Explore every episode of the podcast Kol Jeshurun

Rabbi Hannah Ellenson explores what a meaningful Chanukah may be, inviting us to rededicate ourselves to open the gates of justice, holiness, and kindness wide for all who want to enter.

A TBJ Tradition of Homecoming Shabbat on Thanksgiving weekend features Zach Rosen and Jordyn Lipkin. Listen as they share what life is like now as Jewish students at Cornell University and the University of Maryland. Through their experience, we encounter a modern theater of anti-Semitism. Listen and discover their courage, hope, and strength. Elevating their Jewish identity on campus, while playing lacrosse on the international stage and making Aliyah, Zach Rosen and Jordyn Lipkin are nothing short of inspirational.

This episode is Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz's first sermon of an upcoming series on AI. Looking deeply into the the ethical, existential and spiritual puzzle brought by AI, Rabbi Gewirtz highlights the need for us, the creator of these machines and technology, to maintain our access to ourselves and the depths of our souls.

Rabbi Hannah Ellenson’s November 14, 2025 sermon calls for us to all celebrate life and bring a better reality into being. We are to be open to another side of the story that may have been hidden from our view.

We watch as brothers reunite against the odds being stacked against them in this refreshing account of the story of Isaac and Ishmael.

A service of memory and hope in the wake of October 7th as we mark the somber 2 year anniversary of that dark day with prayer and music.

Originally aired Erev Shabbat - October 10, 2025

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz's Rosh Hashana Morning Sermon

September 22nd, 2025 ~ 5786

Mark Gerson is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, author and the co-founder and Chairman of United Hatzalah, the crowd-sourced network of volunteer medics that save people’s lives in the two minutes that separate life from death. On September 12, 2025, he joined us at TBJ to teach about his new book "God Was Right: How Modern Social Science Proves the Torah Is True."

Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman proclaims 5786 here we come.

Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein tenderly leads "Tree of Life" by Nefesh Mountain while Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz shares of his most recent trip to Israel.

Sermon: Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz

Music & lyrics by Nefesh Mountain - sung by Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein & Matt Turk, Music Director

Originally broadcast - Erev Shabbat 8/1/25

Theme Music & Production by Matt Turk

TBJ Alum and Coordinator of Chapter Engagement and Strategy at Israel Policy Forum, Rebecca Mandelbaum shares her profound insight on her trip to Auschwitz this spring, her work in Israel advocacy and conflict resolution, and how she holds on to hope during uncertain times.

A bit about Rebecca:

Rebecca Mandelbaum is IPF Atid Coordinator of Chapter Engagement and Strategy. She received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Judaic Studies from Brown University and her master’s degree in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at Columbia University. Prior to joining IPF, Rebecca served as an intern at the Anti-Defamation League, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Principal Legal Advisor, the Jewish Distribution Committee, and a research assistant at the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution.

In a world overwhelmed by hardship and division, the story of Balaam reminds us that wisdom, holiness, and the power to bless can come from unexpected places—even outside our own community—and that by staying open and attentive, we can bring more goodness and peace into our lives and to our world.

Rabbi Hannah Ellenson shares her thoughts about this week's Torah portion - Balak.

Rabbi Perolman reflects on how Judaism models that a loving relationship spurs us to action.

Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman offers her reflections on Parshat Sh'lach Lecha and how we manage our fear during these unprecedented and uncertain times.

Originally aired Erev Shabbat - June 20th, 2025

“Yatzah MiMitzrayim by Elana Arian and Noah Aronson” sung by Cantor Lucy Fishbein and Matt Turk. Original theme music by Matt Turk.

As we approach the end of the Passover holiday, listen as Cantor Lucy Fishbein shares about the time honored Passover tradition that in every generation each of us should imagine that we ourselves experienced the exodus from Egypt.

Rabbi Karen Perolman's inspired sermon begins with Jonathan Larson's infamous rock musical quote: "The opposite of war isn't peace...it's Creation!"

