IKAR Podcasts

Latest Episodes:

Say it Anyway - Rabbi Hannah Jensen Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

ASL Interpretation for this sermon is available on YouTube.

In this week's parsha we read that Moses pleads with God, and the form of that word (va'etchanan) only shows up in one other place in the Torah - with Joseph. What do these two moments come to teach us about yearning for things we may never get? Why is it important that we articulate those desires anyway?

The Dust and the Stars - Rabbinic Intern Jacob Schatz Jul 19, 2026

Show notes

The book of Deuteronomy has begun, and our people are as numerous as the stars in the sky. But Moses cries out, “Eikhah!”

The famous heart-broken “how” that foreshadows the tragedies of Tisha B’Av. What mournful message does Moses see in the stars? And what, instead, can we learn from the dust?

Rabbis and Prophets: The Challenge of the Moral Critic - Rabbi Sharon Brous and Donniel Hartman Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Join Donniel Hartman and Rabbi Sharon Brous at the Shalom Hartman Institute for a profoundly honest and challenging conversation on the moral responsibility of Jewish leadership today. Together, they explore the complexities of holding onto faith and hope in a world facing overlapping crises—from climate change and the rise of AI to political extremism and the disturbing normalization of violence and antisemitism. Drawing on the teachings of the prophet Micah, Brous and Hartman share what keeps them up at night and where they find reasons to be optimistic. They delve into the crucial difference between winning the war in the Middle East vs. maintaining a moral standing on the global stage, the necessity of truthtelling within the Jewish community, and the controversial debate over the utility of the label "Zionist" in contemporary political discourse. This discussion is an essential watch for anyone grappling with identity, community, and the ongoing struggle to build a just and loving world in times of deep uncertainty. Topics Covered:

The "polycrisis" of our time: Climate change, AI, and violent extremism.
The tension between internal truthtelling and external public relations.
What it means to drop a "sea anchor" when facing waves of fear and anti-Semitism.
Why the words we use matter, and the growing debate over the term "Zionism".

Choose Mercy Before Vengeance Chooses Us - Rabbi Morris Panitz Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

What happens when the man who once found refuge forgets the power of mercy? Drawing together Moses' flight to Midian, the cities of refuge, and one of the Torah's most difficult passages, we discover an enduring challenge to break the cycle of vengeance before it breaks us.

Rabbi Sharon Brous and Reverend Raphael Warnock in Conversation Jun 28, 2026

Show notes

Join Rabbi Sharon Brous in conversation with Raphael Warnock, Baptist pastor and senator from Georgia, to discuss his new book The Crooked Places Made Straight: Reflections on the Moral Meaning of America. Join us on June 27 during services, virtually and in-person.
Senator Reverend Raphael G. Warnock is a transformational voice in Congress and the pastor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, and for the semiquincentennial of America, he exhorts us to reach for the highest and noblest aspects of our national character. Senator Warnock argues that we suffer not from a paucity of resources but from a poverty of moral imagination.

Guest Sermon from Reverend Raphael Warnock Jun 28, 2026

Show notes

Senator Reverend Raphael G. Warnock is a transformational voice in Congress and the pastor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, and for the semiquincentennial of America, he exhorts us to reach for the highest and noblest aspects of our national character. Senator Warnock argues that we suffer not from a paucity of resources but from a poverty of moral imagination.

Kissing Girls on Shabbat w/ Dr. Sara Glass + Lani Santo Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

A conversation with Dr. Sara Glass, author of Kissing Girls on Shabbat, and Lani Santo, CEO of Footsteps, discussing LGBTQ+ identity, chosen family, and building a self-determined life after leaving ultra-Orthodoxy.

The Only One - Rabbi Deborah Silver Jun 21, 2026

Show notes

In this week's Torah reading we meet a character who is mentioned just once and then vanishes from the story. Who is he, and what does he teach us? And what does all of that have to do with being 13?

Before It’s Too Late - Rabbi Sharon Brous Jun 14, 2026

Show notes

The window of opportunity is closing.
But as long as the spark of vitality remains within us, it’s not yet too late.

Confronting Settler Violence: Voices from the Jewish Solidarity Movement Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

A conversation featuring Elly Oltersdorf of Achvat Amim, sharing a firsthand perspective on Jewish solidarity work in the West Bank amid escalating settler violence. Joined by Joe Goldman of New Israel Fund, this conversation will explore what solidarity, moral witness, and shared responsibility can look like in this moment. Co-sponsored by Achvat Amim, New Israel Fund, and Standing Together LA.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

IKAR Podcasts

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6