Tune in weekly to hear Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union For Reform Judaism, offer divrei Torah (insights into the weekly Torah portion) to help open up Jewish thought and its contemporary influence on your life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Android, or get the RSS feed.
Click the links below to find transcripts of each episode. This index is currently a work in progress, with more transcripts added every week.
- Born to Lead, Born to Serve, Parashat Sh'mot, Torah Portion read on 1/17/20
- The Jewishness of Healing, Parashat Va-y'chi, Torah Portion read on 1/10/20
- Formed in the Wilderness, with Jeremy Fingerman, CEO of The Foundation for Jewi Parashat Vayigash, Torah portion read on 1/3/20
- The Meaning of Our Miracle, Parashat Mikeitz, Torah Protion read on 12/23/2019
- Under the Sky, Parashat Vayeshev, Torah Protion read on 12/16/2019
- A Place Unlike Any Other, Parshat Vayishlach, Torah Protion read on 12/9/2019
- The Power of Jewish Meditation, Parashat Vayetzei, Torah Protion read on 12/2/2019
- The Alter of Achievement, Parashat Tol'dot, Torah Protion read on 11/25/2019
- Two Jews, Three Opinions, One Heart, Parashat Chayei Sarah, Torah Protion read on 11/18/19
- And You Shall Love..., Parashat Vayeira, Torah Protion read on 11/11/2019
- Dancing With Our Tradition, Parashat L'ech Lecha, Torah Portion read on 11/04/2019
- Fruit of the Vine, Parashat Noach, Torah Protion read on 10/28/2019
- Creation and Co-Existence, With Special Guest David Broza, Parashat B'reishit, Torah Protion read on 10/20/2019
- Within These Tree Walls, 10/13/2019
- Do What We Can, reflections for Yom Kippor, 10/07/2019
- Moving On and Letting Go, reflections for the Jewish New Year, 9/29/2019
- A Little Drop of Sweetness, Parachat Nitzavim, Torah Porotion read on 9/26/2019
- The Commitment of Covenant, Parachat Ki Tavo, Torah Porotion read on 9/16/2019
- Everyone Thinks They Are The Good Guys, Parachat Ki Teitzei, Torah Porotion read on 9/9/2019
- The Pursuit of Justice, Parachat Shof'tim, Torah Portion read on 9/2/2019
- On The Road Agian, Parachat R'eih, Torah Portion read on 8/26/2019
- The Heart Of The Matter, Parachat Eikev, Torah Portion read on 8/19/19
- It Only Takes One, Parachat Va-et'chanan, Torah Portion read on 8/12/19
- Raising Our Voices, Parachat D'varim, Torah Portion read on 8/5/19
- Our Moral Compass, Parachat Matot-Mas'ei, Torah Portion read on 7/29/19
- Bridging The Divide, Parashat Pinchas, Torah Portion read on 7/22/19
- From Curses to Blessings, Parashat Balak, Torah Portion read on 7/15/19
- Wonder Women, Parashat Chukat, Torah Portion read on 7/8/19
- Rebel With (or Without) a Cause, Parashat Korach, Torah Portion read on 7/1/19
- Challenge Accepted, Parshat Sh'lach L'cha, Torah Portion read on 6/24/19
- Breaking Barriers and Saving Lives, Parshat B'haalot'cha, Torah Portion read on 6/17/219
- Suspicious Minds: The “Errant” Woman, Parshat Naso, Torah Portion read on 6/10/19
- But, Who's Counting. Parshat B'midbar, Torah Portion read on 6/3/19
- Making Our Community Better for Everyone. Parshat B’chukotai, Torah Portion read on 5/27/19
- Understanding Human Connection. Parashat Acharei Mot, Torah Portion read on 5/4/19
- Passover II: Song of Songs. Pesach. Torah Portion read on 4/27/19
