Living Jewishly Out Loud

Rabbi Michael explores what it means to live as a Jew today in America, feeling ghosted by friends and allies. Looking through the lens of early Zionist thinker Leon Pinsker, a doctor who encounters Russian antisemitism, we'll disect what leads him to attempt a diagnosis and treatment of one of history’s most ancient ailments. What he found might haunt you.

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For more information about Congregation Temple Israel, visit: https://www.ti-stl.org/

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

Join the Rabbis as they explore if ghosts are real, and if the spiritual realm interacts with our own. From folklore to Jewish rituals to the TI ghost (yep, we have a campus haunting), the Rabbis unpack what may happen to the soul after we die. Let's discuss!

• The Apocrypha

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This episode’s theme song was written & performed by Jeremy Lieb.

Have you ever felt like you’ve lived a past life (spoiler alert: Rabbi Amy has!), or that a loved one's soul eerily reminds you of a relative who passed away long before them? This episode explores the fascinating, hidden world of Jewish mysticism, and reveals how the journey of the spirit could extend far beyond a single lifetime.

• G'vurot: The second paragraph of the Amidah prayer
• Rambam's list of things that make you Jewish

• Who is the Rambam (aka Maimonides)
• The 13 principles that make one Jewish

• Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
• The Kuzari and Yehuda "Judah" HaLevi

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This episode’s theme song was written & performed by Jeremy Lieb.

Do aliens really exist, and if so, what do ancient artwork and Jewish texts tell us about them? Join the Rabbis as they dive into the unknown — ancient mysteries and modern disclosure — to discover how extraterrestrial life may fit into a spiritual worldview.

Notes from the episode:

• Ancient relief from The Louvre in Paris, France

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This episode’s theme song was written & performed by Jeremy Lieb.

We often define our Jewishness through the shared collective trauma that has followed us for millennia. These trials shape the narrative we tell ourselves, the world, and perhaps most impactfully, our younger generations. But as we strive to preserve and share our historic suffering, we also teach the world that this is all it means to be Jewish.

As we look ahead, we must ask ourselves – what can we do to find our Jewish joy again? How do we recapture the vibrant, beautiful, joyful mosaic that truly defines what it means to be a Jew? As we move forward, we must focus our gaze on the future – a brighter future – filled with love.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

Has the Golden Age of the American Jew come to an end? On Rosh Hashanah morning, Rabbi Michael tells us his answer: absolutely not. Our destiny is that of our own making, and history demonstrates that every generation has their own opportunity to fight for what it means to be a Jew. We have not been gifted times of greater ease or freedoms, we have fought for it - for ourselves, and for future generations.

So now, in a time where Jews are facing a rise in antisemitism not seen for decades, what will we do to fight, not just for Jewish rights, but for our joy?

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

For generations, Jews have strived for acceptance. From our neighbors, from our communities, from the world. Where acceptance eluded us, we tried assimilation. For centuries the American Jewish journey was defined by the struggle to balance tradition & identity with compromise & integration.

Now perhaps, it is time to try a third option: authenticity. It is time for us to shine and succeed as Jews, and to make no apology for who we are.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

What type of Jew are you? Perhaps a “Passover Jew,” defined by your empathy & care for others, even those beyond your community? Or maybe a “Purim Jew,” focused on protecting the Jewish community, building our metaphoric walls high to prioritize ourselves and our children.

Or just maybe, we pick a third option while we still can; one defined by both bravery and protection, as well as by empathy for our families, our community, and the world. If not now, when?

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

During this busy time of year – kids heading back to school, Labor Day plans, the High Holy Days approaching, fall sports underway – it can feel difficult to add anything else to your plate. But in many ways, it is in fact the best time of year to recommit to living Jewishly out loud. The Torah reminds us that being a mensch is an innate responsibility, not just when it is convenient, but when our acts of kindness will make the greatest impact on the world. Join Rabbi Michael as he explores how to embrace the Jewish tradition of loving your neighbor, and why there has never been a better time to do so.

