You've Always Belonged Here: The Temple Israel Podcast

Exploring three traditional interpretations of why Abraham was chosen to lead, Rabbi Plesent reflects on how we can earn our purpose by staying attuned to the opportunities and callings presented in our everyday lives.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠

Drawing from Maimonides and this week's Torah portion of Noah and the Ark, Rabbi Friedman teaches that righteousness isn’t something we achieve once, but a habit we build through everyday acts of kindness, courage, and generosity.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠

In this week's episode, Cantor Becky Mann teaches that every day offers an opportunity for a new beginning and reminds us that growth comes from embracing our humanity and finding the courage to try again, rather than the strife for perfection.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠

This week, Rabbi Zachary A. Plesent spoke about how Sukkot teaches us to move from fragility to vulnerability, embracing life’s uncertainty while remaining open to joy, connection, resilience, and the people we welcome into our lives.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠⁠

During Yizkor, Cantor Becky Mann spoke about finding light in moments of darkness, reminding us that even when there are no words to ease our grief, we can carry one another through with love, presence, and hope.

High quality livestreams of all our High Holy Day 2026 services are available for free online at ⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org/hhd26services⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠⁠

During Yom Kippur 2026, Rabbi Michael S. Friedman spoke about how Judaism can serve as a counterbalance to AI by preserving the uniquely human capacities for thinking, creating, relationships, morality, tradition, meaning, and spiritual connection.

High quality livestreams of all our High Holy Day 2026 services are available for free online at ⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org/hhd26services⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠⁠

On Kol Nidrei, Rabbi Zachary A. Plesent charged us to reclaim disagreement as a sacred practice, and approach those who differ from us with curiosity, kindness, and a recognition of our shared humanity so that darkness can give way to light.

High quality livestreams of all our High Holy Day 2026 services are available for free online at ⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org/hhd26services⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠⁠

On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Nemitoff-Bresler explored the concept of yirah, a word that means both fear and awe, and invites us to acknowledge our fears while choosing to notice the gratitude, joy, and wonder that surround us.

High quality livestreams of all our High Holy Day 2026 services are available for free online at ⁠⁠tiwestport.org/hhd26services⁠⁠

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠⁠

This Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Friedman reflected on the changing experience of being Jewish in America and calls us to respond with Jewish pride, courage, resilience, and a commitment to building a vibrant Jewish future.

High quality livestreams of all our High Holy Day 2026 services are available for free online at ⁠tiwestport.org/hhd26services⁠

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠⁠

On Erev Rosh Hashanah – which coincided with the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 – Rabbi Friedman spoke about what it means to hold onto our values when fear takes hold.

High quality livestreams of all our High Holy Day 2026 services are available for free online at tiwestport.org/hhd26services

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠⁠

In this week's episode, Rabbi Michael S. Friedman uses photos from his office to teach how the historic Black-Jewish partnership of the Civil Rights era can inspire us to rebuild relationships, pursue justice together, and return to who we are at our best.

The referenced photos can be found in the episode artwork for this week.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠⁠

For this week's episode, Rabbi Plesent shares how the Elul acronym for ani l'dodi v'dodi li ("I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine,” Song of Songs 6:3) invites an expansive love for self and others that can inspire us in this season.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠⁠

This week, Rabbi Lily Goldstein teaches that Elul is a season of reflection and preparation, inviting us to take responsibility for our own growth, strengthen our faith and courage, and move toward the people we hope to become.

For this week's daf, please visit tiwestport.org/daf

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠

Grounded in a personal heritage of deep political conviction and amidst today's shifting tides, Rabbi Michael S. Friedman calls on us to navigate current political uncertainties not by retreating, but rather deepening our interfaith partnerships, engaging our leaders face-to-face, and boldly reaffirming our Jewish identity and resilience.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠

This week, Rabbi Lily Goldstein, citing her current pregnancy, remarked on how this week's Torah portion – Parashat Eikev – invites us to move beyond fear of the evil eye and anxiety about arrogance, embracing gratitude as the most authentic Jewish response to life's blessings.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠

Inspired by Debbie Friedman's Mourning Into Dancing, Rabbi Lily Goldstein, Rabbi Zachary A. Plesent and Cantor Becky Mann gave a sermon in three parts this week about what that means to them.

Mourning Into Dancing by Debbie Friedman can be listened to here.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠

This week, Cantor Julia Cadrain helps us explore how rest, healthy boundaries, and self-advocacy are not acts of selfishness but sacred practices that renew us and strengthen our ability to care for others.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠

This week, Rabbi Plesent remarked about the United States of America's semiquincentennial and how respectful disagreement can strengthen both our communities and our democracy.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠

For this week's podcast, Cantor Becky Mann taught us during our Pride Shabbat on the Beach that we are all created b'tzelem elohim – in the image of God.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠

Drawing on the shared history of enslavement and the imperative to remember the past, Rabbi Elana Nemitoff-Bresler reflects on the deep parallels between Passover and Juneteenth, calling for solidarity between the Jewish and Black communities to fight systemic racism and work together toward tikkun olam.

To learn more about Temple Israel, please click the links below.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@templeisraelwestport⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel of Westport, CT⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠Temple Israel Westport⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠tiwestport.org⁠