish tradition. Often associated with smallness, fear, and vulnerability, the grasshopper becomes a powerful symbol for the ways both Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities have adapted, persevered, and found joy throughout history. Drawing on Parashat Sh'lach Lecha, Lily reflects on the spies who saw themselves as grasshoppers in the Promised Land and asks what happens when we choose to focus not on fear, but on possibility. Through stories, humor, and the Jewish value of hakarat hatov—recognizing the good—this sermon becomes a meditation on resilience, community, and finding hope even in uncertain times.

Belonging Without Protection Isn't Belonging – Rabbi Max Antman

Recorded live on June 5, 2026 What does it mean to belong if your place in the community is always conditional? Rabbi Antman explores the biblical story of the erev rav—the mixed multitude who left Egypt alongside the Israelites, stood at Sinai, and journeyed toward the Promised Land, yet were often pushed to the margins of the community. Drawing on Parashat Beha’alotcha, he asks a challenging question: Can a community truly claim to be inclusive if it fails to protect its most vulnerable members? Connecting ancient Jewish texts with contemporary conversations about LGBTQ+ inclusion, Rabbi Antman reflects on the difference between welcome and belonging, celebration and solidarity, visibility and protection. As Pride Month begins, this sermon is both a call to joy and a reminder that the work of building a community where everyone can thrive is far from finished.

A Stolen Bag, a Wrong Number, and a Lesson About Grace - Rabbi Shoshanah Conover

Recorded live on May 29, 2026 In this sermon, Rabbi Conover begins with an unexpected experience that turned an ordinary day upside down and leads to a remarkable story about a late-night phone call that changed a life. Drawing on Parashat Bamidbar, she explores the Torah's deeper understanding of what it means to count people—not as numbers, but as human beings worthy of being seen. Through personal reflection, ancient wisdom, and an unforgettable true story, Rabbi Conover examines how moments of kindness, compassion, and human connection can become sources of grace when we need them most. Sometimes all it takes is one person willing to stop, listen, and lift another's head.

Standing at Sinai Again – Rabbi Scott Gellman

Recorded live on Friday, May 23, 2026. What would Jewish life look like if every one of us — born Jewish, bagels-and-lox Jewish, high-holidays-only Jewish — woke up one morning and chose it? On purpose? On Shavuot, Rabbi Gellman traces a line from Ruth's declaration on a dusty road to the daily recitation of the Shema, asking what it truly means to be a Jew by Choice — and why that question has never mattered more. He also pauses before Shabbat to hold the tragedy in San Diego, and why Jews, of all people, cannot look away when a house of worship is attacked. Are you still in?