Lighten your load in preparation for the High Holy Days.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

As we head into the High Holy Days, we often focus on teshuvah — the hard work of apologizing and making amends. But what about the modern "villains" in our lives whom we aren't ready to forgive? In this powerful pre-holiday episode, discover three practical, psychological tools for processing deep resentment. While forgiveness requires two people, letting go of hatred is an inner job that only you can do for yourself; tune in to lighten your emotional load and prepare your heart for a truly peaceful New Year.

Lighten your load in preparation for the High Holy Days.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

Is a "good friend" someone who never judges you, or the one person with the courage to call you out? Drawing from the Torah, this episode dives into the difficult Jewish obligation of tochecha — offering constructive criticism to those we love. From a mysterious Talmudic story about a rabbi and a neighbor’s ox to the three golden rules of "rebuking" without ruining a relationship, we explore how holding each other accountable is the ultimate Jewish act of love.

This sermon originally aired on April 24, 2026.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

We’ve all heard Jewish caregivers kvell over their "exceptional" children — the doctors, the lawyers, the "tall and handsome" sons. And they're right to: Jews make up only 0.2% of the population, yet hold 20% of the world’s Nobel Prizes and the list of accomplishment goes on and on. Is it just good luck, or is it the way we’re raised? In this episode, Rabbi Amy breaks down the "Talmudic Checklist" — a six-point roadmap of parental obligations that ensures the next generation doesn't just survive, but thrives.

This sermon originally aired on May 8, 2026.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

The world often embraces Jewish stories when they are tragic, memorialized in museums, or win Academy Awards — but as Dara Horn famously wrote, "People love dead Jews. Living ones, not so much." In this episode, the Rabbis explore the vital connection between our history of loss, our modern right to self-determination, and our future, where the ultimate act of defiance is living with unapologetic Jewish joy.

This sermon originally aired on April 17, 2026.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

Having just commemorated Yom HaShoah, and in this moment of deep communal challenge and change, Rabbi Amy reflects on what it means to live openly as a Jew. Drawing on a personal experience, she speaks honestly about loss and isolation since October 7, while also sharing moving stories of unexpected allies and renewed commitment to Jewish life. Her message is a reminder that even in turbulent times, we are strong, we are resilient, and we are not alone.

This sermon originally aired on October 2, 2025.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

Moses stands before the burning bush and receives the divine command to tell Pharaoh, "Let my people go," yet he repeatedly resists, citing a profound speech impediment. Yet, this story serves as a powerful reminder that while we are all deeply flawed and bound to fail, if God can entrust the leadership of a nation to a man who struggled to speak, we too are capable of achieving greatness despite our own imperfections.

This sermon originally aired on January 13, 2026.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

When terrible things happen, we often look for where to place the blame - villains, ourselves, even God. This week’s Torah portion prompts us to ask the same question about how the Israelites went from having Joseph as Pharoah’s right-hand man to being entirely enslaved in Egypt just a short time later.

This sermon originally aired on January 9, 2026.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

Drawing on Mark Twain’s famous observation of Jewish endurance, this sermon explores how the secret to Jewish continuity lies not in having all the answers, but in our commitment to passing down stories and planting for the future. Even in a modern world filled with uncertainty, rising antisemitism, and complex questions that feel impossible to answer, our tradition encourages us to find clarity in our purpose. Like the story of Honi and the carob tree, we are called to be a people that build and flourish for the next generation—planting seeds of meaning today so that those who follow us can taste the fruit tomorrow.

This sermon originally aired on January 23, 2026.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

Jewish congregations, and Temple Israel specifically, have a long tradition of innovation and change. In the generation to come, we need to both appear more Jewish and make more Jewish appearances.

This sermon originally aired on December 5, 2025.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

Throughout American Jewish history, there have been times when it seems that a switch flips in us that reminds us that our Judaism is our defining feature. Now is the time to embrace our particularism and go all in for Judaism.

This sermon originally aired on September 23, 2025.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.

In times of danger, we have warnings that help us protect ourselves, but there’s rarely a sign that tells us when the danger has passed. The shofar, however, provides a message about both protection and when we can return to feeling safe and whole again.

This sermon originally aired on September 22, 2025.

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This podcast’s theme song, “Oseh Shalom,” is performed by Rob Aronson.