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© 2025 Beth Tzedec Podcasts
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Podcasts from Beth Tzedec Congregation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Watch our programs and services at https://bethtzedec.tv . Join Beth Tzedec Congregation https://beth-tzedec.org
188 Episodes
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Yacov Fruchter reflects on Adam’s first encounter with darkness, drawing lessons about feeling emotions deeply, taking responsibility, and finding resilience through connection. Just as Adam and Eve endured the night together until the sun rose, and as Omer Shemtov found healing through a first embrace after captivity, we too must support one another in times of fear and uncertainty. He urged the community not to let fear dictate life, but instead to witness each other’s pain, embrace courage...
Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin calls for a long-overdue apology to Canadian Jews. While past governments have issued apologies for harms done to other communities, Jewish Canadians have yet to receive a full reckoning. Drawing on Maimonides’ four steps of teshuvah, Rabbi Fryer Bodzin emphasized that words alone are insufficient, a true apology must be accompanied by policy, enforcement, and protection. Despite rising anti-Semitism today, she affirmed Jewish resilience, rooted in God, Torah, and com...
Rabbi Steven Wernick addresses the challenges of balancing sanctuary with security in today’s world, particularly during the High Holy Days. He acknowledges the fear many people carry—fear for personal safety, the survival of Israel, the rise of anti-Semitism, and the fear of divisiveness within communities and families. He emphasizes that fear, if acknowledged and channeled, can lead to action through repentance, prayer, and justice. Rabbi Wernick urges the community to be vigilant, empathiz...
Rabbi Steven Wernick addresses the often-raised question of why synagogues engage in political discourse, especially around complex issues like Canadian foreign policy and Israel. Drawing on this week’s parsha and the Jewish tradition of moral leadership, he emphasizes that Judaism is not about silence—it’s about sacred responsibility. Rooted in Torah and guided by values, our community must bring clarity, compassion, and integrity to public conversations. While we don’t all have to agree, we...
Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin reflects on how we remember—through technology, artefacts, rituals, and our senses—and how Jewish tradition transforms memory into an active, living experience. From counting the Omer to reciting Yizkor, she explores the ways we preserve the presence of loved ones who are no longer with us, not just with words, but through action, sound, taste, and touch. True remembrance, she reminds us, means not just going through the motions, but going through the memories....
Professor Benjamin Sommer explores a pivotal idea in this week’s Torah reading: that God’s law, though sacred and foundational, is not static—it evolves through dialogue with the people. Through examples in Leviticus and Numbers, he demonstrates that even in the Torah itself, questions, challenges, and suggestions lead to clarification, refinement, and amendment of the law. This spirit of sacred conversation, he argues, is at the heart of Conservative Judaism: a tradition rooted in obligation...
Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin reflects on the emotional and halachic dynamics of the parent-child relationship, drawing from the fifth commandment and personal anecdotes. She reminds us that while love is often felt, Jewish tradition commands action—honour, care, and responsibility—especially as parents age. In Judaism, showing up matters more than saying “I love you,” and true honour is measured not in sentiment, but in support. Excerpt from Shabbat morning services. May 10, 2025, Beth Tzedec Con...
Rabbi Steven Wernick draws spiritual clarity from the Torah’s laws of tzara’at—often mistranslated as leprosy—highlighting how true healing begins when we see the whole person, not just their affliction. He reflects on Canada’s political and social landscape, urging us to withhold judgement, seek closeness over division, and practice the courage of empathy—reminding us that whether we are healing bodies or building community, we cannot heal what we refuse to see. Excerpt from Shabbat morning ...
Rabbi Steven Wernick reflects on the tragic story of Nadav and Avihu, whose "strange fire" reminds us that intent alone is not enough—boundaries, reverence, and responsibility are essential for holiness and for safeguarding society. Drawing parallels to the Holocaust, the rise of modern antisemitism, and the misuse of power today, he challenges us to be guardians of conscience, using Jewish power not for domination, but for justice, peace, and dignity. Excerpt from Shabbat morning services. O...
Rabbi Steven Wernick reflects on the enduring impact of those we’ve lost—public figures and personal mentors alike—and how their legacies shape who we become. Excerpt from Pesach services April 20, 2025 · Beth Tzedec Congregation · Toronto, Canada.
Rabbi Lara Rodin reflects on the transformative moment of the Red Sea splitting, not as a passive miracle, but one catalyzed by human courage and initiative. She emphasizes that redemption requires both divine partnership and human action, especially in moments when the path forward is unclear. Excerpt from Shabbat Morning services April 19, 2025 · Beth Tzedec Congregation · Toronto, Canada.
Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin reflects on the four Seder cups, reframing them through Joseph’s turbulent journey—marked by highs, lows, and comebacks. Like Joseph, we face setbacks, but with faith, we rise. The cups remind us that even in chaos, there is hope and the promise of ascent. Excerpt from Shabbat Morning services April 12, 2025 · Beth Tzedec Congregation · Toronto, Canada.
Rabbi Lara Rodin reflects on her journey to making Torah accessible and personally meaningful, emphasizing that true connection to Judaism happens when individuals claim and teach Torah in their own way. Excerpt from Shabbat Morning services April 5, 2025 · Beth Tzedec Congregation · Toronto, Canada.
Rabbi Steven Wernick reflects on the Torah’s insistence on transparency and communal accountability, beginning with Moses’ detailed financial record of the Mishkan’s construction. Drawing striking parallels to today’s political landscape—from Israel’s internal fractures to democratic concerns in the U.S. and Canada—he reminds us that trust in leadership begins with ethical action, not just authority. As citizens and as Jews, we are called to demand integrity and oversight, safeguarding democr...
Rabbi Steven Wernick reflects on Parashat Vayakhel as a blueprint for unity following division, drawing parallels between the Israelites’ recovery from the sin of the golden calf and today’s fractured Jewish world. He urges a return to shared purpose through collective responsibility, meaningful leadership, and the spiritual grounding of Shabbat—reminding us that even amid passionate disagreement, we are one people with one destiny. Excerpt from Shabbat morning services. October 12, 2024, Bet...
Rabbi Lara Rodin reflects on the visibility of Jewish identity, exploring the tension between outward expression and internal commitment. She shares her personal journey of choosing to wear a headband as a symbol of Jewish pride and connects it to broader themes of faith, knowledge, and belonging, emphasizing that true Jewish identity is expressed not just through symbols but through actions, values, and community. Excerpt from Shabbat morning services. October 5, 2024, Beth Tzedec Congregati...
Rabbi Steven Wernick reflects on the enduring presence of hatred and discrimination, emphasizing that historical patterns of prejudice continue to manifest in modern times. He calls for unity, political advocacy, and Jewish resilience, urging individuals to stand together, strengthen their identity, and build alliances to confront and counteract hate. March 8, 2025, Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto, Canada
Naomi Kramer reflects on the importance of welcoming refugees, emphasizing that providing sanctuary is both a moral and communal responsibility while highlighting the contributions of refugees to society. March 1, 2025, Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto, Canada.
Rabbi Steven Wernick reflects on the ethical imperative to uphold justice, protect the vulnerable, and act with integrity even in times of war. He calls for continued advocacy for justice and the preservation of Jewish values in response to tragedy. February 22, 2025, Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto, Canada.
Rabbi Lara Rodin reflects on the tension between joy and pain in Israel’s recent events, urging people to hold multiple truths with empathy to help rebuild a more compassionate world. Excerpt from Shabbat Morning services February 1, 2025. Beth Tzedec Congregation Toronto, Canada.
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