Originally aired March 28, 2025.

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz' sermon takes light from TBJ children's wisdom to his recent mission to Kibbutzim Nir Oz and Erez, meeting with freed Israeli hostages, being in chance proximity to a terror attack, approaching wholeness in Jerusalem and finding the compelling need for healing and completion of this stage of the October 7th war.

More of "Nobody Wants This!"

Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman and Lauren Rutkin (who happens to be married to TBJ's Senior Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz) sit down to discuss more about the hit Netflix show-- what rang true, what was over the top, and what they hope to see in Season 2.

On October 7, the Cohens hid in their bomb shelter with their two young sons in their home in Kibbutz K’far Aza for nearly 30 hours. They quieted their older son, Adam, by watching 'Cocomelon' on his iPad. Eleven-year-old TBJ member Cody Braverman, who voices the main character on the show, was able connect with Adam, which is what brings the Cohens to TBJ on January 5, 2024. This is their harrowing story of survival against all odds.

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz reflects on the impact of his experience viewing the harrowing footage of the attacks on October 7th and how we all parse out our different views on the conflict as it unfolds.

Originally broadcast December 19th, 2023.

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director.

Rabbi Leah Sternberg explores the concept of machloket l'shem shamayim, arguments for the sake of heaven, as it pertains to the present conflict in Israel/Gaza.

Cantor Lucy Fishbein sings a classic Israeli folk song, Ani V'atah - Me & You - which expresses how it is our responsibility to work together to create the change we wish to see in the world.

Music & Lyrics by Arik Einstein

Originally broadcast November 10th, 2023 @ 5:23pm

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director

Rabbi Matt Gewirtz reports back after a very powerful trip to Israel in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks.

Cantor Lucy Fishbein sings a heart wrenching peace of music - Rikmah Enoshit Achat (We are one human tapestry) by Moti Hammer - to honor the fallen in Israel.

Originally broadcast November 3rd, 2023

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director

The first in our Israel series:

Rabbi Perolman reflects on the aftermath of October 7th and how the world immediately changed. She asks the question "what do we do now??" and gives us some tools to start searching for the answer.

Sermon originally aired Friday October 27th, 2023 at TBJ.

For more information, visit us at TBJ.org.

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director.

Cantor Lucy Fishbein of TBJ sits down for a conversation with her teacher, Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller. Cantor Schiller has been a professor at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion for 35+ years and is a prolific composer in her own right. She is on the verge of retiring from her post as the Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman Professor of Liturgy, Worship and Ritual and Professor of Cantorial Arts and shares her reflections on her career and the evolution of the cantorate in the 4 decades of her career!

Senior Cantor Emeritus Howard M. Stahl shares his thoughts on TBJ's 175 years.

Jen Biegelsen joined Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz to discuss his new book 'To Build a Brave Space: The Making of a Spiritual First Responder'.

Here is the conversation that took place on Friday December 2, 2022 at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.

Congregant Rachel Braverman shares her courageous journey through discovering and overcoming breast cancer.

Originally delivered October 5th, 2022 at Temple B'nai Jeshurun during the Yom Kippur Afternoon Healing Service.

Congregational friend Jill Goldstein shares her heart breaking 9.11 loss, her healing renewal in newfound love, and all in the context of her relationship with God and her Jewish faith.

A lifelong educator from Newark, New Jersey's South Ward, Charity Haygood speaks on social and economic justice in the context of biblical enslavement and wandering. Haygood asks from our Liturgy, “When will redemption come? When we grant everyone what we claim for ourselves.”

Originally aired during Shabbat services in the Summer of 2021.

Produced and edited by Matt Turk, TBJ's music director.

Theme Music by Matt Turk.

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun Music Director Matt Turk sits down with legendary Cantor Jeffrey Klepper to discuss how Cantor Klepper, Rabbi Daniel Friedlander and Debbie Friedman “torpedoed" Reform Judaism, Jazz legend Arnie Lawrence, Rabbi Chaim Stern’s importance and bringing guitar to liturgical music. Episode 2 of 2.

