SERMON: Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal - With the Resilience of the Reed | Kol Nidrei 5785

How good it is to be with the musicians behind the "Hinei Ma Tov" that often fills Central Synagogue's sanctuary with extra energy on Shabbat! Colorado-based Eyal and Danya Rivlin share the back story of their kinetic take on Psalm 133 with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel.

SERMON: Rabbi Hilly Haber - Hearing The Cry of the Shofar in the New Year| Rosh HaShanah 5785

Sermon by Brooklyn Michalowicz, "The Power of Apology: Four Steps to Teshuvah" October 4, 2024

SERMON: Rabbi Lisa Rubin - Where You Go, I Will Go | Rosh HaShanah 5785

SERMON: Rabbi Maurice Salth - Living in Days of Fear and Awe | Rosh HaShanah 5785

Sermon by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, "Grief Calls us to Life | Erev Rosh HaShanah 5785" October 2, 2024

Sermon by Rabbi Sarah Berman, "The World to Come" September 27, 2024

Psalm 122, which celebrates arriving in Jerusalem, receives majestic musical treatment from Cantor Charles Osborne, whose "Samachti B'Omrim Li" is beloved the world over. Cantor Osborne shares the story of this choral masterwork with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel.

Sermon by Dr. Shira Epstein, "Still, Small Voice in Elul" September 20, 2024

Where does strength come from? Cantor Becky Mann shares her answer through her musical setting of Psalm 118, "Ozi V'Zimrat Yah" -- and in conversation with Cantor Jenna Pearsall.

Sermon by Gilad Kariv, September 13th, 2024

After a beautiful duet with Cantor Dan Mutlu at our Friday night service, Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz shares the back story behind "Min HaMeitzar," a musical interpretation of Psalm 118, with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel.

The Installation of Sivan Rotholz September 6, 2024

In 1964-65, Leonard Bernstein took a sabbatical from conducting the New York Philharmonic and emerged with the Chichester Psalms, a grand three-movement piece for chorus, solo, and orchestra, leveraging six different psalms as source text. Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel speaks with emerging composer Jake Safirstein about the history and artistry of this soaring masterpiece.

In the final episode of our “Hearing Hineini” series, we focus on one of the cornerstones of our democratic system: the power and importance of voting. Central Synagogue members share their personal reasons for voting and reflect on its significance in our civic life. This episode is hosted by Rabbinic Intern Rebecca Thau.

The pursuit of peace is central to Jewish law. In this third episode of our “Hearing Hineini” series, explore how non-violent protest has influenced American democracy. Broadway producer Jill Furman discusses her show Suffs with Rabbi Sarah Berman, while civil rights lawyer Evan Wolfson shares his pivotal role in the marriage equality movement. This episode is hosted by Rabbi Sarah Berman.

Delve into the value of respectful disagreement, a cornerstone of both Jewish learning and American democracy. This second episode of our “Hearing Hineini” series, features conversations between Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and New York Times columnist Bret Stephens, and Rabbi Hilly Haber and civil rights lawyer Evan Wolfson. This episode is hosted by Rabbi Sarah Berman.

In our first episode of our “Hearing Hineini” series, explore the Jewish roots of American history. Listen as Rabbi Ari Lorge and Rabbi Hilly Haber discuss the Hebrew Bible's influence on the United States, followed by a thought-provoking conversation between New York Times columnist Bret Stephens and Rabbi Angela Buchdahl. This episode is hosted by Rabbinic Intern Rebecca Thau.

Sermon by Rabbi Hilly Haber, "The Season of Love: Elul 5784" August 30, 2024

Our psalms call for us to sing out a "shir hadash," a new song. Rabbi Cantor Shani Ben-Or shares with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel how she and her colleagues at the Niggunim Ensemble did just that with their version of Psalm 96.

Sermon by Rabbi Sivan Rotholz, "Vulnerability is the Language of Connection" August 23, 2024

Kabbalat Shabbat often achieves lift-off at Central Synagogue with Rabbi Josh Warshawsky's Psalm 95, Lechu Neranena. The composer speaks with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel about how he constructed this layered, rhythmic, and joyful setting.

Sermon by Jenna Pearsall, "Music: A Connector of Hearts" August 16, 2024

Sharing one of the gorgeous original melodies flowing from Jerusalem's Nava Tehila spiritual community, Daphna Rosenberg speaks with Cantor Jenna Pearsall about Psalm 92, "Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat."