Claim OwnershipThe Kehillah RVA Podcast
Subscribed: 1Played: 10
Subscribe
© 2026 The Kehillah RVA Podcast
Description
Where community becomes conversation, and Judaism comes alive.
This podcast is your front door to Kehillah—Richmond, Virginia’s independent, progressive Jewish community. Through stories, spiritual insights, and moments of real connection, you’ll get to know what makes Kehillah different: we’re not just a synagogue—we’re the Jewish home you always wanted.
Hosted by Rabbi Patrick Beaulier, each episode features reflections on Jewish wisdom, creative contributions from Kehillah members, and updates on how this radically welcoming community is inspiring people spiritually, intellectually, and socially.
🌐 Website: kehillahrva.org
📲 Instagram: instagram.com/kehillahrva
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/kehillahrva
💛 Support the community: kehillahrva.org/donate
31 Episodes
Reverse
Take a journey through the inner world of your soul and the outer world of the earth. Welcome to Tu Bishvat -- an obscure holiday made living through kabbalistic teaching. In this episode, Rabbi Patrick guides you through one (of many) approaches to Tu Bishvat, and asks important questions about how the skills we have learned to survive may not be the skills we need to thrive. And yes, there is fruit and nuts, too. We end on the question of the earth and Judaism: what if instead of synagogue,...
From Ashton’s experiences working with children with special needs and navigating higher education, to Nick’s path through mechanics, military service, and spiritual reflection, explore with our Kehillah friends in this podcast takeover how their backgrounds, passions, and personalities shape the way they approach life. Along the way, they reflect on leadership, responsibility, and integrity—asking how confidence and humility coexist, how trust is built, and how personal growth happens throug...
Are you tired of being forced to "pick a side"? In a world that feels increasingly polarized—Red vs. Blue, Us vs. Them—we often feel trapped in a binary that doesn’t actually fit our reality. In this episode of the Kehillah RVA podcast, we explore the life-changing power of believing that when two things are true at once, a third way is needed. 🧵 The "Third Way" of Thinking Drawing on the wisdom of Jewish legends and Carl Jung, we dive into why the "tension" between two opposites isn't someth...
In this podcast, we challenge both the Americanized “Hanukkah as Jewish Christmas” approach and the backlash against it...Because Hanukkah’s story is far more complicated than either side admits. Hanukkah is ultimately a blend of civil war memory, Temple rededication, rabbinic theology, and ancient seasonal tradition. That mix is what makes it meaningful. So while we respect concerns about “Christmas-ifying” Hanukkah, we also accept that living in America means cultural blending. As long as w...
If Seinfeld was a show about nothing, then this episode is a podcast about nothing. That's because in this episode of the Kehillah RVA podcast, we get to listen in on a an unedited conversation between Rabbi Elisha Paul, Head of School at RTA - Richmond Hebrew Day School and Rabbi Patrick Beaulier from Kehillah. The conversation goes into every kind of topic -- from demographic shifts in Israel to the Jewish landscape in Richmond, what it means to be religiously observant (or not), the challe...
Want some dad advice from Rabbi Patrick on dating Jewish in Richmond, VA? Well...you're getting it! In this episode, Rabbi Patrick takes the collective observations of Kehillah's singles and offers up spiritual wisdom around places having energies, about Jewish matchmaking, love, companionship, and finding a sense of home where you are and who you are with. Upcoming Events: Latke Making with Brittney: Tuesday, December 9Shabbat Dinner & Service: Friday, December 12Shabbat Morn...
Get to know Kehillah member Shawn Harris as we discuss the life of a creative person, her big moves from the west back to Richmond, the power of imagination, storytelling and world building. Learn more about her project Bizarro Torah: https://bizarrotorah.wordpress.com/ This is part of a series of interviews with Kehillah members including Lori Levy and her parents, Arianna Rose, and Rebbetzin Stefanie. Want to be interviewed? Send us fan mail. Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it ...
Get to know Kehillah member Arianna who you've likely seen around, but have not had a chance to chat with one-on-one. In this episode we discuss growing up as a teen in West Virginia, her move to RVA, a shared love of music, and what it's like for her as a neurodivergent person (and what she needs your brutal help with). Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show Support the show 🕯️ Learn more about Kehillah: kehillahrva.org 💛 Support Kehillah: kehillahrva.org/donate 📲 Foll...
Tired? Burned out? We get it. Kehillah is perfect for you. This episode starts with talking about tents and biblical translations, introversion, the crisis of people flaking out on plans, and tells a private story about Rabbi Patrick being cordially un-invited to something (and it was HIS FAULT!) Join us as we explore being a congregation who's tired...and made for each other. Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show Support the show 🕯️ Learn more about Kehillah: kehillahrv...