- Passover: Our Obligations When in Power and When Powerless. Pesach. Torah Portion read on 4/20/19
- Shabbat HaGadol:Spiritual Cleansing. Parashat M'tzora, Torah Portion read on 4/13/10
- Healing the Spirit. Parashat Tazria, Torah Portion read on 4/6/19
- The Dangers and the Neccessities of Innovation. Parashat Sh'mini, Torah Portion read on 3/30/19
- Courageous Choices. Parashat Tzav, Torah Portion read on 3/23/19
- The Laws of Leviticus, Choice, and A.J. Jacobs, the Gratitdue Expert. Parashat Vayikra, Torah Portion read on 3/16/19
- Spirituality and Art. Parashat P'kudei, Torah Portion read on 3/9/19
- How Do We Build Our Communities? Parashat Vayak'heil, Torah Portion read on 3/2/19
- Stand Up and Be Counted. Parashat Ki Tisa, Torah Portion read on 2/23/19
- Does Our Clothing Show Our Identity? Parashat T'tzaveh, Torah Portion read on 2/16/19
- Building a Sacred Space. Parashat T'rumah, Torah Portion read on 2/9/19
- When Judaism Calls Us to Speak Out Courageously. Parashat Mishpatim, Torah Portion read on 2/2/19
- Breaking Down Labels. Parashat Yitro, Torah Portion read on 1/26/19
- Remembering Debbie Friedman. Parashat B'shalach, Torah Portion read on 1/19/19
- What Is Lost in Translation. Parashat Bo, Torah Portion read on 1/12/19
- What Do We Really Think About God? Parashat Va-eira, Torah Portion read on 1/5/19
2018
- What's in a Name? Parashat Sh'mot, Torah Portion read on 12/29/18
- 8 Lessons for Today's World in the Book of Genesis. Parashat Vay'chi, Torah Portion read on 12/22/18
- Jewish/Catholic Relations: On Reconnecting. Parashat Vayigash, Torah Portion read on 12/15/18
- Where is God Today? Parashat Mikeitz, Torah Portion read on 12/8/18
- Losing and Finding Connection. Parashat Vayeishev, Torah Portion read on 12/1/18
- Knowing When to Wrestle and When to Hug. Parashat Vayishlach, Torah Portion read on 11/24/18
- Hate Will Not Define Us. Parashat Vayeitzei, Torah Portion read on 11/7/18
- The Value in both Jacob and Esau. Parashat Tol'dot, Torah Portion read on 11/10/18
- Creating a Strong Jewish Future. Parashat Chayei Sarah, Torah Portion read on 11/3/18
- How to Have Moral Courage. Parashat Vayeira, Torah Portion read on 10/27/18
- How to Be Generous. Parashat Lech L'cha, Torah Portion read on 10/15/18
- The Difference Between Truth and Fact. Parashat Noach, Torah Portion read on 10/13/18
- #MeToo and Torah. Parashat B'reishit, Torah Portion read on 10/6/18
- Reconnecting With the Earth. Sukkot, Torah Portion read on 9/29/18
- Poetry as Torah. Parashat Haazinu, Torah Portion read on 9/22/18
- A Person's Impact. Parashat Veyeilech, Torah Portion read on 9/15/18
- Why Organ Donation is Jewish. Parashat Nitzavim, Torah Portion read on 9/8/18
- Why Mental Health Matters. Parashat Ki Tavo, Torah Portion read on 9/1/8
- Can War Ever Be Ethical? Parashat Ki Teitzei, Torah Portion read on 8/25/18
- Pursuing Justice From the Torah. Parashat Shof'tim, Torah Portion read on 8/18/18
- How Can We End Poverty? Parashat R'eih, Torah Portion read on 8/11/18
- Reward and Punishment. Parashat Eikev, Torah Portion read on 8/4/18
- The Future of Judaism. Parashat Va-et'chanan, Torah Portion read on 7/28/18
- Why Tragedies Happen and How to Respond. Parashat D'varim, Torah Portion read on 7/21/18
- Cities of Refuge. Parashat Matot-Mas'ei, Torah Portion read on 7/14/18