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun Music Director Matt Turk sits down with legendary Cantor Jeffrey Klepper to discuss “Shalom Rav”, the importance of camp music and how it changed Reform Judaism, becoming a composer, the guitar and his “Ah-Ha” moment at the Chasidic Music Festival.

Episode 1 of 2.

TBJ's Music Director, Matthew J. Turk presents a special musical presentation celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This program was made possible by the generosity of the Dreifus Family in honor of their Aunt Esther Teidor. The video of this presentation can be found here.

Directed and arranged by Matthew J. Turk, Music Director

Lead Vocals: Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein, Matthew J. Turk

Quartet:

Marni Raab, Halley Gilbert, Ethan Fran, Michael Tedesco

Band:

Gary Schreiner, Piano

Dave Richards, Bass

Ben Sutin, Violin

Eran Fink, Drums

Sound Engineer: Jim Ferrante

Produced: Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein

With humility, grace and courage, TBJ’s Julie Cohn shares her family's recent experiences with Covid-19.

TBJ Music Director Matthew J. Turk explores the folk process through three melodies Et Dodim, Yis’m’chu V’mal’chut’cha and Hinei Mah Tov, discovering similarities, differences and the distinction between oral and written tradition in folk music.

Former Ambassador of Israel to the US, Michael Oren discusses his new book "To All Who Call in Truth"

Today on Kol Jeshurun we highlight music written by Israeli composers throughout the ages performed as our Sermon in Song on April 16, 2021 in honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day. Presented by Cantor Lucy Fishbein, Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz, Cantoral Intern Jenna Mark, Matthew J. Turk, Music Director and the TBJ Band.

Kabbalat shabbat:

Artza alinu – Israeli pioneer folk song

Tzena, Tzena - Issachar Miron & Julius Grossman

Mah yafeh hayom – Issachar Miron & Julius Grossman

Zamru l’Adonai – Yoel Sykes

L’cha dodi – Mordechai Ze’ira

Sermon in Song

Ani V’atah – 1971 – Arik Einstein, Miki Gavrielov

Shir Lashalom – 1970 – Yair Rosenblum

Shir la’ahava (yachad) – 1999 – Gili Liber

Yih’yeh Tov – Yonatan Gefen, David Broza

Every morning one of our clergy and staff goes live on Facebook for a morning message called “Boker Tov (Good Morning) TBJ”. This week on Kol Jeshurun, you will hear a few highlights from the last month of Boker Tov messages including reflections, meditations, and song.

S'fatai Tiftach (Music by Beit T'filah Israeli)

Elohai N'shama (Music by Craig Taubman)

Produced by Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein

Theme Music composed by Matthew J. Turk

TBJ Music Director Matthew J Turk shares four Passover melodies providing historical context TBJ Music Director Matthew J Turk shares four Passover melodies providing historical context and offering space for reflection on their spiritual meaning today.

Theme Music & Production by Matthew J. Turk

#ICYMI

This week on Kol Jeshurun, we revisit Shabbat Services on March 19th, 2021. Listen as our guest speaker, Mark Gerson, presents about the wisdom of the Haggadah in celebration of the publication of his new book "The Telling: How Judaism's Essential Book Reveals the Meaning of Life".

https://www.therabbishusband.com/

This week on Kol Jeshurun, your clergy present reflections, music and moments of memory to honor the year that has passed and hope for what is to come.

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz and Cantor Howard Stahl reflect on what they and we have learned throughout this past year of the pandemic.

Produced by Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein

Theme Music by Matthew J. Turk

This week on Kol Jeshurun, Rabbi Perolman is joined by Dr. Nancy Simpkins who has been our "North Star" throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Simpkins answers all our questions about the vaccine, who can get it, why we should get it, and what we can expect in the months ahead.

