Central Synagogue Podcast

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 RotholzSeptember 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.

Links to watch the full programs: Hineini: A Pre-Show Suffs Talk with Producer Jill Furman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63YTufZ31Fc Learn more about our Hineini civic engagement initiative here: https://www.centralsynagogue.org/special/hineini-a-civic-engagement-effortCentral Synagogue is not a political organization; our nonpartisan Hineini initiative emphasizes democracy as a value shared by all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

Links to watch the full programs: Hineini: A Pre-Show Suffs Talk with Producer Jill Furman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63YTufZ31Fc Hineini: The Legacy and Lessons of Marriage Equality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw7QxeH-VDwLearn more about our Hineini civic engagement initiative here: https://www.centralsynagogue.org/special/hineini-a-civic-engagement-effortCentral Synagogue is not a political organization; our nonpartisan Hineini initiative emphasizes democracy as a value shared by all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

Links to watch the full programs: Hineini: Bret Stephens & Rabbi Angela Buchdahl in Conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwsrqCND_sgHineini: The Legacy and Lessons of Marriage Equality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw7QxeH-VDwLearn more about our Hineini civic engagement initiative here: https://www.centralsynagogue.org/special/hineini-a-civic-engagement-effortCentral Synagogue is not a political organization; our nonpartisan Hineini initiative emphasizes democracy as a value shared by all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

Show notes: Links to watch the full programs: Hineini: Bret Stephens & Rabbi Angela Buchdahl in Conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwsrqCND_sgLearn more about our Hineini civic engagement initiative here: https://www.centralsynagogue.org/special/hineini-a-civic-engagement-effortCentral Synagogue is not a political organization; our nonpartisan Hineini initiative emphasizes democracy as a value shared by all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

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."

Sermon by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, "Scouting Out Destruction, And Hope: Tisha B’Av 2024" August 9th, 2024

An expert practitioner in the art of Jewish chant, Rabbi Shefa Gold describes to Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel how her now-famous setting of "Ashrei" from Psalm 84 helps her enter the house of the Eternal.

Sermon by Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal, "The Project of Peoplehood" August 2nd, 2024

In the third of Rabbi Nicole Auerbach's three-part mini-series interviewing poets, Rabbi Karyn Kedar shares how the psalms have come to matter in her own life -- sometimes with the help of her own pen.

Sermon by Cantor Dan Mutlu, "From Sacrifice to Prayer: The Essence of True Giving" July 26th, 2024

When we have no words during the intense events of our lives, the Psalms can provide them. Contemporary poet Jessica Greenbaum speaks with Rabbi Nicole Auerbach about the role that psalms can play for people today.

Sermon by Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel, "Unobstructed Views"July 19, 2024

Poet Alden Solovy reflects on the literary potency of ancient psalms -- and shares selections from his forthcoming book, Enter These Gates, in an interview with Rabbi Nicole Auerbach.

Sermon by Rabbi Ari Lorge, "In the Space Between Two Verses"July 12, 2024

Cantor Dan Mutlu shares the artistry of groundbreaking 17th-century Jewish musician Salamone Rossi, including his uplifting setting of Psalm 67, in an interview with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel.

Sermon by Rabbi Sarah Berman, "Rebel, Rebel"July 5, 2024

Pride Shabbat—Reflections From Idit KleinJune 28, 2024

How does one relate ancient psalms to modern circumstances? That's the project of Rabbi Jade Sank Ross, who speaks with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel about her upcoming book "To You I Call."

Sermon by Cantor Dan Mutlu, "Turning Anger into Healing"June 21, 2024

When we rise for the Amidah, we draw upon the words of Psalm 51 to give "liftoff" to the prayers we are about to recite. In an interview with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel, singer-songwriter Ellen Allard shares her musical setting of this powerful moment of preparation, "Open My Lips."

Sermon by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, "Kol Isha–The Voices Of Women Are Heard In The Land" June 14th, 2024

Shavuot Yizkor Sermon by Rabbi Mo Salth, "The Last of the Brooklyn Dodgers"June 12, 2024

Sermon by Rabbi Ari Lorge, "In Between Never and Immediately" June 7th, 2024

After Debbie Friedman's untimely death in 2011, her musical setting of Psalm 30, "Mourning Into Dancing," became a source of healing for many who knew and loved her. One of Friedman's dear friends, musician and educator Merri Lovinger Arian, speaks with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel about this stirring piece and its remarkable composer.

A Farewell to Rabbi Dan Ross

What happens when ancient words meet an Eighties pop song? Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and Music Director Dave Strickland share the origin story behind Central's mashup of "Ashira" from Psalm 13 and Steve Winwood's 1986 classic, "Higher Love."

Weekly Meditation led by Rabbi Angela BuchdahlMay 28, 2024

Sermon by Rabbi Mo Salth, "When Our Heart Lies Fallow"May 24, 2024

Enter the world of Kabbalistic mysticism as Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel interviews former Central Synagogue Cantor Jordan Franzel, who unpacks his musical version of Psalm 29, "Havu L'Adonai."

Weekly Meditation led by Rabbi Angela BuchdahlMay 21, 2024

Sermon by Rabbi Hilly Haber, "Finding Shelter on the Journey: Parshat Emor"May 17, 2024

What is the one thing you ask for? Cantor Jenna Pearsall interviews singer-songwriter Chava Mirel about her version of Psalm 27's "Achat Sha'alti," a staple of the Elul season.

Weekly Meditation led by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl May 14, 2024

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, “NEVER AGAIN.” FOR EVERYONE. AND FOR US. May 10th 2024

If you've attended our Friday night services, you've likely heard Hollis Schachner's beautiful setting of Psalm 19, the duet "Y'hiyu L'Ratzon." Hear the surprising story of the song's origins from Cantor Schachner herself, in conversation with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel and Central's musical director Dave Strickland.

Weekly Meditation host by Rabbi Nicole Auerbach,May 7, 2024

Sermon by Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal, "A Message to Our Seniors: Do Not Disengage"May 3, 2024

Who gets to dwell in the tent of the Eternal? Psalm 15 offers an answer, and composer Billy Dreskin shares his joyful and dynamic musical setting of the psalm ("Mi Yagur") in a special interview with Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel.

Weekly Meditation led by Rabbi Angela BuchdahlApril 30, 2024

Sermon by Cantor Jenna Pearsall, "Lo Dayeinu, It Is Not Enough"April 26, 2024

Sermon by Rabbi Ari Lorge, "Next Year in a Rebuilt Jerusalem"April 19, 2024

What does it feel like to approach the Eternal One? Join Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel as he learns how beloved Jewish composer Danny Maseng crafted his version of the entrance music to our morning service, “Mah Tovu."