- Defeating Extremism with Acts of Courage. Parashat Pinchas, Torah Portion read on 7/7/18
- The Beauty of Humility. Parashat Balak, Torah Portion read on 6/30/18
- Remember Rabbi Aaron Panken, Ph.D, z"l. Parashat Chukat, Torah Portion read on 6/23/18
- What Makes a Leader? Parashat Korach, Torah Portion read on 6/16/18
- Optimism and Hope. Parashat Sh'lach L'cha, Torah Portion read on 6/9/18
- Don't Kvetch. Parashat B'haalot'cha, Torah Portion read on 6/2/18
- Lifting Our Heads One Year After Charlottesville. Parashat Naso, Torah Portion read on 5/26/18
- A Look at the Numbers. Parashat B'midbar, Torah Portion read on 5/19/18
- The Torah's Take on Respecting the Earth. Parashat B'har, Torah Portion read on 5/12/18
- Unnamed Women. Parashat Emor, Torah Portion read on 5/5/18
- Ethics in the Marketplace. Parashat Acharei Mot-K'doshim, Torah Portion read on 4/28/18
- We Need to Talk About Anti-Semitism. Parashat Tazria-M'tzora, Torah Portion read on 4/21/18
- Never Again for Anyone. Parashat Sh'mini, Torah Portion read on 4/14/18
- Mindful Jewish Eating. Parashat Sh'mini, Torah Portion read on 4/7/18
- Making Passover Personal. Passover, Torah Portion read on 4/1/18
- Following Their Lead. Parashat Tzav, Torah Portion read on 3/24/18
- What's the Point? Parashat Vayikra, Torah Portion read on 3/17/18
- Creating the Power of a Space with Michael Arad. Parashat Vayak’heil-P’kudei, Torah Portion read on 3/10/18
- Just Rest. Parashat Ki Tisa, Torah Portion read on 3/3/18
- What to Wear. Parashat T'tzaveh, Torah Portion read on 2/24/18
- The Right Ways to Give. Parashat T'rumah, Torah Portion read on 2/17/18
- Always Be Present. Parashat Mishpatim, Torah Portion read on 2/10/18
- Courageous Leadership. Parashat Yitro, Torah Portion read on 2/3/18
- When it's the Time to Act, and When it's the Time to Pray. Parashat B'shalach, Torah Portion read on 1/27/18
- Fighting for Freedom. Parashat Bo, Torah Portion read on 1/20/18
- Modern Day Moses. Parashat Va-eira, Torah Portion read on 1/13/18
- Putting Faith Into Action. Parashat Sh'mot, Torah Portion read on 1/6/18
2017
- What Lives on of Us When We Die? Parashat Va-y'chi, Torah Portion read on 12/30/17
- A Modern-Day Joseph. Parashat Vayigash, Torah Portion read on 12/23/17
- The Menorah in the Window. Parashat Mikeitz, Torah Portion read on 12/16/17
- Learning from Joseph. Parashat Vayeishev, Torah Portion read on 12/9/17
- Dinah's #MeToo Story. Parashat Vayishlach, Torah Portion read on 12/2/17
- Jacob the Refugee. Parashat Vayeitzi, Torah Portion read on 11/25/17
- Deciding Who You Are. Parashat Tol'dot, Torah Portion read on 11/18/17
- The Death of Sarah. Parashat Chayei Sarah, Torah Portion read on 11/11/17
- The Wife-Sister Motif. Parashat Vayeira, Torah Portion read on 11/4/17
- Nothing Left Behind. Parashat Lech L’cha, Torah Portion read on 10/28/17
- Acts of God. Parashat Noach, Torah Portion read on 10/21/17
- There's Something About Seven. Parashat B'reishit, Torah Portion read on 10/14/17
- Do You Always Reap What You Sow? Sukkot (Kohelet), Torah Portion read on 10/5/17
- Repentance and Forgiveness. Shabbat Yom Kippur, Torah Portion read on 9/30/17
- Should We Question Authority? Parashat Ha'azinu, Torah Portion read on 9/23/17
- It is Not in the Heavens. Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilech, Torah Portion read on 9/16/17