Produced by Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein

Theme Music by Matthew J. Turk

This week on Kol Jeshurun, Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman is in Conversation with Rabbi Sari Laufer from Stephen Wise Temple (LA). They discuss the book of Esther, Vashti and how these women shape the holiday of Purim for all of us.

Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein offers a d'var torah on this week's Torah portion - Terumah - and its most famous line:

"וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם."

“Prepare for me a sanctuary​, that I may dwell within you.” - Exodu​s 25:8

07:18 - Lord Prepare Me (J.W. Thompson & R. Scruggs)

Vocals: Cantor Emma Lutz & Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein

Audio Production, Piano & Guitar: David Kates

Produced by Lucy B. Fishbein

Theme Music by Matthew J. Turk

This week on Kol Jeshurun, Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman is in conversation with Debbie Evans, LCSW and Jordyn Feingold, MAPP and Medical Student about how we navigate a COVID world with compassion for ourselves and others.

Produced by Lucy B. Fishbein

Theme Music by Matthew J. Turk

In this weeks installment of Kol Jeshurun, Rabbi Gewirtz has a roundtable discussion with four congregational lay leaders who have been at the helm of TBJ's Synagogue Board during times of communal and national crisis. Using this weeks Torah portion, Parshat Yitro, as a framework, Rabbi Gewirtz discusses what leadership means during times of acute crisis and how we move forward with wisdom and healing.

Transcription available: https://images.shulcloud.com/3262/uploads/Episode4LeadershipinTimesofCrisisTranscript.pdf

Featuring:

Charles Dreifus (President 1988-90)

Richard Zucker (President 2001-2)

Maureen Spivack (President 2011-14)

Craig Parker (President 2019-Current)

Produced by Lucy B. Fishbein

Theme Music by Matthew J. Turk

In this weeks episode of Kol Jeshurun, Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz and Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman are in conversation with best-selling author, Erica Keswin. Listen as they discuss how rituals have the ability to impact the way we engage with our everyday activities and change the way we live our lives, particularly during these turbulent times.

Erica Keswin is the author of Rituals Roadmap (2021) and Bring Your Human to Work (2019).

To purchase Erica’s new book visit https://ericakeswin.com/rituals-roadmap/

Produced by Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein

Theme Music by Matthew J. Turk

Listen as Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman reflects on the events of the 2021 Presidential Inauguration and this week's Torah Portion, Parshat Bo. How does the biblical story of the Egyptian Pharaoh's heart being hardened help us reflect on the ways in which the last 5 years have hardened our hearts? How might we become more open hearted in the weeks and months to come?

L’dor Vador - Music & Lyrics by Josh Nelson

Vocals: Lucy B. Fishbein

Guitar: Matthew J. Turk

Piano: Pedro D’Aquino

Percussion: Eran Fink Violin: Benjamin Sutin

Produced by Lucy B. Fishbein

Theme Music Composed by Matthew J. Turk

On this edition of Kol Jeshurun, Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein and Matthew J. Turk share American folk songs from Shabbat Services on January 8th, 2021. Listen as Cantor Fishbein shares thoughts on the ways in which music frames our experiences, prayers and identity.

This Land is Your Land (Woody Guthrie)

If I Had a Hammer (Lee Hays and Pete Seeger)

America the Beautiful (Katherine Lee Bates, Samuel A. Ward)

Oseh Shalom (Nurit Hirsch)

Produced by Lucy B. Fishbein & Matthew J. Turk

Theme music composed by Matthew J. Turk

Listen as Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein and TBJ Music Director Matthew J. Turk perform a unique arrangement of the civil rights era anthem Abraham, Martin and John by Dion DiMucci in honor of Martin Luther King Day.

Vocals: Lucy B. Fishbein

Guitar & Mandolin: Matthew J. Turk

Theme music composed by Matthew J. Turk

Welcome to Kol Jeshurun, a podcast of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun. In this introduction episode, listen to Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz and Rabbi Leah H. Sternberg chat about how this podcast came to be, and hear a taste of what is to come.

Theme music composed by Matthew J. Turk