Claim OwnershipThe Kehillah RVA Podcast
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© 2026 The Kehillah RVA Podcast
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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
37 Episodes
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DOUBLE CHAI! Episode 36 has Rabbi Patrick rambling about Passover... How to kasher a kitchen when your family members have multiple, competing opinions about what is kosher or notThe pro/con on going to a community seder or hosting your ownWhat do they do? Rabbi answers questions about how his family observes the holidayAnd some notes about kitniyot, pizza, RSVPs, Kehillah recipes, aluminum foil and Jewish food panicThis episode is sponsored in honor of Frank Caras, of blessed memory. A big t...
Get the inside secrets on what it's REALLY like to be a rabbi. • What “work” means when your job is community • Coffee with the rabbi as pastoral care and first contact • Protecting lunch time, health, and sustainable boundaries • Shabbat prep realities, hosting at home, and security logistics • Volunteer culture, delegation, and learning to say "I need help" • Unexpected calls from hospitals and outside community requests • The limits of a part-time role an...
Avi Remetz is the Director of Philanthropy and Engagement for Next Gen, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond’s initiative for young adults to connect, lead, and make an impact. They bring together individuals in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s to build meaningful relationships, strengthen Jewish identity, and create a vibrant future for our community. Reach out to Avi: ARemetz@jewishrichmond.org PASSOVER UPDATE Come hang out with Kehillah at Commonwealth Autism for both nights of s...
“Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal position for just such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) What if where you are right now isn’t accidental? What if this moment — complicated, uncomfortable, demanding — is precisely the one you’re meant to step into? The conversation begins with the surprising parallels between Inglourious Basterds and the Book of Esther — and a cute story about Rabbi and Rebbetzin's second date. Along the way, we explore Purim’s strange joy, its moral tension, and the ...
In this episode, Rabbi Patrick speaks directly to those who feel hurt, betrayed, or disillusioned by famous Jewish men in the news — whether in politics, philanthropy, or Jewish communal life. The rise of antisemitism online is, in some part, caused by their actions. And we the innocent are paying the price for it. Drawing from the Prophet Amos, the story of Eli the High Priest, and even Battlestar Galactica, Rabbi Patrick explores a hard truth: corruption, hypocrisy, and moral compromise are...
Regretfully the audio from this recording was messed up. We chose to publish it anyway, because this interview is just too fun. If you'd like to help us, we could really use someone who likes audio and video production. Volunteer by emailing rabbi@rabbipatrick.com -- free tickets to events for your help! Meet the Rabbi's Kid! Javon is Rabbi Patrick and Rebbetzin Stefanie's son, who joined the family at age sixteen. He talks about what it's like to be adopted into a rabbinical family (no big d...
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...
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