- Not If, But Whem. Parashat Ki Tavo, Torah Portion read on 9/9/17
- How Not to Hate. Parashat Ki Teitzei, Torah Portion read on 9/2/17
- What Makes a Good Judge. Parashat Shof'tim, Torah Portion read on 8/26/17
- Eating With Compassion. Parashat R’eih, Torah Portion read on 8/19/17
- A Seat at the Table. Parashat Eikev, Torah Portion read on 8/12/17
- Why We Should Bring Politics to the Pulpit. Parashat Va-et'chanan, Torah Portion read on 8/5/17
- For All of the Jewish People. Parashat D'varim, Torah Portion read on 7/29/17
- Why Journey? Parashat Matot-Mas'ei, Torah Portion read on 7/22/17
- Challenging the Rules. Parashat Pinchas, Torah Portion read on 7/15/17
- Songs of the Soul. Parashat Balak, Torah Portion read on 7/8/17
- When to Ask Why. Parashat Chukat, Torah Portion read on 7/1/17
- Sacred Disagreement. Parashat Korach, Torah Portion read on 6/24/17
- Judaism on the Fringes. Parashat Sh'lach L'cha, Torah Portion read on 6/17/17
- Is the Torah Colorblind? Parashat B'haalot'cha, Torah Portion read on 6/10/17
- What is a Blessing? Parashat Naso, Torah Portion read on 6/3/17
- Do Numbers Matter? Parashat B'midbar, Torah Portion read on 5/27/17
- What the Torah Says About Being Green. Parashat B'har-B'chukotai, Torah Portion read on 5/20/17
- Gratitude, Obligation, and Responsibility: A Jewish Year with Abigail Pogrebin. Parashat Emor, Torah Portion read on 5/13/17
- The Torah's Take on Love. Parashat Acharei Mot-K'doshim, Torah Portion read on 5/6/17
- What We Get Wrong About the Dreaded Parashiyot. Parashat Tazria-M'tzora, Torah Portion read on 4/29/17
- Kashrut Explained (Or, Why I Can't Eat A Camel). Parashat Sh'mini, Torah Portion read on 4/22/17
- Why is This Passover Different from Other Passovers? Passover, Torah Portion read on 4/15/17
- How to Be a Leader. Parashat Tzav, Torah Portion read on 4/8/17
- When Torah Meets Theater. Parashat Vayikra, Torah Portion read on 4/1/17
- Are You My Idol? Parashat Ki Tisa, Torah Portion read on 3/18/17
- Protecting Our Planet and Other Sacred Places. Parashat T’tzaveh, Torah Portion read on 3/11/17
- What Does "Generosity" Really Mean? Parashat T’rumah, Torah Portion read on 3/4/17
- An Eye for an Eye. Parashat Misphatim, Torah Portion read on 2/15/17
- Looking Beyond Our Differences. Parashat Yitro, Torah Portion 2/18/17
- Life's Shortcuts and the Benefits of a 40 Journey. Parashat B'shalach, Torah Portion on 2/11/17
- Finding the Truth in our Stories. Parashat Bo, Torah Portion 2/4/17
- What Made Moses Great. Parashat Ve-eira, Torah Portion read on 1/28/17
- The Amazing Women of Exodus. Parashat Sh'mot, Torah Portion read on 1/21/17
- What Lives After Death. Parashat Va-y'chi, Torah Portion read on 1/14/17
- Putting Judah in Judaism. Parashat Vayigash, Torah Portion read on 1/7/17
2016
- Fighting Darkness with Light. Parashat Mikeitz, Torah Portion read on 12/31/16
- Making an Impact. Parashat Vayeishev, Torah Portion read on 12/24/16
- Healing a Negative Relationship. Parashat Vayishlach, Torah Portion read on 12/17/16
- Our Spiritual Ascents. Parashat Vayeitzei, Torah Portion read on 12/10/16
- Who Will Carry Our Tradition Forward? Parashat Tol'dot, Torah Portion read on 12/03/16
- Seeing Blessings Every Day. Parashat Chayei Sarah, Torah Portion read on 11/26/16