Across America, more and more people are asking the same question: What’s the point? Faith has faded, connection feels shallow, and the old ways of belonging don’t seem to fit anymore. But in the Jewish tradition, a crisis is never the end — it’s a birth. So let's get into it. === UPCOMING EVENTS Rebbetzin’s Jewish Prayer Bootcamp (Midlothian): Thursday, November 6 @ 6PMShabbat Dinner and Service at Ellen and Ross’s (Short Pump): Friday, November 7 @ 6PMBagels + Torah Study at Rabbi’s (Midlot...
Meet Kehillah members Sandra and Benjamin, otherwise known as Lori Levy’s parents In this episode, we’ll hear from the eighty-plus year old couple about everything from chicken soup to civil rights, the Black and Jewish experiences in the south and more. Recorded a few days before Rosh Hashanah. Want to be on the Kehillah RVA podcast? It’s not hard! Reach out to rabbi@rabbipatrick.com. About Sandra and Benjamin Sandra Ungar was born in 1940 in Wilkes-Barre, PA to orthodox Hungarian immi...
Recovering from Yom Kippur with this kavanah (intention) to Make Judaism Weird Again! Because we can’t just hand people bagels and lox and expect commitment. A few requests: We need Metro RVA homes for Home Hosted Shabbat. If you have some space November 7 in the evening or November 8 in the morning, we’d appreciate the locationIf you’re interested in adult education, reach out to rabbi@rabbipatrick.com to help create those opportunitiesIf you’d like to see us record on a more regular schedul...
What is the point of a synagogue? A few words for Rosh Hashanah. Event tickets: https://kehillahrva.org/calendar/ Free tickets & support: https://kehillahrva.org/kehillah-cares/ Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show Support the show 🕯️ Learn more about Kehillah: kehillahrva.org 💛 Support Kehillah: kehillahrva.org/donate 📲 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/kehillahrva 📘 Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/kehillahrva 🔁 Share this episode with a friend and help b...
This episode contains content that may be alarming to some listeners. Difficult times lead us to ask: what is God and why do bad things happen? In this two part podcast, Rabbi Patrick gives us some ideas from Jewish tradition about the nature of the Divine. In part one, we talk about the many, varied and unusual ways God is understood to exist in this world. In part two, we get into the hard stuff: what would God want from us, and why do bad things happen? Readings/sources for this podcast fo...
Difficult times lead us to ask: what is God and why do bad things happen? In this two part podcast, Rabbi Patrick gives us some ideas from Jewish tradition about the nature of the Divine. In part one, we talk about the many, varied and unusual ways God is understood to exist in this world. In part two, we get into the hard stuff: what would God want from us, and why do bad things happen? Readings/sources for this podcast found on Sefaria: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/156492?lang=bi If you o...
Did you know 10% of congregants (of all religions in the USA) will LEAVE their community at some point? That's normal! But if you are someone who left, and you feel that tug at your heart to come back, and you're not sure how -- then this podcast episode is for you. YOU CAN COME BACK! Inspired by the story of Joseph and some practical wisdom about the weirdness, awkwardness and emotionally tricky nature of going-then-coming-back, this podcast episode hopes to make you feel comfortable returni...
Sneak preview of all our High Holidays events, details on free tickets and more. TICKETS AT KEHILLAHRVA.ORG Rosh Hashanah Evening Service | Sept 22 - 6:30PMRosh Hashanah Day Service | Sept 23 - 9:30AMShabbat Shuvah Dinner at Rabbi’s | Sept 26 - 6PMShabbat at VA Pridefest | Sept 27 - Noon-8PMHigh Holidays Kids Event at Art Factory | Sept 28 - 5:30PMKol Nidre Evening Service | October 1 - 7PMYom Kippur Day Service | Oct 2 - 10AMYom Kippur Yizkor/Neilah Service & Break Fast | Oct 2 - 6PMThan...
Live from the tiki room, it's Rebbetzin Stefanie! Stefanie discusses why she likes running a synagogue out of her house (although she wishes she had more Star Wars themed furniture), the value of community building, and shares some stories from the early days of dating Rabbi Patrick. Get to know your rebbetzin with this very special episode. QUESTION: are you more of a Halloween or Thanksgiving person? Make sure to answer the questions using Fan Mail! Stefanie wants to know. DONATIONS: we cou...
“Love your neighbor as yourself” is one of the most famous verses in the Torah. But what if your neighbor drives you crazy? What if you disagree about politics, values — or even reality? In this episode, Rabbi Patrick explores what the Torah actually means by “love,” drawing on Leviticus 19, teachings from Rabbi Akiva, and wisdom from Pirkei Avot. You’ll learn how ancient Jewish values—like honoring others, subduing the ego, and treating the stranger as equal—can guide us through the fracture...
Corruption isn’t just a political problem — it’s a human one. Drawing on texts about bribery, justice, and moral courage, Rabbi Patrick helps us explore how unchecked corruption corrodes not only institutions but relationships and communities, and what it really takes to live a life of integrity, and to pursue justice the right way. Because doing the right thing is never easy — but it’s always worth it. Show notes can be found on Sefaria: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/519905?lang=bi UPCOMING...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States