What a blessing to get to teach Torah every single week and reinterpret our people’s stories from a new perspective each cycle. I truly believe that every path leads to Torah and I strive to connect community interests such as family, the arts, anthropology, and current events (non-partisanly) with our traditional texts. My sermons are also a call to action whether in our personal spiritual journey or through social action: our lived experience of Jewish values.
Sample Sermons
High Holiday Sermons
- R”H Eve 2020: Embracing the Imperfect
- R”H Day 1 2020: The Holy, Complex Family
- R”H Day 2 2020: Tears of Change
- Y”K Kol Nidre: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
- Y”K 2020: Rededication
- R”H 2019: Inclusion
- R”H 2018: Tradition and Change
- R”H 2017: Four Types of Learners / Four Names for the Holiday
Inclusion
- Sisterhood Shabbat
- Sukkot: Welcoming the Stranger in Jewish and Ancient Greek Traditions
- Adding Matriarchs to the Amidah Prayer
- Parashat Vayikra: Biblical Sacrifices and the Heritage of Jews by Choice
How to Have Difficult Conversations (A Series)
- Part 1: Korah’s Difficult Conversation
- Part 2: Parashat Chukat and Humility
- Part 3: Balak, Bilam, and the Donkey
Linguistics
Mourning and Response to Trauma
Senior Sermon
explores our obligation to protect children in our communities from abuse.
Awarded the 2019 Israel H. Levinthal Prize in Homiletics
Rabbi Chaya Bender 