- Where is God? Parashat Vayeira, Torah Portion read on 11/19/16
- How to be a Hero. Parashat Lech L’cha, Torah Portion read on 11/12/16
- Electing a Righteous Leader. Parashat Noach, Torah Portion read on 11/5/16
- Creationism vs Science: Which is the Truth? Parashat B'reishit, Torah Portion read on 10/29/16
- Sukkot and the Fragility of Life. Sukkot, Torah Portion read 10/17/16
- Between a Rock and a Hard Place. Parashat Haazinu, Torah Portion read on 10/15/16
- The Sacred Art of Letting Go. Parashat Vayeilech, Torah Portion read on 10/8/16
- Standing for What Matters Most. Parashat Nitzavim, Torah Portion read on 10/1/16
- Spiritual Centering. Parashat Ki Tavo, Torah Portion read on 9/24/16
- The Morality of War. Parashat Ki Teitzei, Torah Portion read on 9/17/16
- Demanding Justice. Parashat Shof'tim, Torah Portion read 9/10/16
- Fighting Poverty. Parashat R'eih, Torah Portion read on 9/3/16
- Entitlement vs Gratitude. Parashat Eikev, Torah Portion read on 8/27/16
- What is the Essence of Judaism? Parashat Va-et'chanan, Torah Portion read on 8/20/16
- Leaving the Comfort Zone. Parashat D'varim, Torah Portion read on 8/13/16
- Life is a Journey, Not a Destination. Parashat Matot-Masei, Torah Portion on 8/6/16
- Religious Extremism. Parashat Pinchas, Torah Portion read on 7/30/16
- How Does a Curse Become a Blessing? Parashat Balak, Torah Portion read on 7/23/16
- Thirsting for Wisdom. Parashat Chukat, Torah Portion read on 7/16/16
- Questionable Intentions. Parashat Korach, Torah Portion read on 7/9/16
- Facing the Future. Parashat Sh'lach L'cha, Torah Portion read on 7/2/16
- Gossip. Parashat B'haalot'cha, Torah Portion read on 6/25/16
- What Makes Life Meaningful? Parashat Naso, Torah Portion read on 6/18/16
- Uniting as One, Despite Our Differences. Parashat B'midbar, Torah Portion read on 6/11/16
- Do We Believe that Good Behaviour Brings Rewards? Parashat B'chukotai, Torah Portion read on 6/3/16
- Social Justice to the Extreme. Parashat B'har, Torah Portion read on 5/28/16
- Justice and Balance in Modern Times. Parashat Emor, Torah Portion read on 5/21/16
- Loving Your Nieghbor. Parashat K'doshim, Torah Portion read on 5/14/16
- The Boundaries of Innovation, Parashat Acharei Mot, Torah Portion read on 5/7/16
- Special Edition: The Jewish Calendar, Torah Portion read on 4/30/16
- Special Edition: Pesach, Torah Portion read on 4/31/16
- Shabbat HaGadol. Parashat Metzora, Torah Portion read on 4/16/16
- Where and How Do We Heal? Parashat Tazria, Torah Portion read on 4/9/16
- Is There a Moral Dimension to Our Food? Parashat Sh'mini, Torah Portion read on 4/2/16
- What Are We Obligated To Do? Parashat Tzav, Torah Portion read on 3/26/16
- Balancing Innovation and Tradition. Parashat Vayikra, Torah Portion read on 3/19/16
- The Indivudal and the Collective. Parashat P'kudei, Torah Portion read on 3/12/16
- Community. Parashat Vayak'heil, Torah Portion read on 3/5/16
- How Do You Center Your Life? Parashat Ki Tisa, Torah Portion read on 2/27/16
- Symbolism in Garments. Parashat T'tzaveh, Torah Portion read on 2/20/16
- Building a Just World. Parashat T'rumah, Torah Portion read on 2/13/16
- Reaching Towards a Moral Life. Parashat Mishpatim, Torah Portion read on 2/6/16
- Humility and Advice. Parashat Yitro, Torah Portion read on 1/30/16
